Easter had become a celebration for everybody; but, do we remember the real reason for it? Do we stop for a second during Easter Day to think about what really happened?
In Colombia Easter is one of the biggest celebrations for the Catholic Church, as well as Christmas. Only in those days you need to go early to Church, to be able to get a sit. There is no eggs full with candies, no story of the Easter bunny, but the resurrection of Christ. Known as "Pascua", Easter in my country is a completely different celebration than what it is here.
You may say that it could be for the culture and traditions, and you are right! I personally believe that it is part of our culture, our traditions. But Easter transcends all cultures and traditions; it recognizes what Jesus did for us. It is the remembrance of the resurrection Day, an event in our history that had changed everything because the God we serve is alive! Before Jesus died, He promised that after three days He will be raised to life (Matthew 20:18-19) and He did! What a faithful God we serve, all He said...He will do.
I have the privilege of being in this country, and I have learned about its own traditions, customs, its own culture. Easter is a day to go to Church. Even if you don't go any other day, you have to go on Easter and Christmas service; it has become tradition for most of the believers. Most of the kids know about the Easter bunny that comes at night and leaves them a basket full with candies and other gifts; but how many of them have heard the story of the resurrection?
I am not saying that it's wrong to go to Church on Easter or Christmas day. I am glad if you went or are going today. I am not saying that is wrong to give candies and gifts, but I was wondering today how different our world could be if rather that going just one or two days to Church, we would attend regularly, become active members and start telling other about the good news of the Gospel.
As adults we know that the Easter bunny doesn't exist, but we know that Christ was and is real. When we believe, we know that John 3:16 is truth..."For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"
Some people dress up very nice, buy new shoes and new clothes to attend to the Easter service, but how many of them actually keep on going? How many of them know that it is more than a simple tradition? How many of them know that the Lord doesn't look at our outside, but deep inside our hearts?
It's always good to dress up for special events, some people do it daily, but don't let Easter be a day of remembering the resurrection of Jesus and then live the rest of the year without thinking about what He did for us.
You don't need to come to God on one specific day, you can come to Him every day. Jesus says: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
Have a blessed Day and remember what the Lord has done for us!
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
To my husband...
What a great year, what a great joy,
so many tears, and smiles of hope.
When we started our walk,
as husband and wife,
we could not even picture,
what life could bring by.
But we knew our Savior,
His love and His plan,
And we know He still hold us,
on His righteous right hand.
When sickness and trouble came to our lives,
we went to our refuge and we didn’t give up…
Because deep in our hearts we felt the same peace,
that has brought us together, that won’t ever leave.
It’s the peace of our Lord that surrounds our lives,
Knowing that He blessed us, as husband and wife!
What an honor God gave me, when He gave me your love
What a happiness to have you as the best gift of all!
…“And the two shall become one”
Said our Almighty God,
So we will be together
‘Til dead set us apart!
I love you honey! Happy anniversary!!!
so many tears, and smiles of hope.
When we started our walk,
as husband and wife,
we could not even picture,
what life could bring by.
But we knew our Savior,
His love and His plan,
And we know He still hold us,
on His righteous right hand.
When sickness and trouble came to our lives,
we went to our refuge and we didn’t give up…
Because deep in our hearts we felt the same peace,
that has brought us together, that won’t ever leave.
It’s the peace of our Lord that surrounds our lives,
Knowing that He blessed us, as husband and wife!
What an honor God gave me, when He gave me your love
What a happiness to have you as the best gift of all!
…“And the two shall become one”
Said our Almighty God,
So we will be together
‘Til dead set us apart!
I love you honey! Happy anniversary!!!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
It doesn't make any sense
Have you ever feel that what happens around you don't make any sense? Have you ever asked why? Have you ever felt that everything in your life isn't going good? Have you felt that all your dreams are gone?
There is a Bible verse that I want to quote for you if you feel like everything around your life had turned the way you didn't want it, or didn't expect it.
"Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes (John 9:6)
When I think about this blind man I wonder if he was one of those who said: This doesn't make any sense. The truth is that I don't know who he was, what he felt or said after Jesus put on his eyes some mud with saliva.
Try to picture a blind man, who have probably heard about Jesus, waiting to meet him and get his miracle, but all that he got at the first time was mud with saliva; really? Couldn't Jesus have dome something else, like just touched his eyes? I am sure He could, but if He chose to do it that wait could be because today, thousands of years later, someone would be writing, thinking and wondering about this scene.
