Voyage

Kay Burnett

Description

Do you find that some days are joyful and exhilarating, while other days are marked by storms and rough waters? The voyage of life is anything but predictable and safe. Using the story of Paul's journey to Rome as a guide for the journey of life, Kay Burnett shows how God calls each believer to this voyage and invites us to relish every moment of it with Him. With keen insight and practical application, Kay reminds us to trust in God, our Captain. Through these biblical principles from Paul's journey, you will:Discover how to hear the voice of God and be confident in His guidanceLearn to be obedient to the duties and disciplines of your spiritual lifeHave the faith and courage to say yes to God's direction for your life Through the vivid details of each chapter, you will understand in a fresh way that God never wastes a voyage. He uses even our mishaps and mistakes for great and loving purposes. Are you willing to step off the dock and place your life in the hands of the One who spoke the seas into existence? He alone is trustworthy to chart the course for your life. Your voyage awaits!

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Gospel Publishing House
• Date de parution: 19 décembre 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781607314981
• Langue: English

Extrait

Voyage
Trusting JESUS in uncharted waters
KAY BURNETT
© 2017 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Names have been changed in instances where it was important to protect the privacy of the individuals mentioned.
Unless otherwise specified, Scripture quotations used in this book are taken from the 2011 edition of the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com . The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptures marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Scriptures marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. ( www.Lockman.org ). 02-4228 ISBN: 978-1-60731-496-7
Printed in the United States of America
20 19 18 17 • 1 2 3 4
Father God

You chart my course in ways that never cease to surprise and amaze me! May this book be what You purposed it to be throughout the journey, with You as the Writer and I as only the pen.
Contents
Introduction
Before You Begin
Acts 27
Chapter One: The Voyage Begins
Chapter Two: A Motley Crew
Chapter Three: The Harbor
Chapter Four: A Change of Ship
Chapter Five: A Mighty Rudder
Chapter Six: Adjusting the Sails
Chapter Seven: Storms Will Come
Chapter Eight: Storms Reveal What Matters Most
Chapter Nine: When Fear Overwhelms
Chapter Ten: A Change of Position
Chapter Eleven: The Unexpected Devastation of Shipwreck
Chapter Twelve: The Journey Continues
Acknowledgments
Notes
About the Author
Introduction

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
—MARK TWAIN
P eople have always been fascinated by the sea. What a magnificent creation! With purposes and insight beyond our comprehension, God created this amazing body of water. He spoke it into existence, filled it with plants and creatures, and commanded its boundaries and behaviors. Anyone who has stood, toes in the sand, has been mesmerized and overwhelmed by the surging waves and constant motion of the sea, marveling at its beauty while cautiously respecting its unfathomable power.
Such a powerful entity can bring fear—fear of death, sickness, hardship, the unknown. Yet power can be harnessed and used for good, great good. Traversing an ocean requires wisdom, respect, and attention to signs of stormy weather.
Life is like a journey on the great sea that takes us into unexpected places and experiences. Some days are predictable, lovely, and exhilarating, with the sun on our faces and the wind at our backs. Seagulls fly overhead as we delight in the vast ocean all around, filled with joy at the whole experience.
But the full stretch of life’s journey is marked not only by days of delight and adventure, but also by days of storms and rough waters, even threats from unexpected enemies. Life at sea includes danger mixed with the mundane. Our life voyage is anything but predictable and safe.
This voyage includes the minutest details of everyday life as well as life-altering experiences. It includes choices and challenges. We don’t journey alone; we navigate alongside strangers, loved ones, respected leaders, and challenging people. Our voyage is marked by attention to life’s daily needs, while keeping an eye on the horizon to check our bearings and stay true to the course.
We are called to this voyage and invited to relish every moment of it with the One who spoke the seas into existence and breathed life into our infant lungs. He alone is trustworthy to chart the course for the journey, and He invites us to make Him our Captain. He knows every detail of your personal voyage: the hidden dangers, the thrilling adventures, and the right course for your life.
To recognize Christ as our Captain isn’t enough; we have to get into the boat. If we choose the safety of the harbor over His destiny and call, we’re like prisoners who’ve been set free but choose to stay in the cell and embrace the limitations of what is predictable and familiar. Meanwhile, our Captain calls us to freedom and opportunity, urging us to follow Him on a journey of fullest living and deepest joy—a journey that will require total surrender and trust.
He beckons us to step off the dock, onto the ship. He invites us to ride the waves at His side, promising to teach us to navigate through every season and situation with strength and confidence.
Listen for a moment. Do you hear the sound of His voice singing over you, beckoning you to join Him in the journey? It’s time to put out to sea with your Captain and let the wind of His Spirit fill your sails. Will you trust Him to lead the way? Will you trust Him to navigate safely through the storms? Will you trust Him for the journey?
Your voyage awaits …
Before You Begin
T he Book of Acts, penned by beloved physician Luke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is viewed by some New Testament scholars as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Acts is one of the most exciting and dynamic books in the New Testament. As Luke, who was Paul’s close friend and traveling companion, records Paul’s ministry throughout many regions, he gives an insider’s view of how the Early Church navigated the exciting and perilous days following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. Throughout Acts, Luke shares Paul’s three historic and world-impacting journeys. The third missionary journey is where you and I will travel together for the purpose of this book.
The Word of God is meant for more than a cursory daily reading. God gave us these incredible stories to guide and transform our lives. I invite you to join me as we set sail on a voyage to experience Paul’s fateful journey to Rome, where he would stand trial for his testimony of Christ as the true Messiah.
Read
May I encourage you to read and reread Acts 27 throughout the journey of this book? Imagine yourself onboard the two ships on which Paul and his companions, Luke and Aristarchus, traveled. As you “see” the historical Adramyttium ship and the ship bound for Alexandria, take in the sight of the magnificent sails billowing in the wind; hear the shouts of the ship’s captain and the songs of the crew as they work side by side. Taste the salt air and feel the sway of the ship as it sails through good weather and bad.
Listen
Through Paul’s voyage, God wants to speak to us about the voyage of our lives. He will remind us to trust in Him. He will challenge us to share our testimony with others. As our Captain, He will issue assignments for our ongoing journey. He will speak peace and hope in our storms. He will journey with us through any shipwreck and storm. As we hold tightly to His hand, He will direct our paths.
Journal
Consider journaling your thoughts as well as insights and truths the Holy Spirit might speak to your heart as you read this book. I find that when I write what I sense God is showing me through a Bible passage, when I read later what I wrote, the message can be startlingly accurate and applicable. Ask God to speak to you through this book, through Scripture, and through the personal accounts of others. God faithfully forgives us and supports us in every circumstance of life. He is a loving Father who is always with us, and He will comfort us when we experience pain. As you capture these personal moments through journaling, they will strengthen you in the days ahead.
I pray that through this book God will meet you in a fresh way. I pray you will have the courage to journey with Him at the helm, in faithful obedience to the duties and disciplines of your voyage. I pray for all who are heading into a storm, are in the middle of a storm, or have been shipwrecked and devastated by a storm. May you know that God is with you and is for you. May you hear His voice more clearly than ever before and be captivated by His faithful presence and unfathomable love. May you commit to Him so that no matter the cost, no matter the trials and storms, you will say yes to His invitation and “put out to sea” with Him in every season of life.
Acts 27
Paul Sails for Rome
W hen it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Sa