Faith's Journey

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

Today I woke up in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. The weather was cool but the sun was shining, just the way I like it. The water was smooth as glass, and there was not a soul in sight. It was just me and my Creator.

“Why, today will be a fine day, Lord.” I shaded my eyes and looked up.

“Yes it will,” He answered. “But, be careful. The sea can be unpredictable.”

“What?” I said, not listening, but turning to look around. “Oh look over there at the fish jumping—catching flies—and . . . look at that! That bird just swooped down and got the fish.” I laughed with delight. “I know what I’ll be doing later today. I’m going to work and then go to my Agape group tonight after I cook dinner for my family. What do You think?”

Before He answered, the sea rose and waves rocked my boat. I turned to paddle my craft toward smoother waters, again without waiting for Him to answer. “There, much better,” I said. With a smile I turned back to my Companion. “Lord, this morning in your word I read:

“For He will complete what He appoints for me, and many such things are in His mind.” Job 23:14

“Can you tell me what you’ve prepared so I can be ready?” He smiled and shook His head. “One moment at a time, dear child. The journey is part of what helps your faith to grow.”

“Why can’t you complete the good work now?” No sooner were the words out of my mouth than a big wave almost capsized my little boat. I turned away—looking ahead—and found that I now had only one paddle.

“Let me help you,” He said from behind me.

“No, no, I got this!” I felt Him sit down again. I strained, and managed to get the boat away from the big waves.

I let out a huge sigh and turned again to my Lord, but before I could open my mouth again, it started to rain . . . then pour . . . and then lightning. Again I turned, paddling furiously with my one paddle . . . until it fell into the water, too. The boat started to turn round and round, pitching to and fro. I sat frozen, unable to move or speak. I felt paralyzed, unable to think. Then I remembered this scripture.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

Without turning around, I whispered into the wind. “Sweet Jesus, please help me”

“PEACE, BE STILL,” He commanded. Instantly, the lake became clear as glass and the sun shone in a cloudless sky.

I turned to Him then and said, “Please take my day out of my hands. I don’t want to control. Please forgive me. Being in your presence is enough for me”

Obviously this is fiction . . . or, is it? How many times do we want to know the end of a thing before we begin? We start the day with minds full of our to-do list, and don’t take the time to pray. Sometimes we pray asking for help and then we think we have to give God a hand. REALLY? Take the time to thank God because He’s got you, child of God.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 & 24

By Eve Montano

Praise

“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!” Psalms 150:6

Things are happening all around us—can you see them? There is a melody sweetly sounding in the air—can you hear it? It is a song as old as time and all of creation around us has been moving to the sound of it.

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12

Leaves are dancing, flowers bobbing, bees buzzing with delight. Let us join this continuous praise to our Savior and Creator—to our Lord Jesus Christ. Look around at the opportunities to share that joy. Tell others it is theirs for the asking. Shhhh, listen. The birds are singing, asking us to raise our voices—to share in their songs of worship.

“Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches.” Psalms 104:12

In fact, let your song be an act of worship, a prayer.

“Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” Psalms 141:2

Me, I’ll dance with abandon to an audience of One.

“Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with strings and pipe!” Psalms 150:4

Find joy in this day and dance . . . or sing . . . or skip . . . or raise your hands in worship. Yell out Hallelujah! Why? Because God loves you. Creation knows it and you do, too. That, my friend, is reason enough.

“Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.” 1 Peter 1:8

By Eve Montano

For God So Loved . . .

“Before they call I will answer. While they are still speaking I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

What? Wow!

That was my response when I first heard this scripture, this absolute truth. From the moment I became a Christian and I was told God sees all, knows all and is all powerful, I didn’t doubt it. But I also never gave it much thought except in knowing that He hears my prayers—spoken and unspoken. As I read God’s Word, I realize the extent of His love and the intimacy He wants to have with us.

“Oh Lord You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and I rise up, You discern my thoughts from afar.”
Psalm 139:1-2

Again, Wow!

Never think you don’t matter to God. He sent His Son to die for you. He is never, ever disinterested in you or what happens to you.

