I was on Vacation and riding on a Ferry Boat when the story about Jesus walking on water came to my mind.

As I sit in my car on a ferry boat looking out at the choppy waters my mind wonders to the story in Matthew where Jesus walks and the water. I am asking myself the question: If I saw Jesus walking on the water would I have enough faith to step out of the boat and start walking to him? Peter had enough faith to get him out of the boat, but when he felt the waves and wind about him, something happened, fear took over and faith went by the wayside. Peter wanted to keep the faith, but without the security of the boat beneath him he doubted. 

 ( Matthew,15:24-33 )
24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning[a] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So, Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Footnotes:

I think any Christian would tell you they have at least the faith the size of a mustard seed. It is when we are in the storm-tossed seas of life that we find out whether that is true or not. So often when a trial starts out we have strong faith, we are certain that God will hold us tightly. As we walk out into the deep he will keep us afloat, but a lot of the time our faith starts weakening and we become afraid and we are no longer sure that God is able to keep us afloat. And we here our Lord asking us the same question that he asked Peter, “Why did you doubt me?” 

I think we doubt for many reasons, maybe the greatest being we are still seeing God through the eyes of a man and we think that he is like we are, we are very limited in our abilities. Human and frail in many ways we cannot carry anyone else, just ourselves. When we try to carry not only our burdens and others many times we break under the pressures of it. But God is God, Nothing is too hard for God. Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Do we really believe this?

When we walk through storm-tossed seas we tend to focus on the sea rather than what is ahead of us, or who is ahead of us. If we could simply keep our eyes focused on Jesus and remember how faithful he has been in times past, maybe just maybe our faith would stay a little stronger. God is always with us, watching each step we take waiting to catch us lest we fall and even if we do fall it is into loving hands.

I take comfort in knowing that God formed me; he alone knows my frame, my mind, and my heart. He knows just how much faith I have and he calls me out ever deeper to walk on the water with him. Each time a storm comes and I get through it I find my faith stronger & my walk less fearful.  I remember how God called me to the deep and held me. 

Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? “

This is my life by verse, why you might ask? It very plainly tells me what God wants and expects from me. Let’s take a closer look at each thing, examine it for a few minutes and see what we come up with.

What does it mean to do justly? In simple words, it means someone who does what is right, preferably all the time, weighing out what my Lord will think about what I am doing and choosing to do what is right and good. I did not use to be so concerned with how it made my Lord viewed my actions, as many baby Christian’s I presumed upon His good grace knowing He said that I was forgiven for every sin, past, present and future. Nowadays when or if I find myself behaving in a way that is not Christ-like the Holy Spirit nudges my heart and shows me my error.

It may be a very small something, but God looks at everything and his view is what matters not my view. Psalm 106:3 also says, ‘Blessed are those who act justly, who always do what is right.” I do not know about you, but I want blessings coming my way!

The second things we are to do is love mercy. What is mercy? The dictionary says this ‘compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.”

Being compassionate towards others, following that “
Golden Rule’, “do unto others as you would want them to do unto you.” Sounds easy enough, I certainly want mercy coming my way when I am wrong with forgiveness attached to it. What it does not say is this: “do unto others as they do to you, but do it first.”

Is not Jesus’s mercy Great toward us? We will never receive the punishment do us for our sin and unbelief! Wow! Once we repent and receive Jesus as Lord we are instantly forgiven, Gods great mercy follows us all the rest of our days! His mercy took his life, I doubt ours would ever cost us so much. I want to always press on with the cross in full view of my conscious mind, remembering the price he paid and the mercy he gave.

The last thing is this, we are to walk humbly with our God. What does it look like to walk humbly? I have heard this phrase said many times and I think it sums it up better than any other. ‘Being humble is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.” My Pastor has said it time and again. We should not be the center of attention! Ours gaze needs to be first on Jesus and then on others. Actively looking for someone to help, love, show mercy to. Jesus did not walk around thinking of himself, he was outward focused and outward reaching. He was always about the good of others. Our culture today is so self -serving, it is me, me, its all about me generation. My world, my stuff, my good etc. Yes, there are people out there who do not fall into the “it’s all about me category”, but far too many are only focused on self. My desire is to obey this command, is it yours? Why is it so easy to accept mercy, but not to show and give mercy?

