It's the Perry and Shaunna podcast on the real life journey with you, reminding you that you are ABBA's beloved child and that Jesus has called you into his massive mission to heal the world.

It's the Perry and Shaunna podcast on the real life journey with you, reminding you that you are ABBA's beloved child and that Jesus has called you into his massive mission to heal the world.

You don't realize how much you look in the rear view mirror until you can't. We bought a recliner over the weekend and we purchased it online and it got delivered for free. And after unboxing it and then furniture shopping for a couple of days trying to find something that would match it really well, we realized this is going to be a really hard piece of furniture. We don't want to. We don't want to have to shift how we set up this entire room to work around this recliner. Let's just bring the recliner back. It'll be easier. So we box it back up and to my surprise, after laying all the seats down, it actually fit in my little Ford Escape. Wild. Anyway, I had to drive to work with this recliner box in the back of my car. And I'm telling you, it filled that escape like it was me and the recliner. And that's it. It just completely filled it up. But what I realized once I got on the road was it made my rear view mirror completely useless, because all you could see was this box of this of the recliner. So I literally could not look back in my rear view mirror. And it just got me thinking about how much time I actually spend looking in the rear view mirror, how much time I spend looking back. We talk a lot about the good old days, right? When are the good old days? When the kids were little or the good old days? Those basketball glory days. Pear dog. Right? Oh, yeah. Take me to a moment in a game on the floor and, like, paint the picture as if we're there again.

You don't realize how much you look in the rear view mirror until you can't. We bought a recliner over the weekend and we purchased it online and it got delivered for free. And after unboxing it and then furniture shopping for a couple of days trying to find something that would match it really well, we realized this is going to be a really hard piece of furniture. We don't want to. We don't want to have to shift how we set up this entire room to work around this recliner. Let's just bring the recliner back. It'll be easier. So we box it back up and to my surprise, after laying all the seats down, it actually fit in my little Ford Escape. Wild. Anyway, I had to drive to work with this recliner box in the back of my car. And I'm telling you, it filled that escape like it was me and the recliner. And that's it. It just completely filled it up. But what I realized once I got on the road was it made my rear view mirror completely useless, because all you could see was this box of this of the recliner. So I literally could not look back in my rear view mirror. And it just got me thinking about how much time I actually spend looking in the rear view mirror, how much time I spend looking back. We talk a lot about the good old days, right? When are the good old days? When the kids were little or the good old days? Those basketball glory days. Pear dog. Right? Oh, yeah. Take me to a moment in a game on the floor and, like, paint the picture as if we're there again.

Yeah. I think of a Friday night in February playing Saint Agnes at home. We had just lost to them the week before. They were in first place. We were down the standings quite a ways and man pulled off a victory that night. Scored 27 points. Wow. The glory days. What a memory.

Yeah. I think of a Friday night in February playing Saint Agnes at home. We had just lost to them the week before. They were in first place. We were down the standings quite a ways and man pulled off a victory that night. Scored 27 points. Wow. The glory days. What a memory.

The glory days.

The glory days.

If only I could go back, right?

If only I could go back, right?

I think we spent a lot of time looking back when what's in front of us is actually so much more important than anything that's behind us.

I think we spent a lot of time looking back when what's in front of us is actually so much more important than anything that's behind us.

And usually the stuff I look back on is not the night I scored 27 points to beat Saint Agnes. It's all of the failures.

And usually the stuff I look back on is not the night I scored 27 points to beat Saint Agnes. It's all of the failures.

Oh my goodness. Yes.

Oh my goodness. Yes.

Spending time on all of the the sins and regrets and all that stuff.

Spending time on all of the the sins and regrets and all that stuff.

If I had known then what I know now, how I would have done it differently if I just had a do over. Truth of the matter is, if I just had a do over, I'd probably figure out whole new ways to mess it up and have and create new regrets. But here's the thing. This is what's in front of us. I mean, you can look at what's in front of us immediately, which is to partner with God in just covering this world and everyone in this world with the reality of God's love for us and for them. Like every everything you say today, every word you speak, every gesture, every prayer, every smile, every touch, like every moment of this day is meant to be lived in partnership with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, bringing an eternal reality to this temporal world.

If I had known then what I know now, how I would have done it differently if I just had a do over. Truth of the matter is, if I just had a do over, I'd probably figure out whole new ways to mess it up and have and create new regrets. But here's the thing. This is what's in front of us. I mean, you can look at what's in front of us immediately, which is to partner with God in just covering this world and everyone in this world with the reality of God's love for us and for them. Like every everything you say today, every word you speak, every gesture, every prayer, every smile, every touch, like every moment of this day is meant to be lived in partnership with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, bringing an eternal reality to this temporal world.

Every breath you take, every move you make. Is this what you're saying?

Every breath you take, every move you make. Is this what you're saying?

You know you're going in a different direction there. But there's the immediately, there's the today of what's in front of us. But then there's the eventually of what's in front of us, which is we get to live in the new heavens and the new earth. Glorifying God every moment of every day in everything that we do for all eternity. Like now is just the rehearsal, man. We get to step into it now and fully experience it eventually.

