Joy Bowser- A Wife and A Witness

06/24/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Romans 6:1-14
"6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is freed from sin.

8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all time; but [i]the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So you too, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Therefore sin is not to reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace."

Thoughts- Before 6:00 this morning thoughts. On a day when we (Bill and I) are focused on "staying alive." How wonderful to remember that we are buried in Christ and alive in the Spirit, in a new creation. That we are already alive from the dead and death already has no power over us! Today are you living under law, thinking the ten commandments and comparing yourself to others and thinking that you are okay when comparing yourself to the "really bad" sins? Or are you comparing yourself to the one who fulfilled the law and His perfection and finding yourself-literally "dead, drowning in your sinfulness? There is a new song out called "Breathe On It." Whatever needs resurrection in your life, relationship, finances, health, perseverance, hope, faith whatever your greatest need. Allow the Spirit of God to breathe life to it! Have a great day!

If you are questioning whether you or someone you know is in an unh...

06/23/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Romans 5:1-8
"5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous person; though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. "

Thoughts One of the hardest things to understand in the walk of faith is how a loving God can accept us in our unlovely condition. While we were yet sinners! Notice that this is not a singular tag counting toward just one person but rather while WE were yet sinners, WE- you aren't alone in the walk. NONE of us are worthy, ALL have fallen short yet STILL Christ died for US. He bore our punishment, He bore our scars, He heals our sicknesses, He hears our burdens and He grants us all that we need! In Him we find our hope for our journey even when we are struggling to understand, even when trouble seems to come to us over and over again. We know that each struggle brings positive qualities to take us on in our journey as long as we allow the Holy Spirit, God's precious gift to us, to pour over us over and over again. Guiding, guarding and protecting the seed that He has planted deep within us!

06/22/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Romans 2:12-29
"12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.

The Jews under the Law
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, possessing in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 you, therefore, who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one is not to steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.

25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a violator of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator of the Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God."

Thoughts- Reading Romans after studying, intently, the book book of Acts is similar to turning up the magnifying glass! It is crazy how the ACTS of the Holy Spirit, in the early church, in the communication regarding Jews and Gentiles and whether Gentiles needed by circumcised in order to be saved comes out in bold print in this passage today.
I am reminded again, that GOD looks at the heart of ALL MEN! It is He who judges and not me! It is by the Spirit that God CUTS away what defiles us and makes us unholy. It is not by acts of a priest or any one who walks this earth. Salvation is through God's grace by our faith in what Jesus has done for us, Period.

06/21/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Romans 1:1-15
"1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles in behalf of His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the world. 9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, 10 always in my prayers requesting if perhaps now, at last by the will of God, I will succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also just as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to the uncultured, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome."

Thoughts-Paul addresses this first letter following the Acts of the Apostles to the Christians who live in Rome. The same people that he was just speaking to in the book of Acts 28, are on the receiving end of Paul's letter. He reminds them of many of the basic teachings of the Gospel. There are many things to learn from these first verses of this letter.
#1- The gospel of God was not an afterthought, the sacrifice of Jesus did not just happen because of Judas and the Chief Priests in cullussion. It was promised way before hand by the Old Testament prophets ( including Moses who spoke of it as Adam and Eve were escorted out of Eden by God their Creator.)
#2- That the gospel of Jesus is based on a descendant of King David according to the flesh BUT was also declared a SON OF GOD based upon the power of the Spirit of holiness and the resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
#3 Through Jesus we have received grace and apostleship to bring about obedience of faith- even to the Gentiles among whom we also are called of Christ!
#4- These beloved in Rome are called as saints!- their faith is being proclaimed throughout the entire world!
#5-We serve our God in our own Spirits in the worship of His own Son, Jesus Christ, is my witness to how often I think of you!
#6 Striving to impart spiritual gifts to one another! Consider how important this was to the early church and how important it is to our church bodies today.
May we always be eager to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit with the household of faith and those outside of our faith who need to hear the saving grace of Jesus to begin this magnificent journey,

06/20/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 28:17-31
"17 After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews, and when they came together, he began saying to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. 18 And when they had examined me, they were willing to release me because there were no grounds for putting me to death. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation against my nation. 20 For this reason, therefore, I requested to see you and to speak with you, since I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel.” 21 They said to him, “We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor has any of the brothers come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. 22 But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for regarding this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere.”

