12/13/2024
My alarm went off at 7:30 this morning. I turned it off and crawled back in bed because Holy Spirit was talking to me and I needed to listen.
1.Recently I saw an image (picture) of Jesus’ face extending a hand to Peter who had succumbed to the wind and the waves. I have read this passage of scripture many times. Like a fly on the wall, I could see Jesus walking on the water; the disciples frightened because they think they are seeing a ghost; Jesus assuring them that it was Him and not a ghost; Peter saying, “Lord, if it is You, tell me to come to You on the water.” Jesus tells Peter to come, he gets out of the boat and begins to walk on the water until he begins to look at the winds and waves and begins to sink; Peter cries out to Jesus to save him; Jesus extends His hand and pulls him out of the water; They get into the boat and the wind and the waves calm down; The disciples in the boat worship Jesus, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33 (NIV).
It was not until I saw the picture that I understood that Jesus was neither scolding, nor was disappointed in Peter. Instead, Jesus lovingly and kindly rescued His disciple while teaching him at the same time. How many times have we as parents had to step in when our children have found themselves in over their heads because of one thing or another and had to, in those situations, teach them as well. Depending on the situation, I could tell you that sometimes it was a funny situation and sometimes not. Hebrews 12:9-11 (NIV): “Moreover we have all had fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of Righteousness and Peace for those who have been trained by it.”
2.In 1969, I spent the summer in Europe, studying History and Appreciation of Music at the University of Vienna in Austria. On weekends we (students) would go on field trips to surrounding areas/cities and/or countries with our chaperones. For the life of me, I can’t remember the name of the lake, but a friend coaxed me into riding on her back in the lake. She was an “expert swimmer”, but I couldn’t swim. Some how we got separated-SURPRISE! I went under, I fought to get to the surface only to sink back down. I did not want to die. I fought to get back to the surface a second time and glimpsed a man having a picnic on the shore with his family. I cried out to the Lord, within my heart, to save me. I remembered hearing that if you go down a third time, you will drown. I stopped fighting and was at peace, accepting my fate. All of the sudden strong arms pulled me up and carried me to shore. I was coughing and spluttering. The man (who was picnicking with his family) kept asking me in a thick Austrian accent if I was okay and, when he was sure that I was, he returned to his family. I asked my friend why she left me and she said that she was afraid, “Many people drown trying to save a drowning person.”
3.Many years later I would go through a succession of harrowing events. Each one was earth shattering. In my effort to “keep my head above water”, I began to “drown”. The only thing I could say was that it was akin to a nervous breakdown as I saw my comfort zones disappear. Finally the Lord whispered, “You will not drown. You have been so busy trying to save yourself that you were unaware that my hand was poised above you the whole time. Be still and I will pull you out and make you to walk on dry land once again.” I stopped flailing and He did what He said He would do. Psalm 40; 42;43; 44;46.
Truth 
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