Sept 6th, 2022
Last week we explored our personal thoughts regarding God. Our individual belief of what God is shapes our behavior, defines who we are, and what we have the capability of becoming. It determines the pureness of our praise, the truth of worship, and the depth of our faith.
It is crucial to have a biblical understanding of who and what God is - anything less makes our offerings of praise, worship, and perceived obedience an offense to God.
A settled biblical understanding of God is the basis of our faith and our relationship with Him. The importance of correcting the lack of this foundation in the modern church must be prioritized.
Let's start that process by looking at:
Exodus 34:
I actually want to back up to chapter 33 vs. 7.
At this point, the children of Israel had sinned against God. They had made the golden calf, received punishment (plagues), and had just received the news that God would bring them to the promised land, but He would not go in their midst.
God would send His presence, but He would end the personal communion. He would no longer dwell among the people. In other words, the protection, the blessing, and the provision would follow the children into the promised land, but God himself would no longer have a personal relationship with them.
In trying to wrap my head around what was happening here, my mind went to the royal family and Princess Di. Never had the people experienced a member of royalty so relatability. She interacted with them like she was one of them. She left the palace to attend school functions; she wiped the brow of the sick and diseased. Princess Di had a personal relationship with her people. She did not reign from behind palace walls nor stay seated on an unattainable throne. She was one with her people.
This perspective applied here may help us understand exactly what the change meant that God issued here.
Moses' response to this is crucial for us to note here. He establishes a dedicated meeting place away from the camp to commune with God. Far away from the noise, the people, and the distractions. Others in the camp "who sought the Lord" went to the meeting place "far away" from the camp. God honored the effort Moses put forth in the seeking. The people witnessed the pillar of cloud descend. The Bible says the Lord spoke to Moses face to face like a friend. But it also notes that others in the camp worshipped the Lord after witnessing Moses' interaction with God.
For Moses, the protection, provision, entry into the promised land - the "blessings" were not enough. The communion, the personal knowledge of God, trumped all that. He asked God "to just leave us here" if you are not going with us.
Questions to ponder
- Exam yourself - are you settling for and seeking the blessings, protection, and provision God bestows over a personal knowledge of God's characters? Do you have a "face-to-face like a friend" dialogue with God? How many of us would follow the example of Moses today?
3. Do those around you see this as a priority in your life? The people of the camp saw the importance Moses placed on this, and it affected their actions and worship. Can you honestly say how you seek God has similar results on those around you?
Today I want each of us to begin the process of honestly exploring our own personal beliefs of who and what God is for us.
Let's start with simple things. What is your first reaction when your world falls apart – say you get a phone call with a bad diagnosis, or you lose a job or a loved one? Do you collapse in despair, rage in anger, or cry injustice at the unfairness of it all? Do you call a friend, call the church, or the pastor? Or do you seek your Father's face knowing He has the power to sustain you and bring peace and miracles?
That is the difference between having a settled knowledge of God and an idol of something in place instead.
Let's go to scripture for examples. Read Luke 1:26-38
You know this story if you have been exposed to a church version of Christmas. Mary is a young girl, engaged but not yet married. The angel Gabriel visits and announces she will become pregnant and give birth to Jesus.
Hit the pause button right there. Today people do not blink an eye at unwed mothers. In Mary's era, this had the potential to take her very life.
Her family could have been shamed. Joseph knew he was not the father. He had every right to break the engagement and publicly humiliate her. Yet knowing all of this, Mary says in verse 38 – "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." What enabled her to do this? To be so brave? To calmly face the uncertain crashing into her life?
She had settled for herself who God was, and she lived accordingly. We know this by the greeting given to her by the angel. "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
Just as light and dark cannot occupy the exact same space, Neither can God's favor and sin. Was she perfect? Probably not – she was human. But the text leads us to believe she handled her imperfections with a process that resulted in sanctification. In other words, her chosen lifestyle set her apart from others in a way God found holy.
Her belief in him was so secure it altered her thoughts and behavior.
Let's look at a different example.
