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.

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬ —- Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

In May of 2019 I was honored to have one of my writings be published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The devotional was about friendship so today I share it with you again. The friends I share about in this devotional helped me in a time I needed it and shared their love in a Christ-like way.

Friends That Stand In The Middle

@proverbs31woman

Read Philippians 2:1-11 MSG

Often we don’t feel comfortable with testifying and witnessing to strangers. However, by building relationships with others we can share Christ simultaneously. Those around us will see the way we respond and react to life. Through our words and actions others have the opportunity to see Christ. 

Are you a deep-spirited friend? How do you “put yourself aside and help others get ahead?” How do you “forget yourself long enough to lend a helping hand?” How are your relationships a reflection of Christ? 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for the relationships I have and the opportunity to show Christ through my words and actions. Help me to be ever mindful of my responses and reactions so that I am a true reflection of You, Amen.

Philippians 2:5-8 NIV —  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing   by taking the very nature of a servant,  being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,  he humbled himself   by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!

One definition of relationship is the state of being connected. Spend some time thinking about your relationships and connections. Do you have the mindset of Christ in your relationships with others? How do you humble yourself within your relationships? In what ways do you use your connections to take the nature of a servant? 

As you go throughout your day, look for opportunities to relate with others and share Christ. Listen for common situations, burdens, or valleys and use those as a way to share your experiences of Christ with others. Use servanthood to connect and reflect the nature of God.

Let’s pray. Dear Holy Father, thank You for sending Your only son to show us how to live. Show me opportunities to serve others and be a witness to Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Philippians 2:1-4 NIV — Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

This past Sunday was Easter. We have just walked through the death of Jesus for our sins and His resurrection which promises us everlasting life. In today’s featured scripture Paul tells early Christians that they should be “like-minded” and “one in spirit and of one mind.” How does that apply to you and I today and what does that look like? Paul goes on to explain that Christians should put others first. Does this not echo Jesus’ commandment in Matthew 22:39 NIV to “Love your neighbor as yourself?” As we walk through this week and move farther away from Easter Sunday, may we not forget the value Jesus placed on relationships. May we each give thanks for the opportunities we have to witness to others by serving Christ through our relationships.

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessing of relationships. Help me to be mindful today to put the interests of others above my own. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.