Category Archives: Joy in the Journey

The First 100 days – Day 40 – the number 40

Have you ever noticed how often the number 40 comes up in the Bible?

The Flood, rained 40 days and nights – Genesis 7:4
The Flood was on the earth 40 days – Genesis 7:17
Isaac was 40 when he married Rebekah – Genesis 25:20
40 years of manna in the wilderness – Exodus 16:35
Moses was on the mount of God 40 days – Exodus 24:18
Elijah fasted 40 days and nights – 1 Kings 19:8
Jesus fasted 40 days and nights – Mat 4:2, Lk 4:2
Jesus was tempted by the devil for 40 days – Mk 1:13, Lk 4:2

February 9th is the 40th day of OUR year…and a good time to look back and see if I have started the year right.

365 divided by 40 = 9.125(of course, we do have that leap year issue).
9 is 3 three’s.
Three is the number of the Triune God.

An article about Biblical Numerology explains the way the Bible languages also have numerical meanings. Christian Resources discusses this unique layout of the Bible, WITH warnings of the occult nature of numerology. A better term is numerics.

We once had an article that discussed this in more depth, and the wonderful thing about this is how intricately God wrote His word. Within the scriptures in the original languages, there is a type of numeric grid that threads through out the Bible, through out the writers, and shows God’s Amazing Authorship. And that is my point. God has set in motion NUMBERS!

Evening and Morning, the first(second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh) day.
Sabbaths are set on a schedule.
Seasons are set on a schedule.
Even the land has a sabbath.
The Bible kept track of ages and children(numbers!).
And then, there is the year of Jubilee – the 50th year!

So many things that are part of our spiritual walk have been high-jacked by the enemy, and we are so afraid to touch the evil, that we forget that the originator of ALL things, called them ALL good.

So, FORTY DAYS into the New Year.

A good time to look back.
Also, a good time to look forward.
What if we made a resolution for FORTY days…even 2 sets of 20, 4 sets of 10…could we make a difference?

Can I do anything for 10 days? Or break it down, 5 days? I can do ANYTHING for 5 days. Then start over…and do that 7 more times…and I’ve done 40 days. Then, start over, and do that 8 more times, and I have done something for 1 year.

I can eat right for breakfast.
I can choose the right snack mid morning.
I can eat right for lunch.
I can choose the right snack for afternoon.
I can eat right for supper.
I can choose the right snack before bed.
I can choose to go to bed at a reasonable time.
I can wake up the next day and start all over again.

I wake up every day – anyway – and make choices.
I know the last 40 days have been full of choices, some good and some bad. But I know that my redeemer lives…and that HE holds tomorrow in His hand. I just have to choose for this minute.

Another thing about 40. If you do something for 40 minutes, then take a 20 minute movement break…in an 8 hour day…you will have added up 2.66 hours of movement! Hmmmmm, that’s cool!

I’m recommitting to my goals for this year…and I’m going to take the next 40 days one day at a time, adding up 5 days, then 10 days, then 20 days, then FORTY DAYS of doing something different than last year.

That’s growth…moving forward. So, happy 40th day!!!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

100 days of moving challenge – day 40 -Sick
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
90 days Bible Reading – Ecclesiastes
50 days T-Tapp – check – SICK
30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- SICK

The First 100 days – day 35 – Hurry Up!

I’m almost to the 2 month count down for going to Germany.
Before I go to Germany, I have to have this apartment packed up to move into our RV.
Before we move into our RV,

Triptich for Anna

I have to finish the painting I’m working on for Anna.

There is so much to be done to finish these paintings….there is so much to be done to pack for Germany….there is so much to be done to pack up(or rather, pack down) and move into an RV.

I feel like I am hearing this song over and over and over and over…hurry up,

The Triptich Separated

can’t waste time, hurry up, can’t waste time….racing with the clock!

I’ve written about racing, being in a race, how I’d love to do a triathlon race again(sprint….not iron man)…and how I’d love to be in better shape than I am.

But a new racing is hitting the fan…my heart. Tachycardia is a BAD thing. But anxiety is even worse.

Phil 4:6 NLT Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Matt 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

I am excited about going to Germany.

I am excited about moving into the RV full time.

I am excited to see Anna’s face when she gets these paintings.