You know you're going in a different direction there. But there's the immediately, there's the today of what's in front of us. But then there's the eventually of what's in front of us, which is we get to live in the new heavens and the new earth. Glorifying God every moment of every day in everything that we do for all eternity. Like now is just the rehearsal, man. We get to step into it now and fully experience it eventually.

You know, one of the things I, I believe really strongly that we're going to get to do in the new heavens and the new earth is that we're going to get to explore God's creation in a way we could never on this side. So we can explore this earth and we can explore a tiny bit of our solar system. But I think we'll be able to go to far and distant galaxies. And, you know, at the speed of light, you can't even get outside of our galaxy in like, you know, thousands of light years at the speed of light.

You know, one of the things I, I believe really strongly that we're going to get to do in the new heavens and the new earth is that we're going to get to explore God's creation in a way we could never on this side. So we can explore this earth and we can explore a tiny bit of our solar system. But I think we'll be able to go to far and distant galaxies. And, you know, at the speed of light, you can't even get outside of our galaxy in like, you know, thousands of light years at the speed of light.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Can't even get outside of the Milky Way. And there's billions, maybe trillions of galaxies. So to be able to even explore that, we're going to have to have some kind of ability To travel way faster than the speed of light. And I think it's going to be possible. And, you know, it's just use your holy imagination kind of thing.

Can't even get outside of the Milky Way. And there's billions, maybe trillions of galaxies. So to be able to even explore that, we're going to have to have some kind of ability To travel way faster than the speed of light. And I think it's going to be possible. And, you know, it's just use your holy imagination kind of thing.

I love it. I have a really good friend who says that your future is far more defining of who you are than all the elements of your past combined. Doesn't that just pull you into the future? Don't you just want to, like, lean in to what's coming?

I love it. I have a really good friend who says that your future is far more defining of who you are than all the elements of your past combined. Doesn't that just pull you into the future? Don't you just want to, like, lean in to what's coming?

Who we're becoming?

Who we're becoming?

Yes, who we're becoming and who we will be because of what Jesus did for us. Because of what's in front of us. For those of us who accept what Jesus did on the cross and invite him to be the Lord and Savior of our lives.

Yes, who we're becoming and who we will be because of what Jesus did for us. Because of what's in front of us. For those of us who accept what Jesus did on the cross and invite him to be the Lord and Savior of our lives.

I wrote this song and I don't know if this fits in. Maybe you can help me fit it in here, but I wrote this song called man of Grace, Boy of Shame, and it's a story about this boy, and he's growing up and he's failing and he feels like there's no hope for him, that he can never be forgiven. He's got no future. And this man comes to him, and he brings grace to this boy. And he says, you're going to grow up to be a virtuous man, an honorable man. You're going to become a man of grace. And he goes, the boy goes, how do you know? And the man goes, Because I'm you.

I wrote this song and I don't know if this fits in. Maybe you can help me fit it in here, but I wrote this song called man of Grace, Boy of Shame, and it's a story about this boy, and he's growing up and he's failing and he feels like there's no hope for him, that he can never be forgiven. He's got no future. And this man comes to him, and he brings grace to this boy. And he says, you're going to grow up to be a virtuous man, an honorable man. You're going to become a man of grace. And he goes, the boy goes, how do you know? And the man goes, Because I'm you.

Stop it!

Stop it!

I want to hear this song. You're going to make me cry. Yeah. Our future is shoot. Our future is really, really compelling.

I want to hear this song. You're going to make me cry. Yeah. Our future is shoot. Our future is really, really compelling.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Like we're headed somewhere. And it's somewhere really, really good. It's so much better than our past. Ooh.

Like we're headed somewhere. And it's somewhere really, really good. It's so much better than our past. Ooh.

Sorry about that.

Sorry about that.

Yeah. Stink. Lord, help us to stop spending so much time just looking in the rearview mirror. And help us to keep our eyes on the road in front of us, on you and on everything that you're calling us to, our future is far more compelling than all the elements of the past combined. We love you, God.

Yeah. Stink. Lord, help us to stop spending so much time just looking in the rearview mirror. And help us to keep our eyes on the road in front of us, on you and on everything that you're calling us to, our future is far more compelling than all the elements of the past combined. We love you, God.

You may feel like you're drowning, but God will never let you drown. There's a scene in the Lord of the rings, the first book in the trilogy where Frodo decides he's got to go on his own to destroy this this evil ring that's trying to corrupt the whole world. He decides that I got to do it myself. Nobody else can carry this burden. And. And his buddy Sam just won't let him go alone. Frodo gets in this boat, and he's. He's starting to move away from the shore. But Sam starts trudging into the water and Sam can't swim. And Frodo says, Sam, you can't swim. Sam says, I know, but I'm coming with you. And he just. He gets in over his head and he starts to go under, and he just puts his hand up in the air. Sam does, and he's floating down and down and suddenly you see this hand reach down. It's the hand of Frodo pulling him up into the boat. I was in such a deep depression Christmas Day of 1997, and I felt I was cut off from God and was like I was sinking down in the water, you know, with a hand raised up. But I had given up, and suddenly a hand reached down and pulled me up out of that water. And it was through my bride, Theresa. But really, that was the hand of the Lord reaching down to keep me from drowning.