23 When they had set a day for Paul, people came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. 24 Some were being persuaded by the things said by Paul, but others would not believe. 25 And when they disagreed with one another, they began leaving after Paul said one parting statement: “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying,

‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, and will not understand;
And you will keep on seeing, and will not perceive;
27 For the hearts of this people have become insensitive,
And with their ears they hardly hear,
And they have closed their eyes;
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.”’

28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.”

30 Now Paul stayed two full years in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered."

Thoughts-The final words of Acts. Acts of the disciples but not the acts of the Holy Spirit. We find the Holy Spirit continues to act among the Christians through all the epistles which are being written concurrently for the most part, throughout the writing of Acts. Save Revelations which was written by John in the last years of his life.
In today's setting, Paul reminds those who are doubting the things that he has told them regarding Jesus and who He is and what He had come to earth to fulfill and accomplish (Salvation for all, both the Jews and the Gentiles) these words of Isaiah regarding the Jewish people. Insensitive hearts, ears that can barely hear, closed eyes, Because they truly do NOT want to see or understand. God waits to heal them but they will NOT LISTEN! So God's good news has been sent to the Gentiles instead.
God has called each of us to be witnesses to share His good news with those who will listen. Just like Paul, not everyone will hear what we have to say- that is not up to us to change. It is up to each of us to share! The Holy Spirit will go with the word of God and convict and comfort and confront. Those are not our jobs they belong only to the Holy Spirit. God will use us to plant the seeds so that the Holy Spirit can work in and among those that we engage.
Speak His word in and out of season! To everyone, everywhere! Paul lived in Rome for two years writing letters, visiting with those who wanted to hear what he had to say and living the life that God had for him to live. Teaching the Gentiles the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must do the same!

06/19/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 28:11-16
"11 After three months we set sail on an Alexandrian ship which had wintered at the island, and which had [j]the Twin Brothers for its figurehead. 12 After we put in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 From there we sailed around and arrived at Rhegium, and a day later a south wind came up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 [k]There we found some brothers and sisters, and were invited to stay with them for seven days; and that is how we came to Rome. 15 And from there the brothers and sisters, when they heard about us, came as far as the [l]Market of Appius and the [m]Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.

16 When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him."

Thoughts- How many people did Paul influence in his lifetime? How many people did he bring to a saving knowledge of Christ? How many people took an interest in his cause? How many people believers or not, did God through His Holy Spirit, employ to get Paul safely to Rome? How about looking all the way back to Stephen as Saul held the coats of those that were stoning him. How many times do you think that Saul considered the glow on Stephen's face as he was being stoned, after Saul met Christ on the road to Damascus?
Things change in our lives. We are not the same people at 65 as we are at 15, or 25, or even 45. Things happen in our lives that shape us and polish us. Things also happen that make us slower to judge, quicker to love and show compassion. In this passage I stop and I ask the question about the soldier that was guarding Paul. It's one that we will never know the answer to, the Bible doesn't say, "Did Paul bring his guard to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?" I mean consider being in the presence of Paul day and night for how long? Someone must have gone to the leaders and vouched for Paul that he wouldn't try to escape. That he would not be any trouble left on his own with a single guard.
As I read through Acts- as a new convert even to this year I confess to looking for the miracles. The exciting, the earth changing- the attention getters in the scriptures. But when you start reading to understand- to see what truly happened during the life and times of the first church, I found the miracles in the relationships- the every day goings on. When the Holy Spirit prevented them from going where they shouldn't go, when divisions became divine opportunities for the gospel to move twice as fast. Where persecution becomes progressive evangelism. Today, who are you ministering to in your journey? Who are you influencing for God? How are you proclaiming Jesus to the world around you?

06/18/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 27:1-10
"28 When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The natives showed us extraordinary kindness, for they kindled a fire and took us all in because of the rain that had started and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 Now they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.

7 Now in the neighboring parts of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us warmly for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with a recurring fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after he prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and being cured. 10 They also showed us many honors, and when we were about to set sail, they supplied us with everything we needed.

