Lord, save me!

 I was reading Matthew 14 this morning and I was reminded of a few things...

1. Jesus had alone time.  "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place."                                                                                                                   
2. Jesus was moved by compassion to do His God given purpose. "When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick."
3. Jesus was a great leader who had vision, could delegate tasks while never forgetting the main task at hand. "Jesus replied, 'They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat...Bring them here to me,' He said. And He directed the people...He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people...Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd"
4. Jesus had alone time."He went  up on a mountainside by himself to pray."      

Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us to "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Not only are we to live a life of love, but I believe there are other things that we are to imitate. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit teaches us in all things, but I am also thankful that we have The Word that gives us encounters with Jesus to know what exactly we are to be imitating. Jesus says in John 14:12-14 "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." {Does that get you pumped up!?}

As I read Matthew 14 I was reminded that Jesus had times of being alone, on purpose. In verse 13 when Jesus had just found out that John the Baptist had been beheaded. He heard the news and went to a solitary place. He needed some time alone. There are times that we are to have some time alone - time to pray - time to disconnect from the world and reconnect to our Heavenly Father- and having those times of solitude are okay & encouraged! Jesus had time alone, so that gives us permission to withdraw at times to receive life from our source of life, God.  He had time alone, but He didn't stay there forever. He saw the crowd and was moved by compassion and healed their sick. Even though Jesus was probably hurting because He just found out His friend had passed away, He was still moved by the people that were around Him to do what God had commissioned Him to do. 

What comes next is probably one of my favorite passages. After Jesus had some more alone time on a mountainside, He went to meet up with His disciples. How did Jesus get to His disciples? He walked on the water, of course! His disciples were terrified because they thought He was a ghost. Jesus comforted them immediately,"Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." How beautiful is that? Jesus doesn't condemn them for being afraid, but He encouraged and comforted them. I love that!

 "Lord, if it's you tell me to come to you on the water." - Peter

So Jesus says, "come."

Peter did something filled with faith, He walked out into the unknown (because I am sure he has never walked on water before) towards Jesus. As he walked on the water, he saw wind, fear struck,  and he began to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me!' 

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught Him. "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

They got into the boat and then the wind died down.

A few things -

Peter did step into the unknown, he was walking in faith towards Jesus, but even though He knew Jesus was right there...he got scared.

Doesn't that happen still today? Many of us are walking in faith, but there are still times that we get scared. We know that Jesus is right here with us, but at times life grabs us & we get scared. I love the fact that Jesus immediately grabbed Peter and held him even though the storm hadn't even passed over yet. It says the wind died down once they were in the boat. If you are going through something right now and you are screaming out, "Lord, save me!" Please know, that even though that particular storm of life may still be happening...He is holding you.  He promises to never leave us and never to forsake us. {thank You, Jesus}

Dear Lord,

I thank You that You hold us in the storms of life and in the good times. I thank You for your patience and steadfast pursuit of us. I thank You for teaching us and guiding us. I am so in love with You.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

Words of encouragement from Jesus: 

"Take courage! it is I. Don't be afraid."

today & forever

I like to imagine many times that God is my Daddy wrapping me in His arms with all comfort. He is my constant throughout life. My hiding place when the world is too much.

He is my everything.

Over the past year I have been the furthest away from my hometown that I have ever been. God is doing great things that John and I are so excited to be part of, but it's not always easy being far away from family & friends. God knows what is best for us, but missing birthdays, some holidays, or the fact that once in town it is physically impossible to see everyone that we would so love to see is...tough. We are thankful for technology, but let's be honest, nothing compares to actually being in the presence of those people we so dearly love.

Last night, I was worshipping God at our Downpour service when I was so wrapped up in my "Daddy's" presence. You know, it got me thinking. How many times do I grab my Bible in haste to check it off my daily to-do list instead of savoring moments in His Presence. The truth is, we all have the opportunity to walk in His presence daily without taking it for granted. Just like there have been many times before moving away that John and I took for granted the availability of seeing our closest friends and family -- we so often take for granted the availability of God's presence.

His Presence is so sweet --nothing can take His place.

I planned on blogging what I got out of Proverbs 16 today, but as I began to type...this is what came out. Maybe some of you need to be reminded that whether you are in a mountaintop season or a valley season --His presence is still sweet and available to you.

He is good, regardless of our circumstances.

He is unchanging in an ever changing world. 

My prayer is to be more aware of His presence.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are good. You are more than good. You are my everything and I pray I would walk throughout my today and forever always aware of You and Your goodness.

In Jesus Name

Amen

"learn from Me"

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light"

Matthew 11:28-30

NIV

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn from unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly"

Matthew 11:28-30

The Message

How better to learn from HIM than to get in His Word? 

He is a great teacher...the best. 

The Holy Spirit leads & guides in all truth. 

Get in His Word today and learn how to walk in this peaceful rest He talks about. 

Pray for Him to lead and guide you to this rest He is talking about - He will guide you.

{You know me}

O LORD, you have searched me 

&

You know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise; 

You perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down; 

You are familiar with ALL my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

You know it completely, O LORD.

You hem me in -- behind & before;

You have laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, 

Too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Where can I flee from Your Presence?

If I go to the heavens, You are there;

If I make my bed in the depths, You are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

If I settle on the far side of the sea, 

Even there your hand will guide me, 

Your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me

& the light become night around me,"

Even darkness will not be dark to you; 

The night will shine like the day, 

For darkness is light to you.

For You created my inmost being; 

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully & wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful,

I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from You

When I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

Your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me 

Were written in Your book

Before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are Your thoughts,

O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them,

They would outnumber the grains of sand. 

When I awake,

I am still with You.

If only You would slay the wicked, O God!

Away from me, You bloodthirsty men!

They speak of You with evil intent;

Your adversaries misuse Your Name.

Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD,

& abhor those who rise up against You?

I have nothing but hatred for them 

I count them my enemies.

Search me, O GOD, and know my heart;

Test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, 

and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139

This psalm is one of my favorite chapters in The Word.  God knows you. He has memorized you. He knows me. He knows every thought, even the ones I am not proud of. He knows the dreams and desires that are in our hearts. Why? He made us. His hand is upon me, His hand is upon you. How comforting is that?! The promises in Psalm 139 fill me with so much peace. I am so thankful that God knows every detail of my life and that He leads me in the way everlasting. He knew me when I was in my mother's womb, He knew me in my days of rebellion against Him and His Truth, He knew me in my days of college and during the start of my teaching career in Florida and He knows me now in my days of marriage & ministry. I am still HIS, no matter the season of life -- and that brings me more comfort than I could put words on. Before being anything else in this life I am His. Before anyone puts a label of what "I am" in this life I know that I can turn to the Great I AM and rest in simply being His. 

Oh Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You so much for this day. I thank You for who You are. Lord, I thank You for knowing me. I thank You Lord for knowing whoever is reading this. I thank You Lord that You are an all knowing God & You still want us. You still love us no matter where we have been or what we have done. I thank You for Your guidance & provision. I thank You because You are good and worthy to be praised for all of my days. I praise You Father because you are great. 

I love You with all that is within.

In Jesus Name,

Amen