Genesis 16
This is part of the story of Abram and Sarai. God has told Abram that he will be the father of nations. But years have passed, and there is not an heir. So, Sarai takes matters into her own hand. She "helps" the promise along by giving Abram her handmaid, Hagar. Abram agrees and impregnates Hagar, who has a son. Sarai believed in the sovereignty of God over her womb – see verse 2. But after so much time had passed, she struggled to believe in His faithfulness. Her unbelief led to heartbreak and turmoil for her, and her husband, Hagar, as the story unfolded.
One more example.
Genesis 19
The angel was very clear "Do not look back." But Lot's wife did just that, and she lost her life. It is essential to realize that, just like in the story of Sarai, she isn't the only one to pay the price. Her husband lost a spouse, her children a mother. The cost of unbelief – of not knowing the character of God, that what He has for us far outweighs the things we leave behind in our obedience to His command – cuts deep and affects generations.
These three examples make the importance of knowing who and what God is clear.
Questions to ponder
1. In the three examples given in our lesson, who do you relate to most?
*Mary who has a rock-solid unwavering knowledge of God that allows her to walk consistently in peace, confident God will see her through whatever circumstances she might face.
*Sarai who had certain things she could not hand over to God. She did not understand the Holiness of God fully. He cannot lie. The promise had to happen. Yet she could not trust the area of her life to Him.
*Lot's wife who could not let go of her current life and walk into the new thing God had decreed. She had created a life in the city. She had family and friends there. All the things. God had altered her existence. Pulled her family into something new. Yet she could not let go and move forward with Him.
2. If it is Sarai or Lot's wife, what area of your life do you struggle to trust God with? To let go of and move forward in a new direction at His bidding? Why is this area so hard to surrender?
3. In the area you listed in question 2, What controls and reigns over that area? Is it emotion? A routine? A religion? Or something else? Idols must be identified and dealt with.
4. Are you trusting God for your eternal destiny? How is it possible for you to truly trust Him with your eternity and not temporal situations?
5. How do you answer the question, "Who is God?"
August 26th
What comes to mind when you think of God?
• Jot down your thoughts or at least mentally take note of your answer.
• Do some deep searching – do not just toss out what I call Sunday school answers.
Why is what we think about God important?
• The thoughts we have about God determine our behavior.
• The standard we have set in our mind concerning God sets the standard for ourselves. Creation bears this out. If a child believes one parent to be more lenient, their behavior alters when in that parent's care. It is essential to understand that "the truth of right or wrong" for the behavior does not change only the child's perception of right and wrong.
• The effects of a child not knowing their father are detrimental across every area of their life. Often unaware of the damage the substitution brings. A fatherless child will explore and search for something to fill this absence in life.
I am reminded of the sentiments A.W. Tozer expresses in the first chapter of Knowledge of the Holy. Amazing Book – and the source of the questions above. Our understanding of who God is determines the truth of our worship, the pureness of our praise, the value of our identity, and the richness of our worth. It is the foundation of our very existence—the quality control of not only our churches but our society.
Here is An example I recently experienced.
I recently had a conversation with a young woman. She has struggled in every area of her life for years. She was wavering in relationships, jobs, mental health, behavior, etc., only showing remorse when caught or crashing on brutal consequences. She had called looking for answers and expressing, as she usually does, a desire to attend church. The Spirit pushed me to handle the conversation differently; this time, I asked if she believed in God. Then I asked her who He was to her. Her response was typical – "My Heavenly Father. My Savior." I pushed a little deeper, "What does that mean to you?" "He saved me," she said.
Me: "Saved you from what?" Her: "From Hell!" At this point, she is getting aggravated, and I can almost sense her wondering why she even called. But the Spirit gave me the liberty to push a little more. "How did He do that?"
"When Jesus died on the cross, I believe in that. So, God saved me from hell." Was her response. The Spirit pushed further, so I asked, "Is that all Jesus died for? To save you – all of us from hell?" I sensed hesitation and doubt in her reply, "What do you mean?" "Jesus says that He came to give life and so that we might have life more abundantly. What does that mean to you?" Silence was my response. So, I pushed on, "in the bible, Jesus says only those who do the will of the Father will enter heaven (Matt 7:21) and that the will of the Father is that we believe on the Son (John 6:37-40). Jesus exampled the disciples as those who do the will of the Father (Matt 12:50). If we look at the disciples' lives, their belief in Jesus was so deeply rooted it altered their every moment, action, etc. Jesus became their lifestyle – affecting every thought and action. So, I ask you, is that the way you see Jesus? Does your belief in God affect your understanding of Jesus' death? Do you understand what the will of the Father is?" Over the next few hours, we discussed how her understanding of God wasn't really based on Him but on man's church. She had never considered the character/person of God to establish a belief or knowledge truly in Him. She knew church and religion - not God, so that is where her faith was rooted in the church, her praise, and worship offered and valued on the quality of the performance. She was caught in a cycle of depression, worry, and letdown. Constantly riding a rise and fall of emotions based on things that change, fail, and leave as the notion strikes.