You may feel like you're drowning, but God will never let you drown. There's a scene in the Lord of the rings, the first book in the trilogy where Frodo decides he's got to go on his own to destroy this this evil ring that's trying to corrupt the whole world. He decides that I got to do it myself. Nobody else can carry this burden. And. And his buddy Sam just won't let him go alone. Frodo gets in this boat, and he's. He's starting to move away from the shore. But Sam starts trudging into the water and Sam can't swim. And Frodo says, Sam, you can't swim. Sam says, I know, but I'm coming with you. And he just. He gets in over his head and he starts to go under, and he just puts his hand up in the air. Sam does, and he's floating down and down and suddenly you see this hand reach down. It's the hand of Frodo pulling him up into the boat. I was in such a deep depression Christmas Day of 1997, and I felt I was cut off from God and was like I was sinking down in the water, you know, with a hand raised up. But I had given up, and suddenly a hand reached down and pulled me up out of that water. And it was through my bride, Theresa. But really, that was the hand of the Lord reaching down to keep me from drowning.

Amazing. And you know what I love so much that God will use us. The work that he's doing. We get to be instruments of, you know, ordinary me. God can use me, and God can use you to bring hope, to bring encouragement, to grab a hand and to lift somebody up today.

Amazing. And you know what I love so much that God will use us. The work that he's doing. We get to be instruments of, you know, ordinary me. God can use me, and God can use you to bring hope, to bring encouragement, to grab a hand and to lift somebody up today.

Yeah. Here it is. John one five. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. You will not drown.

Yeah. Here it is. John one five. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. You will not drown.

Hey, I've got a question for you. What if we prayed open ended prayers and then we just listened? And then we did what God told us to do. I have been praying a prayer of breakthrough. And let me tell you, Perry LaHaye, I have a plan, and I've been making God aware of that plan and asking, Will you do this? Will you do this? Will you do this? And I feel like I've been banging my head against the wall, praying the same prayer over and over and over and over again. And then last week, I was driving to work and with some instruction through this book that I'm reading, I. I asked the Lord, like, what do you want me to know? Just an open ended prayer. Like God, what do you want me to know right now?

Hey, I've got a question for you. What if we prayed open ended prayers and then we just listened? And then we did what God told us to do. I have been praying a prayer of breakthrough. And let me tell you, Perry LaHaye, I have a plan, and I've been making God aware of that plan and asking, Will you do this? Will you do this? Will you do this? And I feel like I've been banging my head against the wall, praying the same prayer over and over and over and over again. And then last week, I was driving to work and with some instruction through this book that I'm reading, I. I asked the Lord, like, what do you want me to know? Just an open ended prayer. Like God, what do you want me to know right now?

Okay, so that sounds like a shift, because let me get this straight. You've had the blueprint for the God of the universe who created everything.

Okay, so that sounds like a shift, because let me get this straight. You've had the blueprint for the God of the universe who created everything.

I usually have an idea of how it should go down.

I usually have an idea of how it should go down.

And you want him to take your advice on this?

And you want him to take your advice on this?

Yeah, I was pretty clear about what I wanted him to do, but then to shift it up and to just have this open ended like, God, what do you want me to know? And I've been I've been saying, you know, I need a plan. I need a plan, I need a plan, I need a plan. Anyway, on this day, I'm. I'm driving to work, and I'm like, God, what do you want me to know? And he's like, I have a plan. And I was like, okay, why are you telling me you have a plan? And then I remembered, in regards to this situation, I've been saying, I need a plan, I need a plan, I need a plan. And he said, I have a plan. God has a plan that just falls like comfort on my soul. And the God who loves you, he speaks. He's a really good dad and he loves you. And he speaks to his kids like good dads do. And he gives us instructions. And I think a lot of times we're just not listening because we already have in our heads what we think we ought to do or what we think he ought to do.

Yeah, I was pretty clear about what I wanted him to do, but then to shift it up and to just have this open ended like, God, what do you want me to know? And I've been I've been saying, you know, I need a plan. I need a plan, I need a plan, I need a plan. Anyway, on this day, I'm. I'm driving to work, and I'm like, God, what do you want me to know? And he's like, I have a plan. And I was like, okay, why are you telling me you have a plan? And then I remembered, in regards to this situation, I've been saying, I need a plan, I need a plan, I need a plan. And he said, I have a plan. God has a plan that just falls like comfort on my soul. And the God who loves you, he speaks. He's a really good dad and he loves you. And he speaks to his kids like good dads do. And he gives us instructions. And I think a lot of times we're just not listening because we already have in our heads what we think we ought to do or what we think he ought to do.

This is coming up a lot lately, and this is not something I'm usually accustomed to doing. Is is like, Lord, you know everything. So, you know, because you know everything. You can tell me what's going on and what I need to do. And so what would that look like? So I started thinking this way. And so I haven't been feeling as well as I'd like to physically just something off physically. And so I've just started praying, Lord, you know what's going on with me. And if you were to tell me what's going on with me, what would that look like? And I've just been, you know, listening.

