One Step Closer

These days I am getting very excited about my move. I am starting to see past the fears and keeping my eyes on God. I believe that is a huge part of being able to walk with the Lord. It actually takes me back to the story about Peter walking on water. Here are a few verses that set the scene for you...

But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified.But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

That's a great story! When Peter went to step out onto the water and took his first steps he was looking at Jesus.... trusting him and not letting whatever was going on around him (or his thoughts) discourage him. However then he realized the huge waves, the fact that he was walking on water and he started to look around. He took his eye's off Jesus and that's when fear and doubt took over.... he started to sink.... I love this because even though it's hard to believe the story there is a really great lesson that can be applied to your life right now. If you stay focused... trust God... "keep your eye on the prize" so to speak your journey will be more enjoyable and clear. At the same time if you let the fears and doubts of the world blind side you then it is going to be a rocky road to travel. I really believe this to be true. To often I am so concerned about whats going on around me, the meaningless gossip, the riches of the world and so on that I forget where I'm going and why I'm here. That is a scary place to be... that's when the enemy knows I am most vulnerable. I finally understand why my father has always wanted good strong Christians in my life... to encourage me to stay focused and to help "shield" me from distractions. I never thought that having christian friends was so important... and I never thought dating christian guys was critical as well but through the years of bad friends and relationships I now know how true and important it is.

I can't go with out telling you about an email my sister in law (Abi) sent me this morning.... She wrote to me about a girl on the Oprah show.... She was talking about her struggle with relationships and her bad experiences with dating and life in general. She partied a lot, was in an abusive relationship and felt like she could never find "Mr. right" Through her experiences she found this to be true, she said "For so many years i didn't even find nice guys attractive... I only went for bar room brawlers and alcoholics. After changing my lifestyle and focusing more on changing what was inside me, i realized that I wasn't attracted to kind, joyful men because I had no kindness or joy inside of me! As humans, we naturally gravitate toward people who mirror whats inside of us. We hate dating mean men... but if anger is what we hold inside, then that is what we subconsciously find attractive. Once you can find joy and happiness... TRUE happiness and fulfillment... you will start to find those character traits attractive in men." ........ I read this and was amazed. I thought to myself "All this time I played the victim when really I am probably just like them in some ways." I have been complaining about guys always hurting me and friends always letting me down but the weird thing is I am the one choosing to have those people in my life... the very people I hate I date (haha didn't mean to rhyme). Now don't get me wrong the guys that have hurt me and the friends that have back stabbed me are wrong for what they did... but the deeper issue is why did I allow them into my life and have such a hold on my heart in the first place? The problem lies so much deeper.... and that is where only God and I can go. Nobody else. I have to go back to where I came from... my roots.. Just me and God. That's when the healing begins and happiness takes over. Don't let the strong winds and huge waves steal that trust.... keep your eye's on Christ and he will hold your hand and walk you through everything one step at a time.

hmmm those were 2 totally different subjects and somehow i managed to mash them together hahaha. Oh well you get the picture.