When you love the Lord with all your heart mind and soul, then each of us who wears the banner “Christian” should be looking more and more like Jesus as the days go by. Do you look like Jesus to others? Do you desire to please him in everything you do and say? Are you outward focused on the needs of others? Are you quick to forgive and show mercy even before it is asked for? Do you love? These are some quetions to think about and if you find that you are not activly doing these things, repent and ask the Holy Spirit to help you, I promise, He will!

Waiting…we are waiting for Jesus’s triumphant return. Watching the Eastern sky for any movement or change that might mean he is on his way. Praying as we wait, seeking his will, his way, listening to what he tells us to do and lastly being busy, doing those things which please the Father and further the kingdom. Or are we?

Matthew 24:42-44 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. “But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.”For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.”

We do not know the day or the hour of our Lord’s return, but it is promised in scripture so we know it will happen. Maybe in my lifetime, maybe not. It does not matter, my job is to watch always for his returning and live as though it was in a few moments. But while I am waiting I should not just stand gazing into the horizon hoping to see him, I need to be doing those things which we are told to do in scripture.

The most important one is to “Love”, love like Jesus did. 1 Corinthians 13:2 “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but I do not have love, I am nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Yes, we are to “Love” like Jesus did. Love moves us to pray and to do on another’s behalf. Love sometimes moves us out of our comfort zone into action. It means we sacrifice more and focus less on self. Love also moves us to forgive. Forgiveness is huge in the eyes of God, after all, he has forgiven us everything, and not only forgiven but forgotten it as well. We cannot truly love if we do not truly forgive. They go hand in hand. And both move us into action, or should.

Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Luke 17:4 “Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying “I repent”, you must forgive them.”

Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

And lastly, we need to be praying people. Prayer is our lifeline to Jesus. Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Psalm 5:3 “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

James 5:16 “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

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

We are to be waiting, winning souls to Christ. Doing those things which further the kingdom in us and through us, because of he that is in us.

Mark 16:15 “ANd he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

We are to watch and look for his returning, living in such a way as to be ready when he comes.

We are to pray continually about all things because he told us to and when we do he hears us and will answer according to his will and way. So, are you waiting, watching, praying and doing? If not today is a good day to start. We all need to pick up our game, the time of his appearing his drawing ever closer. I personally want to hear “Well Done” when I see him, either at his returning or when I fall asleep in Christ.

My prayer is that we as believers “wake up”, “look up” and get busy waiting, watchin, praying and doing until his return. In Jesus name, Amen

What is a vessel? I think we all know, but for the sake of argument, I will tell you what the web says that it is or can be. “noun” barge, bark, bateau, boat, bottom, bucket, can, craft, liner, ocean liner, steamer, tanker, tub…a hollow container used to hold something.

We are told in 2 Timothy 2:21 “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” And we are told in the very next verse what we should cleanse ourselves from.

2 Timothy 2:22-26 “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

We are his vessels, he formed us and made us. The word tells us that He is the potter and we are the clay. Jeremiah 18:6 and also Isaiah 29:16.

I want to be a vessel of honor for my Lord. I want to pour into my life His word and His way. I need to be vigilant to not put before my eyes anything that will cause my mind to wonder and lead me down a path of lust or anger. Sin always starts in the mind and then moves to the heart and then we usually act on it. I need to be conscious of what I put into my body. Am I dishonoring it with drugs, alcohol? Is my speech pleasing God? Am I careful with the words I use and how I use them? Do I constantly have to say ” I’m sorry” because my words offended someone?

We who call ourselves “Christian,” who claim the name of Christ should have so much of his word poured in us that it overflows to all those we come in contact with. People should leave your presence knowing that there is something different about you. Your countenance should be a light to the world of the hope and peace you carry inside.

