Reflections on Jesus: Joining Him on the water

Jesus and Peter on the Water

It's all there, right in Matthew 14:22-33.  Oh, impetuous Peter. He sees Jesus walking on water and asks to join Him.  Jesus invites him out, and he begins to walk...on water!  The commonness of the story begins to steal away from the miraculous. But if you've ever been in water, it is anything but solid, and I don't know about you, but I have yet to walk on it.

Jesus could have swam to meet the disciples in the boat.  This would have been a feat of strength, but not a miracle.  Instead, he chose to walk.  I like to imagine Him taking an easy stroll to the boat where the disciples were.  Peter's steps on the other hand became less confident when wind threatened to pull him under.  From an outsider's perspective, the question arises -what does the wind have to do with it?  Jesus invited Him and He has full control, surely the wind was no surprise to Jesus.  Surely, Peter didn't think it was his own power that was allowing him to walk on water!  

Photo Credit: godbricks.blogspot.com/2012/08/more-water-walking.html

But even after Peter began doubting and sinking, he knew who to cry out to.  He called to Jesus, who pulled him back up and together the two men walked back to the boat.  Jesus did not grab Peter and throw him in the boat as if there was any danger, no, he grabbed onto Peter, strengthening Him and the two walked back to the boat together.  I'm not sure of the distance, but certainly they had to take a step or two to get back into the boat.  Peter's faltering and fear of the storm did not change Jesus' willingness for Peter to walk.  While Peter's fear may have hampered his enjoyment of the miracle in process, it served to only magnify the One who Peter had but to utter a word to for help.  

We share a similar Journey

On my current journey, I feel an awful like Peter.  I see the miraculous that God has invited me to.  I have even stepped out of the boat.  The first steps have been exciting and terrifying all at the same time. I have an overwhelming sense that I'm walking into situations that if I start doubting, I could easily sink!  Not a happy thought.  Until I consider this altogether important detail - I have not left the boat alone.  I am walking by the grace and strength of my God and King.  Why should the storms of life or questions cause me to stumble?  It is by His grace that I am here in this moment, and tomorrow's moment will also be in His grace.  Come what may, I follow He who has gone before me, is always with me, and has promised to be there tomorrow.  His will shall be done and His love is a secured promise, but it is the intimacy of trust and deepening of relationship that comes from this walk which is the prize I seek.  

So, where are you on your journey in this season?  Are you enjoying the adventurous water walk with Jesus?  Are you walking on the water but slowly sinking because situations arise that tell you Jesus is untrustworthy or that you can't do what He's asked?  Are you sinking and afraid to cry out for help?  Have you gotten out of the boat?  

He asks different things from each of us, but the invitation is always the same - an invitation to the great adventure of following Him out where are feet can no longer touch solid ground.  Is there risk?  Always.  Will storms arise?  Most likely.  Whether we are sinking or standing secure on water - will He be with us?  Without a doubt.  Is there anything more exciting than following Him out of the boat?  Not a chance.  

I don't know about you, but now that I've left the boat - I couldn't imagine turning back.

Grace to you on your journey.  

Mixing in the Fruit

I love fruit on the bottom yogurt.  It’s tasty and delicious.  It is particularly enjoyable when some of the fruit foundation mixes in with the plain yogurt on top.  That does not happen without my spoon mixing it up, so there’s some movement involved but very little.  When I was younger, I enjoyed eating the yogurt independently, and then moving onto the fruit.  The yogurt tended to be bitter, but the fruit payoff was satisfying to me. 

Sometimes believers tend to treat God the same way I treated yogurt.  They live out their daily activities fairly independently from God, but always return to their foundation and seek Him.  It is a way of separating the secular from the sacred, or the holy from the day to day living. 

It is one way to choose to live.  But the far better way is when the fruit mixes in with the yogurt.  At that point, the fruit  alters the taste of the bitter yogurt making the whole cup of yogurt an enjoyable and tasty experience.  When we allow the Spirit of God to walk with us throughout the day – speaking love to our hearts and helping us navigate our day to day, even minute to minute interactions – the whole of our lives changes into life that is completely saturated with the Goodness of the Lord.  He does the beautiful work, but we do have to choose to allow Him to do it.  

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. - Psalm 34:8

Shining like Stars

One of my favorite aspects of life in Southern Wisconsin is the beautiful scenic drives between towns.  There is nothing better to turn my frown into a smile than a drive through the countryside.  Typically, I enjoy doing this in the daylight when unending farmland, farm and wildlife, rivers, ponds, and trees are in view.  Recently, as I drove from Fort Atkinson to Janesville late in the evening, I had the joy of driving with only my headlights and the light shining down from the multitudes of stars above.

As a city girl of late, it is rare to see stars due to the artificial light that drowns it all out.  However, out here, the stars are free to shine their beauty for all to see.  I couldn't help but think of the students that God has given me the joy to work with and my recent prayer for them which can be found in Philippians.