I think that sometimes we are like this blind man, waiting for our own miracle; but what happen when things don't go the way we want? Most of the times, it doesn't make any sense! We may feel the mud and saliva in our faces, we may not see any light, and all we have to say is: Why? Well, what it may seems without any sense for us can be part of an amazing plan that God has for our lives. Our response then, should be like this blind man, while feeling the mud and saliva on his eyes, he did what Jesus told him: ""Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing" (John 9:7)
He obeyed what the Lord was telling him; are you? He didn't doubt; are you? If we can act like this blind man and trust in the Lord even when things doesn't go the way we want, or when something we were not expecting happen, then we will be able to see just as he did!
When people saw him, they couldn't believe what had happened, they were wondering if he was the same blind man who used to sit and beg and he said:"I am the man" (John 9:8-9) He was not ashamed of what he was, he recognized and accepted who he was to let them know who he had became. People wanted to know how his eyes were opened and at that moment he told them exactly what had happened. (John 9:10-11)
We need to act like this man; believing that the Lord is working in our favor when we don't see anything and when all we have is mud and saliva in our faces, because if we obey his instructions and do exactly what He says, we are going to be able to see again. May we all be able to testify that it is Jesus who works the miracles in our lives and it is because of Him we go through those moments that don't make any sense.
May we also be able to say: "I was blind and now I see" (John 9:25)
Don't worry if you can't see anything, be obedient and wait upon the Lord because you'll be able to see again!
There is a Bible verse that I want to quote for you if you feel like everything around your life had turned the way you didn't want it, or didn't expect it.
"Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes (John 9:6)
When I think about this blind man I wonder if he was one of those who said: This doesn't make any sense. The truth is that I don't know who he was, what he felt or said after Jesus put on his eyes some mud with saliva.
Try to picture a blind man, who have probably heard about Jesus, waiting to meet him and get his miracle, but all that he got at the first time was mud with saliva; really? Couldn't Jesus have dome something else, like just touched his eyes? I am sure He could, but if He chose to do it that wait could be because today, thousands of years later, someone would be writing, thinking and wondering about this scene.
I think that sometimes we are like this blind man, waiting for our own miracle; but what happen when things don't go the way we want? Most of the times, it doesn't make any sense! We may feel the mud and saliva in our faces, we may not see any light, and all we have to say is: Why? Well, what it may seems without any sense for us can be part of an amazing plan that God has for our lives. Our response then, should be like this blind man, while feeling the mud and saliva on his eyes, he did what Jesus told him: ""Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing" (John 9:7)
He obeyed what the Lord was telling him; are you? He didn't doubt; are you? If we can act like this blind man and trust in the Lord even when things doesn't go the way we want, or when something we were not expecting happen, then we will be able to see just as he did!
When people saw him, they couldn't believe what had happened, they were wondering if he was the same blind man who used to sit and beg and he said:"I am the man" (John 9:8-9) He was not ashamed of what he was, he recognized and accepted who he was to let them know who he had became. People wanted to know how his eyes were opened and at that moment he told them exactly what had happened. (John 9:10-11)
We need to act like this man; believing that the Lord is working in our favor when we don't see anything and when all we have is mud and saliva in our faces, because if we obey his instructions and do exactly what He says, we are going to be able to see again. May we all be able to testify that it is Jesus who works the miracles in our lives and it is because of Him we go through those moments that don't make any sense.
May we also be able to say: "I was blind and now I see" (John 9:25)
Don't worry if you can't see anything, be obedient and wait upon the Lord because you'll be able to see again!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Decision taken
It's incredible to see where Craig and I are at this moment of our lives. We came from a horrible first year full with sickness, but a year where we could see that the Lord was right there with us. We can look back now and still testify that not only we had suffering and bad days, but we also had love, happiness and joy; the joy that seemed to disappear sometimes it was also there within us.
As we entered a new year with lot of hope and dreams, we were wondering about doing or not the RAI 131 treatment. We prayed about it and I have to say that for both of us, it was one of those moments where we wanted to hear a loud voice of God. The hardest part was that the benefit and the risk was 50-50. The doctors all say the same: 50-50. I'll explain more about this.