I’m nervous, a bit, about flying for 10 hours with a service dog…I’m a bit nervous about downsizing for the RV….I’m a bit nervous about completing Anna’s paintings so that I can stand to see them hanging in her house.

Why should I take no thought, not worry, not be anxious? Because I have a promise:

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee: FEAR NOT, I WILL HELP THEE!

And there is this basic promise:

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?

So, with all my excitement, and with the short time, and with all that I have to do….my focus needs to be on this:

Matt 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.

What can I do more than what I am able to do? If I do all that I am able to do, then that is good enough. Getting caught up in the hurry up mentality will only make me too sick to enjoy ANY of the new things that are coming down our path.

And just in case those three things aren’t enough in the next two months, I also have to plan our three week vacation, starting one week after I get home(and that week is our move out/into week!).

“If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” ~ Martin Luther

“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” ~Corrie ten Boom

There are more quotes about prayer at Christian Prayer Quotations

Prayer, a prayer time, prayer focus. My dear daughter reminded me today that the way I taught them to pray was to wake up saying “Good Morning Lord, thank you for this day…..” and to go to bed saying, “……good night, Lord, thank you for this day.” The point being, never stop in between.

Prayer combats the sin of worry…because faith displaces fear.

May we each be blessed today with what God puts before us to do…and to do that as unto the Lord.

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

100 days of moving challenge – day 35 – walk on treadmill
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
90 days Bible Reading – 2 Chronicles 11-
50 days T-Tapp – check – SATI, OIP/HF, AL
30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day 9

The First 100 days – day 27 – I Hope you Dance

Today, I am reposting a blog from a friend of mine…Chuckie Daniels.

Dancing With God (2day @ noon)…

Now of course I can take no credit for the following story. However, I thought it might encourage all of you, my fellow passengers here on the LiFeTrain to pray with me at noon…and dance with the Father!

Read on…

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing ‘dance’ at the end of the word.

I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.

The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.

It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully. The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.

When I saw ‘G: I thought of God, followed by ‘u’ and ‘i’. ‘God, ‘u’ and ‘i’ dance.’

God, you, and I dance. As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life.

Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God’s blessings and mercies be upon you on this day and everyday.

May you abide in God as God abides in you. Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached.

If God has done anything for you in your life,please share this message with someone else, for prayer is one of the best gifts we can receive.

There is no cost but a lot of rewards;so let’s continue to pray for one another.

2day @ Noon

And I Hope You Dance…

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check my goal, walk 30 minutes.
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading –
50 days T-Tapp – check
30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day

The First 100 days – day 20 – 20%

WOW! 20% done. 1/5 of the way there.

If this were a marathon, 20% is 5.2 miles….of 26.

If this were an ultra-marathon, 100 miles…this wouldn’t even be the first 26 miles.

Of the people that start the HURT (Hawaiian Ultra Running Team) 100 race, over 20% or so finish. But that is like 21, 22, 29 out of 100!

In my 100 days, I’ve already fallen very behind in my Bible reading. I’ve had to compromise on my Daniel Fast because I need more protein, and I am not getting enough from plant protein. I’ve missed one day of 30 minute movement, because I was so sore from the previous day’s walking on the beach. I’ve messed up my continuous 100 days.

So – quit. Why bother? What’s the point? I’m behind on the race! I can’t catch up!

Ah – diets…a good example of quitting. I have no idea how many other people start diets and then give up because they mess up…BUT, me, well, I know I do. “I ate two cookies, I might as well finish the bag so they aren’t a temptation tomorrow!” HA!

Millions of people make New Year’s Resolutions on Jan 1, and by Feb 1(at the latest) they are broken. Hmm, how did they get broken? Did they fall off the mantle, and crash to the tile floor? Oops! No. They weren’t broken, like some accident, they were thrown away. Sometimes gently, sometimes with full angry force, thrown against the wall with screams of ‘I CAN’T DO THIS!’. But even that scream didn’t BREAK the resolution…the next day broke the resolution, the resolve of the person. Waking up, with the headache, the stomach ache, whatever, and thinking “I’m a failure.” THAT BROKE THE PERSON’S RESOLVE!!

Then there are the little voices in our heads from childhood, and the photos on the magazines of those that kept their resolve and lost 100’s or more…or tackled the Appalachian Trail – barefoot…or climbed a volcanic mountain – while erupting…or whatever. “Wow – that person really had resolve(self-control, will-power)!”

