From the desk of Pastor Ben
Behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.”     (Matthew 8:24-25) ESV

Growing up in Pennsylvania, we had a lot of snow in the winter. One day, I was driving and got caught in a major snowstorm. I clutched my steering wheel so tightly my hands ached. Cars and trucks surrounded me as I drove on a traffic-filled highway. Suddenly, I hit some black ice, and my car started sliding. I tried to steer, but I had no control of the direction my car was going. A big truck was on my left but, thankfully, I was sliding to the right. I remember thinking, “Jesus, help!” — it was all I could think. Miraculously, no vehicles smashed into me. When I finally drove out of the worst of the storm, relief washed over me.
In crisis situations, sometimes, all we can manage is a desperate plea for help. The disciples had a life-threatening experience on the Sea of Galilee one day. They were in the middle of the lake, with Jesus sound asleep, when a massive storm rolled in. The huge waves toddled their little wooden boat like driftwood, and water gushed into it. They cried out to Jesus, “Help, we are perishing!” He awoke, spoke, and the winds calmed immediately. The storm I drove through didn’t instantly dissipate, but I drove through it, asking Jesus for help the entire way. He kept me safe.
In the midst of a crisis and chaos, many of us today would not use the words “Help me; I’m perishing,” but we would simply cry “Help.” Whatever words you use to pray urgently, things happen in heaven and earth when you call on Jesus. He will calm your storm. Don’t hesitate to ask Him for help.

Faith Step:     Are you in a storm? Write your version of a “Jesus, help me,” prayer and trust in the calm to come.

From the desk of Pastor Ben
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song, I praise him.     (Psalm 28:7) NIV

With permission, I share this story from Christian author, Grace Fox:

“The first winter living on a small house boat tested my grit. More than once I felt like my coping skills had been overstretched. Then circumstances stretched them more. The first challenge came when snow fell and turned the dock into a slippery, slushy mess. I’d fallen on the dock a couple of months prior, so I found myself in a state of heightened alert whenever I left the boat, especially when it was dark outside. Then, ice formed on the river. It flowed past, thumping and scraping the hull of the boat. My imagination entertained thoughts of the Titanic.
The tipping point came when my diesel furnace died. I layered clothes, wore jackets, and wrapped in blankets to stay warm. For 2 weeks, the repair man promised to come several times but kept canceling.
Expressing gratitude changes one’s perspective. More importantly, it’s a matter of obedience. I truly wanted to obey the Word, so I thanked Jesus for being my strength when I felt weak. I thanked him for helping me stay upright on the dock and for keeping the hull of the boat safe. I also thanked Him for jackets and blankets and hot tea. Giving thanks changed my thoughts from I can’t handle this to I can’t handle this on my own, but I can with Jesus’ strength. Adversity turned to adventure.
Winter will come again next year. No doubt it will bring challenges. No doubt it will test my grit. But I’ll make Psalm 28:7 a staple for my thoughts, and I know anxiety will turn to joy.

Faith Step:     What characteristic about Jesus makes your heart leap for joy?

From the desk of Pastor Ben
Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
                    (Matthew 5:17-18) NKJV

I have some acquaintances who do transcription work from home. Their job is to transcribe notes from doctors or executives and put the down on paper. The work is very challenging because sometimes the audio they are transcribing is faint and crackly. Sometimes the various people speaking would be difficult to understand. Often the discussion would be packed with technical terminology that would have to be researched to be sure to get everything correct. Even though their efforts would be painstaking, every once in a while, they would be docked or reprimanded for making even simple mistakes.
The experiences of these transcriptionists remind me of Jesus’ words in today’s passage about the tiniest dot above a letter, or the smallest symbol. When it comes to God’s law, it’s easy to look at broad strokes and decide we’re not doing too badly. But the truth is, my smallest sinful attitude or weak moment shows that I can’t fulfill the law. Instead of frustration and despair, that realization floods me with new gratitude for Jesus’ grace and what He has done. Because He fulfilled every requirement, I am forgiven and free, no longer under the weight of chasing each jot and tittle. Instead, His love can grow in me, so that my actions align more and more with Jesus’ ways, and I can respond joyfully to His grace rather than trying to earn it.

Faith Step:     Notice all the dots, commas, and other tiny markings in this devotional. Thank Jesus for fulfilling each detail of the law for our sakes.