After the surgeon removed my thyroid, he left some thyroid tissue to preserve my vocal cords. Out of all the possibles things that could happen during and after the surgery, I got none. Not even pain, praise the Lord! Because there is still a little amount of thyroid tissue, it makes harder for the doctors to follow up and make sure that the cancer won't come back. See, thyroid cancer as curable as it is, it's also one of those weird ones that can come back. It doesn't always come back, but there is a possibility. It's for that reason that doctors think that it's better to completely destroy the thyroid tissue that is left, using radiation-RAI 131.
If a patient has a tumor big that 1.5 cm they suggest the treatment without no doubts. In my case I had a 1.3cm tumor in the left side and a 2.5mm in the right; so, if we add them together, it will be 1.5 and that's why they think it's 50-50. I am in the border line and trust me, it's not fun.
After discussing again with my endocrinologist, she told me that it's reasonable to hold off to it, but that I am in the border line. To me I am cancer free in the name of Jesus. I was hoping I won't need the treatment and the surgeon told me that the cancer didn't spread, that it was all encapsulated in the thyroid, that no even the lymph nodes were involved. That was a good report which make me think that the cancer is all out of my body which means I don't need any treatments.
Long story, short, the treatment was canceled. You may think I am crazy, I am just acting with faith. Calling things that I can't see as if they are is a good thing to do.
As we entered a new year with lot of hope and dreams, we were wondering about doing or not the RAI 131 treatment. We prayed about it and I have to say that for both of us, it was one of those moments where we wanted to hear a loud voice of God. The hardest part was that the benefit and the risk was 50-50. The doctors all say the same: 50-50. I'll explain more about this.
After the surgeon removed my thyroid, he left some thyroid tissue to preserve my vocal cords. Out of all the possibles things that could happen during and after the surgery, I got none. Not even pain, praise the Lord! Because there is still a little amount of thyroid tissue, it makes harder for the doctors to follow up and make sure that the cancer won't come back. See, thyroid cancer as curable as it is, it's also one of those weird ones that can come back. It doesn't always come back, but there is a possibility. It's for that reason that doctors think that it's better to completely destroy the thyroid tissue that is left, using radiation-RAI 131.
If a patient has a tumor big that 1.5 cm they suggest the treatment without no doubts. In my case I had a 1.3cm tumor in the left side and a 2.5mm in the right; so, if we add them together, it will be 1.5 and that's why they think it's 50-50. I am in the border line and trust me, it's not fun.
After discussing again with my endocrinologist, she told me that it's reasonable to hold off to it, but that I am in the border line. To me I am cancer free in the name of Jesus. I was hoping I won't need the treatment and the surgeon told me that the cancer didn't spread, that it was all encapsulated in the thyroid, that no even the lymph nodes were involved. That was a good report which make me think that the cancer is all out of my body which means I don't need any treatments.
Long story, short, the treatment was canceled. You may think I am crazy, I am just acting with faith. Calling things that I can't see as if they are is a good thing to do.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Decisions
I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer on July 20th last year, and had thyroidectomy on October 15th. The surgeon removed my entire thyroid. I had my thyroid with papillary carcinoma measuring 1.3cm in the right side of my thyroid and a 2.5mm in the left side.
Now, I am supposed to have RAI 131 treatment (radiation) in a few weeks, but I am not sure about it yet and I really need to take a decision. What to do?
If I have the RAI 131, it will be 50mci. It can prevent the cancer for coming back on a future and it will allow the doctors to follow up and make sure there is nothing left. I started the low iodine diet that is required and it's not that bad; I found a "Low-iodine cookbook" which seems to help a little bit more. If I have this treatment, I will need to be alone, completely alone for two days, and not close to children for about five days, among other things. The scary part of it is that it can increase the risk for leukemia, breast and ovarian cancer and miscarriages. I Told you it was the scary part of it!
If I decide not to do it, the cancer can come back but it won't be easier to find as if I got the treatment now.
Either way I go, I need faith, the faith the LORD gives me because this is a hard decision to make. Some days I feel that I should do it and be done with it, but some other times I feel that I shouldn't. If I do the treatment, I need to believe that God is going to protect me for future side effects, and if I don't I need to believe that the cancer isn't coming back. One way or another I need God to be with me.
Craig and I talked to the doctor, and I have to say that he wasn't really helpful. His response was that this is not an easy decision to make and that he doesn't know what he'll do. Don't you love that? -Hey, doctor, what do you think is the best thing to do here? -Well, to be honest, I am not sure what way you should go, the risk and the benefit are like 50-50. Really?
So, if you read this, I am asking you to please pray for me. I need wisdom and peace. I believe that whatever comes from God, comes with peace and I can't say that I have it (100%), even though I already started the diet.