Thoughts- Not only has Paul been given the opportunity to speak to the Jews and Gentiles in Synagogues, in his journey he has brought a Philippian jailer and his household to salvation. He has brought onto his team a Greek/Jewish young man named Timothy. He has spoken to Kings, and Roman leaders in different times and places. He has brought Godly knowledge everywhere that he has gone- even when he almost went down with the ship! Once they had landed on that "sand bar" that the angel of the Lord mentioned in the last chapter, they are surrounded by natives on the island. For all the ill treatment at the hands of his peers every where else he has been, the natives take care of their injuries, keep them warm and fed. In trying to help with the fire, Paul encounters a viper. Paul shakes it off into the fire and the natives then consider him some kind of a god. Paul lays hands on the father of the leader of the island and he is healed from a fever and dysentery. He then heals many people there that had other sicknesses. Paul never turns anyone away, and continues ministering the entire 3 months on the island. Even when recovering from shipwreck, he continues to give glory to God.
My question to you today- who is someone who unexpectedly supplied you with everything you need? Then who did you give credit to for your needs being met?
My list could go on for a really long time. I can think of many, but a couple stand out big! Not for any large thing or opportunity but for sometimes silent faithfulness. A friendship, a taking care of us when we needed it financially when it wasn't expected or even thought about by us. We have a group of friends and family who went to the mat for us preparing a benefit for Bill's expenses for his treatments and needs for his cancer. We so appreciate that help. We use it to pay for Bill's appointments and travel expenses, which will be higher with having treatments in Ann Arbor now. These few (some of whom have since died of other things and a few with cancer themselves) provided a way for others to join with them to bless us in a kind and generous way and we thank many of you for that blessing. We continue to be blessed by many prayers and thoughts and offers of help. We thank you and we thank God for putting each of you in our lives for our good and for God's glory!
Thank you seems in adequate for all that God has blessed us with! But it is all that we have to do other than pass it on to the next person! You know that we will. Thank You!

Bill Bowser Benefit account is active at Huntington Bank.

06/17/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 27:21-44
21 When many had lost their appetites, Paul then stood among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice and not have set sail from Crete, and thereby spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 And yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong, whom I also serve, came to me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has graciously granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that [n]it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on a certain island.”

27 But when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to suspect that they were approaching some land. 28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29 Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak. 30 But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had let down the ship’s boat into the sea, on the pretense that they were going to lay out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men remain on the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.

33 Until the day was about to dawn, Paul kept encouraging them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been constantly watching and going without eating, having taken in nothing. 34 Therefore, I encourage you to take some food, for this is for your survival, for not a hair from the head of any of you will perish.” 35 Having said this, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all, and he broke it and began to eat. 36 All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food. 37 We were 276 people on the ship in all. 38 When they had eaten enough, they began lightening the ship by throwing the wheat out into the sea.

39 Now when day came, they could not recognize the land; but they did notice a bay with a beach, and they resolved to run the ship onto it if they could. 40 And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea while at the same time they were loosening the ropes of the rudders; and they hoisted the foresail to the wind and were heading for the beach. 41 But they struck a reef where two seas met and ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck firmly and remained immovable, while the stern started to break up due to the force of the waves. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape; 43 but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from accomplishing their intention, and commanded that those who could swim were to jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest were to follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land."

Thoughts - we pick up today where we left off yesterday. Paul is on a boat- well what's left of the boat after almost 2 weeks of sailing in stormy seas- they are on the brink of despair. But Paul has had a word from an angel of God saying that Paul would stand before Caesar. And that no lives would be lost from the boat, if they would keep up their courage. Paul becomes a Barnabas- a Son of Encouragement to these on the boat with him. He gets them to eat, he gives them good advice, He even gives thanks to God in the middle of the storm before they knew whether they would make it to land or not. That is what faith looks like- Thanking God in the middle of the storm. It is being thankful that things aren't as bad as they could be. It is being thankful that there is a hope even when things could be darker than they've ever been. It is being thankful that God provided enough pieces from the boat for every one to get safely to land.
That plank or piece of wood in your life may be a decision that you made that is paying off when you need it most. It may be being in the right place at exactly the right time for God to show up and shine. It may be just holding your head above water for a second or two as you get swamped with another wave of grief, shame or confusion.
Again, I don't really "pick" and choose these scriptures. We've been looking for verses on the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we don't see the name spelled out in the verses, sometimes the description of what is happening shows the footprints of God all over it. We find that over and over again in the book of Acts. Miraculous healings, salvation not just from sin either, imagine all the sailors of the boat with Paul, who are told in the middle of the worst storm they've ever been in "no lives will be lost from the boat." In your greatest joys and your hardest storms Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide.
Thanks to all who have been praying for us today. If you would like an update on my hubby, we've updated his account.