From the desk of Pastor Ben
We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.     (2 Corinthians 4:7) NIV

I lost both my mother and my father over the last 2 years. As we were going through all of their “stuff” after they passed, I realized all of the precious memories that were in that “stuff.” I reached inside a cabinet and found my mom’s favorite bowl. She used it for cole slaw. She made great cole slaw and she always used this particular bowl to make it. The pressed glass could almost pass for crystal, even though it was not, and the chipped edges hardly showed. What’s important was that it was able to hold the cole slaw, for which it was intended. It’s imperfections didn’t matter.
Just like that bowl, I’m a vessel. Not for cole slaw, but for Jesus. When the joy and love and life that Christ placed in me spills over my edges and slips through my cracks, that’s good. And as I glance around at friends during church this week, I see scratched silver trays ready to serve others and mugs without handles eager to warm hearts and hands. I see candles glowing with faith and wobbly chairs offering rest to the weary.
We’re all like the components of a cozy home, working in harmony despite our broken parts. Jesus has taken our cracks and shards and imperfections, the parts that life has broken, and mended them so they’re stronger than ever. And He cherishes us. That’s very, very good.

Faith Step:     Make a point to use one of the damaged items in your home. We all have them. And as you do, think about how much Jesus loves you, cracks and all.

From the desk of Pastor Ben
But Moses pleaded, “O Lord, I’m just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I’m not now, even after you have spoken to me, for I have a speech impediment.” “Who makes mouths?” Jehovah asked him. “Isn’t it I, the Lord? …”
                                (Exodus 4:10-11) NLT

For years, my wife had always shied away from public speaking. She often had very valuable insights on different things, yet her comfort zone was just to sit back and observe. This fear came from the fact that as a little girl, she would read in front of her father and he would make fun of her when she made a mistake. Sometimes, he would even slap her when she would read for him. It really affected her confidence to be I front of people.
Several years ago, she felt the call to minister to people in the name of Jesus as a speaker. She got an opportunity to speak to a ladies group and she was petrified. We prayed the night before, and she came home to share with me that everything went great. What had happened? When she stood up to speak, she remembered who had made her mouth and she allowed the Lord to speak through her instead of focusing on her past fears and failures — the same things Moses struggled with in today’s passage.
I on the other hand, have really never had any problem talking in front of people, but even as a minister over the years, I have found myself hesitant to share my faith, especially wit strangers. I never thought I had the right words or the right approach, and I greatly feared rejection. But over the years, I have learned that Jesus is the maker of my mouth — so I try to forget myself and trust Him to guide my tongue.

Faith Step:    Commit to listening to the Lord’s prompts in your spirit today as you go out into the world. Say what He tells you to say and trust that He will be with your mouth.

From the desk of Pastor Ben
God of Heaven’s Armies, you find so much beauty in your people! They’re like lovely sanctuaries of your presence.     (Psalm 84:1) NLT

When my mother passed away a couple of years ago, my wife & I went to Pennsylvania for her funeral. We were staying in a motel in my hometown. One morning we were eating a continental breakfast at the motel, we got our food and sat down to eat. As usual, we said grace before we ate. As we ate, I noticed a woman at another table. She was eating alone and every time I glanced her way, she was smiling at me. I smiled back at her and we continued to eat.
Eventually, I got up to refill my coffee. The woman who’d been watching us & smiling at me followed. “Excuse me,” she said. “I couldn’t help notice that you prayed before you ate. Are you a Christian?” “Yes,” I said. I went on to tell her that we were in town for my mother’s funeral. She said that she was in town for a funeral as well; her sister had died. We expressed our condolences to each other and the woman said, “My sister’s last words were, ‘I love Jesus, and Jesus loves me.”
In those moments, a familiar and special bond formed even though we had just met. That bond. A Jesus bond had knit us together in a random hotel breakfast room. We were part of a family; God’s family. That bond formed because His people are lovely sanctuaries of His presence and joy magnets. What a gift!

Faith Step:    Watch for moments of unexpected Jesus bonds today. Celebrate each one as a joyful gift.