I wish I could take a quick look to my future with both of the ways to go here. Would that be great? It will be helpful because in that way I'll know for sure what to do. But I can't do so; I have to take a decision and trust that it's the best and that God is going to help me with, that He'll give me His wisdom and that it will make it clear for me.
"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"
-Hebrews 11:1
Now, I am supposed to have RAI 131 treatment (radiation) in a few weeks, but I am not sure about it yet and I really need to take a decision. What to do?
If I have the RAI 131, it will be 50mci. It can prevent the cancer for coming back on a future and it will allow the doctors to follow up and make sure there is nothing left. I started the low iodine diet that is required and it's not that bad; I found a "Low-iodine cookbook" which seems to help a little bit more. If I have this treatment, I will need to be alone, completely alone for two days, and not close to children for about five days, among other things. The scary part of it is that it can increase the risk for leukemia, breast and ovarian cancer and miscarriages. I Told you it was the scary part of it!
If I decide not to do it, the cancer can come back but it won't be easier to find as if I got the treatment now.
Either way I go, I need faith, the faith the LORD gives me because this is a hard decision to make. Some days I feel that I should do it and be done with it, but some other times I feel that I shouldn't. If I do the treatment, I need to believe that God is going to protect me for future side effects, and if I don't I need to believe that the cancer isn't coming back. One way or another I need God to be with me.
Craig and I talked to the doctor, and I have to say that he wasn't really helpful. His response was that this is not an easy decision to make and that he doesn't know what he'll do. Don't you love that? -Hey, doctor, what do you think is the best thing to do here? -Well, to be honest, I am not sure what way you should go, the risk and the benefit are like 50-50. Really?
So, if you read this, I am asking you to please pray for me. I need wisdom and peace. I believe that whatever comes from God, comes with peace and I can't say that I have it (100%), even though I already started the diet.
I wish I could take a quick look to my future with both of the ways to go here. Would that be great? It will be helpful because in that way I'll know for sure what to do. But I can't do so; I have to take a decision and trust that it's the best and that God is going to help me with, that He'll give me His wisdom and that it will make it clear for me.
"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"
-Hebrews 11:1
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas...
Craig and I spent our first Christmas together. It was a nice day. We didn't do that much, but we went to visit my in-laws and stayed there. In the afternoon Andy stopped by and we had a few hours with her too. It was a blessed Christmas Day! Thank you Jesus
I am SO thankful with the LORD for giving me such a blessing; it was a blessing to me to be able to spend Christmas with the man I love. This time at the same country and state, even at the same house. Glory be to God for all His wonders.
We went to Church on Christmas Eve; our very first candle light service together and as we were holding hands and praising the LORD, tears were running down my face; they were tears of joy. I was SO happy we were together and I was just thanking God for that moment.
A few months back I couldn't see a happy Christmas coming for us; to be honest, there were times I didn't even see Christmas coming. It was SO hard when both of us were sick, taking turns to go to hospitals and doctors appointments, that some days I didn't have any hope or strength left. But what a wonderful God we serve!!! He has given me strength and hope when I had none. He has been closer when I have felt lonely. He is been faithful with all His promises and He has always been here, with me. Glory to Him forever and ever!
"For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37)
I am SO thankful with the LORD for giving me such a blessing; it was a blessing to me to be able to spend Christmas with the man I love. This time at the same country and state, even at the same house. Glory be to God for all His wonders.
We went to Church on Christmas Eve; our very first candle light service together and as we were holding hands and praising the LORD, tears were running down my face; they were tears of joy. I was SO happy we were together and I was just thanking God for that moment.
A few months back I couldn't see a happy Christmas coming for us; to be honest, there were times I didn't even see Christmas coming. It was SO hard when both of us were sick, taking turns to go to hospitals and doctors appointments, that some days I didn't have any hope or strength left. But what a wonderful God we serve!!! He has given me strength and hope when I had none. He has been closer when I have felt lonely. He is been faithful with all His promises and He has always been here, with me. Glory to Him forever and ever!
"For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Get out of the boat and walk
Sometimes in life we face storms where we can clearly see the help coming from God, and some other times we may think that He doesn't care any more. It could be that we are in the middle of a storm because we disobeyed God, or it could be that He sent us through it so we can learn to trust Him more.