So, what do you put into your vessel and most importantly what do you pour out of your vessel?
If people walk away from us wishing they had never met us or spent time with us, something is wrong. I have said it a lot, be a light in a lost and dying world. Let the love of Christ and the joy of Christ rest on your face and in your actions. Be set apart, not to the point of not being fun, or spending time with others whether saved or not, but have a good time, just do not embarrass the one you love, your Lord. Be conscious of the things you are looking at, taking into your body and the things coming out of your mouth!

Be that vessel of honor that He tells us we are. When we became his and our old nature was put to death, we were declared clean, holy and righteous because He is all of those things. Now act like it! 1 Peter 1:16 ” Be holy, because I am holy.”

As Christian’s we are set apart, different. We have been bought with a price, a very high price that of The Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” And we should present him to the world as best as we can.

What does your walk look like to the world? Does it look joyful, stressed, worried or peaceful. Do you look a mess, or too worldly, or too supposedly holy? There is a balance that we each need to have. In our words, in our demeanor in our dress and in our actions, so that if anyone meets us for the first time or someone sees us out and about they know without words that you belong to Christ.

Is that possible, I think that it is. I have met people that just by a few words spoken I know that we share a common faith, or I see someone who in certain circumstances is not going along with the gang in whatever it may be, but has chosen to conduct themselves in a way pleasing to the Lord. People are watching, listening and to be honest just waiting for someone who says I am a Christian to fall short and sadly we do all the time. I have!

How we look and conduct ourselves and what we say should always be on our minds. We need to be the unique people that God has called us to be and said that we are. First of all, we are no longer slaves to sin, that’s right we can choose by the power of the Holy Spirit not to sin. Romans 6:6 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”

There are obvious sins and there are not so obvious sins, but no matter the sin God is always watching and sees even those done in secret. But when we choose to openly sin while a lost and dying world is watching what does that say to them?

Secondly, we are told that we are royal by our rebirth into Christ, we are holy and special to God. 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Do you act like you are royal? Not in a snobby kind of way like you are better than someone else, but in a way that is respectful, kind, generous etc. Do you act holy, in that you do not act like the world? Do you act like a person that is special to God, his child, representing the family of Christ in a way that makes it attractive and inviting to anyone?

Matthew 5:14, 16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Is your light shining so brightly that others see Jesus in you and all you do? Is there something that you set your heart and mind to that would draw others to Christ? We are unique, God tells us we are. As a unique vessel of God shouldn’t we use every opportunity we have to be an ambassador for Christ. We do not have to shove scripture down someone’s throat, we do not have to criticize someone for sin, most of us know we are sinning. We do not have to look like a homely matron, but we do need to be modest in our attire. Do you smile?

We are sometimes the only Bible others see and read. They watch us waiting to see who we look like, the world or our Lord. As we grow in the wisdom and knowledge of Christ and spend time in his word and prayer, we should be looking and acting more like Jesus than we do this world. Our lives should be a beacon of light shining for all the world to see, Look what God has done! I in and of myself have nothing to offer the world, but since I have Jesus in me, I have everything to offer. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING!

I want my light to shine into the darkness. I want others to see Christ in me before they see me. I want to do those things that please my Heavenly Father while here on this earth and if I get the chance I want to be an extension of His hands, His feet and His voice to a lost and dying world.
I pray that today you will let your light so shine that others are drawn to Jesus, others long to have that special something that they see in you. Be unique, be set apart while being a part and let your lamp be the brightest out there!

Sometimes I marvel that God allows us to love and be loved here on this earth. There is no greater joy than to have someone tell you that they love you. When we hear it for the first time from a future mate, our hearts pound a little faster and we feel as light as a feather with happiness. When we hear it from our children, for the first time without our encouraging them to say it, our hearts are full and feel blessed and then for those of us who are grandparents, when one of our grandchildren looks at us and says “I love you”, oh my word, what joy comes our way!

