He Said, “Come”

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24. but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. 25. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 27. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." 28. And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." 29. He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; 30. but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." 31. Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32. And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God" (Matthew 14:22-33 NIV).

My favorite place on earth is the beach – any beach – as long as there is sand. I find myself yearning for the ocean if I haven’t been there in a while. I have a ritual or a routine when I visit the beach. I like to just stand on the boardwalk and breathe in deeply with my eyes closed. I take in the sound of the waves and inhale the fresh salty air.

My lungs fill with the briny mist of “ocean air.” I stand still for a while and then I lick my lips. It’s not until I taste the saltiness that I really begin to unwind and take in the beauty and power of the sea. At that point I begin my sojourn back to nature and rhythm and order in accordance with God’s creation plan.

I like to visit the beach in the winter because I am all but alone and it becomes my own personal journey back to the water and the sand. My hair starts to frizz immediately, but I literally feel the pores of my skin opening up and rejoicing to be cleansed and refreshed by the salty mist. I like to go for long walks and look out at the horizon where water meets sky.

I think about Jesus and Peter in the boat at times like that. Jesus walking to his friends to comfort them, to reassure them, perhaps even to save them from drowning. And poor Peter – so much like each of us! He desperately wants to trust Jesus. He even takes a bold step out onto the water. When he began to sink, he must have felt as I do when a huge wave crashes over me and I can’t tell up from down or sky from ocean floor. It’s a terrible, frightening feeling – almost as if you are about to die!

I am ashamed to admit how many times I “start to trust Jesus.” All too often I don’t end up trusting him! I take back my thoughts or my plans. He’s not acting quickly enough. Things aren’t going the way I envisioned them. I’m not in control! Never mind, Jesus, I’ve got this one—but thanks. Oh, but then I begin to sink. And I flounder and sometimes I start to go under.

That is the point at which I tell Jesus, “Oh, what I said before—never mind! I really do need you. Please save me.” And of course, He always does. Sometimes He lets me flounder around a while until I learn the lesson. But He never lets me sink all the way down.

He bids us to come to Him. “Keep your eyes on me,” he instructs us. “I will walk with you,” He promises. And we believe him – for a while. Like Peter we forget the instructions. We start to think about all the what-ifs and buts and maybes. Jesus gives us one simple, infallible, timeless, and all-purpose command. “Come.” So easy, and yet so difficult.

My prayer today is that you breathe in the love of Jesus with every breath you take. And that you remember there is only one thing you need to get where you’re going: obey when Jesus bids you, “Come.”

Blessings on your journey,
Mary


This was originally posted at Worship for the Weekday, January 27, 2006.

Thanks for Listening, God!

"He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them" (Psalm 145:19 NIV).

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us" (1 John 5:14 NIV).

I think it was past time to post something a bit less "whiny" here! Last week was one of those weeks for me! You know . . . I took on the weight of the world and didn't let go! I clung tightly to the illusion I fall into believing sometimes: that I'm in "this" by myself! I don't know why I do it, but I do. I am ever grateful -- beyond expression -- that God allows me to vent, whine, etc., and then welcomes me back into His loving arms when I'm 'over myself.'

The previous post may have been a little more honesty than you wanted me to share! I apologize if that is the case. However, it is a side of me that springs up sometimes and I really do believe that God wants us to be completely authentic--in our wisdom and strength as well as in our struggles and challenges. I've known people who never wanted to talk about what was good and right in their lives--but I've also met some who would never open up enough to share what wasn't going so well too.

Anyway, I think I'm over my little tantrum. I finished typing my God's Wonder Woman column that will be posted at Take Root and Write on Wednesday, July 1. That helped me get back on track. The theme this time is about rearranging our "to do" list! Pretty appropriate and timely for me. I hope it will be for others as well.

I would say I am ashamed of myself for being negative, but I guess I'm really not. Everything in my life is not perfect. God knows that. But I don't like to complain about my own circumstances. I am blessed beyond anything I ever dreamed. I am humbled and grateful by the ways God is opening up my life to Him and to His world.

I think the "woes of this world" felt especially burdensome to me lately because the vision God has given me for my life is HUGE!! And I get tired--a lot! I forgot to trust in God's wisdom. I wasn't willing to lean on His strength. I couldn't make myself rest in His power. I spent much of last night giving it all to God and this morning I'm committed to allowing Him to make the way He sees for my future--and my present.

How about you? Are you feeling burdened lately? So much is going on in the world and it's easy to internalize it all. If I don't catch myself right away, I can spiral into the mix of it all and lose my footing. That's when I find I need to go to scripture. The words there are timeless and divinely-inspired. God's word is what we need to drown out the noise of what's going on in the world.

"I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King." This is what the LORD says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:" (Isaiah 43:15-17 NIV)

"This is what the LORD says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen" (Isaiah 44:2 NIV).

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4 NIV)

I pray you hear God's word above all else and that you trust Him, lean on Him and rest in Him as you go through your day today.

Lord Jehovah is my Strength

The week has been a long one! I learned a great deal at my new job about updated Medicaid regulations for various mental health services. Yes, I am a geek in that I absolutely love, love, that I am working as a licensing/compliance person again:-) The new company for which I work had a wonderful audit report by Medicaid and so the week ended on a high note after several days of tremendous stress and high anxiety!

I have lost 18, count 'em 18!!!! pounds. I'm very excited and as a reward both for my weight loss and for completing a strenuous week, I treated myself to Chic-Fil-A:-) God has fortunately removed my craving for sweets. Not that I don't still want something once in a while, but when I gave myself the choice of treating myself to Chic-Fil-A or Chocolate Cream Pie, I chose the former. Go figure! I still battle my love of unhealthy carbs, but so far, with God's help, I am winning the battle.

I am feeling very much affirmed in my writing and speaking ministry and continue to bask in the glow of the Holy Spirit directing and guiding my ministry.

Through Facebook, I am connecting with several distant relatives! It's so awesome to "meet" the children (and grandchildren) and other relatives of the cousins who I admired and idolized as a child. As we grew older and began living our lives, we drifted apart. I'm pleased to be in contact again.

Yes, I still have some ongoing struggles. Who doesn't!? Yes, I wish I had more time in every day. Yes, I wish my husband didn't have to work so hard. Yes, I have issues that continue to weigh me down. But for this week, I choose to focus on all the ways and all the reasons for which I rejoice.

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:3-5 NIV)

Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2 KJV)