At Least He Got Out of the Boat!

I was inspired by my "anchor" blog yesterday enough to give me "meat" for my blog today. Here comes Jesus walking on the water. He calls Peter to come to Him, so in a bold, audacious step of faith, Peter got out of the boat and started walking on water. He didn't hesitate. He took a leap, rather a walk, of faith. But when he took his eyes off of Jesus, he started sinking. Jesus saved the day for him and picked him up. (Matthew 14:22-33). Way to go, Peter! Way to save, Jesus!

I’ve heard many messages and sermons on Peter’s lack of faith. But, I started thinking, at least he had the faith to get out of the boat. After all, the other disciples just sat there in their fear. We shouldn’t criticize Peter for sinking. If only he would have kept his eyes on Jesus – the story would be one of great faith! Our story would be one of great faith, too, if we would keep OUR eyes on Jesus and not on our circumstances.

I am sure the boat squatters thought Peter was un poco loco for what he did. They were huddled, yearning to be free, and not trusting in Jesus like Peter did. I'm not saying those men didn’t have faith. Just saying they didn’t have enough faith to step out of the boat. Just the same, we cannot say anything to Peter because too often we are not getting out of the boat either! No matter the storm or situation we are faced with, it's up to us to get out of the boat and trust Jesus!

You know the deal -- when we stretch our faith, and go for it: "Yes, we're buying a house" or "Yes, we're going to start our family" or "Yes, we are going to adopt" or "Yes, I'm accepting the job offer even though the pay is less. It's what I love to do" or "Yes, I will run a marathon" or "Yes, I will start a Bible Study in my home" or "Yes, I'm quitting smoking" or "Yes, we're moving!" It's all about TRUSTING God to hold us up, when we stretch our faith to "walk on water"!

It's that first step that holds so many of us back. But, it's time for us to get out of our comfort zone. Sometimes God shakes things up around us to make us so uncomfortable that we will strive to move from where we are, to the next level of our destiny. And, those adversities we are facing? God could be allowing them to push us out of the boat and into the deep, so He can bless us with a new level of faith, maturity and blessings! It's time to live with "no regrets" and for us to learn to let go of our fears and insecurities, and to reach out for life at its fullest. Even if we fall, as Peter did, there will always be SOMEONE to reach out and help us get our balance again! And, by the way, our Lifeguard DOES walk on water -- so no need to worry or fret!

He Rescued Me

Over the last few days, I’ve seen such remarkable and heart-stirring scenes of people being rescued out of the rushing flood waters of Hurricane Harvey, off of roof tops, and from cars and homes. Thanks be to God for America where our people – first responders, volunteers, churches, charitable organizations, and so many others are stepping up to do what we do in times of crisis. As divided a country that it seems we are -- in times like this, our true colors – good hearts and spirits show up.

As I watched those rescue scenes, I couldn’t help but think of one of my all-time favorite memories with much loved friends who are Gospel songwriters, artists and musicians, Jimmy & Becky Pearce, and the song they wrote, “He Rescued Me”, that blessed our hearts so much. Before singing the song, Jimmy would always tell the story of his dad who rescued three elderly people whose boat had capsized and they were clinging to a fallen tree in the middle of stormy waters. Jimmy’s dad managed to get them all into his boat. The elderly woman clung to his legs and said “I don't want to let him go. He rescued me. He rescued me.” Jimmy and Becky put those words to song that not only carry the message of those being rescued in South Texas in a natural way, but those words explain the good grace of our Heavenly Father Who rescues us from the storms of this life that can be equally devastating. He is our rescuer and we never want to let Him go.

HE RESCUED ME
On the stormy sea of sin I was sinking, never to rise again.
The wind and the rains ‘round me crashing,
Had battered and torn me within

But He rescued me, Jesus rescued me
From the cold dark waters of sin’s troubled sea.
He rescued me, new life I can see
Jesus reached down in love, and He rescued me.

I could feel death’s arm around me, as I struggled for my life.
I could see his angel waiting to claim me for his prize.
In my hour of desperation I almost lost my mind
But somehow I cried to Jesus and He saved me just in time.