This is coming up a lot lately, and this is not something I'm usually accustomed to doing. Is is like, Lord, you know everything. So, you know, because you know everything. You can tell me what's going on and what I need to do. And so what would that look like? So I started thinking this way. And so I haven't been feeling as well as I'd like to physically just something off physically. And so I've just started praying, Lord, you know what's going on with me. And if you were to tell me what's going on with me, what would that look like? And I've just been, you know, listening.

Yeah, it's it's a shift, isn't it? Like it's it's a different approach. And I think, you know, if you're feeling bad about this right now, I'm reminded of an interaction between Jesus and the disciples. And it's in Mark six, I think. But anyway, Jesus is teaching This huge crowd gathers around to hear what he has to say, and it's starting to get late. And the disciples are like Jesus, here's what you ought to do. It's getting late. You know we're far away from food. You ought to send these people home so they can go get something. So the disciples approached Jesus with a here's what you ought to do type of mentality.

Yeah, it's it's a shift, isn't it? Like it's it's a different approach. And I think, you know, if you're feeling bad about this right now, I'm reminded of an interaction between Jesus and the disciples. And it's in Mark six, I think. But anyway, Jesus is teaching This huge crowd gathers around to hear what he has to say, and it's starting to get late. And the disciples are like Jesus, here's what you ought to do. It's getting late. You know we're far away from food. You ought to send these people home so they can go get something. So the disciples approached Jesus with a here's what you ought to do type of mentality.

They have the blueprint.

They have the blueprint.

Yeah.

Yeah.

They do. Jesus. Here it is.

They do. Jesus. Here it is.

Right. So obviously here's me in this scenario. Jesus, here's what you ought to do. And then verse 35, by this time it was late in the day. So his disciples came to him. This is a remote place, they said, and it's already late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages, and they can buy themselves something to eat. So the disciples are telling Jesus what he ought to do and listen to his response, I love this. Jesus answers, you give them something to eat.

Right. So obviously here's me in this scenario. Jesus, here's what you ought to do. And then verse 35, by this time it was late in the day. So his disciples came to him. This is a remote place, they said, and it's already late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages, and they can buy themselves something to eat. So the disciples are telling Jesus what he ought to do and listen to his response, I love this. Jesus answers, you give them something to eat.

I'm not doing it. You do it.

I'm not doing it. You do it.

I love that so much. But they're like, what? Like we don't have what we need. We can't afford to feed all these people like we don't have the resources. And then Jesus says, well, what do you have? And Jesus directs them. And this is like, so out of the box, they're thinking, there's one solution. We've got a problem. We've got one solution. We're going to involve Jesus in the one solution. And Jesus is like, comes up with this completely out of the box response.

I love that so much. But they're like, what? Like we don't have what we need. We can't afford to feed all these people like we don't have the resources. And then Jesus says, well, what do you have? And Jesus directs them. And this is like, so out of the box, they're thinking, there's one solution. We've got a problem. We've got one solution. We're going to involve Jesus in the one solution. And Jesus is like, comes up with this completely out of the box response.

This reminds me of the story of Moses. And when God is coaching Moses up to go to Egypt and rescue his people. He says, take up your staff. And you know, because Moses doesn't think he can pull this off. And then he turns his staff into a snake. You know, it's a miraculous thing. I think the message to Moses is, hey, you've got a staff, but I can do a lot with just your staff. And so and that's the same staff that he stretched out to open the Red sea.

This reminds me of the story of Moses. And when God is coaching Moses up to go to Egypt and rescue his people. He says, take up your staff. And you know, because Moses doesn't think he can pull this off. And then he turns his staff into a snake. You know, it's a miraculous thing. I think the message to Moses is, hey, you've got a staff, but I can do a lot with just your staff. And so and that's the same staff that he stretched out to open the Red sea.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So what's in your hand? Doesn't look like much, but I can use it.

So what's in your hand? Doesn't look like much, but I can use it.

Yeah, with my power and authority. Makes me think of the, uh. The chosens get used to different. Right. Like, instead of thinking things are always the same way, or this is how it's going to go down. Get used to different. So in the scenario back to Jesus and his disciples, he gives them directions and he says, okay, have all the people sit down in groups of on the green grass, you know, and so they sit down in groups of like hundreds and 50. And then he takes the five loaves and the two fish and he looks up to heaven. Jesus gives thanks. He breaks the bread. He gives it to the disciples. He tells the disciples to feed the people. Wasn't that Jesus's original plan? You do it right. So he gives them the bread, tells them to feed the people. All the people are satisfied. They end up having baskets full of bread and fish left over. There were like 5000 people.