God did not have to give us these feelings of love and the capacity to be loved and give love. It came from the treasure chest of his great love for us. God is love. It was his love that caused him to form the earth and skies. Which we read about in the first few chapters of Genesis. It was his love that compelled him to send his only begotten son to die on the cross for the sins of the world.

1 John 4:9-12 “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

It was his great love that held him on the cross suffering such an agonizing death. It is his love that is patient with us and kind. God is longsuffering with us. 1 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Psalm 86:15 “But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.”

Romans 2:4 “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance.”

We were created in His image in His likeness. We were given the gift of being able to love and to be loved. The greatest of these gifts was Jesus, but the people we have been given as family and friends are truly wonderful gifts just waiting to be loved and in most cases give love. Learn to love others more than self, let it cost you something to love someone. Reach out with hands and a heart of Jesus to a lost and dying world. Embrace those close to you and go out of your way to say”I love you,” but also to show it.
Love is an action word so get busy showing love. God’s love was an action word…He physically died on a cross for you and me. We may never be called on to lay down our lives literally, but we should lay down our lives metaphorically speaking, daily!

And when someone one gives you love from their treasure chest, smile and know that it is a gift worth keeping and sharing. Walk out your love for your fellow man in tangible ways, it may not seem to be making a difference, but trust me it does! Not only on earth, but it is registered in Heaven because God is watching and He sees all those things done in secret and out in the open.

Thank you, Lord for Love…what a wonderful treasure you have given to us!

Matthew 5:5-9 says this: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

I want to look at each of these verses. The first one speaks of how the meek will inherit the earth. In today’s world thinking meekness is seen as someone who is humble, gentle, weak, but the Bible sees it differently. If you were considered weak in Bible times, it meant that you were active and deliberate in accepting less than circumstances. You view circumstances in a “part of a bigger picture” kind of way and accept that at the right time it will all work out as it should. You may outwardly look passive, unsure, but inside you are full of resilience and peace.

Meekness used to be considered a virtue, now it is seen as a defect, a flaw in your character. When a wild animal appears meek, it is not that the animal has lost its strength, it just means it is submissive to the moment and is controlling its strength. Jesus was considered meek at times and we know He certainly had all power!

The next verse says: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” What does it look like to hunger and thirst? The first thing we think about is that physical sensation of our stomachs growling and our mouths being dry. When we feel that way, we go get food and a beverage of some kind. However, often times when we feel that dry feeling in our spiritual selves and we feel like we are just lost and wandering​ through life bumping into walls, why do we not go get the word of God, the true “Bread of Life” that usually sits somewhere near-by collecting dust and fill our hearts, minds and soul with the food of life? Are you hungry for God, do you want more of him? Maybe if you don’t it is because you are still too full of yourself. Just a thought.

Next on the list is “the merciful.” What does mercy look like, act like? We all want to get mercy, but do we hand it out in equal measure? Mercy is what God gives to us even though what we really deserve is his wrath and punishment. We are guilty of breaking every commandment either in our minds, hearts or in actuality. But when we repent and turn to him, instead of handing down the sentence to punish us, he instead forgives us. Gives us underserved mercy, makes us new and forgets our wrongs, our past. So often I hear people say things like ” I will not forgive them, they deserve to be punished, they deserve my anger”, or “so what, if I was forgiven, I think they deserve to be punished, it was different circumstances than mine” and on and on it goes. We never want to think we are as bad as we are. God knows exactly how bad we are and instead of death, gives us unmerited favor and mercy and life everlasting.

Next is “the pure in heart.” Are you pure in heart? Am I? PURE, seriously! Calm down, I will try to explain this scripture as best my feeble mind can. In scripture, it means to be “clean, blameless, unstained from guilt.” The only way we can be this is by surrendering self to Jesus and taking on his righteousness and purity. He was and is the only “sinless” one that there ever was or ever will be. Because of what he did, we are declared innocent because of Jesus finished work on the cross. So, am I pure, “Yes”, are you? “Yes”, if you are born again, if you have been clothed in His righteousness and purity, then you and I are seen by God as pure. Isn’t that amazing and wonderful!