How many of us are in the same place? How amazing would it be if things were not this way? If you could face any circumstance emotionally solid, mentally stable, and with perfect peace? That is the importance of settling for yourself a true biblical understanding of who God really is, examining your life and making sure He truly is on the throne.
What comes to mind when you think of God?
• Jot down your thoughts or at least mentally take note of your answer.
• Do some deep searching – do not just toss out what I call Sunday school answers.
Why is what we think about God important?
• The thoughts we have about God determine our behavior.
• The standard we have set in our mind concerning God sets the standard for ourselves. Creation bears this out. If a child believes one parent to be more lenient, their behavior alters when in that parent's care. It is essential to understand that "the truth of right or wrong" for the behavior does not change only the child's perception of right and wrong.
• The effects of a child not knowing their father are detrimental across every area of their life. Often unaware of the damage the substitution brings. A fatherless child will explore and search for something to fill this absence in life.
I am reminded of the sentiments A.W. Tozer expresses in the first chapter of Knowledge of the Holy. Amazing Book – and the source of the questions above. Our understanding of who God is determines the truth of our worship, the pureness of our praise, the value of our identity, and the richness of our worth. It is the foundation of our very existence—the quality control of not only our churches but our society.
Here is An example I recently experienced.
I recently had a conversation with a young woman. She has struggled in every area of her life for years. She was wavering in relationships, jobs, mental health, behavior, etc., only showing remorse when caught or crashing on brutal consequences. She had called looking for answers and expressing, as she usually does, a desire to attend church. The Spirit pushed me to handle the conversation differently; this time, I asked if she believed in God. Then I asked her who He was to her. Her response was typical – "My Heavenly Father. My Savior." I pushed a little deeper, "What does that mean to you?" "He saved me," she said.
Me: "Saved you from what?" Her: "From Hell!" At this point, she is getting aggravated, and I can almost sense her wondering why she even called. But the Spirit gave me the liberty to push a little more. "How did He do that?"
"When Jesus died on the cross, I believe in that. So, God saved me from hell." Was her response. The Spirit pushed further, so I asked, "Is that all Jesus died for? To save you – all of us from hell?" I sensed hesitation and doubt in her reply, "What do you mean?" "Jesus says that He came to give life and so that we might have life more abundantly. What does that mean to you?" Silence was my response. So, I pushed on, "in the bible, Jesus says only those who do the will of the Father will enter heaven (Matt 7:21) and that the will of the Father is that we believe on the Son (John 6:37-40). Jesus exampled the disciples as those who do the will of the Father (Matt 12:50). If we look at the disciples' lives, their belief in Jesus was so deeply rooted it altered their every moment, action, etc. Jesus became their lifestyle – affecting every thought and action. So, I ask you, is that the way you see Jesus? Does your belief in God affect your understanding of Jesus' death? Do you understand what the will of the Father is?" Over the next few hours, we discussed how her understanding of God wasn't really based on Him but on man's church. She had never considered the character/person of God to establish a belief or knowledge truly in Him. She knew church and religion - not God, so that is where her faith was rooted in the church, her praise, and worship offered and valued on the quality of the performance. She was caught in a cycle of depression, worry, and letdown. Constantly riding a rise and fall of emotions based on things that change, fail, and leave as the notion strikes.
How many of us are in the same place? How amazing would it be if things were not this way? If you could face any circumstance emotionally solid, mentally stable, and with perfect peace? That is the importance of settling for yourself a true biblical understanding of who God really is, examining your life and making sure He truly is on the throne.
August 12th
Matthew 14:13-21
I have shared with you thoughts about Peter's role in this story, and another post covered the eleven other disciple's roles. We gleaned what we could from the passage, looking from those perspectives.