Mathew 14:22-36 tells us the story of Jesus and Peter walking on the water. Verse 22 says, "Jesus made the disciples get into the boat". They were not going because they wanted to, but because Jesus was telling them to do so. They were obeying the Lord, but this time they were going alone and a storm awaited them.
We read in Matthew 8:23-17 a different kind of storm where Jesus was in the boat with them, but this time He was out of the boat!
After the disciples were gone, Jesus went to pray and about three or six in the morning, (the fourth watch of the night) He went to meet them walking on the water. The boat was already like three or three and a half miles away (John 6:19), and when the disciples saw someone coming, they were terrified and thought that it was a ghost, but Jesus told them to take courage and not to be afraid because it was Him.
I am not sure what storm you are facing right now and I am not sure if you are seeing Jesus or a ghost; I am not sure how far have you gone, or for how long have you been on it, but Jesus can meet you wherever you are at right now.
Following the Bible story, Peter had a great faith when he said: " Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water"(verse 28) and, what was the Lord's answer? - "Come" (verse 29). Jesus wasn't saying "If you want to, you can come" He didn't say "let's way for the storm to pass and then you can come", He was saying: "Come", "get out of the boat and walk"
There is times in life when we think that Jesus isn't close, but when we see Him, we asked Him for something and then the question that comes to our minds is: Is that really you telling me to do so? Then the Lord tells us that is Him, He gives us peace about something, but... to let the boat, to let the place that we think is more secure in the middle of the storm, is the step that we don't want to take. Could be because we are afraid, or maybe because we don't trust that it's the Lord, but it takes a real person of faith to leave the boat and walk on the water!
Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, but he saw the wind and he was afraid that he began to sink (verse 30). As Peter, we take our eyes off Christ and start to look around, to a point where we are terrified to keep walking and want to stop. At list Peter recognized that he was sinking and cried out to Jesus for help. Do we? When we took our eyes off Christ and start looking around, do we really asked the Lord for help when we are sinking? Or do we wait until we are drowning?
Immediately, Jesus helped Peter and not only that; they walked on the water together, right there in the middle of the storm, Jesus answered Peter's cry for help and after helping him, the Lord walked with him.
Jesus asked Peter, "Why did you doubt? The word-translated doubt carries the meaning of "standing uncertainly at two ways. When we don't look at Christ but have our eyes in more than one way, we get confused and don't know what to do.
It was after Jesus got back to the boat with Peter that the wind died down (Verse 32) and it is only until we let Jesus to come to our storm and take control, that we can see the land ahead of us, and the sun shining again after the rain.
The disciples who were in the boat worshiped Jesus saying: "Truly, you are the son of God" (verse 33). What a difference with their question in the other scene (Matthew 8:23- 27) when Jesus calmed the storm and they asked: " What kind of man is this?" Now, they declare who Jesus is.
We need to let other people to see who Jesus is at the beginning, during and after our storm, because He doesn't change. But those who today asked, how do you do that? What kind of person is helping you out with all of this trouble? Are those who someday are going to say...It's because of Jesus, the Son of God!
In the book of acts the disciples won 5.000 people (Acts 4:4) and the storm of persecution began. No doubt Peter and the other disciples recalled their storm experiences with the LORD and took courage.
I have been on a storm, long one (according to me) in the past months of my life and being honest, there has been times when I could clearly see the Lord helping me and holding me, but there were times where I couldn't even see a ghost. The storm I am passing by is the one who is making me walk on the water with my dream of serving God and going to missions. I don’t see it coming, all I see when I look around is nothing, but what a difference when I look to Christ knowing that His plans are perfect for my life, that He will give me the best and that there is nothing impossible for Him! As Peter, I started to walk by faith and sometimes I have failed and sunk, but I recognized that I need Jesus, that without Him I can’t keep walking and yes, it’s Jesus who holds me and walks with me right now. As the disciples remembered their storms, I look at other experiences with the Lord and take courage when I remember that some time ago I saw Him coming in the storm, that He saw me through it all and that we walked together.
When we have faith and trust God but don’t do anything, we can never have the experience of walking with Him on the water.
I don’t know about you, but I want God to look at me and tell me: “Well done, good and faithful servant! (Matthew 25:21) and not to say to me: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)
It’s true that if we step out in faith we risk failure. But only by stepping out we will personally experience Christ's power!
Resources: The Bible, The Holy Spirit, Believer's Study Bible, The Bible Exposition Commentary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, The Bible reader's companion.