And lastly “the peacemakers.” Are you a peacemaker, do you do your best to keep calm and carry on. Do you speak well of others and not perpetuate gossip? Do you bring about reconciliation or at least try to? God wants us to live peaceably with our neighbors. He wants us to be salt and light to a dying world. He desires that we “represent” him well to others. Don’t you hate a mad, argumentative, negative, hateful Christian? I do! We need to be the diffuser in a situation, not the instigator or the perpetrator.

Here is the “cream” on the top of all of these verses. If we are meek, hungering for righteousness, merciful, pure and being a peacemaker then his word tells us that “WE WILL”. What will we get “EVERYTHING!”
Jesus gives us everything for our nothing. All we give to him is our filthy rags of a self and to us, we are given mercy, grace, an inheritance, peace and the list just keeps on going.

When we live our lives as we are commanded to do and we let his kingdom come in us and through us to a lost and dying world in a way that says “this is the only way”, God notices and is pleased. God promises us his best, promises to get us through this life and on to life everlasting with him. I want to represent my Lord well. I want others to see him in me before they see me. If all they are seeing is me, I need to do a “heart check” and a “soul check” on myself and dig a little deeper into the well and bread of his word.

One time I was on a ladies retreat and after listening to a message about the character of God and that of believers I kept coming back to this thought,”what do I look like to others?” “Do they see Jesus in me?” One night during this retreat I was lying in bed, I could not fall asleep and I was praying out loud to the Lord. I told him that I wanted more than anything for others to see “him” in me first and foremost. I asked for a “face like Moses must have had after his mountain-top experience with God.” I figured he must have looked physically like he had been with the God of the universe in an intimate and powerful way.

Do you “glow” Jesus? Do you “speak” Jesus, Do you”live” Jesus? Do you “represent” Jesus? Do you want “it all?” The everything He has to give us all. I do! I am not perfect, holy, righteous, pure or anything else on my own, but with “all his”poured on me, I am all those things and more, because He says so!

I grew up in a house that was full of abuse and mistrust. Because of the actions of my dad, our world was constantly turned upside down. There’s one particular occasion among many that stand out in my head, this moment in time shaped my thoughts toward my heavenly father for many years.

We lived out in a very rural area, back in the 60’s and 70’s there wasn’t a whole lot to do out there that didn’t have to do with farming, hot summer days, and children playing outside until after dark. My siblings and I would take the ladder and climb up onto the roof of our one-story house and we would run all over the roof and play all the while watching the road for signs of
our dad’s return from work. We knew being up there was against the rules, and if he caught us we were going to be in trouble, but I think it was a way to rebel that was also fun and exciting for us.

On this particular day, I was distracted playing and my brothers saw our dad coming so they raced to the ladder grabbed it and took it to the shed. That left me alone on the roof exposed for him to find. I was in major trouble. The way our drive-way was positioned my dad had to drive in front of the house and turn to the right to go up into his parking space. As he drove past the house I was watching him, watching me. I knew I was in trouble. My dad came around the front of the house to where I was standing on the roof, and he said to me, “I’m tired, you know you’re not supposed to be up there, jump and I’ll catch you!” I looked at him and questioned his sincerity, I asked him three times, “do you
promise you’ll catch me,” to which he answered yes! All the while getting more irritated by my questions and hesitation. Finally, I decided that it must be true if I jumped he would indeed catch me.