Today I want to explore God in this story, starting with the feeding of the five thousand.
*side note: There is a huge misunderstanding, I believe, in today's world. The misconception is that the Bible is a book about God's people and heroes, or maybe it is a how-to manual for Christians. Those things are true to an extent, but primarily, the Bible is a book about God. It is a book that shows us our Father's character, desires, and expectations. His love, grace, and mercy. His character. For that reason, it is important when we study to seek out the where/what/how God is moving in the passage. What do we learn about Him here?
1. God is compassionate toward us. Unselfish in His kindness to us. Jesus has just learned of the death of John the Baptist. He tries to retreat to be alone, but the crowds pursue him. The disciples and Jesus could have sent them away. They had a justifiable reason to do so. Yet this is not what happened at all. The Bible says He saw them as "sheep without a shepherd" (Mark 6:34). Compassion moved Him, and he began to heal their sick.
2. God sees our potential, not our self-presumed limitations. Let me rephrase that. He sees what we can accomplish through faith when we trust Him. As the evening closes in, the disciples realize a potential problem quickly rising. There are thousands of people and very little food. Going to Jesus with the request, "Send them away so they can take care of themselves," imagine their shock when Jesus responds, "There is no need for them to go. You feed them." The story unfolds with Christ giving order to the chaos of such a large crowd. "Have them sit down," He commands. Then, taking the meager offering of a child's lunch from the disciples, blessing it, breaking it, and returning it to the disciples to serve, the thousands are not only fed from five loaves and two fish but also an abundance left over.
The lesson we can not miss here is that no matter how small our gift, resource, etc. seems to us, it is much when surrendered in answer to the call of Christ "bring or give it to Me." Jesus could have easily turned stones, sands, or anything into food. He could have made manna fall from heaven. He gave the disciples instead the blessing of not only witnessing an extraordinary miracle but being an active part of it.
When my marriage ended, I became a single mom of three beautiful teenage daughters -two biological, one a heart daughter. At first, I wasn't sure how we would make it. As stated in the previous post, God significantly began working in my life. One of the many things He used to strengthen my faith during this time weighed just under 5 pounds, had the most amazing blue eyes, and a cry that pierced our hearts. He placed in my life a sweet baby girl that needed us. It made absolutely no sense for us to bring this baby into our home. Money was beyond tight. Our house was older with much maintenance needed. We had over an acre of yard we cut with a push mower. We were four women with one bathroom - our mornings were crazy! Shower routines were scheduled around work and school schedules. Adding a newborn to this stress-filled life was ridiculous to everyone except My Heavenly Father. Just as He did with the disciples, He took the "little" my girls and I had to offer and called us into something much bigger than we thought we could handle. I almost lost my job due to the demands of the baby's medical challenges. I remember sitting in a meeting with my boss. I could only say when he asked why I would do such a thing: "it is an act of obedience."
Some many times, I came close to saying, “it is too much. Send her away.” Every time God provided over and over again. Total strangers would hand us cash. I had a gentleman show up with a crib out of nowhere. These acts and gifts had nothing to do with me. They were all acts of obedience by others designed to show me how much my Father cared. How merciful He could be, reminders that He is there. He is capable. He is compassionate. All the things he displayed to the multitude and the disciples in this story thousands of years ago, he brought to life again for me. For the next 8 months, we watched this trauma-scarred infant transform into a healthy, happy, joy-giving baby. As we took part in her healing, her miracle, our Father began healing us. Was it terrifying to say yes when the call came? Absolutely. Did it push me beyond what I thought possible? Most definitely. Did it bless, grow, and increase my faith in Him? Tremendously.
When life seems overwhelming, and the situation appears unbalanced, remember it isn't about our ability or resources. IT IS ALL ABOUT GOD. Always has been, always will be. And I, for one, am very thankful for that.
Matthew 14:13-21
I have shared with you thoughts about Peter's role in this story, and another post covered the eleven other disciple's roles. We gleaned what we could from the passage, looking from those perspectives.
Today I want to explore God in this story, starting with the feeding of the five thousand.
