To Walk on Water

Let me tell you, this has been one tough season, but one that hasn't knocked me completely down to where I can't get back up.

Aaron and I have been through some of the toughest moments, but everything pales in comparison to the storm that is raging around us right now. I know that God has a purpose and a plan that far exceeds these moments that feel like complete torture, but I also know that He is drawing us closer to Him and making us really aware of who He is.

If there has ever been a season where God has really spoken loudly, its this one. Mine and Aarons hearts are to be in ministry in the worship aspect and while I thought I was ready for something that huge once I graduated a few years ago, I am realizing how far I have come since then and how even when I thought I was ready, God had a few more things that He needed to teach both Aaron and I.

The message for this season is to have faith enough to get out of the boat and walk on the water, and to keep trusting and to keep your eyes locked on His when you feel like giving up, when you feel like looking down, when you feel like circumstances are running the race in your life. I have always been a worrier, and a doubter, and one who stresses easily when plans are changed and things haven't gone the way that I planned it in my mind. I like comfort. I like feeling secure and I like knowing that everything is going to go according to how I see it. When plans change, and things fall apart and life doesn't go in the direction I really thought it would, I would fall apart. I would question God and get angry with Him. I would feel like He left me high and dry and really if I was honest, to to live a life in ministry, things will never go according to how you want it, and if you don't know who HE is and what His Word says to get you through the storm, you will quit every time it gets hard.

God takes you through barren, difficult seasons to show you another side of who He is, and to also teach us to trust in Him and to know that He is good and has our best interest at heart.

I love the story in Matthew 14:22-33 when Jesus calls Peter to come out on the water with Him. The disciples had been in a huge storm and when Jesus saw how frightened they were, He went to them walking on water. At first the disciples didn't recognize who Jesus was, they had mistaken Him for a ghost. Jesus tells them in verse 27 "Do not be afraid, take courage, I am here!" The disciples then put Him to the test to prove who He was, and Peter calls out to Him "Lord, if its really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water." Jesus replies to Peter and says "Come." We know that Peter gets out of the boat and is walking towards Jesus, but as he sees a strong wind coming and the waves getting bigger, he takes his eyes off of Jesus and looks around at what is happening, and as he is looking at what is in front of him, he begins to sink. And ever so gently, like He always does, Jesus reaches out and grabs onto Peter, but He also questions Peter about the lack of faith Peter just had in Jesus.

Have you doubted?
I have.

This message is for this season in my life. God is calling me, Aaron and us together to get out of the boat and follow after Him. It hasn't been easy, and theres times that I have taken my eyes off of Jesus and looked at what lies in front of me, and the truth is, every time I look at how impossible everything looks in the midst of our storm, I am overcome with fear and doubt. Every time my eyes are locked on to His, peace and joy follow.

Before God even called Peter to get out on to the water, He first tells them do not be afraid. God would say the same thing to us do not be afraid to get out of that boat, or to take that leap of faith to what I am calling you to do next. He warns us first, because He knows that if we aren't locked onto Him, the storm will completely take us out.

God commissions us for great moments. He called us to do greater works than He did, and He didn't say that we wouldn't face trials, but He said that when we do face trials, to rejoice and to know that in and through it all, He is still good and He is still with us, that He will never leave nor forsake us.

I love how at first Peter is probably thinking that he is going to get out of the boat and all is going to be ok because Jesus has him, and I like how soon as he gets going, God tests Him, and in that test we see just how much faith Peter really does have. When those waves starting getting bigger, immediately Peter becomes more concerned about the waves and the wind then the God who just called Peter to come to Him, but even when Peter began sinking, God still saved Peter. God was still right there with Peter. God was with Peter at the same time that He was rescuing Him.

He is with you while He is coming to rescue you. God walks right on top of the stuff that you think is going to take you out and if you don't know who He is, you will mistake the One who is coming to rescue you as a ghost that is coming to destroy you. (Christine Caine)

God is still there for me and for those of you reading that are in a tough place. God will not let you completely be taken out by your present circumstance. He may use that very circumstance to test you and while you may let yourself sink to the deepest parts of that circumstance, God is still holding on and waiting for you to realize that He is the only one that will pull you through and keep you going.

God is commissioning me for a greater purpose than what I realize, and even though these last few months look nothing like what I thought would be the plan, God is quickly teaching me that no matter  how hard it is, I have to keep trusting. Even when fear keeps me paralyzed in place, I have to keep trusting and knowing that He is going to bring me to my destiny.