Maybe. Every person that succeeds first fails. Repeatedly fails. The difference is that they get back up, and do it again, and again, and again, until “Oh look! they made it to the top of the mountain!”.

20% doesn’t seem like much.

20 days doesn’t even make a new habit! (referring to, “it takes 21 days of consistent behavior modification to create a new habit”).
The majority of 20 year olds will not make it to be 100 year olds.
20% of a year is 2.4 months…January is only 1/12th, 8%!
20% of the way to my son’s house is 229 miles.
1 in 5(or 20%) of people having gastric bypass surgery will develop severe complications or death.(this was told to me by the doctor that was going to do my gastric bypass – I passed!).
20% off is a good discount, right?

The value of 20% depends upon the circumstances to which it refers. The other way to look at it is, if I were on my way to my son’s house, I would be 229 miles closer than when I started. If I lost 20% of my weight, that would be 50 pounds. THAT’S A FIRST GRADER! And losing 50 pounds would almost get me half way to my goal weight! That 20% would be almost 50% of my goal. 50% is a BIG percentage!

What value is your life? And what in your life do you value? We’re told it’s shown by our priorities.

Priorities….what is the number one thing in my life? I say Jesus, but then I yield to the flesh (or someone inviting me to play a game on facebook, or take me out to dinner, or whatever excuse to turn me away from my focus).

Rom 7:15-17 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

Rom 7:18-20 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Rom 7:21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

This is Paul writing – one of the most devoted followers of Christ. He was chosen by Christ…not by men, after Christ’s death and resurrection. Paul shares the story in Acts 26. Paul struggles with doing the right thing! Paul lists all his fleshly credentials in Phil 3.

I want to do the Bible reading in 90 days…to wash my mind with the water of the word in the first 90 days…but I fail. I choose to watch stupid TV shows.

I want to move for 30 minutes of every day. I have a dog that needs a walk every day. I have videos that would get 30 minutes in every day. 30 minutes out of 1440 a day = 2%. I struggle with just sitting down – and doing nothing.

I want to eat right – to take care of my temple(a blog coming) and to glorify God and feel better. I still struggle with wanting whatever is sold to me in commercials, magazines, or even store flyers!

I feel better when I eat right, move right and read right. I thought that positive reinforcement should strengthen my resolve! I feel sick when I eat ice cream. That type of negative reinforcement should strengthen my resolve.

THEN TELL ME WHY AM I CRAVING CHICK-FIL-A PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE CHIP MILKSHAKES?

These photos were my true confession last November…for my 1 time guilty pleasure. Yeah, right. Then another, and another, and another…all through the season. In fact, I even ate one on Dec 31, as my last peppermint chocolate milk shake….like my last meal. I got terribly sick! My stomach told me that ice cream is NOT my friend. And still, we drive past it, and I think, hmmm, do they still have them?

I missed 1 day of movement during this 20 days. 5%

I am 3 days behind in the Bible Reading – 15% of what I’ve supposed to have read. 3% of the whole 90 day reading plan. And it only takes 30 minutes…or 2% of my daily quota of minutes!

So, I’ve messed up…in this 20% of my 100 days. I am tempted to quit. Until I do the math.

DO THE MATH!

People die because they eat the wrong stuff and don’t move. It cuts down a person’s odds for living any kind of life. Just read the statistics for heart disease, diabetes and such that often comes hand-in-hand with life choices.

Christians fail to grow into Christ by not reading His word.

Ps 119:105 Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Ps 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Pro 29:18 Where [there is] no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy [is] he.

People go to hell because they don’t know the Lord. Matt 7:21-23

We struggle. Period.

Rom 7:22-23 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

At first glance, Paul’s writing here is depressing!

Rom 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

THANK GOD WE HAVE THE ANSWER!

Rom 7:25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

HERE IT IS…THE BIGGIE!

Rom 8:1-2 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

AMEN! HALLELUJAH!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Rom 8:10-11 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Jesus said “It is finished.” There’s a period at the end of his statement. He IS the author and the finisher of our faith. All we have to do is run the race. And if we fall, he’ll pick us back up…I said, HE’LL PICK US BACK UP!!! and then, we brush ourselves off, and keep on running.