I used to think If He knows what I’m thinking and what I’m going through, why do I have to pray?’ But I’ve learned He wants to hear from us. Our prayers draw us closer to Him creating an intimacy that grows with time. He knows us intimately and He wants us to know Him in the same way.

But, how can we know His thoughts in the same way that He knows ours? The Bible. It is not a list of do’s and don'ts. It is a love letter from God to His children. It is filled with God’s love and patience, His mercy and lovingkindness, His unfailing love in our failures, and His grace in our disobedience.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world would be saved by Him.” John 3:16-17

Does that sound like He’s indifferent or angry towards us? No. He sees us, knows our thoughts—good and bad—and our weakness in the face of sin.

“But God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

He did this not just for you and me but every single person on this planet.

“The Lord is not in keeping His promise as some count slowness, but is patient towards you not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Yes, everyone. Everyone has the choice to turn from their sin. There is hope for everyone on this side of death. God doesn’t want to send anyone to hell. Even though He knows our thoughts, even if they are evil, repentance will open the door to forgiveness.

So read these words again and soak in this promise:

“Before they call I will answer. While they are speaking I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

Do you understand the lovingkindness in these words now? The attention He gives us—the grace He pours out and the sacrifice He made to make us His? Knowing our thoughts . . . instead of writing us off, He writes us in when we turn away from our sin, ask Him for forgiveness, and trust Him. Hope and faith will grow as we draw closer.

For God So Loved . . .

By Eve Montano

Freedom

“For you were called to freedom, brother. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for this flesh but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13

Recently, I shut down and opted out of the social media frenzy. I simply could not read or see one more person’s post being hurtful to another in order to get their own opinion heard.

Freedom, how is it measured? Are the privileged allowed more than the common? And . . . who decides?

We are born completely helpless and dependent on others for our most basic needs. An infant is not aware of skin color, rich or poor. Our complete poverty is demonstrated by our absolute helplessness.

As we grow older others influence our perception of the world around us. It will take years for us to understand the things that are different around us, But how we react to those differences is based on the adults in our lives and how they view the world. Children are color blind. Innocence intact, they will play with other children without misgivings.

Hate is taught, entitlement is taught, prejudice is taught, and fear is also taught. Why would anyone want to learn those things on their own? I’m sure no child ever ran to their parents asking, “Who should I hate today?”

Love and acceptance are woven into our soul. Let’s be compassionate, kind and accepting. Let’s teach our children not to let their fears—or yours—keep them from getting past the differences in people. Let’s teach them to see that we are all children of God.

“Accept one another, then just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7

By Eve Montano

Man of Sorrows

“He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.” Isaiah 53:3

As I prayed this morning I thought about all the misinformation and lies we hear. People doubting God—His timing and His very existence. This one truth Jesus Christ impressed on my heart. I share it to remind you where our help comes from. He never changes. His will is done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Man of sorrows, without sin,
You came to die
So love would win

You shed Your crown,
Then came down.
A little Baby, meek and mild
Chubby hands, no scars to be found

You set Your eyes on what was to come.
No worry or doubt.
You taught about a love profound.

You laughed and ate and healed the sick,
As Satan’s minions tried to find
False charges that would stick.

Twelve men you chose to do as God willed.
Fully knowing one would betray,
Sending Your human body to be killed

On Man of sorrow, no mercy knew
From your tormentors for whom you would die.
They laughed and spit,
They punched and whipped cords for scourging
As your blood poured out

“Save yourself if you are God,”
They shouted.

“Father forgive them they know not what they do,”
From cracked lips you prayed.

How heaven must've held its breath
As God turned away from you
Until you met death.

The earth shook, darkness came
The veil was ripped.

And that imp of old danced,
Thinking ‘at long last this was it. “I won.”

But, Man of sorrows was no more.’
In just three days
The Lion of Judah began to roar.

Defeating death,
He rose from the dead—
Vanquishing the prince of lies
Showing him he’d actually lost.

By His blood we are cleansed,
By His death we have life.

Jesus said, “I’ll be back”
As He ascended to the Father.

So, we pray, we love, we share and wait
For Christ’s return,
Because He said,
“Where I go You will be also.”

Man of Sorrow without sin,
My life He saved.
He took on my sin
And made me new.

By Eve Montano