Well folks- we've been silent for almost 2 years. We have traveled a few places. Bill is working a couple days a week. We are…

06/16/2026

Worship in Spirit and Truth
Acts 27:1-25
"27 Now when it was decided that we would sail for Italy, they proceeded to turn Paul and some other prisoners over to a centurion of the Augustan cohort, named Julius. 2 And we boarded an Adramyttian ship that was about to sail to the regions along the coast of Asia, and put out to sea accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul with consideration and allowed him to go to his friends and receive care. 4 From there we put out to sea and sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. 5 When we had sailed through the sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it. 7 When we had sailed slowly for a good many days, and with difficulty had arrived off Cnidus, since the wind did not permit us to go farther, we sailed under the shelter of Crete, off Salmone; 8 and with difficulty sailing past it, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

9 When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul started admonishing them, 10 saying to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the [d]captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul. 12 The harbor was not suitable for wintering, so the majority reached a decision to put out to sea from there, if somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

13 When a moderate south wind came up, thinking that they had attained their purpose, they weighed anchor and began sailing along Crete, closer to shore.

Shipwreck
14 But before very long a violent wind, called Euraquilo, rushed down from the land; 15 and when the ship was caught in it and could not head up into the wind, we gave up and let ourselves be driven by the wind. 16 Running under the shelter of a small island called Cauda, we were able to get the ship’s [h]boat under control only with difficulty. 17 After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and let themselves be driven along in this way. 18 The next day as we were being violently tossed by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was slowly abandoned.

21 When many had lost their appetites, Paul then stood among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice and not have set sail from Crete, and thereby spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 And yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong, whom I also serve, came to me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has graciously granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on a certain island.”

Thoughts- How many times have you heard or read this story about Paul? Can you picture it on a flannelgraph board, or maybe an Adventures of the Bible video played out in the 80's or '90's? Maybe you were the teacher telling the story to a roomful of children? Or maybe during a sermon you thought, "Yep, I've heard this story before.
Today read it again! PUT YOURSELF IN the BOAT! Feel the wind, see the terror as the boat is rocking and tipping. See the things being tossed overboard. Not just the cargo- not just the provisions- the tackle- the riggings- the very things that make a boat - a boat. The things needed to propel it. Each sail, each rope is necessary to their survival but it is also leading to their doom. They chuck it all in the seas. Yet, "All hope of our being saved was slowly abandoned."

Have you ever been there? At the crossroads of hope and despair. You've done everything you can. prayed every prayer over that relationship. You've taken all the drugs and treatments. You've saved all the money that you thought you would need. You took all the classes to follow your career path. You've hung your clothes outside to save a dime or two, maybe planted a garden and watched the bunnies get fat. Life doesn't always happen the way we plan. Sometimes the biggest storm we can imagine destroys all that we have worked for, ruined everything that might have "saved us."
Now what? For Paul, God spoke to him through the Holy Spirit, tells these sailors and those who are traveling with them- Guys! You should have listened to me! (Joy paraphrase) I am sure that went over like a fart in church! You shouldn't have started out on this journey. BUT keep your chins up! We're going to be fine, no one's going to die- but you are going to lose the ship. How can he say this? How does he know? Because an angel of the Lord told Paul that he would stand before Caesar. Paul believes that God will do all that He says He will, Exactly how He says it will happen!
That's the faith that I want! That's the faith that I need!
Nothing happens as an accident. God's timing is always spot on- never late- never early. Today I need to read this story and let it fill me with hope. We are at our own crossroads- tomorrow we'll find out answers. I need to remember this! I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.
#1- "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us," Ephesians 3:20
#2 "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day."2 Timothy 1:12
#3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” I Peter 1:3
IYKYK- Please pray for us tomorrow. The meditation will probably post in the late afternoon or evening.