Lord, don't You care?

Lately, with all the wild weather usurping lives, vacations, holidays and morning commutes you might be thinking, "what in the world is going on?" At my office, conversations turn to the rising death toll in the tsunami stricken countries, the extreme weather patterns and warnings to leave early (for the hour-long commuters) while there is some visibility left in the day. One co-worker has urged us all to rent and watch "The Day After Tomorrow" so we can freak out along with her. People seem a little grumpier, a little more wild-eyed and in general, unnerved by what is going on around the world. Even our dog seems to accuse, "what took you so long today?", when we let him in the house after a long day of faithfully waiting in the water-saturated back yard (albeit, he does have free access to the cold, DRY garage - after passing through a 3 inch deep, 20-25 feet long path of standing water).
Today, however, moods are lightened and smiles break out on relieved faces. Why? If you live in Southern California, you'll know why. The sun! The sun has greeted us this morning and showcased in the east our local snow-laden mountains. Even the dog seems more eager to go outside and check out the non-liquid sunshine!
I'm still amazed when I read the following passage in Mark. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe, the very One Who holds all things together, was asleep in the boat while His disciples fretted and feared for their lives as their little boating adventure met with extreme weather conditions.

Mark 4:35-40
On that day, when evening came, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side."
Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him.
And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"
And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
So I wonder what a "rebuke" to the wind would have sounded like? In the dictionary, rebuke (as a verb) means: a. To criticize or reprove sharply; reprimand. b.To check or repress. Then He says to the sea, "Hush, be still." The Greek for "hush" is pronounced see-o-pah'-o which is from siōpē (silence, that is, a hush; properly muteness, that is, involuntary stillness, or inability to speak); to be dumb; figuratively to be calm (as quiet water): - dumb, (hold) peace. The Greek for "still" is pronounced fee-mo'-o from phimos (a muzzle); to muzzle: - muzzle. The wind obeyed and the sea "became perfectly calm."

"Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

Colossians 1:13-20
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Rest in these truths, child of God. Don't focus on the tumult around you, focus on Christ "in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

Do you know Him yet?
Do you long to?
Have you attempted the 15-minute challenge?
Are you in-love with Him yet?

Praise God! He alone is worthy of our praise, adoration and our life wholly dedicated to Him.