*side note: There is a huge misunderstanding, I believe, in today's world. The misconception is that the Bible is a book about God's people and heroes, or maybe it is a how-to manual for Christians. Those things are true to an extent, but primarily, the Bible is a book about God. It is a book that shows us our Father's character, desires, and expectations. His love, grace, and mercy. His character. For that reason, it is important when we study to seek out the where/what/how God is moving in the passage. What do we learn about Him here?
1. God is compassionate toward us. Unselfish in His kindness to us. Jesus has just learned of the death of John the Baptist. He tries to retreat to be alone, but the crowds pursue him. The disciples and Jesus could have sent them away. They had a justifiable reason to do so. Yet this is not what happened at all. The Bible says He saw them as "sheep without a shepherd" (Mark 6:34). Compassion moved Him, and he began to heal their sick.
2. God sees our potential, not our self-presumed limitations. Let me rephrase that. He sees what we can accomplish through faith when we trust Him. As the evening closes in, the disciples realize a potential problem quickly rising. There are thousands of people and very little food. Going to Jesus with the request, "Send them away so they can take care of themselves," imagine their shock when Jesus responds, "There is no need for them to go. You feed them." The story unfolds with Christ giving order to the chaos of such a large crowd. "Have them sit down," He commands. Then, taking the meager offering of a child's lunch from the disciples, blessing it, breaking it, and returning it to the disciples to serve, the thousands are not only fed from five loaves and two fish but also an abundance left over.
The lesson we can not miss here is that no matter how small our gift, resource, etc. seems to us, it is much when surrendered in answer to the call of Christ "bring or give it to Me." Jesus could have easily turned stones, sands, or anything into food. He could have made manna fall from heaven. He gave the disciples instead the blessing of not only witnessing an extraordinary miracle but being an active part of it.
When my marriage ended, I became a single mom of three beautiful teenage daughters -two biological, one a heart daughter. At first, I wasn't sure how we would make it. As stated in the previous post, God significantly began working in my life. One of the many things He used to strengthen my faith during this time weighed just under 5 pounds, had the most amazing blue eyes, and a cry that pierced our hearts. He placed in my life a sweet baby girl that needed us. It made absolutely no sense for us to bring this baby into our home. Money was beyond tight. Our house was older with much maintenance needed. We had over an acre of yard we cut with a push mower. We were four women with one bathroom - our mornings were crazy! Shower routines were scheduled around work and school schedules. Adding a newborn to this stress-filled life was ridiculous to everyone except My Heavenly Father. Just as He did with the disciples, He took the "little" my girls and I had to offer and called us into something much bigger than we thought we could handle. I almost lost my job due to the demands of the baby's medical challenges. I remember sitting in a meeting with my boss. I could only say when he asked why I would do such a thing: "it is an act of obedience."
Some many times, I came close to saying, “it is too much. Send her away.” Every time God provided over and over again. Total strangers would hand us cash. I had a gentleman show up with a crib out of nowhere. These acts and gifts had nothing to do with me. They were all acts of obedience by others designed to show me how much my Father cared. How merciful He could be, reminders that He is there. He is capable. He is compassionate. All the things he displayed to the multitude and the disciples in this story thousands of years ago, he brought to life again for me. For the next 8 months, we watched this trauma-scarred infant transform into a healthy, happy, joy-giving baby. As we took part in her healing, her miracle, our Father began healing us. Was it terrifying to say yes when the call came? Absolutely. Did it push me beyond what I thought possible? Most definitely. Did it bless, grow, and increase my faith in Him? Tremendously.
When life seems overwhelming, and the situation appears unbalanced, remember it isn't about our ability or resources. IT IS ALL ABOUT GOD. Always has been, always will be. And I, for one, am very thankful for that.
August 5, 2022
Matthew 14:22-33
I think we forget that God sometimes sends the storms, the challenges, and causes the oppression in our lives. These things always serve a beneficial purpose if we allow them to. We must seek God and look for His hand during these times.
In Matthew 14, Jesus sent the disciples immediately into the boat to cross the sea after they witnessed Him feeding the five thousand. Mark's account recorded in chapter 6 confirms Christ saw them struggling to row against the contrary winds from the mountain. Yet Jesus doesn't come near them until the fourth watch of the night. He sent them into the storm and let them struggle. Let that sink in.
