~Get Out Of The Boat~

I posted this week more than usual, but I find that I am compelled to do a post every Sunday, now.....ending and beginnings...the end of the weekend, the beginning of a new week.

This weekend I had some very sweet moments with God. Saturday God spoke to me through 2 words in a movie I saw...."Be Present."

Psalm 118:24This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Matthew 6:34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Saturday evening I enjoyed the new "Milan" thin crust pizza from one of my favorite restaurants at the Summit, California Pizza Kitchen. Not to forget one of my fav salads from there, Waldorf Chicken Salad:
A bicoastal rendition of a NYC favorite! Field greens, chilled grilled chicken breast, seedless grapes, Granny Smith apples, candied walnuts, celery and Gorgonzola cheese. Tossed with your choice of Dijon balsamic vinaigrette or blue cheese dressing. It was a very nice evening.

Sunday morning was a little more nerve wrecking for me as I found myself nervous about some new responsibilities I have undertaken in ministry. However, God calmed my nerves and reminded me that it is in my weakness, His strength is made perfect. On the way home from church I was driving into Helena over the bridge in Old Town that covers the Cahaba River, and as I looked up to the right above my favorite coffee shop, I saw a rainbow. God reminded me of His covenant with me and renewed my hope once again for my future.

Genesis 9:16Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

Which leads me to this evening. I attended Singles Worship at church in which the message was on having the audicity to get out of the boat. The sermon was referencing to Matthew 14 where Jesus walks on water and calls Peter out of the boat. The Lord spoke to me tonight about looking at this story with new eyes through the teaching of our singles minister, Tommye. She talked about the great fear that the disciples had when they saw Jesus walking on the water. Peter does decide to step out of the boat towards Jesus, begins to sink, but then is saved by Jesus. How beautiful and motivating.

We need to recognize the storms and fear within the boat of our lives as we continually press closer towards Him, into the water, despite the raging wind and waves. Which leads me back to the beginning, my rainbow in the raging waterfall....Did you see the faint glimmer of the rainbow in the above picture? It is there, the hope is found in the crashing waves and storms of our lives. We must leave the fear behind and step out more in faith closer to Him, the anchor of our lives.