Yeah, with my power and authority. Makes me think of the, uh. The chosens get used to different. Right. Like, instead of thinking things are always the same way, or this is how it's going to go down. Get used to different. So in the scenario back to Jesus and his disciples, he gives them directions and he says, okay, have all the people sit down in groups of on the green grass, you know, and so they sit down in groups of like hundreds and 50. And then he takes the five loaves and the two fish and he looks up to heaven. Jesus gives thanks. He breaks the bread. He gives it to the disciples. He tells the disciples to feed the people. Wasn't that Jesus's original plan? You do it right. So he gives them the bread, tells them to feed the people. All the people are satisfied. They end up having baskets full of bread and fish left over. There were like 5000 people.

I wonder what it looked like as they were handing it out and it was multiplying as they were doing it.

I wonder what it looked like as they were handing it out and it was multiplying as they were doing it.

I would.

I would.

I would love to have been there to just see that I keep pulling stuff out here.

I would love to have been there to just see that I keep pulling stuff out here.

And it's just not going away. Like Kingdom math, right? Like, I thought I had three more rolls and now I have eight. And then you pull out eight rolls and there's 12 more. You're like, what is happening?

And it's just not going away. Like Kingdom math, right? Like, I thought I had three more rolls and now I have eight. And then you pull out eight rolls and there's 12 more. You're like, what is happening?

That reminds me of, uh, of Donny Irving with I think it's community kids. He started this ministry in a neighborhood in Grand Rapids, and early on in their ministry, they had this spaghetti supper, and they didn't have enough spaghetti. And the kids wanted seconds, and he didn't know if he could do it, but he said, okay, go ahead. And they had enough for seconds, and then they had enough for thirds. And God multiplied the spaghetti, as far as I can tell. That's that's what Donny felt like happened.

That reminds me of, uh, of Donny Irving with I think it's community kids. He started this ministry in a neighborhood in Grand Rapids, and early on in their ministry, they had this spaghetti supper, and they didn't have enough spaghetti. And the kids wanted seconds, and he didn't know if he could do it, but he said, okay, go ahead. And they had enough for seconds, and then they had enough for thirds. And God multiplied the spaghetti, as far as I can tell. That's that's what Donny felt like happened.

Yeah. It's just it's such an encouragement to me to hear these today stories and to even read these stories from Scripture, because in my own life. I'm challenged to, I don't know, maybe stop telling God what he ought to do. You know, maybe there's a situation in your life right now and you're just you're praying and and you've got a solution. Like, here's the problem. Here's the solution. There's obviously only one way for this to go down. Maybe all you can see is, is what's directly in front of you. My question to you is, what if we prayed open ended prayers and then we just listened and let God speak and we just did what he said? We just might experience a miracle.

Yeah. It's just it's such an encouragement to me to hear these today stories and to even read these stories from Scripture, because in my own life. I'm challenged to, I don't know, maybe stop telling God what he ought to do. You know, maybe there's a situation in your life right now and you're just you're praying and and you've got a solution. Like, here's the problem. Here's the solution. There's obviously only one way for this to go down. Maybe all you can see is, is what's directly in front of you. My question to you is, what if we prayed open ended prayers and then we just listened and let God speak and we just did what he said? We just might experience a miracle.

My suffering friend through the years has come up with a thousand reasons that he's unqualified to be in God's family, and I prayed for him for decades and walked with him and spent so much time trying to breathe faith back into him. And nothing ever seems to seems to change. It seems like the Lord's not hearing my prayers.

My suffering friend through the years has come up with a thousand reasons that he's unqualified to be in God's family, and I prayed for him for decades and walked with him and spent so much time trying to breathe faith back into him. And nothing ever seems to seems to change. It seems like the Lord's not hearing my prayers.

I'm sorry. That's. That's hard when it feels like. I mean, there are times when we're praying. We're crying out to God because he's the only one who can change the circumstances. And it feels like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. It's not the reality, but it can certainly feel that way.

I'm sorry. That's. That's hard when it feels like. I mean, there are times when we're praying. We're crying out to God because he's the only one who can change the circumstances. And it feels like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. It's not the reality, but it can certainly feel that way.

Yeah it does. In Mark four, Jesus says to his guys, let's go over to the other side of the lake and on that lake, the Sea of Galilee. I believe it was a furious storm comes up and the waves break over the boat so that it's nearly swamped. Jesus is in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples wake him. Teacher, don't you care if we drown? The Lectio 365 devotional says the disciples were panicking. Several of them were seasoned sailors who knew the lake well. They knew this was a really bad storm. And yet there's Jesus sleeping. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I'm praying to a sleeping Jesus. I know he cares. I really do, but why is he sleeping? Why won't he do something? Why?

Yeah it does. In Mark four, Jesus says to his guys, let's go over to the other side of the lake and on that lake, the Sea of Galilee. I believe it was a furious storm comes up and the waves break over the boat so that it's nearly swamped. Jesus is in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples wake him. Teacher, don't you care if we drown? The Lectio 365 devotional says the disciples were panicking. Several of them were seasoned sailors who knew the lake well. They knew this was a really bad storm. And yet there's Jesus sleeping. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I'm praying to a sleeping Jesus. I know he cares. I really do, but why is he sleeping? Why won't he do something? Why?

