Judges 7; Jeremiah 20; Mark 6; Acts 11

Today I need a simple truth to speak to me. I search today’s Scriptures asking for God to reveal something to me, not just to write about but to help me right here and now. I am feeling so overwhelmed by multiple crises at work, multiple crises at home, a death in the family, the fact that I’m traveling in 7 hours and I haven’t yet slept for the night OR packed, much less put the house in any order for the house sitter….need I go on?

In all of today’s readings I see not only the power of God
    Defeating the Midianites with a very small army by way of torches and trumpets
    Feeding over 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish
    Walking on water
    Calming a storm
    Empowering the early church to do mighty works
but I also see the way He goes about doing these mighty works… through people – by being WITH them – all the way. I can hear the Mercy Me song in my head… “God with Us”. I love that song. It brings back memories of a Mercy Me concert in Colorado. But I digress… just a little… The fact is, God IS with us.

God tells Gideon that he needs to thin out his army (from 30,000 to 300) so that it can be obvious that the victory was not due to the army’s own strength but from God.

Jeremiah, sandwiched between laments, says “But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior”.

Jesus takes five loaves and two fish and feeds over 5000 people, but He allows the disciples to be the distributors.

Jesus sees His disciples in trouble on the lake. He walks out to them on the water, gets in the boat with them, and calms the storm.

In Acts we see the Holy Spirit poured out to the Gentiles, assuring the disciples that “God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life”. The Holy Spirit is truly God With Us.

Over and over in the Scriptures we read “Do not be afraid. I am with you.” And I am glad, because there is no other way I could survive.

I think I’ll hum the Mercy Me song while I get ready for bed now… I can do this. God is with ME. He’s in my boat.

Sue