'Do everything without grumbling or arguing,  so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky  as you hold firmly to the word of life.' - Philippians 2:14-16

I am so excited to come along God's children as they pursue higher education and to equip and encourage them so that they are filled to the brim with the love of God and equipped to let their light shine before their fellow students, professors, and co-workers, thus impacting the world with more of His beautiful light and the Kingdom, Jesus died to bring about.

There is something incredibly beautiful about viewing the lights from the stars.  While the sun allows all of us to dwell in the day which is fantastic, the stars shine bright offering beauty and hope amidst sometimes overwhelming darkness.   The love from a follower of Jesus can point the way for others to seek Him out wherever they are currently standing.

May we all, wherever we stand, shine brightly like the stars above.

Dawn always comes

Dear Child of the Living God:

As a human, we are all too familiar with the dark nights of the soul.  When all seems so dark due to pain, illness, fear of the unknown, or any other plaguing pain and not a friend's comforting word or anything else will do.  Please let me encourage you to do but one thing:

Seek the companionship of your Heavenly Father whose love for you never will fail.  He will meet you in the darkest of places.  Though you fear to take a step - call on Him for He has promised to never leave you.  Do not rely on the distractions of technology, people, or even your vivid thought life to numb your mind from the pain.  Mind numbing is not the solution but only serves to lengthen the darkness.  Though it may feel like death to sit in the darkness - do that and call out to the One who knows you inside and out.  It is in those dark places that He will bring a comfort and a peace that can steady your heart and renew your strength.  He has promised to never leave you and He keeps His word.  Allow Him to shed His Light in the darkness.  You will soon rise and meet the day.      

~Written as one who has fallen along the darkened road and risen yet again time after time for He who has promised is Faithful.

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."  - Psalm 23 v 4

Adoptive Resources

To adopt one must have the heart capacity and the resource capacity.  To adopt without heart would be cruel.  It is usually quite difficult to adopt without at least some resource capacity.  Some out of country adoptions even require that you own your own home or are married.  Adopting through the foster care system demands you have an extra room available.  Adopting privately usually involves a high financial cost.


I would love to adopt a child.
I have enough love to give to a child but lack the financial resources at this time and have limited relational resources in caring for a child.


I would love to adopt a dog from the humane society.
I have the capacity to care for the dog, but I lack a stable residence where dogs are allowed.

I am not in a position to adopt at this time.

On the other hand....God has abundant love and abundant resources to adopt all who desire to come to Him.  His adoption is 100% paid for by Christ's work.  He has infinite time, resources, and love to provide all that we'd ever need.  

What amazing love!

Goodbye Orphanage

Orphan Annie

If you are familiar with the hit musical, "Annie", you've heard the story.  Orphan Annie struggles day by day to survive life in an orphanage all while believing her parents are out there somewhere waiting to bring her home.  As an outsider, you find out her parents are dead, and a plot develops where two individuals pretend to be her parents to receive a hefty prize sum waiting to award the individuals who claim Annie as their daughter.  Why is their prize money, you ask?  Because a wealthy man loves Annie and wants her to be happy.  He'd love to adopt her, but Annie insists that she wants her birth parents.  The plot to harm Annie is discovered, and Annie is rescued both from the criminals and the orphanage.  She proceeds to be adopted by a man rich in both love and resources.  Happy ending for the little orphan Annie, who will now be known as Annie Warbucks.  A girl no longer an orphan with a hopeless future and a plot to harm her.  No, she is now a girl with a new name, new identity, and has a forever family with a promising future.  It's a great story that has been beloved since it first hit the stage in 1977.  

But what if the story did not end that way?  What if the plot was found out, Annie was rescued, but she had to stay in the orphanage?  She was saved from criminals but her life continued on in the orphanage.  Sure, Annie was saved, but she's still an orphan.  Poor little Orphan Annie, no family, no identity, and while she now knows the truth of her birth parents death, she remains an orphan.  Sure, she can be adopted by another, but there is no sure guarantee that she will find a family.  Maybe Annie, would one day look to the other orphans as family members until they all reached maturity and went off to scratch their way into the world.   And, don't worry, someday Annie will die and again be reunited with her birth parents!  It's a less than satisfying ending, don't you think?  

Photo credit.  Sara Krulwich.  As seen in The New York Times 12/12/06

Trust me, No one

No child wants to stay in an orphanage.  No patient wants to stay in the hospital.  No pet lover wants to see an animal stay in a shelter.  Refugees in camps long for home.  Following rules of a religion will not bring life.   

Why is this?  Nutrition, hygiene, a bed, safety, and order is not enough to fill our hearts with life.  We were made for more than that.  We have a need for love, belonging, identity, and relationship.  The basics may sustain existence, but surviving on the basics may squelch life.   