A walk with Christ is a journey of trusting and believing even when you can't see Him. The key to getting through it all is knowing the identity of who He is, because when you know that He is for you, its easier to know that what He is doing is for your own good. Everything He does is always for our good. Always.

You will lift my head above the mighty waves
You are able to keep me from stumbling
And my weakness
you are the strehgth that comes from within
Good shepherd of my soul
Take my hand and lead me on

You make my footsteps and my path secure
So walking on water is just the beginning
Cause my faith to arise, stand at attention
For You are calling me to greater things
 

-Shepherd by Bethel

Surrender All

^1-2 You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.

^3-5 I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (Message Version)

I think we can all agree that feeling inadequate is never a settling feeling.

I have been there too many times to count.

Its funny how God puts us in the situations where we feel so unworthy, so unprepared, so totally without a lack of confidence and then out of nowhere, God shows up and we are just stunned by what He just did.

I can remember some pretty huge moments, that God showed up and it was powerful.

Its silly how we tend to underestimate God and put Him in this tiny box and when He does do something, we are surprised. The thing is, is that we shouldn't be surprised. We should always expect Him to show up and blow our minds.

In college, I remember not having a voice for the longest time, and when your voice is your instrument and your name is on the set list to sing a song and you have no voice, you either panic or you trust. I would like to say, that there was no panic and no wondering involved, but every time that I felt there was no possible way, I would get on the stage, open my mouth, and out of nowhere my voice would appear. I would be able to sing the song that I just couldn't sing in rehearsal moments ago.

Its amazing what God can do isn't it!?

Here you have Paul feeling so inadequate, and probably somewhat nervous, but then out of nowhere, God shows up big and preaches a message that His people needed to hear.

We are no different than Paul, and God is no respecter of persons. What He did for Paul, He will surely do for us. When we are willing to hand over the reigns that we are so tightly grasping, God cant help but get in the middle and show off and proving Himself to be bigger than what our imaginations can handle. We just have to be willing to surrender.

Easier said than done. I know.

God created us to need Him. He created us to want to have Him involved. Without His anointing that we pull from, we are nothing. If God is not in it, then what are we doing and who are we reaching? What is the point if God cant even be in the midst of the very thing He called us to do? Not having His power, His presence and His anointing leaves nothing but an empty message or an empty song.

I never want to take the opportunity to minister to someone and them get nothing out of what I had to say, or nevertheless, I never want them to walk away from worship never seeing Him in it. People need what you have, and though you may feel unequipped, inadequate, not confident, insecure and the whole shebang, God sees you as capable. God will minister out of the empty vessel and the broken places. Your testimony is your story. Your brokenness is your story. God longs for anyone who will surrender and wants to be used. Forget about the past and forget about what someone else has said about you, God called you, and God will equip you. No man can do what God can do and no man can equip you and prepare you like God can. Trust. Trust and rely in Him.

I just know when I get to the end of my time, I want to be able to say that I gave it my all, and let God run the full course. I want people to not just see me in what I do, but I want to make sure that He is known in everything that I can do.

Sisters, whatever you have been holding so tightly to, lay it down. Trust that God is going to come through for you and use you big. Forget every negative thought, image, word etc. and know that there is a bigger God who has great plans for you and wants to use you beyond your capabilities. No one defines you like God does. His image of you is far more important than any mans image of you. People will always fail you and disappoint you, but our God will never fail you and will never leave you hanging. Be encouraged and walk in faith, knowing we serve a mighty big God who will come through every. single. time.

Hallelujah!

All Because of Jesus

I am seriously humbled like never before today.

 

I could tell you a lot about the Bible and a lot about Jesus, but sometimes for things to really sink in deep, they have to become a revelation.

 

For the last few months God has been showing me new sides to Him and making things feel more alive and making things seem more real to me.

 

We have heard all about Easter and Jesus' death on the cross, and while I know the story, I didn't really get it. I believed, but I didn't get it.

 

Today, I get it.

 

I really get it.

 

And for the first time, I wept.

 

I weep at knowing how amazing our God is, and how much love He has for us.

 

I am awestruck and my mind is blown.

 

I cant even fathom.

 

Let me share with you:

 

The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
    a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
    nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
    a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
    We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
    our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
    that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
    that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
    Through his bruises we get healed.
We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.
    We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,
    on him, on him.

-Isaiah 53:5

 

Everything God did, He did for us. Its never been about Him. Its always been about us. God has us in mind from the very beginning and had in mind our salvation. We didn't choose Him. He chose us.  He gave us His all. I mean, He gave us His life so that we might know Him. He carried our pains, our sins put Him on that cross!!