So many people in South Texas have lost everything. Everything they had worked for all their lives is gone. There are those who worked from pay check to pay check and they don’t have a job to even go to because the business they worked for is gone. Fear is probably gripping their hearts. They need rescuers and we pray and hope that their needs will be met in such ways they recognize the love of God through people.

Fear gripped the hearts of Christ’s disciples when the storms, the winds, and the waves came to them on the Sea of Galilee. I refer to that scene because it is so clear in my mind after having been on that sea in June. The best part of that scene, scripture says that Jesus saw them from afar and came to them walking on the water to save them. (Matthew 14:22-33)

Though that story is over 2,000 years ago, it is still relevant to us today, and particular to those who have been affected by the devastation in South Texas and those who have fear gripping their hearts about what tomorrow holds. That fear may also be gripping those who are about to give up because matters have gotten worse and they fear for the loss of their marriage or their job or their loved one who is so ill. Jesus – the same – yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) has the ability and wants to come walking on the water into all of those lives. His grace. His love. His mercy. He’s reaching out even now to RESCUE you and me from whatever fear we are facing today. Let’s reach up to those arms.....and let Him.

At Least Take the First Step

In my “No Fear” post yesterday, I shared how proud I was of my granddaughter when we were at Six Flags Over Texas. Against her initial concerns about the wild rides that were there, she conquered her fears and in fact, exceeded our greatest expectations for her. After the first ride (her first step), she became an ambitious and relentless rider and wanted to keep riding more – long after Staci and I were ready to call it a day.
While that “no fear” story described overcoming fears about amusement park rides, I know that nowhere compares to certain fears that may be looming before you today. I know it sounds easy to say “Have no fear!” until we are facing some situations that have created fears of gigantic proportion.

In June this year, I had the time of my life and dream-come-true experience when I was riding in a boat on the Sea of Galilee and walking all over the region where Christ performed so many miracles – among which was the story of those seasoned fishermen (aka disciples) who knew the sea and everything there was to know about fishing. They had seen, survived and lived through many storms. But for all their experience and nautical knowledge, they needed to experience what it was to BELIEVE audaciously in Christ who was daily demonstrating to them on how to live with NO FEAR.

The story went like this in Matthew 14:22-33: Jesus was on the shore praying while the greatest storm of the disciples’ lives was upon them in the Sea of Galilee. They were scared out of their wits and at the end of their ropes when there came Jesus walking on the water to them. He called out to them “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.” We know that Peter, as shifty in his faith as he was at times, had the courage to at least take a FIRST STEP. He didn’t have to get out of that boat to walk to Jesus. But he did. He took a chance. That was courage – holy audacity. He got out of the boat. I admire that courage and I sure can’t fault him for noticing the winds and waves even though Jesus was right in front of him. How many times have I shook from the winds and waves in my own life instead of staying constant in my laser focus on Jesus, the Peace Giver?

We know about first steps. It’s bold for a woman who is being abused to take the first step to get help. It’s bold for a man to quit his job or attend school for a better job. It’s bold for students to take the first step and stand in front of a room and give a speech. It’s bold for someone who has never traveled in an airplane, to take a flight. It’s bold for a couple to buy their first home.

Dear, try-to-do-good Peter has received so much critcism thrown at him for his failures, but you’ve got to hand it to him – he got out of the boat. He took the first step. We all need to get out of the safety of our boats. I’m not saying we should take wild chances or throw caution to the wind, but I am saying “If we hear the Master calling us to take a chance or change something in our life, then we need to get out of the boat." And when we get out of the boat, and stay focused on the Master, He will see us through to the other side. Peter met the storm head on, fought the waves and the winds and felt the awesome experience of touching the very hand of Christ – because Peter was the only one willing to get out of the boat and go toward Jesus. Peter had the courage to take that FIRST STEP out of the boat.

There are storms in every life and sometimes they feel like they’re drowning us, but in every storm, Christ is waiting with outstretched arms, to save us. If we really want water-walking faith, then it's time to get out of our boats of comfort and ease and take that FIRST STEP!