Month: November 2018

Getting Back in the Boat

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And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14:32

This short, seemingly insignificant verse holds a promise I had overlooked till I desperately needed it. I often thought about God challenging me as when Peter walked on water. Other times it was comforting to know that Jesus reached out his hand to save Peter. But it is just as important to know that Jesus wants to restore normalcy and calm to our lives.

fishing sea sky sunset

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My mother was just 62 when she died of breast cancer and her passing left me feeling like I had been run over by a truck. The years struggling to rebuild our relationship, the prayers and the conversations were suddenly over. I felt as if I were locked in a room with barely enough air to breathe. I sleep walked through months of guilt and regret for what had never been. Then one morning as the light began to shine outside my window it also started shining again in my heart. It wasn’t that I suddenly could understand the reasons behind the hurt, but rather that knowing only God knew was now enough.

Prayer: Father even the hurts that I will never understand and the struggles that no one else knows about are safe with you. Thank you that you are not always challenging or rescuing me, but that some days you simply help me back in the boat. I am grateful and I rest in your care as the wind calms to a hush.

Out on the Waters

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But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30 NKJV

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that God’s call to live by faith  is His call for us to come out on the waters. Walking daily in such a life is more than challenging, it is overwhelming. Like Peter, we are sometimes overwhelmed by wind and waves and most of us aren’t ready to walk on water even on a calm night!

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But the call of Jesus as it echoes out over our dark waters carries with it a guarantee. Hearing His voice means that He is  out there waiting for us as even if we start to sink on our way to Him. Our assurance is that our way is not just about difficulty, it is about the miracle of God’s Son. With His call comes His promise, to reach down and pull us out of the waters so we can walk with Him.

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”   Matthew 14:31 NKJV

God’s Service Department

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If you have worked in the service department of any store you know that returns can be a challenge. People lose their receipts or bring in things that are just worn out with age. Worse yet some try returning items that came from another store. All of this takes time and patience and tempers sometimes flare. But no matter what the problem, the goal is to restore confidence and put things back in their rightful place.

Today’s scripture talks about a different kind of returning. We are the ones who need to be returned to where we belong. We have forgotten where home is and spiritually speaking have lost our receipt. But nothing can prevent God from restoring us. We can be accepted whether we are worn out, broken or even purchased at another store. God is in the business of returns so don’t even think of giving up. Right now He is willing to accept us as his own and become the Shepherd of our souls!

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:25