And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. Exodus 14:21
It’s a small and short book but packed with wisdom. Someone gave it to me a long time ago and I just pulled it off the shelf again recently. It is titled The Red Sea Rules. So many are now hurting with and suffering from so much and it speaks to us today just as it spoke about Moses in the book of Exodus.
Just as Moses and the Israelites found themselves caught between “the devil and the deep Red Sea,” so are we sometimes overwhelmed by life’s problems. But God delivered the Israelites, and He will deliver us, too.
On the wall in our family room is a large painting showing how God parted the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites. I see it every day and it gives me comfort.
The Red Sea Rules reveal that even in the midst of seemingly impossible situations, God’s promises to make a way for us. His loving guidance will protect us through danger, illness, marital strife, financial problems–whatever challenges Satan places in our path. Whatever we are walking through, He is walking with us.
Using the Israelites’ story as an example, the author offers ten sound strategies for moving from fear to faith. The ten rules are:
▪ Realize that God means for you to be where you are.
▪ Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.
▪ Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
▪ Pray.
▪ Stay calm and confident and give God time to work.
▪ When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.
▪ Envision God’s enveloping presence.
▪ Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.
▪ View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.
▪ Don’t forget to praise Him.
Life is hard, even and perhaps especially for Christians. It is certain that we will face difficulties, and that God will allow them, as He allowed the Israelites to become trapped between Pharaoh’s rushing armies and the uncrossable Red Sea. But just as certain is the fact that the same God who led us in will lead us out. As these Sea rules make comfortingly clear, He is in control.
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SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES
The Sayings of Jomo Cousins:
▪ We struggle because we think we are smarter than God.
▪ You can’t love God and hate people. Be careful with your judgmental eyes.
▪ Do you spend more time consulting with Google than you do consulting with God?
▪ When you are in a jam, the first call you make tells where your trust is.
▪ Your life is your testimony, and you might be the only Gospel someone will ever hear.
— o —
Abortion is the leading cause of death in the US:
Our media focuses intensely and understandably on the victims of storms, military tragedies, and alleged crimes. However, in the last six days, 14,172 babies have been aborted in the US (multiplying the rate of 2,362 per day in the US times six).
This works out to 862,130 abortions per year in the US, making abortion by far the leading cause of death in our country. (Heart disease ranks second, at 659,041, followed by cancer at 599,601.)
Here’s a related fact: the CDC reports that over 21,000 infants died in the US in 2018. This works out to fifty-seven per day, which is obviously tragic. But forty-one times more babies die from abortion each day than from all other causes combined.
If 2,362 babies were to die today from any cause other than abortion, Americans would be appropriately appalled and demand that our elected officials do something to end such a tragedy.
— o —
Steve Shepherd tells a story about a well-known Christian businessman in his local community who was visiting a church and asked to give his testimony.
“I have a fine family, a large house, a successful business, and a good reputation,” he began. “I have plenty of money so I can support some Christian ministries very generously. Many organizations want me on their board of directors. I have good health and almost unlimited opportunities.”
He then asked, “What more could I ask from God?”
As he paused for effect, a voice shouted from the back of the auditorium, “How about asking Him for a good dose of humility?”
Too often in our prosperous culture, as we enjoy a life of ease, comfort, and so many blessings from God, it may be difficult to see that we lack anything.
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QUOTES YOU CAN USE
Acceptance of God’s Will is the only path to true peace. Without that acceptance, there is only turmoil and struggle within. Dan Shock
Man is like a battery; he can’t operate without a positive and negative. The Bible contains many negative commands and statements, when observed and obeyed, produce a positive result in our lives. J. J. Turner
Every man needs accountability. RV Brown
God desires that our lives be a vessel to contain the Spirit of God, and that we would then channel God’s Spirit to a thirsty world around us. Dan Shock
Spiritual formation is more about changing the source of behavior than behavior modification. When the source is changed from self to Him the behavior takes care of itself. Sam Hunter
Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Oscar Wilde
God has called us to be paramedics rather than policeman. Dan Shock
He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight. Luke 16:15
Adversity draws men together and produces beauty and harmony in life’s relationships, just as the cold of winter produces ice-flowers on the window-panes, which vanish with the warmth.” SØREN KIERKEGAARD
Fill your life with stories to tell, not stuff to show. The Minimalist