 Orphanage Bedroom in Bulgaria.  http://tinyurl.com/lxcfuce

 

Get out of Hell Free

Sometimes, as Christ followers, we make the mistake of stopping at the revelation that we were saved from a great evil - sin, death, and the devil.  We act as if we were left to wander around on this planet and scratch out our existence alone.  We see that the Creator of All, sent his son Jesus to save us from the horrible darkness that left us hopeless.  As grateful as we are, we still tend to fall into a pattern of resolving ourselves to hold on day by day until we reach heaven.  Then the curtain will roll, and our happy ending will finally come, the promise of heaven.  

The work of the cross is not simply a "get out of hell" free card.  

Point to the cross and you too can have heaven!  

The work of Christ's death is not merely a doctrine of sin management.  

Unable to remove that pesky guilt from your conscience?  Look to the cross today.    

The Invitation

Our Father in Heaven has sent out the greatest invitation to man.  Come to the Cross, be clean, find life, be my Sons and Daughters, and go forth in the purposes I have called you to.  Look, you see Jesus?  He has paid your penalty.  He has served your sentence.  In turn, receive His rightful inheritance - welcome to the Family!  You are home.  He  essentially cleansed us from our identity as lawbreakers and slaves, and called us into his Family not as servants or orphans, but sons.   

A good parent with resources does not give their child a cot and porridge 3 meals a day.  A good parent who has the resources gives their child a bed, a pillow, blanket, and a room of their own.  A parent trains their child to walk in the right way and gifts them with all that they need to go along on that path.  A parent provides identity, security, discipline and a never ending supply of love.  

Christ's death and subsequent resurrection restored all that was wrong.  Christ, the Father's only son - both 100% God and 100% man lived a perfect life, died, and rose again, and with Him he made it possible for many sons to know their Dad.  He taught us that we could approach the Creator of the Universe as "Daddy".  By the greatest rescue mission of all time, He freed us from darkness and didn't stop there but brought us into His kingdom.  (If you want to get excited, check out Colossians 1)   He made a way, as the old hymn states to bring "many sons to glory".  

Image Credit to: http://goo.gl/7EH3Q6 found via Google Search

Never Alone, Called to Good Works

He would never leave us alone.  Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit and He did just that.  (John 14:15-12)  The Holy Spirit is far and above the best friend you could ever hope for.  He leads, guides, speaks Truth, comforts, and confirms your identity as a child of the True King.  

God's family is wonderful and I could spend a long time reveling in the goodness of being His daughter...and frankly, I do.  But, He's also given us good work to accomplish.  We have given work this terrible reputation of being awful and living for the weekend.  But that's not the kind of work, Christ has given for us to do.  The best kind of work is one that allows for a sense of accomplishing something, enjoyment in using our abilities to create, explore, and glorify our God who Has created all things.  There is great joy in learning how to do a task and being entrusted to do it well.  I think that's kind of what being about the Father's business looks like.  

Father trains son to perform house work.  Copyright Flint Journal 2010.

I don't know about you, but I'm so thankful that Annie's story ends with her adoption by a dad who loved her so much.  I'm glad she didn't spend the rest of her childhood living in an orphanage.  I'm even more grateful that our Father in Heaven loves us so much that He made a way for us to be His sons and daughters.

1 John 3:1  See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life.  

  

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Thoughts from a Dream Catcher

God is so good and loves to reveal His glory.  One way He does this is by giving us a dream bigger and greater than ourselves.  These dreams are given to us by God and we catch them into our hearts.  His dreams are more than we can ever hope to accomplish on our own.  But God's dreams are God breathed and it is His power that brings them forth, it is our job to trust him and walk with Him as he brings about the very thing He first laid in our hearts.

Never take your eyes of the Dream Giver and stare at your dream.  Notice, I said your dream for after He gives the dreams to our hearts, we can't help but take hold of them.  Take your eyes off of the Dream Giver and you will find yourself frustrated and your way bent.  Do not put your hope in the dream.  Keep your hope on God, for He is the One that brought the dream to your heart and He will see it accomplished.  Your job is to follow Him, which you can do a whole lot easier when you keep your eyes on Him.  You may be waiting years for this dream to be fulfilled, but trust in God. Trust that the road He is taking you down is straight and trust that the destination is not your dream, the destination is the road further traveled with the one your heart truly loves - God.

A dream is an invitation to take a journey with God.  That journey will draw you closer to Him, allow you to lean into Him in deeper and richer ways, and will assuredly be a blessing to so many others.  As long as you stay the course and remember that no matter where the destination lies, the true goal is always to be closer and more like Him.  If you take your eyes of Him, you may lose a lot more than just your desired goal - you could find yourself wandering alone a part from the Lord.

The beauty of your God given dream still pales in comparison to the beauty of God himself.  May we all be always able to say - my heart finds rest in God alone and my truest joy is found in journeying with Him.   No matter what the situation holds,  He is good, loving, holy, and altogether beautiful.


Deuteronomy 31:23  The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: "Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you."

Psalm 62:1 For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

Proverbs 20:24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.