 

 Don't you think that the God of the universe could have said "stop" at any point or when they said "if you are really God, why don't you get down from the cross and prove it" He could have just gotten down from the cross and proved Himself right then and there?

 

He could of, but He didn't because He wanted us to know Him. He wanted us to trust Him. He wanted us to love Him back and to want to be in relationship with Him. Christ never had religion in mind. It was about having a relationship with Him. Nothing more nothing less. Just a relationship with Him.

 

Our God, our Savior died on a cross and experienced the worst amount of torment so that we could live and have a life that far exceeds any dream or plan we have in mind. He took the punishment that we desperately deserved, made us whole, set us free, stripped off our filthy rags, placed a crown on our heads and clothed us in a bridegrooms robe, pouring His grace on us.

 

Do you get it yet?

 

Are you speechless?

 

We are redeemed because of what He did. We are forgiven because of what He did. We are loved because of what He did.

 

The best part of all of this is, He did it for you and for me. Asking that we just love Him in return. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

What a mighty, mighty, great God we serve!

 

 



Equipped with a Promise

Have you ever wondered why there are some that can be in the midst of the most terrifying storms and still be praising God and be so full of joy?

For the longest time, I have always wondered what their secret was and what I was doing wrong, because to tell you the truth, sometimes when the storms come and things get a little bit hard, I tend to run to the "safe" zone. I run to what's comfortable. I cry. I get angry. I question God. A lot.

If you are anything like me, you know what I am talking about.

Can I share with you the secret to joy, happiness and overcoming while still praising Him and knowing His goodness?

Its simple.

Knowing God and knowing His Word.

Its funny because even though I am saying that, it all sounds a little easier said than done, right?

I will be plain honest and tell you all, even though I know what Gods Word says, sometimes I tend to forget what His Word says and that it really means what it says.

Our circumstances may all look different, but there is one thing that we all have in common. Our God never changes and our God never forsakes us.

The secret to getting through any type of circumstance is to know Him. I mean really know Him. The deeper you know Him, the easier it will be to walk through your circumstance. Trials come and go, hardships come and go, but the one thing that remains constant and faithful is our God.

Joshua 1:8 says, "Study this Book of instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."

I cannot tell you, how important it is to spend time in Gods Word. His Word is our lifeline. It has everything that we need to make it on a daily basis and every instruction on how to overcome and handle any situation.

When you know His promises to you, its easier to walk out whatever you are facing.

To be intimate with God means getting into His Word daily, meditating on it and allowing His word to penetrate straight to your heart, taking you deeper and showing you a side of Him that can only be seen by seeking Him.

You cant fully trust a person to lead and guide you, if you hardly know them.

God has given us everything that we need to follow Him and to get through this crazy thing called life. He has equipped us with His Word and has left us with His Holy Spirit.

Friends, I don't know what you are facing, what you are needing answers on, or if you are needing guidance in a certain area, but I promise if you get out His Word and seek Him, He will make your paths straight and show you what you are needing. Don't be afraid to dust off the pages and get to know Him.

I promise that when you seek Him, He will be found.

When you know His Word and are obedient to what it says, it will produce blessings.

Know Him. Know His Word.

His promises are your promises for everything you will ever need.

His Word is like a double edge sword.

As we near Easter, I invite you to get out your Bible and get to know our Savior. The one who gave His life for you and called you His.

Chosen

I find myself more and more like Jonah than I care to admit.

I've ran. I've hid. I've disqualified myself from thinking that God cant use me. I've been fearful. I've let pride consume parts of me that I never thought was possible, and on several occasions, I have just plain refused to do what God has asked for no better reason than laziness.

Does this sound familiar?

Here we have a man named Jonah, who, lets be honest and say that God is trusting to deliver a mighty big word of His to the Ninevites, and for probably reasons of insecurity, trust, pride, selfishness, fear, and disagreement he runs from God. I mean, Jonah knows God is asking him to do something extraordinary and somehow Jonah thinks that if he goes far enough, God wont find him and God will just ask someone else to do it right?

Wrong.

See the thing about God is, He doesn't need us. God chooses us. God wants us.

God had a specific purpose and a specific reason why He chose Jonah. Its the same for you and I, friends. God doesn't need us. God wants us. God is wanting one of us to just raise our hands and surrender our all to Him and be used completely by Him to build His kingdom.

God has to bring tests, trials and hardships into our lives to sustain us, to make us stronger, to equip us, to mold and shape us to be more like Him. That's what this life is about. Its about being like Him, being ambassadors for the kingdom of God. Its not going to be easy, and its not going to be fun at times, but are we really here for our own comforts and conveniences or are we here for what God is doing?