The one that doesn’t make it in is the one that never got in the race, or the one that quit and walked away.

It doesn’t matter how many times we fall down, what matters is that we keep putting one foot in front of the other…working and walking towards glory, closer and closer each day.

Do I sin like I did when I was 18 and in the Navy? No, sir!

Do I sin like I did when I was an exhausted mom of 5 toddlers? No, Ma’am!

Do I sin? Yes sir and ma’am, every day. But by the grace of God, my sins are forgiven, and I …..well, I’ll say it with Paul:

Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

All that matters, once you have that saving relationship with Christ, is that you get back up after you fall down. Grab a hold of HIS words for you, and cling to them like they are your life, for they are.

When the devil comes around to condemn you…find your scripture to answer with. If that’s what was good enough for Jesus did, then it’s good enough for me!(tic) We are seated in the heavenlies..we have been given the victory…let’s not give it away, whether in life, health or spiritual walk. Jesus bought this victory because he said we were worth it – we are worth it because HE chose us – therefore this race is worth running, to the very end.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)

1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Rev 2 and 3 talk about all the rewards for overcoming…and holding fast to the end.

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

What is 20%? What is 50%? What is 80%? What counts is where we stand on the day we meet Jesus face to face. I’ve written about races before…the crown isn’t to the first…but in our race, everyone that finishes receives a crown..the crown of life. These verses were written by the same Paul that talks about having trouble with his flesh.

1 Cor 9:24-25Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

1Cor 9:26-27 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Christianity is a race. A race is hard work. It takes training. It takes a plan. It takes daily, bringing yourself under subjection…which means that something doesn’t want to submit! The race isn’t to the strong…or the pretty…or the most vocal. The race is to those that keep on keeping on…until the end. To Him that overcometh…..

Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jude 24-25 Now unto Him that is able to KEEP YOU FROM FALLING, and to present you FAULTLESS before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. AMEN!

I know this one is VERY long…but I hope it’s been worth it for you, it has for me. I’m going to complete day 20, and walk on to day 21. Then, on day 21, I’m going to walk step by step, until I wake up to day 22. And I’ll just keep doing that over and over until I see Jesus!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check my goal, walk 30 minutes.
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – I’m going to reset my program.
50 days T-Tapp – check
21 days Fasting for Food – check – 1 more days!

The First 100 Days – day 19 – at a loss for words

As my friends know, I’m rarely at a loss for words.

As my closer friends know, I’m rarely at a loss for words to speak about the Lord and what He has done in my life.

Today – I’m at a loss for words. When I think of what God has done in just a short year…to enlarge the borders of my tent with mobility, strength and energy…I am at a loss for words.

I am blessed by all that the Lord has done. He has made this lame woman walk ‘on the water’, by the water, on the sand.

These photos are not so good…but this is my praise dance in the water, on the beach at Galveston:

So, here I am, thrilled that I could walk long enough to get a blister.

So, here I am, thankful that my Heavenly Father has a plan for me.

I may love to walk in sand, but my feet are planted on the Solid Rock.

I hope yours are too.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

100 days challenge – moving – check
100 days challenge- blog – check
90 days Bible Reading – I’m still in Joshua – behind a book
50 days T-Tapp – check – SATI walking for 30 minutes
21 days Fasting for Food – check – 2 more days!

Be Still – Wait upon the Lord

Another blast from the past ~ Sept 14, 2009 ~ “BE STILL”

~ M. Christine Wildman

Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Ps 46:10

The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand. Ps 37:23‑24

Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Is 41:10

Each one of these has a song to it from my past ‑ but these are the things the Lord woke me up with. These, and this:

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Lk 10:41‑42

I was reprimanded for worrying about things of this world, our finances, screen doors, winterizing, toilet paper……and these 2 verses came to me as if the Lord were speaking them directly to me ‑ Martha, Martha ‑ you are worrying about many things, but Mary has chosen the good, and it cannot be taken away from her.

Then, I was told to be still and know that He is God……so, I worked hard to sit quietly in His presence. That was VERY hard!!! I had to take thoughts captive and throw them out for later! Thoughts such as what I am going to do today…..and what exercises I would do….and other things, that were NOT bad thoughts…but it was not being still and knowing that HE is God.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord ‑ if I stop to listen.

HE delights in HIS way ‑ it can be read either way as far as I’m concerned ‑ God delights in my way, and I delight in His way ‑ because they have become one and the same.