Well, I'm. This is getting real. I mean, I have felt this this week in particular because I feel like there's an area in my life that I'm praying into that I feel like there's an urgency. You know? And that's what. That's what the disciples were feeling on that boat. Like Jesus, this is not something we can just wait on. You need to move now. You need to do something now. Like we need you. I need you now, Lord. And it feels like I'm in a in a place of waiting. And if you don't do something, I'm going to get taken out.

Well, I'm. This is getting real. I mean, I have felt this this week in particular because I feel like there's an area in my life that I'm praying into that I feel like there's an urgency. You know? And that's what. That's what the disciples were feeling on that boat. Like Jesus, this is not something we can just wait on. You need to move now. You need to do something now. Like we need you. I need you now, Lord. And it feels like I'm in a in a place of waiting. And if you don't do something, I'm going to get taken out.

Yeah. And when the disciples wake up Jesus and say, Lord, we're going to drown. What he says is, why are you so afraid? You have so little faith. That's pretty. Pretty staggering knocks you back on your heels. When I feel that way. Jesus, why aren't you doing something? That's when I need personally. I just need to choose to trust him. That his plan and his ways are way bigger than mine. What if when we feel Jesus is sleeping, he's actually inviting us to a deeper prayer life, a more, you know, passionate prayer life like you're talking about? What if he's inviting us into a deeper faith, a deeper trust? And I think that he is.

Yeah. And when the disciples wake up Jesus and say, Lord, we're going to drown. What he says is, why are you so afraid? You have so little faith. That's pretty. Pretty staggering knocks you back on your heels. When I feel that way. Jesus, why aren't you doing something? That's when I need personally. I just need to choose to trust him. That his plan and his ways are way bigger than mine. What if when we feel Jesus is sleeping, he's actually inviting us to a deeper prayer life, a more, you know, passionate prayer life like you're talking about? What if he's inviting us into a deeper faith, a deeper trust? And I think that he is.

Yeah. I'm picturing myself on the boat with the guys right now. And just like, I mean, kudos to them for, hey, big storm, let's go get Jesus. Because if I picture myself on the boat in the middle of a storm. I'm grabbing a bucket and I'm trying to, you know, get the water out of the boat. I think a lot of times that's what I'm doing. I'm trying to solve the problem by getting the water out of the boat, when it's like, there's no way, no how, that scooping buckets of water is going to change my situation, right?

Yeah. I'm picturing myself on the boat with the guys right now. And just like, I mean, kudos to them for, hey, big storm, let's go get Jesus. Because if I picture myself on the boat in the middle of a storm. I'm grabbing a bucket and I'm trying to, you know, get the water out of the boat. I think a lot of times that's what I'm doing. I'm trying to solve the problem by getting the water out of the boat, when it's like, there's no way, no how, that scooping buckets of water is going to change my situation, right?

It's way beyond us. I think that's the point. It's way beyond us. We can't do it. Yeah. And the disciples, you know, by that time, they should have realized that Jesus, whether he was sleeping, he was going to take care of them for me with my suffering friend. I think it looks like me praying one more time. Jesus, I trust that you're listening. One more time. I pray your kingdom come. Your will be done in my suffering friend's life as it is in heaven.

It's way beyond us. I think that's the point. It's way beyond us. We can't do it. Yeah. And the disciples, you know, by that time, they should have realized that Jesus, whether he was sleeping, he was going to take care of them for me with my suffering friend. I think it looks like me praying one more time. Jesus, I trust that you're listening. One more time. I pray your kingdom come. Your will be done in my suffering friend's life as it is in heaven.

You're not going to drown. God's not going to let you drown. And I feel like that fits when Jesus said, why are you so afraid? I think it's because of a limited perspective of who's in the boat with you. You know, if we don't know God for who he truly is and what he's capable of doing, you know, it's totally makes sense to freak out. But we're told in Scripture over and over and over again, don't be afraid. Not as an admonishment, but as man. If you really knew who I am, I think the Lord is saying, like, if Jesus is saying to these guys, right? Like, if you knew my authority and what I'm capable of, you just wouldn't be afraid. There's more for us to learn in who he is so that we can experience peace in the storm.

You're not going to drown. God's not going to let you drown. And I feel like that fits when Jesus said, why are you so afraid? I think it's because of a limited perspective of who's in the boat with you. You know, if we don't know God for who he truly is and what he's capable of doing, you know, it's totally makes sense to freak out. But we're told in Scripture over and over and over again, don't be afraid. Not as an admonishment, but as man. If you really knew who I am, I think the Lord is saying, like, if Jesus is saying to these guys, right? Like, if you knew my authority and what I'm capable of, you just wouldn't be afraid. There's more for us to learn in who he is so that we can experience peace in the storm.

And Jesus, he knew what was going to go down. He knew what was going to happen in that boat. He was fully trusting his father and so he could just sleep. He knew there was going to be a storm, and he knew he had his guys, and he wanted them to be able to trust that. You know, I know Jesus has this. And so I'd rather be in the boat in a terrible storm with Jesus sleeping than be in a boat on a sunny summer day on Lake Michigan without Jesus. Mhm.

