Spend some time reading and meditating on this week’s featured scriptures. Make notes about the similarities and differences in the various versions of the same scriptures.

John 15:1-17 KJV

John 15:1-17 NIV

Psalm 91 KJV

Psalms 91 NIV

Psalm 91 MSG

Start your week by listening to the following song.

Abide With Me by Matt Redmond

To conclude this week let’s enjoy a funny story together from jokes.edigg.com titled “Walking On Water.” Enjoy!

An avid duck hunter was in the market for a new bird dog. His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him. He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, a pessimist by nature, and invited him to hunt with him and his new dog.     
As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. They fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water. The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet.
The friend saw everything but did not say a single word.
On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, “Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?”
“I sure did,” responded his friend. “He can’t swim.”

Psalm 188:24 ESV — This is the day that the Lord has made;   let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Some days the ocean is calm and smooth as glass. Some days all is well, life is smooth sailing, and nothing eventful happens. On these calm, smooth days it should be easy for us to “rejoice and be glad.” However, we often float through these seemingly bland days and fail to stop and praise God for the tranquility. We also fail to realize that when our life is calm others may be experiencing turbulent waters. Praise God on this Thankful Thursday for smooth waters and pray for others who may be experiencing stormy seas. If you are currently experiencing rough waters, praise God for His presence and keep your eyes fixed on Him who can calm the storm. 

Let’s pray. Dear Father, thank You for Your presence and for calm waters. Hold tight to those who are in rough waters today and may each of them feel Your mighty presence as You calm the storm as only You can. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Matthew 14:22-33 NIV —  Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“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?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Today’s featured scripture is the basis of the name of our blog. Water Walkers was born out of the desire to trust God to take us outside of our comfortable boat, take risks, and walk on water for His glory. As I reflect on the years since Julie and I first stepped out of our boat, I see times that we were so focused on Jesus that it seemed we were walking on a smooth, glassy, vast, ocean. Other times the water has been choppy, trying, and unpredictable causing us to desire to return to our boat of safety. However, God has always been walking with us, with His steady, strong arm guiding and directing our steps. As long as we trust, believe, and have faith in the fact that God is Omnipresent (all-present), Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omnibevolent (all-loving), and Omniscient (all-knowing), water walking should be easy. We hope you all will continue stepping out of your boat and joining us daily as we all walk on water for God, no matter whether the water is smooth or turbulent.

Let’s pray. Dear Holy Father, thank You for being Omnipresent, Ominopent, Omnibevolent, and Omniscient. May I always keep my eyes on You and trust that no matter the water conditions around me, I can walk on water with You by my side and for Your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Matthew 8:23-27 NIV — Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

I love to sit and watch the ocean. I take comfort in the constant sound of the waves hitting the shore and the promise of its consistency. The ocean is ever changing just like life. Some days the ocean is rough, choppy, and turbulent. Sometimes we can see cloudy skies forming or have the prediction of a massive hurricane heading our way and we have time to prepare and brace ourselves for the impending storm. However, sometimes storms roll in seemingly from nowhere and catch us by surprise. 

How do you respond to the storms of life? How do you react when you are caught by surprise by a storm? To whom do you turn for comfort, strength, and guidance? Just as we can depend on the consistency of the ocean waves and the constant sound of the  pounding waves, we can be sure of the presence of God. Our Almighty Father is always with us, always guiding us, and always working to calm the storms around us or to calm us.

Listen to the song Sometimes He Calms the Storm by Scott Krippayne and take comfort in the promise that no matter what, God is with you.

Let’s pray. Dear Almighty God, thank You for your constant presence in my life. May the consistent pounding of ocean waves remind me of Your everlasting love and guidance. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Read and meditate on this week’s featured scriptures.

Matthew 8:23-27 NIV — Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Matthew 14:22-33 NIV —  Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“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?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Psalm 188:24 ESV — This is the day that the Lord has made;   let us rejoice and be glad in it.