Party on the Water

A few days ago at breakfast with my parents, we read the story of Jesus walking on the water together in Matthew 14. I was struck by the similarities and differences of the previous story of Jesus asleep in the boat when a storm came up in Matthew 8. Both times the disciples were afraid. They were in large waves on the lake. Jesus was there but not active in preventing the dangers at first. Both times Jesus says "You of little faith." (NIV) when the disciples and Peter expressed their fear. And Jesus calmed the winds twice. There is a difference though in the disciples' response. The first time they marveled, "What kind of man is this?" The second time they worshiped, "Truly you are the Son of God."

This morning, out of the dark night, I began to wonder. What would have happened if Peter did not look at the wind? What if He kept looking at Jesus' face and did not doubt? I can see him reaching Jesus and Jesus enveloping him in His arms. Imagine the joy. Perhaps they would have danced. What would the other disciples have done? Would they have jumped out and walked on the water too? What a party it would have been! Can you see them cavorting on the waves?

Oh, if I doubted a little less, to know Jesus as He truly is in the midst of the waves and to be able to walk through the fear and to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus' face.

Call to Follow Him

I spent this weekend with one of my closest friends from my time in Africa. I was really shocked as we walked through the grocery store at how comfortable I had become with all the options. I also relived many of my memories from my time in Africa as she shared her experiences. Today, I met a lady who reminded me of a poem I had written. As I looked for that poem, I came across this one which I wrote four years ago. I was challenged once again by the words.

Call to Follow Him

Driving to pay the bills at the local bank.
Driving to Tim Hortons for that much desired coffee.
Driving to the grocery store for next week's needs.
Driving to the beach to spend a day in the sun.
The rich drive on with their burdens in the trunk.

Walking with today's firewood collected in the bush.
Walking with baskets of harvested millet and corn.
Walking with basins of water from the well.
Walking with clothes clean to enter God's house.
The poor walk on with burdens on their heads.

Jesus walking to the temple to preach God's Word.
Jesus walking to the house of Zaccheus amidst the scorn.
Jesus walking to the Samaritan woman at the well.
Jesus walking and a woman is healed with a touch of His robe.
Jesus relieving many of the burdens carried by man.

Jesus walking - to His betrayer's kiss.
Jesus walking - bleeding and spit upon.
Jesus walking - carrying His cross.
Jesus walking - knowing well what lay ahead.
Jesus carrying the burden of sin for the world.

Do we dare walk the road that Jesus walked?
The richest of the rich seem to avoid suffering.
The poorest of the poor understand the pain.
Jesus calls us - "My yoke is easy. My burden is light."
Who will dare to walk with Him?

L.M. (Aug, 2003)

Wonders of Creation

While I was in New Brunswick, surrounded by the beauty of God's creation and taking pictures, I found myself looking at the very intricate details of various aspects of God's creations. Once again, as I wrote in a previous blog, I only have to take time to look and there are so many things to see which remind me of the awesomeness of God. Rachel Carson (not sure who she is but she has a great quote!) said, "Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts." I thank God for the gifts of His creation and the fact that I can find renewal and refreshment as I spend time in nature. Here are some of His wonders:

"Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to me, how great Thou art, how great Thou art."

God at the center

While on a spiritual retreat in New Brunswick, I was sitting on the beach. It was not nice and sandy but was full of very smooth rocks of various shapes and colors brought up by the world's highest tides of the Bay of Fundy. I got the idea to pile them up like the Inuit statues. It was a tough task as you had to find the exact center of the rock to place the next one on it or else the pile would topple. It took me many times and some patience to create my stack. As I did it, I was very much aware of the different colors of the rocks - gray, red, green, black etc. These represented the different events in my life. And the thought came to me that as I stack up the events of my life, I need to make that center balancing line to be God -so each would stack up in line with Him. The song rang through my head that I had listened to frequently the week before "Be the center of my soul.." I could explain my thoughts further but I think you can fill in the thoughts as I have - Is God the center of my soul and my life events?