Matt's House Church: Arbutus, MD

Safe to shore only by the grace of God

Intro

 I’m not Rob and that’s okay

 Connect to My Lighthouse song – “Your great love will lead me through …You are the peace in my troubled sea”

 Preaching to the choir (celebration) vs first time (hope)

 Prayer

Bible -Luke 8:22-25 (MSG)

22-24 One day he and his disciples got in a boat. “Let’s cross the lake,” he said. And off they went. It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize. They woke Jesus: “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” Getting to his feet, he told the wind, “Silence!” and the waves, “Quiet down!” They did it. The lake became smooth as glass.

25 Then he said to his disciples, “Why can’t you trust me?” They were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, “Who is this, anyway? He calls out to the winds and sea, and they do what he tells them!”

Transition - But that’s over 2000 years ago, that stuff doesn’t happen in today’s world. It does…

Illustration – the first night of Jess’s mental Crisis

 Driving back in my own negative thoughts radio paying not listening

 Normal downtown route not available due to police/fire action

 Broken Together – casting crowns

o Sidebar – come as you are, but don’t stay that way. Believe in the power of God to take you from where you are at into a better place.

 Reroute onto I-95 see St Agnes cross – God moment

Transition- did not know it at the time, but I believe that night had several purposes. One of which to prime me for the San Diego (that I didn’t even know about yet).

Illustration – San Diego work trip

 Pressure on – mission is very important. Others not thinking we are going to fix it while there,me for once being optimist and saying there’s a chance we can fix it.

 Trouble getting there

 Being more aware of God’s provision and grace when outside of day to day

 Praying for wisdom for me and others on the trip

 God’s leading in play

o Breaking into radio site (not as bad as it sounds)

o Jump starting a car MacGyver style

 Turning point – recognize that I have to do what I have to do. Work with what I have and find a solution.

 Getting stressed and finding comfort in music. Singing under my breath and raising hands at times in the sever room (when I knew I was alone). Concerned with being at customer site,

diversity/respect stuff.

o Crowder “I am”- “There’s no space that His love can’t reach/There’s no place that we

can’t find peace/There’s no end to Amazing Grace” “In the middle of the storm,/I am

Holding on,/I am!”

o Casting Crowns “Thrive” - “We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives/ It’s time for us to more than just survive/ We were made to thrive”

o Matt Maher “Because He Lives (Ahem)” – “I believe I overcome/ By the power of His blood” “Because He lives/ I can face tomorrow/ Because He lives/ Every fear is gone/ I know He holds my life my future in His hands”

o Tenth Avenue North – “Worn” – “Let me see redemption win/ Let me know the struggle ends”

o Bible: Philippians 4:13 MSG “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”

 Getting confused thinking it’s not working, but it really is. Respond with mouth drop and

hallelujah loud and proud. Realizing God lead me safe to shore

 Validation on the way home and at home

o Southwest heart/machine

o McDonald’s cup half empty half full

Bible - James 1:2-4 (MSG)

 2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. Youknow that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and welldeveloped,not deficient in any way.

Bible - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (MSG)

13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

Illustration - Back to the Jess story real quick

 Even after that night I spoke about, situation continued to be rough and is still rough, but more and more I realize God is leading Jess and I through this. We are in the ocean, the storms are rolling, but the lighthouse is there. God is guiding us. However, we need to do our part, listen and look for God and follow God’s lead

Challenge - Between you and God... Where are you?

 Handing stormy seas on your on?

 Do you reach out to God during the storm and only see how God worked afterwards?

 Do you reach out to God during the storm and see how God work while you are in the storm?

 Is God's peace with you through the storm? A peach that makes others around you wonder?

 All the above?

How about reaching out to God the next time you are in the storm asking for God's help and peace, and trust that God will see you safe to shore.

Prayer - Help us Lord, help us come to you in every season. Help us trust you with our lives. Help us realize you are the peace in our troubled sea. Show us Lord that you are the fire before us, constant in the darkness. Help us see that you will lead us through the storms.