Well, you guessed it I jumped and my dad moved, I hit that ground so hard my knees buckled and flew up and hit my chin I fell backward and hit my head, it hurt a lot and I was shaken, as I looked up at him he looked at me and said, ” this will teach you two things don’t get on my roof and don’t trust anyone! ”

This earthly father consistently hurt me and let me down. So, I learned to expect only the worst from my heavenly father. I figured if I did the wrong thing he would hurt me too. It made me afraid and ashamed to run into his arms when I did fail. I knew I wasn’t sure if I could trust him with my soul, and most certainly not my physical self, I dealt with these feelings toward myself, but when I had children they moved toward them, and I believed the same things concerning my children. I trusted God to save them, but I did not trust him for their well-being. I put all that on me, I felt I needed to be there at every moment keeping them safe from people and the world. I was smothering them because of my fears. I needed many years, many tears, and constant time in his word to learn these simple truths.

John 3:16
And I’ll paraphrase:” For God so loved me, that he gave his only son, that I might have eternal life.

Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 – “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed ​because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness.” His word heals broken hearts and minds.

I am so very thankful for God’s patience with me, for his tender love and mercy toward me. He understood my fears and not only did he tenderly and gently love me into complete trust in him with myself and my children, he never allowed anything horrible to happen to my children while I felt responsible for their well being. I do not know if I could have recovered if something had happened. And these words became life to me.

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

John14:27 “Peace is what I leave with you; my own peace that I give you. I do not give as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”

Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

I discovered that the enemy of my soul was blinding me to the truths of God and keeping me operating in a spirit of fear and mistrust toward my Lord. I will never understand this side of Heaven, [and I no longer try to or think about it] why my life has had the things in it that it has had, and I will not care in Heaven. I trust that God had a plan for my life and it has had just enough of hurts, tears, fears, failures, successes etc… that I have needed to move me toward the Savior. My life with all of its moments has been an incredible gift from the Lord. I am not bitter, I am better! It was all for my good and His glory and He calls it perfect and right and I agree, simply because I trust my Heavenly Father!

There is nothing that cannot be redeemed by our Lord and Savior! Nothing! So, if you find you are carrying burdens from the past or even one from today, go to the Lord, surrender your hurts and I promise He is faithful and He will meet you at your need and He can erase all the pain and hurt associated with it. He longs to give you peace.

Oh, what a joy it is to know that nothing, absolutely nothing in my life is ever wasted.

That is the question!

I know you are wondering where I am going with this, bear with me and I will tell you. Who do you want to be or not be? What do you want your legacy to look like? One day when we are dead our time on this earth to make a difference will be over, all we will have left is what we did and how we are remembered. Does it matter to you what people will remember about you when you are gone? It matters to me.

I did not always have this mentality, I used to think “What I do not know cannot hurt me.” While that is certainly true, it does have the power to continue to hurt those you have loved and left behind. We all make mistakes. Some mistakes are bigger and more impactful than others. I have made a few biggies; and while I cannot erase them or the impact they had on others, I can live my life in such a way that those mistakes grow very dim in the light of his (Jesus) reflection in my life.

It is because of some of those mistakes that I am very vigilant in my walk with the Lord. I do not do life with blinders on. I try very hard to be aware of my thoughts, my words, and my actions. I know that what I do, what I say. I can leave a lasting bad taste with those around me. If my gaze is on Jesus and my desire is to walk closely with him seeking his approval, then my words and behavior should be in line with his desire for me and that alone should make me look different, talk different and be different than I used to be.

We are to be Salt and Light to those around us. Salt gives good seasoning to yummy dishes, and we should be a good seasoning in the life of those around us. Light brightens, lightens, radiates warmth. Do we want to be the one who is always down, always seeing the ugly in life? 
If we are full of Jesus then our continuance should reflect his. He radiates light, life, joy, and love.

Have you ever experienced the Debbie downers if this world? I have and they suck all the life and fun out of the room! Yes, there are times when we get down, but should it be a way of life? No!! Absolutely no! I have said it before and it bears repeating;” if you cannot find anything to be joyful about, start here, “he saved your dirty rotten soul!” That alone should bring a smile to your face and heart. Matt. 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

So what will you do with this question: “To Be Or Not To Be?” I choose being conformed to His image, not that of the worlds or some grumpy faced Christian with no light in their eyes.
Think about it!