~ "Everything I need to know about God, I learned in the Bible..."

“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?” (Matt 14:29-31)

We all doubt! We all fear! At the time Jesus walked on the water, his disciples had not yet seen the full glory that was Jesus. Not until his resurrection would they go bravely preaching his message of salvation! After his death, scriptures tell us that the disciples "hid", but Jesus came to them just the same - he knew where they were and he went to them! 

We try to hide from him as well. We carry our sins (some of them anyway) buried deep within our hearts reminding ourselves that "no one needs to know", but HE knows! We pack them away and pile stuff on top of them - but they are still there! In that respect, we are like an ostrich...head in the sand! For many, the sins committed aren't really sins, or so they think! If it's against what the Lord commands, it is a sin, regardless of our intent or the rationale we use to justify it. Again, everything I need to know is written in the Bible. There are more scholarly individuals out there that can better explain the writings than I ever could. The basic foundation of my walk with Christ began with faith. Faith that he would take my hand and lead me. I had to reach out my hand (as Peter did)! When you reach out your hand to Jesus, he takes it. His footing is secure. He won't let you fall! Sure, there are going to be bumps and bruises along the way, but not death ~ only eternal life!

Jesus does not command us to kill, he commands us to pray! He doesn't give us the authority to condemn or judge, he gives us the authority to pray for such things to pass. All of the "abominations before the Lord" come out of human weakness. Not a soul alive on this plant has the authority to sit on the throne of judgement and decide the punishment for those sins! No one! 

Let your voice be heard - but by the one who hears all, knows all, sees all! Do not be an ostrich - confess your sins to God and he will forgive you. Walk on the water for a while - it's very rewarding!

~ "Why???"

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46)

I love all kinds of music. I listen to a Christian radio station in the car. I've heard many songs that I like, quite a few that I love and some that don't really appeal to me. But the one thing they all have in common is that they praise God! 

Originally, while I was searching "You-Tube" for a worship song for this post, I came across the song "Why" - written and recorded by Nicole Nordeman. I had never heard the song so I listened. When I tell you that I sat at my computer sobbing, I'm not exaggerating! What a precious gift to be able to write and sing about the most precious gift of all! Additionally, whenever I sit and listen to this song or watch the video, I still sit here and sob. 

We all look at Christ's death from an adult point of view. We imagine in our minds the adults gathered around the cross on the day that Jesus died. We read the words of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John when Jesus cried out to the Father and asked why he had been left alone to die. 

Many times when they were little, I would tell my kids to do something and they would follow with that phrase that confounds parents daily - "but, why?" The response they usually got when they were too young to understand was "because I said so". As they got older and could reason and understand what it was I was telling them, I would give them a reason beyond that standard answer. 

When Jesus died on the cross that day, he finished the Father's work. He defeated the enemy. His pain became our joy! His death became our life! The scriptures were fulfilled in that instant. His shed blood became the mechanism by which all men are freed from an eternity of separation from heaven. He gave so much for so many, yet he'd have gladly given all for just one! I am one of the ones for whom he died. So are you! The sacrificial lamb - the King of Heaven gave his life for mine! What a precious gift! 

Why? Because of the love that God has for all of us! Would you die a horrible death for your child? I know that I would! And in that death I would hope that what ever the purpose I died for would give my child the strength and the courage to live on and let me not have died in vain. 

Do you have the strength and courage to be all that your Savior wants you to be? Do you have the strength and courage to share his word and his message of salvation? If the answer to those questions is "no", pray for it! It will come! If the answer is "yes" - then do it with the strongest of heart! Share his word, his death and his resurrection with others! Give back to him who has so unselfishly given of himself! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14tZRDdwggU