And Jesus, he knew what was going to go down. He knew what was going to happen in that boat. He was fully trusting his father and so he could just sleep. He knew there was going to be a storm, and he knew he had his guys, and he wanted them to be able to trust that. You know, I know Jesus has this. And so I'd rather be in the boat in a terrible storm with Jesus sleeping than be in a boat on a sunny summer day on Lake Michigan without Jesus. Mhm.

100%.

100%.

Safest place to be in the world is in a storm with Jesus. Worst thing that can happen is that I lose my life and I'm with him. Boom!

Safest place to be in the world is in a storm with Jesus. Worst thing that can happen is that I lose my life and I'm with him. Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

I'm in his presence. The Lord knows what he's doing. I know this is a struggle. It is for me. But the Lord knows what he's doing. Let's trust him. He is setting everything right, even when we can't see it. Even when it seems like and looks like everything is unraveling. All the evidence points to it's all falling apart. No. Jesus is setting everything right right now. It's in the process right now, and he will heal. Complete that work of setting everything right. One of the hardest things that I've had to learn in my journey with Jesus is to accept his forgiveness. Or put another way to forgive myself. I so relate with the character Mendoza, played by Robert De Niro in the film The Mission. I think it was a 1980s film. So Mendoza. He's a slave trader in South America. Not only that, he murders his brother, and then he's just filled with such remorse and regret and shame. So he joins a Catholic order. He begins a quest to atone for his Sins, to reform himself, to make himself a better person. Every day he carries this load of rocks tied to a rope up a really steep cliff to try to pay off his sins. Day after day after day. One day he gets to the top of the cliff in the South American tribe is there, and the chief has a mass of knife like it's a foot long. And Mendoza is probably responsible for enslaving some from this tribe. So he thinks he's about to get what he deserves. He's ready to take what he deserves.

I'm in his presence. The Lord knows what he's doing. I know this is a struggle. It is for me. But the Lord knows what he's doing. Let's trust him. He is setting everything right, even when we can't see it. Even when it seems like and looks like everything is unraveling. All the evidence points to it's all falling apart. No. Jesus is setting everything right right now. It's in the process right now, and he will heal. Complete that work of setting everything right. One of the hardest things that I've had to learn in my journey with Jesus is to accept his forgiveness. Or put another way to forgive myself. I so relate with the character Mendoza, played by Robert De Niro in the film The Mission. I think it was a 1980s film. So Mendoza. He's a slave trader in South America. Not only that, he murders his brother, and then he's just filled with such remorse and regret and shame. So he joins a Catholic order. He begins a quest to atone for his Sins, to reform himself, to make himself a better person. Every day he carries this load of rocks tied to a rope up a really steep cliff to try to pay off his sins. Day after day after day. One day he gets to the top of the cliff in the South American tribe is there, and the chief has a mass of knife like it's a foot long. And Mendoza is probably responsible for enslaving some from this tribe. So he thinks he's about to get what he deserves. He's ready to take what he deserves.

I feel like I have. I have felt the desire for justice when I have done wrong. Like, you know what I mean? Like, I feel I haven't seen the movie, but what I'm hearing is you're you're doing such a great job of describing it is he wanted justice for himself. It's like if he could suffer, he felt like he needed to make himself pay.

I feel like I have. I have felt the desire for justice when I have done wrong. Like, you know what I mean? Like, I feel I haven't seen the movie, but what I'm hearing is you're you're doing such a great job of describing it is he wanted justice for himself. It's like if he could suffer, he felt like he needed to make himself pay.

Yeah, absolutely. I think it's written on the human heart. I can relate with that. When I started becoming hyper aware of the sins that I had committed as a teenager when I was in college, I just felt like I needed to be judged. I needed justice. And that's when the gospel became alive to me. I started reading about how Jesus I never knew this growing up, that Jesus took the judgment I deserve.

Yeah, absolutely. I think it's written on the human heart. I can relate with that. When I started becoming hyper aware of the sins that I had committed as a teenager when I was in college, I just felt like I needed to be judged. I needed justice. And that's when the gospel became alive to me. I started reading about how Jesus I never knew this growing up, that Jesus took the judgment I deserve.

I think that we, because we like we have justice in us because we're made in the image of God. And he's a just God. We want the justice. But there's almost like this idol worship to and thinking I can inflict it upon myself and make it right. You know what I mean?

I think that we, because we like we have justice in us because we're made in the image of God. And he's a just God. We want the justice. But there's almost like this idol worship to and thinking I can inflict it upon myself and make it right. You know what I mean?

Yeah, it's a self-salvation thing. I can be my own Lord and Savior.

Yeah, it's a self-salvation thing. I can be my own Lord and Savior.

Exactly. I can I can take it for myself. I can put myself through what I need to go through to feel like I'm made right again.

Exactly. I can I can take it for myself. I can put myself through what I need to go through to feel like I'm made right again.

Yeah. Every other religion in the world is about atoning for your own sins, appeasing God to get them to love you. Only the gospel is you get forgiveness as a free gift because Jesus took the punishment for us.

