Practical is not Always Adequate
In the middle of the storm, right on top of the troubled water Jesus said, “It is I”. The sufficiency of the boat was doubtful, the only practical thing that 
was available was less than adequate. It is Jesus who has given the promise and it is Jesus who will make good on it and it is Jesus that the storm cannot drive away! The storm cannot displace Jesus. Just look at Who has given the promise. Jesus had far better transportation than a leaky old boat. The safest place on this occasion was not in the boat but on the water! Faith is for the purpose of getting out of the boat, not for asking Jesus to get into the boat (Matt. 14:28). Wishing a storm would have never come, asking why storms come, trying to lay blame for the storm are all distractions. Now is the time to look up from the threatening waters and walk with Jesus day by day “to the other side” (Matt.14:22). The safest place is with the Master of the storm.
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In the brief video “Texas You Are Not Alone” Marty Gabler
encourages those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
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What Is Worthy Of My Focus?
When God has given us a promise and witness by the Holy Spirit (2Cor.1:22), why then do we get discouraged or give up? The witness has not been removed. It is, however, that we are now looking at and listening to that which we perceive has interrupted or canceled promise.
There seems to exist some perverted rule which says, “That which bullies its way in gets to stay.” Those defeating thoughts and doubts which demand to be considered begin to take the forefront and will eventually replace the words and witness of promise. It is that prophetic gift which comes to remind us that God’s Word holds the highest priority of consideration. We must ask ourselves, “What has priority? What is worthy of our focus? What will destroy promise? What will sustain promise? What will launch me into the season I belong in? And which am I entertaining?”
(This is the last excerpt from Marty’s article “Launching Into A New Era” in Volume 17 Issue 6 of SEEC Magazine. You may read other excerpts by scrolling down this home page at http://martygabler.com)
Focused On Facts
When Jesus told His disciples to go to the other side of the lake, the hard facts the disciples focused on, once out on the water in the storm, were (Matt.14:22-27): 1.) it was night-dark 2.) they were a great distance from land 3.) the boat was beaten by waves 4.) the wind was against them—blowing the opposite direction they were supposed to go. We must beware of reaching a point that we are merely dwelling on just the facts. These may be the present facts but they are not the conclusion of the matter. In the Bible, present facts and final conclusions always looked very different from one another.
(This is the thirteenth excerpt from Marty’s article “Launching Into A New Era” in Volume 17 Issue 6 of SEEC Magazine)
*Dr. Don Crum is speaking today (11a.m. & 7p.m.) at the SEEC Kingdom Conference. Info: https://martygabler.com/ctk-conference
Listen to a short audio track of his message on “Royal Dynasty”: http://martygabler.podomatic.com/entry/2014-02-12T10_43_08-08_00
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