Matthew 14:28 - 31   “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “ Come ,”  he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.   But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.  “ You of little faith ,”  he said,  “ why did you doubt ?” You of little faith; why did you doubt? Notice Jesus didn't ask, "why did you doubt me?" Jesus was asking about doubt, but not necessarily doubt in Jesus. He could ask us the same question. How often do we have doubt in ourselves or our circumstances? Oftentimes, I find that I have loads of faith in Jesus but doubt that I can do whatever. I don't know if I will succeed or complete the task or do it as well as someone else. I sink.  Instead of trusting in the call - Jesus beckoned Peter "Come", - we trust in ourselves. On a good day, we answer ...

Daniel has some of the most amazing stories in the Bible. They have very eye-popping visual images. This is one of those.  Chapter 3 tells of three people who were taken captive to Babylon where they (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) were commanded to bow down to the giant gold statue that Nebuchadnezzar had built. They were to bow to it.....or be thrown into the blazing furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not..... something about the second commandment. ( Exodus 20:4-6 " You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments .) When confronted with death by blazing furnace, or life bowing to a gold statue, th...

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God." This is one line in the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree and it withered.  He made this statement to the disciples.  This statement " Have faith in God " can be taken completely out of context. I wonder if this is a command.  I think it is.  Have faith in God. If we can obey this one command, all others will fall into place.  Have faith in God. If we have faith in God, we can obey the other commands much easier. Commands like love your neighbor as yourself. How much easier would all things be if we just had faith, complete faith, in God. Jesus told the disciples if they had faith the size of a mustard seed, that they could move a mountain into the sea.  Who wants to move the mountain into the sea?!  None of us. But if we have any faith, any complete faith in God, we can do anything.  Nothing is impossible. I think faith in God, though, includes allowing His will to be different from ...

Today, I am discouraged .   Oh, I have hope but it is clouded by the Enemy's arrows.  Like that term?  I stole it (sort of) from the Bible study we are doing called Putting on the Armo r.   We are supposed to pick up the shield of faith , which is something else I have. I have hope and I have faith.  You would think that would be enough.  But today, I just feel discouraged and frustrated. Today, I know what the devil's arrows are.  You see, there are things going on that seem to be so counter-Christian....at church.  People are frustrated and discouraged. Good people. People who have faith and hope. People who LOVE Jesus.  They are so frustrated that they are focused on what's bad.  I'm  not trying to diminish the issues.  I just wish that we could instead focus on the good and look for ways to be proactive, instead of "there's no use".  Instead of hashing and rehashing, we should stop each other in each other's tracks t...