In doing so, we must realize that He set Peter up to walk on water and that the other disciples had their faith expanded after witnessing the interaction between Peter and Christ.
Often I hear people say, "oh, my family is under attack," or "the devil has caught them in a stronghold." Sometimes, we are too quick to assign credit for our struggles and challenges to the devil. Maybe we should consider the possibility of God repositioning, providing the opportunity for growth, or issuing consequences to purify our faith.
I can look back over my life and see this firsthand. When my world flipped upside down, it was easy to blame the enemy. And believe me, I did. It was not God's desire for my marriage to end, for my family to become broken after all. Yet, this is precisely what happened. I begged. I fought. I prayed. I fasted. I cried. SO. MANY. TEARS. But nothing stopped the process of my world changing. The storm raged continually—wave after wave crashed on me and my girls. I rebelled. I walked defiantly in disobedience. And My Heavenly Father patiently sent people to speak of His truth. During this time, God began a work in my heart, growing my reliance on Him. I found myself in a purifying fire. It was painful. It hurt my pride to self-exam myself and submit to Him my brokenness. But oh, the masterpiece He began creating from the renewed pieces collected from the ashes of my mess. Did my marriage survive? Nope. A repaired, restored marriage takes two submitted, repentant hearts. Do I understand a little how Job must have felt when I read the 42nd chapter of Job? Absolutely. I have the best, blessed life, a wonderful Godly husband, amazing heart-sons, daughters, and grandchildren. My Heavenly Father answered every prayer and then some. God is abundantly faithful when we delight ourselves in Him above all else.
If you find yourself in the storm, seek Him through waves and wind. Be willing to take long, hard, painful looks into the deep parts of yourself. Ask Him why you are here and Be Still until you clearly hear His voice calling to you. Trust me - it's worth it. The renewed life on the other side of the storm-filled sea is beyond anything you could imagine.
Please, if you are struggling, don't do it alone. Reach out. Isolation is a dangerous place to be when you are broken. There is nothing you could share or experience my Jesus can't handle. Trust me, I know.
Matthew 14:22-33
I think we forget that God sometimes sends the storms, the challenges, and causes the oppression in our lives. These things always serve a beneficial purpose if we allow them to. We must seek God and look for His hand during these times.
In Matthew 14, Jesus sent the disciples immediately into the boat to cross the sea after they witnessed Him feeding the five thousand. Mark's account recorded in chapter 6 confirms Christ saw them struggling to row against the contrary winds from the mountain. Yet Jesus doesn't come near them until the fourth watch of the night. He sent them into the storm and let them struggle. Let that sink in.
In doing so, we must realize that He set Peter up to walk on water and that the other disciples had their faith expanded after witnessing the interaction between Peter and Christ.
Often I hear people say, "oh, my family is under attack," or "the devil has caught them in a stronghold." Sometimes, we are too quick to assign credit for our struggles and challenges to the devil. Maybe we should consider the possibility of God repositioning, providing the opportunity for growth, or issuing consequences to purify our faith.
I can look back over my life and see this firsthand. When my world flipped upside down, it was easy to blame the enemy. And believe me, I did. It was not God's desire for my marriage to end, for my family to become broken after all. Yet, this is precisely what happened. I begged. I fought. I prayed. I fasted. I cried. SO. MANY. TEARS. But nothing stopped the process of my world changing. The storm raged continually—wave after wave crashed on me and my girls. I rebelled. I walked defiantly in disobedience. And My Heavenly Father patiently sent people to speak of His truth. During this time, God began a work in my heart, growing my reliance on Him. I found myself in a purifying fire. It was painful. It hurt my pride to self-exam myself and submit to Him my brokenness. But oh, the masterpiece He began creating from the renewed pieces collected from the ashes of my mess. Did my marriage survive? Nope. A repaired, restored marriage takes two submitted, repentant hearts. Do I understand a little how Job must have felt when I read the 42nd chapter of Job? Absolutely. I have the best, blessed life, a wonderful Godly husband, amazing heart-sons, daughters, and grandchildren. My Heavenly Father answered every prayer and then some. God is abundantly faithful when we delight ourselves in Him above all else.