Yeah. Every other religion in the world is about atoning for your own sins, appeasing God to get them to love you. Only the gospel is you get forgiveness as a free gift because Jesus took the punishment for us.

Yeah. I think there's this mentality that comes along with this too. This is where we think, like we anticipate God's going to punish me for whatever. Like if we haven't experienced the consequence, if we sinned and there wasn't an immediate consequence, we kind of sometimes can feel like it's hanging over. Have you ever felt like that? Like this is hanging over me and the other shoe is going to drop and I'm going to, you know, God's going to get me for it. I'm feeling like as he stood there and the chief is coming and he knows he's responsible for enslaving, you know, people within this tribe. He had to feel that anticipation of, I'm about to get what I deserve. I knew this was coming someday.

Yeah. I think there's this mentality that comes along with this too. This is where we think, like we anticipate God's going to punish me for whatever. Like if we haven't experienced the consequence, if we sinned and there wasn't an immediate consequence, we kind of sometimes can feel like it's hanging over. Have you ever felt like that? Like this is hanging over me and the other shoe is going to drop and I'm going to, you know, God's going to get me for it. I'm feeling like as he stood there and the chief is coming and he knows he's responsible for enslaving, you know, people within this tribe. He had to feel that anticipation of, I'm about to get what I deserve. I knew this was coming someday.

Yeah. This is This is my day of reckoning. Yeah, yeah. He thinks the chief is going to run him through with that knife. But instead, the chief cuts the rope and the load of rocks tumbled down the cliff into the water. Religion is what Mendoza had trying to pay off his sins. Getting the rope cut and seeing the rocks tumble down the cliff is the gospel the good news that God forgives us joyfully. He forgives us through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Yeah. This is This is my day of reckoning. Yeah, yeah. He thinks the chief is going to run him through with that knife. But instead, the chief cuts the rope and the load of rocks tumbled down the cliff into the water. Religion is what Mendoza had trying to pay off his sins. Getting the rope cut and seeing the rocks tumble down the cliff is the gospel the good news that God forgives us joyfully. He forgives us through our faith in Jesus Christ.

You know what it's not. It is a difference between religion and relationship, but it's also a difference between like a wrong view of God and a rightful view of God. The wrong view of God being. He's just waiting to take me out. You know, he's just making me stress and the anxiety and the weight of, you know, of punishing me for my sin. We think that God's angry and waiting to get us.

You know what it's not. It is a difference between religion and relationship, but it's also a difference between like a wrong view of God and a rightful view of God. The wrong view of God being. He's just waiting to take me out. You know, he's just making me stress and the anxiety and the weight of, you know, of punishing me for my sin. We think that God's angry and waiting to get us.

Yeah. And even Christianity can be turned into that view, which is polar opposite of what the Christian faith is all about.

Yeah. And even Christianity can be turned into that view, which is polar opposite of what the Christian faith is all about.

Right? Because, you know, Christianity is religion. Their relationship, being able to step into this intimate relationship with God, where God, this covenant right covenant is relationship. It's not it's not just a transaction. It's it's I've got you. You know that God says if you mess with Perry, you're messing with me. And he takes on our sin in that manner. Right. Like sin has messed with Perry. And so sin has messed with me. And so he deals with the sin as a way of covering us.

Right? Because, you know, Christianity is religion. Their relationship, being able to step into this intimate relationship with God, where God, this covenant right covenant is relationship. It's not it's not just a transaction. It's it's I've got you. You know that God says if you mess with Perry, you're messing with me. And he takes on our sin in that manner. Right. Like sin has messed with Perry. And so sin has messed with me. And so he deals with the sin as a way of covering us.

Yeah, yeah, he frees us from the oppressor. And sin is a great, great oppressor. And Jesus lived the perfect life that we could never live and then died in our place, died the death we deserve, and rose again to bring us into the father's embrace. So because Jesus has forgiven me and embraced me, I have learned to accept his forgiveness. I have learned to forgive myself. Why should I punish myself when Jesus has taken the knife for me? Romans five one. Since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in Jesus and what he has done, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Embrace the gospel today, my friend, whether it's for the first time or the thousandth time.

Yeah, yeah, he frees us from the oppressor. And sin is a great, great oppressor. And Jesus lived the perfect life that we could never live and then died in our place, died the death we deserve, and rose again to bring us into the father's embrace. So because Jesus has forgiven me and embraced me, I have learned to accept his forgiveness. I have learned to forgive myself. Why should I punish myself when Jesus has taken the knife for me? Romans five one. Since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in Jesus and what he has done, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Embrace the gospel today, my friend, whether it's for the first time or the thousandth time.

Thanks for letting Barry and Shawna walk the real life journey with you. The content from the Perry and Shawna podcast comes from their live show. Barry and Shauna. Mornings on 89.3 Moody Radio, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reach out to us by texting 800 968 8930. And please subscribe.

Thanks for letting Barry and Shawna walk the real life journey with you. The content from the Perry and Shawna podcast comes from their live show. Barry and Shauna. Mornings on 89.3 Moody Radio, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Reach out to us by texting 800 968 8930. And please subscribe.