Never Fall

Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Psalm 37:24

ONCE...AND MORE

AS THY DAYS, SO SHALL THY STRENGTH BE. Deuteronomy 33:25

Once upon a time, Peter (a disciple of Jesus), walked on water…once.

How about your life? Do you sense that you are being called by God to walk on water not only once but daily, many times a day, perhaps long into future days?

The job I hold is a challenge. It is in customer service. We all know what that means - taking telephone call after call, day after day, soothing ruffled feathers, imparting knowledge when needed, being patient with the impatient, untangling issues for resolution. When I began, I knew that I could handle one phone call (maybe)…once…but day after day, with an average of a hundred calls per day…all week…all month…all year…year after year, could I do it? We are to live a day at a time yet sometimes we just know that this walking on water is going to be a daily necessity for many days to come. Perhaps you are raising children, caring for elderly parents, working at a difficult job. trying to keep your marriage healthy - all take walking on water….daily.

Thinking about Peter's life in this regard, I can see impetuous Peter jumping out of the boat into the water, so willing to please the Lord. Once…. It is the same Peter, after years of God's training to walk on the water once…twice…again and again, who could pen I and II Peter (may I encourage you to read what he has to say to us). These letters reveal what God will do in a man or woman who is willing to jump out of the boat onto the water not only once but every day of their lives.

As we walk, may we hear echoes of His Word to us:

Apart from Me, you can do nothing. John 15:5

My grace is sufficient for you. II Corinthians 12:9

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

And again…As they days, so shall thy strength be. Deuteronomy 33:25

Heavenly Father, I desire Your will and to walk on water as many times as You choose for as long as you want me to do so. Please empower me by Your Spirit to walk so as to please you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Look to Him

Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy.

Psalm 34:5

Details

He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalm 37:23

Pursue

Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness and honor.

Proverbs 21:21

WEARY?

Have you ever been so weary that it took too much energy, energy you didn't have, to crawl into bed and rest? Once there, you found yourself too weary to even be there?

Then comes the guilt as you ask yourself - why am I so tired? Other people have it harder than I do, working 12 hours a day in the coal mine, seven days a week. You rationalize, trying to talk yourself out of being SO tired. But it doesn't work…you are bone weary tired.

Listen to what happened in Elijah's life. If it happened to him, it could happen with us.

"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat under a broom tree. He asked that he might die: It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life…." Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep." I Kings 19:4

You mean to tell me that someone like Elijah, a prophet of God, got weary, so weary that he just wanted to go Home to the Lord? Yes, it's true.

What was the remedy God gave him?

"Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." I Kings 19:7

He slept…and got up and ate, being renewed to go further on.

In our hurry-up world, you know the one - lives packed with something in every waking moment, even during vacations. God wants us to sleep when our bodies need the rest. We must turn a deaf ear to our culture's cries to hurry, do more, push yourself, have more fun. We must go at the pace God sets for us during this season of our lives.

Also, in our world we are made to feel guilty for eating - too much, the wrong things, the wrong time of day. Yes, we must be wise about our choices, but our bodies need fuel. God, in a season of weariness, says: "Eat".

If you are weary, take some time to re-charge, be renewed by the Lord, be restored, be refreshed…God wants that for you so that you can continue on your journey called Life. He does not want the temple where He resides to be a ruin but fresh, overflowing with abundant living water, ready to go the distance.

May we heed the admonition: Arise and eat. I Kings 19:7

Heavenly Father, please help me recognize when I am weary. Please give me wisdom for the journey - Please restore, renew and refresh me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

'Reflections of God's Glory' copyright 2011 by Dawn Ulmer deu49097@yahoo.com

Trees Praise

Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise before the Lord, for He is coming.

Psalm 98:12