If you find yourself in the storm, seek Him through waves and wind. Be willing to take long, hard, painful looks into the deep parts of yourself. Ask Him why you are here and Be Still until you clearly hear His voice calling to you. Trust me - it's worth it. The renewed life on the other side of the storm-filled sea is beyond anything you could imagine.
Please, if you are struggling, don't do it alone. Reach out. Isolation is a dangerous place to be when you are broken. There is nothing you could share or experience my Jesus can't handle. Trust me, I know.
August 2nd
Matthew 14:22-33
Let's peel back another layer on this passage
Jesus sends the disciples immediately into the boat. Some of these men are experienced fishermen, yet they are terrified. The storm comes up; the winds blow against them, and the waves toss their boat. Suddenly they see a ghost walking on water. The fear level just went up a few notches. Jesus calls out to them. Peter answers and ends up stepping off the boat to walk on the water. Peter begins to sink when he focuses on the storm and calls out to Christ for help but is immediately rescued by Christ.
I think we forget sometimes God places us in the storm for a reason. If Peter had not been sent to cross the sea, he would not have faced the storm and been positioned to walk on water. Too often, when life crashes around us, we immediately go to "I am under attack" or "the devil is on my case." We should always pause to look for God in the situation. Is this a consequence of disobedience? Is God trying to teach me something?
In Mark Chapter 6:45-52, it is recorded that Jesus sees the men struggling to row against the contrary wind. Yet he doesn't immediately rescue them. The "rescue" comes in a way that strikes fear in the men. They think it is a ghost walking toward them. How often have we missed God's attempt to rescue us or His attempt to position us for a blessing because fear overcame our faith? Or because the wrapping
So many times in my life, amid the storm, God calls out "come" in response to my cries of "God, where are you?" The direction He calls me to requires me to step out of the battered shelter, leaving me exposed to the storm and relent solely on His protection. I am so thankful that on the occasions I let my focus go from Him to the waves and wind, He immediately answers the "Lord save me" call.
Matthew 14:22-33
Let's peel back another layer on this passage
Jesus sends the disciples immediately into the boat. Some of these men are experienced fishermen, yet they are terrified. The storm comes up; the winds blow against them, and the waves toss their boat. Suddenly they see a ghost walking on water. The fear level just went up a few notches. Jesus calls out to them. Peter answers and ends up stepping off the boat to walk on the water. Peter begins to sink when he focuses on the storm and calls out to Christ for help but is immediately rescued by Christ.
I think we forget sometimes God places us in the storm for a reason. If Peter had not been sent to cross the sea, he would not have faced the storm and been positioned to walk on water. Too often, when life crashes around us, we immediately go to "I am under attack" or "the devil is on my case." We should always pause to look for God in the situation. Is this a consequence of disobedience? Is God trying to teach me something?
In Mark Chapter 6:45-52, it is recorded that Jesus sees the men struggling to row against the contrary wind. Yet he doesn't immediately rescue them. The "rescue" comes in a way that strikes fear in the men. They think it is a ghost walking toward them. How often have we missed God's attempt to rescue us or His attempt to position us for a blessing because fear overcame our faith? Or because the wrapping
So many times in my life, amid the storm, God calls out "come" in response to my cries of "God, where are you?" The direction He calls me to requires me to step out of the battered shelter, leaving me exposed to the storm and relent solely on His protection. I am so thankful that on the occasions I let my focus go from Him to the waves and wind, He immediately answers the "Lord save me" call.
August 1,2022
Matthew 14:22-33
The disciples witnessed Christ perform a miracle of provision by feeding the five thousand. He IMMEDIATELY sent them to the storm, let them struggle a while, and then chose to appear to them walking on the water. Even after witnessing the miracle, only Peter called out. Peter was specific in His request, "If it is You, command me to come to You ON THE WATER." Peter did not ask Christ to come to him. Instead, he asked for Christ's miraculous provision to enable him to move and accomplish something impossible under his own power. *We should take note. Peter knew Christ's power; he had seen the miracle earlier that day. He desired to move closer to Christ even if it meant stepping into crazy unchartered territory and doing something crazy like stepping out of the boat. Peter could have cried out for Christ to come to him, to join them in the boat. But instead, he displayed a willingness to "chase" Jesus, to rely on Him, and push out of his comfort zone. Peter walked on water. I think we lost sight of that somehow. Yes, he begins to sink. Read that again. The Bible says, "BEGINNING TO SINK; HE CRIED OUT "LORD, SAVE ME."