To whom much is given, much is required.

Its not about the fish, its about God.

It doesn't matter, how messed up and broken we are, its not about what our past has been like, or the person that we use to be, God can still use us. He wants to use us. God wants to turn the mess of our lives into a message, to redeem people. There are people out there that need to know where you have come from and the person who turned your life around.

What man says is impossible, God says is possible.

If He calls you, He will equip you. Sisters, we don't have to be afraid or fear that if God gives us an assignment, that He wont be there with us. If He has called you to it, He will move heaven and earth to accomplish that very thing, great or small, until its completed. Stop disqualifying yourself, because God sees you as capable, trustworthy and as the right person for the job. The very thing that you think disqualifies you from something will be the very thing that will qualify you.

Its not about the fish. Its about God.

Your own pride, will tell you that you cant, and will limit you from doing what you have been called to do.

Even in the storm, God still chose to use Jonah. God showed His great hand of mercy and goodness to the others on the ship, and even out of Jonah's disobedience, God still showed up. We are going to have good days and bad days, but don't underestimate the power of God and what He is capable of doing.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

 



 Don't disqualify yourself, because you don't think you are good enough. God is saying He has commanded YOU to for HIS glory to accomplish something great for His kingdom. He's assigned it and He is saying "Don't be afraid. Don't be discouraged, because wherever you go, I will be there with you." When you have to tell the woman with three kids she has cancer, He is right there with you. When you have to tell your best friend they are living in sin or they are being cheated on, He is there with you. When you have to say goodbye to a loved one or bury your child, He is there with you. When you get laid off from your job, He is there with you. When your husband leaves, He is there with you. When you get put on the sidelines for a season, He is there with you. He is always there with you, in all things.

 

Whatever your circumstance and whatever He is asking you to do, He is there with you. You aren't doing this journey alone sisters.

 

You are qualified to do just as God is calling. Even when it doesn't make sense, God is still choosing you, and will continue to choose you and want you till the very end. He loves you enough to let you never stay the same, and to play a part for His glory.

 

You have been chosen.

Chosen by our creator.

What an incredible honor that is!

Never Forgotten

 

I am joining She Reads Truth for the #SheSharesTruth challenge.

 

Ever feel like you had messed up so bad that God couldn't forgive you?

 

I have.

 

In this 38th Psalm, David is feeling this way too. He is reminding God that even though his sins are great and he is in this deep state of depression and despair, he is asking God why He had forsaken him and not to be angry with him.

 

Sin. It has a way of making us hit rock bottom, and overtaking us with a heavy weight of shame. It might keep us away from Christ for a period of time, but the power of sin also draws us closer and helps us to realize the great need we have for our Savior.

 

Sin leads us to do the craziest things.

 

Im sure that you can relate.

 

There have been times in my life, that I have made some pretty poor decisions that have left me feeling so dirty and disgusted that I have believed the lies of the enemy and have let my relationship with God fall through the cracks instead of running to Him.

 

This is what David did. David made a few many bad decisions with Bathsheba that kept him from God and kept him from receiving the fullness of the blessings of God.

 

We trip ourselves up, we keep ourselves from the blessings of God and we wallow in our self destruction. Its sad isn't it?

 

Despite how we may feel, God says regardless of what you have done, and regardless of how you might feel about yourself, Come.

 

Come just as you are, broken, scarred, completely messed up, dirty, shameful, whatever, and let me give you a fresh start and a new outlook on life.

 

Friends, He died on a cross for us. He wiped away every transgression, every bit of uncleanliness, every bit of shame and called us His children. He forgave us.

 

He didn't call us to be perfect. He called us to need Him, to run to Him when we mess up and to ask for His forgiveness. His love for you, and for me, casts out every ounce of our shame. He knew we would mess up and that's why He offers His forgiveness no matter how great or how little it is. Its all the same in His eyes.

 

Romans 8:1-2 says: "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death." {The Message}

 

You are freed. You are free.

 

He isn't a God of anger and one who stays angry. He may discipline us for a moment, but more than anything He desires to love you and to walk with you day in and day out. There is absolutely nothing that could keep you from Him, or keep you from receiving His grace.

 

Run to Him. He longs to embrace you wholeheartedly.

Whatever it is that keeps you from receiving God's total grace and love, don't let the enemy win. God has already given you the victory and the power over sin.

 

Walk in His grace and His unmerited favor towards you.

 

You are loved.