He will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.     (Zephaniah 3:17) ESV

I have been an achiever my whole life; at least I think I have been. I feel like I have accomplished a lot in my life. From early in life, I rarely got into trouble, I played a little baseball & softball and I was pretty good. I got good grades when I tried to. I went to college and had the opportunity to sing in some groups and met some interesting people. I felt the call to the ministry and have been in ministry for almost 40 years. During that time, I married, had kids and now grandkids. I have done everything I thought I should do. Life has gone pretty fast but now, with my adult children launched with lives of their own, I have started to ask myself, “What’s next? What should I do? What’s my purpose for the rest of my life, other than to love my wife completely and love my kids & grandkids for the rest of my life?”
Then I came across this quote by Brennan Manning in his book Abba’s Child. “Define yourself as one who is radically loved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.” That was just the reminder I needed to hear — I am radically loved. In fact, Jesus loved me so much He died for me!
I can’t really undo my past, but I can move forward with confidence because I am loved, not because of what I do, but because of whose I am! I don’t have to strive to impress anyone because Jesus rejoices over me with gladness, quiets me with His love, and exults over me with loud singing. When I find myself struggling with my identity, I just look at today’s Scripture verse, and my spirit is quieted and content because of His love for me.

Faith Step:    Write down 3 ways your life would be different if you lived your life truly believing that Jesus radically loves you.

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
                    (Ezekiel 36:26) NLT

Because I am going to have surgery in a few weeks, I had to be cleared for that surgery by my cardiologist. I had an echocardiogram and he wanted to do a stress test as well. A medical stress test helps diagnose problems with our physical heart (nothing serious in my case).
In life, an emotional stress test often pinpoints problems with our spiritual heart. It might be easy to put on a good front when things go smoothly, but under the pressures of trials, hurts, and disappointments, what’s really in our heart usually comes out. Sometimes, it’s not a pretty sight. How we respond to stressful situations mirrors how we respond to Jesus as Lord. Do we trust Him to work out the circumstances of our lives? Are we willing to submit to His plans and obey His commands? Do we really believe He is always good and has our best interests in mind?
Even if we fail a spiritual stress test, there’s good news. Jesus is always ready to align our hearts with His so that we can respond to negative situations with a Christ-like attitude that honors Him. The process begins when we ask for His healing touch.

Faith Step:     Think of the last time you faced a highly stressful situation. How did you respond? Ask Jesus to make your heart more responsive to Him, regardless of your circumstances.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
                        (Romans 1:16) NIV

A common experience for Christians, either as individuals or as a church, is the sometimes often approach by people who are in need. Another common experience is that when you do help someone, either as an individual or as a church, word seems to get out, and the requests for help seem to multiply. As a result of that, decisions have to be made on who to help because whether you are an individual or a church, funds are not limitless. But, as Christians, we still hate to turn away people who are needy. It’s something we as people and churches struggle with.
What can we do for people when we can’t possibly give them monetary help? How about this: Tell them about Jesus! Of course. We can always share the good news of the gospel with people, even when we can’t help them in any other way!

So, when someone comes to you needing assistance, maybe even before you can determine whether you can help them or not, briefly tell them how you became a child of God through placing your trust in Jesus Christ. Maybe you can share with them a pamphlet or a Testament or may be you can even pray with them to find work or receive healing. End if they don’t leave with a gas card or a sack of groceries, they still may receive the best gift we have to offer them: the joy they can experience through knowing Jesus.

Faith Step:    Write down a brief account of how you came to faith in Jesus. May be you will be able to share it with someone who needs joy in his or her life.

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!  (Psalm 30:11-12) NLT

There is a deep joy — the sort of meaningful, overwhelming, heart-swelling sort of joy — that can’t be expressed in words alone. I think that’s why there are so many verses in the Bible that mention dancing as a way of expressing praise to God, including the above verses. I’m not really that sort of expressive person, but I know a lot of people who are and they express their praise by raising their arms or even spinning across the room when the Spirit leads them.
Whether we use song or dance or whispers from a timid heart, there are many ways to rejoice in the presence of our Savior. But as I read the above verses, I realized that David’s psalm is not speaking of a care-free happiness; his praise comes out of a heavy mourning. What a strange concept! It seems that the deepest and most heartfelt joy is born through what we learn from Jesus in times of loss, grief, and pain.
Each year I spend on this earth, my list of friends and loved ones who have gone ahead to heaven grows longer. Yet daily, Jesus brings joy into sadness. All that He has done for me means that one day my joy will be complete. Mourning will be over for good. He will ultimately clothe me in joy, and in the meantime, He daily invites me to a dance of celebration — anticipating in faith what is to come.

Faith Step:    Lift your arms in praise to Jesus today. If you are mourning, meditate on today’s verse and believe that He will transform that pain into joy.