Charlie's Oak

When we read through the gospels there will be times Jesus will say "the kingdom of God is like . . ." right before he illustrates the kingdom with a story. If we are looking to become more like Jesus maybe it would be wise to read through the gospels making note of the time Jesus illustrates the kingdom. 

In Mark 4:30-32 Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is like . . . a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade." 

What is Jesus trying to say to us about the kingdom? I think he is trying to say, focus on the small things and let God make it something big!

Look, I am all for Big Hairy Audacious Goals, but if that is all you focus on you can really miss some of the greater things of God. 

Sometimes it is the little things that have the greatest impact because God is in the little things also. 

On one of my relatives farms in West Virginia there is this enormous oak tree. It is called Charlie's oak. I don't know why other than I have a great uncle named Charlie and somehow his name is attached to this tree. I am sure there is a story attached to it--but I don't know what it is and it really doesn't matter today. 

So this big oak, started from an acorn that fell from another tree, a tree that does not exist. I wonder how far it's roots extend. I wonder how many oaks around it have started from an acorn that fell from it's branches. I wonder how many birds or squirrels have made their temporary home in Charlie's Oak. 

Isn't it amazing God can take a small acorn and make such a difference within this small portion of space on earth. 

Can you imagine what God can do if we learn to live in the small stuff, letting God make it grow? Can you imagine what God can do through you if you let Him do his work?

What small thing can you do today, that God can use to make a big impact? 

Storms

In Matthew 8:23-27 there's this story of Jesus and his disciples in boat on the lake. Without warning, a furious storm came up and was sweeping them across the lake. There are two types of storms, ones we can see approaching on radar and then those that just seem to come out of no where.

The first, while it can be rough to go through at least gives you time to prepare. My father who lives in Florida has been through several hurricanes. He knew a head of time they may reach land about where he lives so he was able to prepare for the storm. He has hurricane windows that he can put into place and he can get supplies ready in case they are confined to the house for several days. He can even prepare for clean-up. The storm is still hard to go through, but if you are proactive you can make things a little easier.

It is the storms that just seem to come out of no where that can make us panic. I was on Lake Erie fishing with a friend. We had checked the weather and everything seemed like it was going to be a perfect day. Even though it seemed like it was going to be a good day there is always a chance on Lake Erie a storm can come out of no where. It did.

Panic set in as we headed toward the shore line. As the water got rougher the ride in got more intense. You begin to wonder if you you are going to get to a safe place in time. We did, but it was a rough journey.

Life is the same way. There are storms that arise sometimes with warning and sometimes with no warning. They can both be difficult. They both can end badly. Yet there is one constant when you are a follower of Jesus. Faith.

In the story from Matthew while the boat is being blown across the lake the disciples wake Jesus and say, "Lord, saves us! We are going to drown!" Sometimes in the middle of life's storms we think we are going to drown. And in the middle of those storms there is only one place to turn--God.

Jesus gets up rebukes his disciples, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he rebukes the storm and it was completely calm.

I think he got upset with His disciples because they had forgotten who was with them.

The thing is these storms that come up in life can cause us to forget or at least not acknowledge who is with us, who is in our presence. While these life storms don't always cease in a moment like the storm in this story, we can be at peace knowing we are in the presence of a God who is powerful enough to calm a storm on a lake. A God who tells us not to fear, who takes a hold of our hands and walks through the storms with us.

The way we can prepare for these spontaneous storms is to have a relationship with the one who walks with us no matter how hard it can get. The one who allows us to trust him when our instinct is to have fear.