November | 2020 | Mary's Moments

Sharing a photo I shot through my glass door, not good, but the streak of color drew me to to it.

My last post about the story of Peter walking on water, sparked a long, interesting conversation with my daughter, Gayle. But, before I forget, I want to thank a dear and loyal friend for pointing out that I used the wrong word for those beautiful, wild deer that run across the road in front of me. When I typed the word ‘dear’ a distant ding sounded in my subconscious, but in the throes of thinking, I kept on writing. I used the word for my dear friends that help edit my posts. Thank you, Treva Lolli, for the edit!

Thankfully my readership knows I’m a writer, not an editor. They are a patient and forgiving bunch.

On to the conversation with daughter, Gayle. We discussed the story throughly and one point we wondered about was why Jesus allowed Peter to start sinking once he had bid him come … ( remember from last post that Peter didn’t start to sink until he took his eyes off Jesus, and lost his focus ) Peter had to ask for the Lord’s help before he was saved. But scripture says Jesus reached out immediately when Peter called, “Lord save me!” He didn’t wait until Peter sank to the bottom and then pull him up sputtering and coughing, but immediately. Neither did Jesus laugh and say, “What made you think you could walk on water?”

Peter could have walked on water once the Lord said, “Come.”

Our conversation made me think of when my children were growing up. I was afraid for them on every turn. I knew the pitfalls and dangers. And being a concerned mother, I tried to reach out and save them before they had a chance to see and recognize danger and bad choices. Jesus never did that to his followers, and the Lord doesn’t do that to us today. We are free agents. He left us a complete and comprehensive guide book. All we have to do is keep our eyes on Him and ask for his help.

God bless our nation! May each of us do our part to keep our country great. Share your dreams and concerns with the Lord, he cares about you. Until next time, MaryJ 🙂 🙂 🙂

One evening driving home from church I watched this magnificent cloud the entire twelve miles to my home—beautiful and most distracting! It was dusk, the time of day the deer come out to play, and I really needed to be on watch, for they cross the road at all times.

There’s not much traffic on my road, thankfully. So I foolishly kept taking my eyes off the road to study the clouds——occupational hazard for an artist. I meandered back and forth on my side of the yellow stripe—mostly on my side.

Until I heard tires against gravel——that got my focus back on the road, and set me to thinking. It’s so easy and so human to lose our focus . . .so many things to do

But the last few months I’ve been focused. I’ve prayed diligently for our country, that the Lord would allow us to keep the leadership we’ve had the last three and a half years. The morning after election night, my first reaction was that of Chicken Little. The sky’s falling, we’re doomed! But within the hour shame took over and I went to the Lord and repented of my doubtful and fearful heart.

In the book of Matthew we are told to ask, not doubting. In the book of James we are told to ask without doubt in our heart, otherwise we can’t expect the Lord to honor our request. One of my favorite bible examples of faith, or lack of, ( Matt.14 28–31 ) is when Peter asked the Lord to bid him come to him on the raging sea. The Lord said, “Come.” Peter got out of the ship and walked on water to meet the Lord. I’ve tried many times to imagine that scene in my mind, the roar of the waves, water hitting against the ship, the smell of the sea . . . leave it to Peter.

But Peter didn’t make it on his own. If you remember, he took his eyes off the Lord and focused instead on the raging waves—which must have been a scary sight! Peter lost his focus. And he became fearful, he doubted. Did he doubt his ability, or the Lord’s ability to allow him to walk on water? As soon as he lost his focus and his faith, he began to sink. I’ve always found it interesting that the Lord didn’t appear to grab for Peter when he first began sinking—he waited until Peter called for help. The scripture says, the Lord immediately stretched out his hand and caught Peter, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Why do we doubt? We know God is able to do all things and he’s promised to be with us—and still sometimes we act like we don’t really believe our God is able and willing. I guess because we are human. I like to think that if I’d been in the Lord’s presence as Peter had, having witnessed the many miracles, the fishes and loaves, seeing the blind receive sight, the lame made to walk, that I’d have made it across the water to Jesus. I like to think that.

We always need the Lord’s help, and he waits for us to ask—no doubting. I’m asking the Lord to allow our country to keep Donald Trump as our leader. I’m asking Him to help our president have a more humble heart. I pray with faith, but I also pray that the Lord’s will be done, not mine. He knows the ending, I don’t. He knows what’s best, I don’t, so I put my trust in Him.

Until next time, smile and keep God in your plans, He cares. MaryJ 🙂 🙂 🙂

Below is another reminder of our almighty and awesome God.