Mathew 14:22-36 tells us the story of Jesus and Peter walking on the water. Verse 22 says, "Jesus made the disciples get into the boat". They were not going because they wanted to, but because Jesus was telling them to do so. They were obeying the Lord, but this time they were going alone and a storm awaited them.
We read in Matthew 8:23-17 a different kind of storm where Jesus was in the boat with them, but this time He was out of the boat!
After the disciples were gone, Jesus went to pray and about three or six in the morning, (the fourth watch of the night) He went to meet them walking on the water. The boat was already like three or three and a half miles away (John 6:19), and when the disciples saw someone coming, they were terrified and thought that it was a ghost, but Jesus told them to take courage and not to be afraid because it was Him.
I am not sure what storm you are facing right now and I am not sure if you are seeing Jesus or a ghost; I am not sure how far have you gone, or for how long have you been on it, but Jesus can meet you wherever you are at right now.
Following the Bible story, Peter had a great faith when he said: " Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water"(verse 28) and, what was the Lord's answer? - "Come" (verse 29). Jesus wasn't saying "If you want to, you can come" He didn't say "let's way for the storm to pass and then you can come", He was saying: "Come", "get out of the boat and walk"
There is times in life when we think that Jesus isn't close, but when we see Him, we asked Him for something and then the question that comes to our minds is: Is that really you telling me to do so? Then the Lord tells us that is Him, He gives us peace about something, but... to let the boat, to let the place that we think is more secure in the middle of the storm, is the step that we don't want to take. Could be because we are afraid, or maybe because we don't trust that it's the Lord, but it takes a real person of faith to leave the boat and walk on the water!
Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, but he saw the wind and he was afraid that he began to sink (verse 30). As Peter, we take our eyes off Christ and start to look around, to a point where we are terrified to keep walking and want to stop. At list Peter recognized that he was sinking and cried out to Jesus for help. Do we? When we took our eyes off Christ and start looking around, do we really asked the Lord for help when we are sinking? Or do we wait until we are drowning?
Immediately, Jesus helped Peter and not only that; they walked on the water together, right there in the middle of the storm, Jesus answered Peter's cry for help and after helping him, the Lord walked with him.
Jesus asked Peter, "Why did you doubt? The word-translated doubt carries the meaning of "standing uncertainly at two ways. When we don't look at Christ but have our eyes in more than one way, we get confused and don't know what to do.
It was after Jesus got back to the boat with Peter that the wind died down (Verse 32) and it is only until we let Jesus to come to our storm and take control, that we can see the land ahead of us, and the sun shining again after the rain.
The disciples who were in the boat worshiped Jesus saying: "Truly, you are the son of God" (verse 33). What a difference with their question in the other scene (Matthew 8:23- 27) when Jesus calmed the storm and they asked: " What kind of man is this?" Now, they declare who Jesus is.
We need to let other people to see who Jesus is at the beginning, during and after our storm, because He doesn't change. But those who today asked, how do you do that? What kind of person is helping you out with all of this trouble? Are those who someday are going to say...It's because of Jesus, the Son of God!
In the book of acts the disciples won 5.000 people (Acts 4:4) and the storm of persecution began. No doubt Peter and the other disciples recalled their storm experiences with the LORD and took courage.
I have been on a storm, long one (according to me) in the past months of my life and being honest, there has been times when I could clearly see the Lord helping me and holding me, but there were times where I couldn't even see a ghost. The storm I am passing by is the one who is making me walk on the water with my dream of serving God and going to missions. I don’t see it coming, all I see when I look around is nothing, but what a difference when I look to Christ knowing that His plans are perfect for my life, that He will give me the best and that there is nothing impossible for Him! As Peter, I started to walk by faith and sometimes I have failed and sunk, but I recognized that I need Jesus, that without Him I can’t keep walking and yes, it’s Jesus who holds me and walks with me right now. As the disciples remembered their storms, I look at other experiences with the Lord and take courage when I remember that some time ago I saw Him coming in the storm, that He saw me through it all and that we walked together.
When we have faith and trust God but don’t do anything, we can never have the experience of walking with Him on the water.
I don’t know about you, but I want God to look at me and tell me: “Well done, good and faithful servant! (Matthew 25:21) and not to say to me: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)
It’s true that if we step out in faith we risk failure. But only by stepping out we will personally experience Christ's power!
Resources: The Bible, The Holy Spirit, Believer's Study Bible, The Bible Exposition Commentary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, The Bible reader's companion.
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