I asked what is a good man….perfect? holy? keeping the law, or Sermon on the mount?

Though He fall, though he fall, THOUGH HE FALL, HE SHALL NOT BE CAST DOWN! A good man is not a perfect man…..just a repentant man, being still before the Lord.

though he fall He shall not be cast down, FOR THE LORD UPHOLDETH HIM WITH HIS HAND!

My goodness, my success in God’s eyes is held in HIS hand!

And then, as I came to share this with my friends, I was wondering ‑ HOW.

Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Is 41:10

What more can I ask for to help me to be successful. My delight is to be a delight to my Father through my Savior Jesus Christ by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. And God says HE will uphold me with the right hand of HIS righteousness. That is how I can be a good (wo)man, so that my steps are ordered by the Lord.

I hope this blesses you as much as this blessed me!

In His hands (hallelujah!) and under His wings (dwelling in the secret place),

Christi

~~~~~~~~~~~~Christi here, in 2011~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Recently, a dear friend gave me a verse that follows up with this:

Is 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

With all these promises, and with this ‘new’ one, what do I have to lose? If God is holding my right hand, and saying Don’t worry about it, I got this…I’m gonna help you!” – then who am I to say “I can’t?”

I listened to this song today…and though it doesn’t quite fit…It’s my prayer – may we learn to be still, and wait – but continue while we wait.

enjoy ~ Christi

“While I’m Waiting”, by John Waller

The First 100 days – day 14 – CHALLENGES

I have so many things to do today. I have to do things that I have not stacked together in a long time. Sometimes life is like a storm, with all sorts of responsibilities.

Martin Luther said, as quoted in Good Reads, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

I admit, I am not spending the first three hours in prayer…though, I am convicted to go spend more time in prayer.

In October, 1997 I wrote about being still. And that message rings true today. Enjoy.

I’m a simple Jew, raised in the simple Jewish ways…….but I get sort of fired up at times. Let me tell you a bout a few of those times.

One day, my friends and I were sailing across the sea of Galilee. We were on our way to the other side. Our Lord had just gone up into the mountain to pray, and we were going on without Him. Suddenly a storm came up, and the boat was tossed to and fro. I know what these storms can end up as and there we were, tossed back and forth, waves crashing around up, up and down with the water, rain everywhere, thunder crashing and lightening flashing…….and then we saw a ghost coming on the water right at us, I thought I was going to die and the angels were coming, then I heard “Do not be afraid, It is I”. In the stillness of that voice, I knew it was Jesus, my Lord. His still voice gave my heart peace, and I knew this was my God, and I said, call to me and I will come out on the water to meet you! And His still, quiet voice said, “come” and I came! I was walking on the water, looking at His calm and quiet face, full of peace! I was walking on the water…….in the midst of a storm…..THE STORM! It was all around me, lightening flashing, thunder rolling, water splashing and down I went!

If I had kept my heart quiet, and remembered my Lord, I wouldn’t have sunk.

Another day, we were all in the boat. Jesus was sleeping. Poor guy, He rarely got anytime to just rest, so here He was taking a nap as we sailed across the sea. Then the winds came up, the waves started beating the boat, water was coming in every side, rain was pouring and pouring, lightening was crashing all around, thunder pounding in our ears……How could He sleep! “Master, don’t you know we are going to die?” I screamed! He said quietly “Oh ye of little faith, Peace be still” and the storm stopped. All was quiet. All was peaceful.

If I’d been still and quiet, remembering my Lord, I wouldn’t have feared for my life.

Yet another day, I was with a group of people, they were all talking, yelling, and clacking like chickens around a fire…….Who is he, what is He, where did he come from, crucify him, kill him, and then to me “ aren’t you one of them?”

“No.”

“ Sure, you were with them”

“ NO”

“You’re a Galilean, of course you were one of the ones”

“ NO I DON”T KNOW HIM!”

Then it became deathly quiet, as I heard the cock crow three times, and I looked up and saw my Lord.

If I’d been still and quiet, I would not have denied my Lord.

Scriptures say, Be Still and Know that I am Lord, and through Jesus Christ, we are given the Peace of God which passes all understanding, and keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When was the last time you and I were still before the Lord in order to be filled with His peace in the midst of the storms?