Episode 941
Navigating Turbulence: Finding Serenity in Chaos
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available seven days a week by 6:00 am ET. The episodes are no longer than ten minutes long and are...
- Understandable: A reading from the New Testament (usually the Gospel) selected from the Revised Common Lectionary using "The Message" translation.
- Relatable: You will have a couple of "points to ponder" from the text which will relate to your life
- Applicable: Every episode includes a way you can take action based on the reading
- A recommended resource to help you go deeper in biblical study and spiritual direction.
- A prayer for your day.
A companion resource to the Voice of God Daily Podcast is the “ABC Bible Study Guide” available by clicking HERE.
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is available every day at VoiceofGodDaily.com on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major podcast directories.
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Please make listening to the "Daily Bible Refresh" a part of your daily life.
Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
Takeaways:
- The narrative of Jesus calming the storm invites us to embrace the concept of sacred rest, demonstrating profound trust amidst chaos and uncertainty.
- We explore the notion that traditional interpretations of Jesus' miracles may overlook the significance of centered presence during tumultuous times.
- The podcast emphasizes the importance of acknowledging both fear and faith, suggesting that our relationship with uncertainty is complex and multifaceted.
- Listeners are encouraged to engage in the practice of 'storm sitting', allowing themselves to be present with their anxieties without the immediate urge to resolve them.
- The discussion highlights the idea that true peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of a deeper wisdom amidst life's storms.
- A call to action is made for listeners to support the mission of sharing the audible word of God, aiming to reach a vast audience by 2028.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- voiceofgodddaily.com
Transcript
Finding Peace in the Storm A reflection on Luke 8:22 25 on the Daily Bible refresh hello my friend Dr. Brad Miller here with the Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:This is your daily reading of the Bible from a progressive point of view.
Speaker A:In a bit I will read the New Testament lessons selected from the Revised Common Lectionary for this very day.
Speaker A:The reading is understandable.
Speaker A:I use the Message version Relatable.
Speaker A:Please listen to the points to ponder and applicable with action steps you can take.
Speaker A:We pray and are done in less than 10 minutes.
Speaker A:It's all brought to you by voiceofgodddaily.com which is the home of your free personal Bible Study Guide, the ABC1, 23 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A: lionaires a million people by: Speaker A:You can help by saving and subscribing to the podcast and tagging your friends.
Speaker A:Here's Today's reading from Luke 8:22 25 Reading from the message One day he and his disciples got into a boat.
Speaker A:Let's cross the lake, he said, and off they went.
Speaker A:It was smooth sailing and he fell asleep.
Speaker A:A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake.
Speaker A:Water poured in and they were about to capsize and they woke Jesus.
Speaker A:Master, master, we're going to drown.
Speaker A:Getting to his feet, he said to the wind, silence, and do the waves quiet down?
Speaker A:They did.
Speaker A:The lake became smooth as glass.
Speaker A:Then he said to his disciples, why can't you trust me?
Speaker A:They were in absolute awe, staggering and stammering.
Speaker A:Who is this anyway?
Speaker A:He calls out to the winds and to the sea, and they do what he tells them.
Speaker A:A short but powerful passage of Scripture in today's reading, where we encounter a story with so many elements.
Speaker A:Fear, faith, calm, chaos, wind, peace.
Speaker A:So many things.
Speaker A:Let's talk about some points to ponder.
Speaker A:One of them is about embracing sacred rest.
Speaker A:Jesus sleeping during the storm offers a powerful metaphor for radical trust in our culture of constant productivity and anxiety.
Speaker A:The image of a peaceful rest among chaos challenges our assumptions that hyper vigilance equals safety.
Speaker A:Perhaps true wisdom includes knowing when to rest, even when circumstances seem threatening.
Speaker A:The second one, second point to ponder is about the nature power.
Speaker A:Traditional interpretations often focus on Jesus supernatural power over nature.
Speaker A:A progressive reading might consider how this story illustrates the power of centered presence in the face of chaos.
Speaker A:Rather than seeing this as a violation of natural law, we might understand it as revealing how connected consciousness can bring peace in turbulent situations.
Speaker A:The next point to ponder is about going beyond binary trust.
Speaker A:That is, Jesus asked Why can't you trust me?
Speaker A:For the disciples, their fear was real and human.
Speaker A:In progressive faith, it acknowledges that trust isn't binary.
Speaker A:We can simultaneously hold fear and faith, courage and anxiety.
Speaker A:The question invites us to examine how our relationships with uncertainty is apropos here.
Speaker A:Rather than demanding perfect faith, let's talk about an action step practice storm sitting.
Speaker A:That is, set aside a few minutes, a few minutes, maybe 10 minutes or so to sit quietly with whatever storms you're facing, be it personal or social or political or global.
Speaker A:Whatever the storm is that's causing you anxiety, just sit with it.
Speaker A:Don't try to fix it or calm it immediately.
Speaker A:Simply notice your reactions to it, breathe deeply and practice being present with uncertainty and what emerges when you don't immediately try to still the waters.
Speaker A:We'll come back with a closing prayer here in just a minute, but I did want you to know that we have an incredible resource for you.
Speaker A:It's called the Daily Bible.
Speaker A:It's called the ABC 1, 2, 3 Bible Study Method and it is there to help you with your at home Bible study.
Speaker A:It's a free it's our free gift to you.
Speaker A:You Simply go to voiceofgoddaily.com you'll find a link there to pick it up and we hope that you'll do just that.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are a divine presence in the storm.
Speaker A:When chaos swirls around us, in our personal lives, in our communities, in our world, help us find the courage to rest.
Speaker A:Remind us that peace isn't the absence of conflict, but the presence of centered wisdom.
Speaker A:When we feel overwhelmed, help us trust not in perfect faith, but in your persistent presence.
Speaker A:Teach us to be still not because the storms aren't real, but because we're held.
Speaker A:But we are held in something deeper.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:My friend, I am delighted you chose to join me for today's reading.
Speaker A:The Daily Bible Refresh is completely listener supported.
Speaker A: on years, a million people by: Speaker A:I would be so grateful if you would go to voiceofgodddaily.com and share your gift of any amount.
Speaker A:Thanks much.
Speaker A:My name is Dr. Brad Miller and I'll be right here tomorrow with your Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:Please subscribe and tag your friends until tomorrow.
Speaker A:Remember, God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
