Enjoying You Life-Ride

I took my son to my neighbor's swing this weekend and started thinking about the way I push him. The first time I took him out there, I quickly decided that I would push my child from the front instead of the back. That way he could still see me smile at him, and I would get to see him laugh and enjoy himself. This way we would swing together instead of me acting like a simple robot. It is a little more difficult but worth the effort.

This time, however, I started swinging him faster and faster until he started getting a little scared, which at this point I slowed down. As I was reflecting on his fear, it dawned on me that we, as followers of Christ, go through very similar experiences with Him.

Lets analyze what went on. The swing was perfectly safe; I made sure of it. I could have pushed my child much harder and faster than he was going without any danger. He became scared because of two things. First, he did not understand what was going on; the additional speed was a new experience to him. Second, he did not trust me, probably because he was not aware that I had insured his safety through the activity.

How similar is that to our relationship with God?!?! I go through that process all the time. God will try to push me a little higher, and a little faster, knowing that I would enjoy the ride. All the while, I am terrified of the new height and speed simply because it is new to me, I do not understand it, and I do not trust that He has insured my safety!!!

Additionally, God is a relational God. He wants to go through the ride with us, looking at us, smiling at us, seeing us enjoy the ride while He pushes us and leads us through this life!!

However, unlike me, God will ask you ahead of time and give you the choice to refuse the "enhanced experience."

Do you continually refuse God's higher levels? If so, why? Are you afraid of something new? Do you trust that God has insured your safety?

How to Cope With The Storms of Life, Part 2

In the last post, we looked at the story of Jesus walking on water. At Peter's request, Jesus invited him to walk on the water towards Him, but peter lost his focus, started looking at the waves and the storm, and sunk. I think it is worth noting that, even though the story seemed to indicate that Jesus was some distance away when Peter started sinking, He was immediately at his side once He cried out for the savior to rescue him. To follow on the same theme as my last post, I think it is interesting the difference in the way Jesus handled this other storm:

"On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"" Mark4:35-41, ESV

It is interesting that some times Jesus will call us to walk to Him through the storm. But at other points, He will get in the boat with us and take care of it. Even though the two situations are drastically different, they both call for faith in Him. They both call for trust in Him.

We are all on the same boat, will you dare step out and walk on the water?

Will you dare trust Him with your storms regardless of whether He has called you to walk through them or let Him calm them for you?

How to Cope With The Storms of Life, Part 1

Driving to work on an average Thursday morning I happened to look out my window and see the driver next to me making an average right hand turn into a company that I assumed to be her employer. In the split second that took me to note this driver's movement, a thought occurred to me. This was not a new thought, but this time the Lord allowed it to make a more meaningful impact in my heart.

Maybe it was the look on her face, but my though was, "This lady has a life filled with problems, just like me and everyone else that walks this earth. We are all on the same boat." Immediately I thought of the following story.

"Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."" Matthew 14:22-33, ESV

This life is a stormy sea, and we are all sailing through it. Most of us live scared of the "waves" of life. Worrying and stressing over everything that is wrong or could potentially go wrong, getting "beaten by the waves." We live, like Peter, looking at the storm around us. This is what Jesus referred to as "the cares of the world" in Mark 4:19.

It is time that we stepped out of the boat, looked at Jesus, and started walking towards Him. If you can walk on water, drowning is not something that you are concerned about. If Jesus has called your name, then you should not be concerned about the waves of this life. Just get up, focus on Him, start walking forward, and trust He will take care of the storms around you.