And immediately, Jesus did just that.
How comfortable are you? Are you chasing Christ as He calls to you? Are you crying in the midst of the storm for Him to come to you? Chase. Trust. Step. Receive the miracle. Cry out for help BEFORE you are over your head. Grab the hand that IMMEDIATELY comes to the rescue. Rest and worship in the peace that comes with walking with God.
Matthew 14:22-33
The disciples witnessed Christ perform a miracle of provision by feeding the five thousand. He IMMEDIATELY sent them to the storm, let them struggle a while, and then chose to appear to them walking on the water. Even after witnessing the miracle, only Peter called out. Peter was specific in His request, "If it is You, command me to come to You ON THE WATER." Peter did not ask Christ to come to him. Instead, he asked for Christ's miraculous provision to enable him to move and accomplish something impossible under his own power. *We should take note. Peter knew Christ's power; he had seen the miracle earlier that day. He desired to move closer to Christ even if it meant stepping into crazy unchartered territory and doing something crazy like stepping out of the boat. Peter could have cried out for Christ to come to him, to join them in the boat. But instead, he displayed a willingness to "chase" Jesus, to rely on Him, and push out of his comfort zone. Peter walked on water. I think we lost sight of that somehow. Yes, he begins to sink. Read that again. The Bible says, "BEGINNING TO SINK; HE CRIED OUT "LORD, SAVE ME."
And immediately, Jesus did just that.
How comfortable are you? Are you chasing Christ as He calls to you? Are you crying in the midst of the storm for Him to come to you? Chase. Trust. Step. Receive the miracle. Cry out for help BEFORE you are over your head. Grab the hand that IMMEDIATELY comes to the rescue. Rest and worship in the peace that comes with walking with God.
July 31st,2022
Matthew 14:22-33
Yep - this is the story of Peter walking on the water. But this morning, something new jumped out to me.
Hear me out - when Peter began to sink, he cried out to Jesus, "Save me, Lord." The Bible says, "Christ IMMEDIATELY stretched out His hand and caught him. And when THEY got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat began to worship Him, declaring 'Truly You are the Son Of God."
The men in the boat who were not bold enough, courageous enough, or faithful enough to step out of the boat were forever changed after witnessing Peter's encounter with Jesus. Seeing Peter cry out to verify if Jesus was really there, Second walk on water, Third begin to sink, and finally be immediately saved by Jesus -their faith was increased.
The world is always watching. How often do we consider the impact our reactions to life's storms have on those watching? When we step in obedience to the call of God, it is belief put into action. When the world sees us cry out for help instead of trying to save ourselves, we provide an opportunity for God to rescue us and display His mighty.
(remember Jesus' prayer at Lazarus' tomb? John 11:38-44) Witnessing this exchange between Peter and Jesus resulted in the other disciples worshipping Jesus and declaring Him to be the Son of God. Would the way you handle struggles, challenges, or even day-to-day life have a similar result on people watching.....
Matthew 14:22-33
Yep - this is the story of Peter walking on the water. But this morning, something new jumped out to me.
Hear me out - when Peter began to sink, he cried out to Jesus, "Save me, Lord." The Bible says, "Christ IMMEDIATELY stretched out His hand and caught him. And when THEY got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat began to worship Him, declaring 'Truly You are the Son Of God."
The men in the boat who were not bold enough, courageous enough, or faithful enough to step out of the boat were forever changed after witnessing Peter's encounter with Jesus. Seeing Peter cry out to verify if Jesus was really there, Second walk on water, Third begin to sink, and finally be immediately saved by Jesus -their faith was increased.
The world is always watching. How often do we consider the impact our reactions to life's storms have on those watching? When we step in obedience to the call of God, it is belief put into action. When the world sees us cry out for help instead of trying to save ourselves, we provide an opportunity for God to rescue us and display His mighty.
(remember Jesus' prayer at Lazarus' tomb? John 11:38-44) Witnessing this exchange between Peter and Jesus resulted in the other disciples worshipping Jesus and declaring Him to be the Son of God. Would the way you handle struggles, challenges, or even day-to-day life have a similar result on people watching.....