When Greg lost his job in December we felt like it was time for me to find full time work to gain health care benefits. This whole idea left me feeling exhausted and worried. Me worry? Never! I have always been the parent to take the boys to school, to pick them up after school, take them to the doctor when necessary, pick them up from school if they were sick. I was faced with the probability of someone else stepping in to do this. I didn't like it. When I was cleaning, I was my own boss, made my own hours and had the flexibility with the needs of the boys. Being employed by someone else changes that. I didn't like that either.
To back up a little bit, I shared with some that on my retreat, I felt the Lord presenting the idea of a ministry to me. Who me, Lord? Little old me- the one who feels so inadequate and has such little faith? A ministry takes time, talent and money; things I don't feel I have an excess of right now. A sister shared that it's been said that God uses your greatest hurt as your ministry. That seemed to sink in better. I felt this calling of a ministry so strongly that I even felt I heard the name of the ministry which I shared with very few in case things really never transpire. The name I heard was "Walk on the Water" ministries. A little scriptural background and commentary on when Peter walks on the water with Jesus:
After feeding the 5000, Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee. Several hours later in the night, the disciples encounter a storm. Jesus comes to them, walking on the water. This terrifies the disciples and they think they are seeing a ghost. Jesus tells them in verse 27, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
Peter replies, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." So Jesus invites Peter to come. Peter gets out of the boat and begins walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter takes his eyes off Jesus and sees the wind and waves, he begins to sink. Peter cries out to the Lord and Jesus immediately reaches out his hand and catches Peter. As they climb into the boat together, the storm ceases. Then the disciples worship Jesus, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Points of Interest from the Story:
• Jesus sends the disciples away so he can get alone on the mountainside and pray. Even in his busy schedule, spending time with God is a priority for Jesus.
• The disciples, even though they have spent much time with Jesus, don't recognize him in the storm. Sometimes we don't recognize the Lord when he comes to us in the middle of our "storms."
• Peter doesn't begin to sink until he starts looking around at the wind and the waves. Taking our eyes off Jesus, and focusing on the difficult circumstances will cause us to get under our problems. But when we cry out to Jesus, he catches us by the hand and raises us above the seemingly impossible surroundings.
• Peter starts out with good intentions, but his faith falters. This does not, however, end up in failure. Peter, even in his fear, cries out to the Lord, the only one who can help him.
• When Jesus gets in the boat, the storm ceases. When we have Jesus "in our boat" the storms of life will be calmed and we can worship Him.
I can certainly identify with Peter- too many times when storms arise I try to handle life on my own believing that I have all I need in my own power but ultimately the Lord is asking me to take my feet completely off the bottom of the river bed, take His hand and join Him on the surface of the water. He wants me to trust that He will not allow me to sink and drown.
How is this all relevant to the career move? I'm glad you asked! :-) Two days after I was offered the position with Hartz PT, I was cleaning a vacant apartment in Myerstown. I was listening to my ipod worrying about how this change will affect our lives and a song came on that went like this:
"You look around it's staring back at you
Another wave of doubt will it pull you under
you wonder
What if I'm overtaken?
What if I never make it?
What if no one's there?
Will You hear my prayer?
When you take that first step
into the unknown you know that
He won't let you go.
So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to hold to you.
You know you're made for more
so don't be afraid to move
your faith is all it takes and you can.......
WALK ON THE WATER TOO!
Can I tell you how many times I've listened to this song and when I listened to it that day, i forgot the title. I sat down amidst the cleaning and just cried. I surrendered the fears with this job change to the Lord. I felt Him say "This is what I have for you- all you have to do is say yes to the job offer. Take My hand, forget the wind and the waves and trust that I will not let you sink and drown."
A line from the bridge of that song says "You can't see where you're going, you don't have to be afraid." I can't see where this is all "going" right now but I know I don't have to be afraid because He is right there with me as I "walk on the water."
• When Jesus gets in the boat, the storm ceases. When we have Jesus "in our boat" the storms of life will be calmed and we can worship Him.
I can certainly identify with Peter- too many times when storms arise I try to handle life on my own believing that I have all I need in my own power but ultimately the Lord is asking me to take my feet completely off the bottom of the river bed, take His hand and join Him on the surface of the water. He wants me to trust that He will not allow me to sink and drown.
How is this all relevant to the career move? I'm glad you asked! :-) Two days after I was offered the position with Hartz PT, I was cleaning a vacant apartment in Myerstown. I was listening to my ipod worrying about how this change will affect our lives and a song came on that went like this:
"You look around it's staring back at you
Another wave of doubt will it pull you under
you wonder
What if I'm overtaken?
What if I never make it?
What if no one's there?
Will You hear my prayer?
When you take that first step
into the unknown you know that
He won't let you go.
So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to hold to you.
You know you're made for more
so don't be afraid to move
your faith is all it takes and you can.......
WALK ON THE WATER TOO!
Can I tell you how many times I've listened to this song and when I listened to it that day, i forgot the title. I sat down amidst the cleaning and just cried. I surrendered the fears with this job change to the Lord. I felt Him say "This is what I have for you- all you have to do is say yes to the job offer. Take My hand, forget the wind and the waves and trust that I will not let you sink and drown."
A line from the bridge of that song says "You can't see where you're going, you don't have to be afraid." I can't see where this is all "going" right now but I know I don't have to be afraid because He is right there with me as I "walk on the water."
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