Well, another days ride behind (maybe a bad way to put it) me and the end of another week's ride. The day and the week went very very well and at the end of the second week we are just over 500 miles into our trip. A good Monday and Tuesday puts us into the state of New Mexico. Today was a day in the mid 80's in Arizona, but much cloudier than any of the other days this week. I rode 41.5 miles in 2 hours and 10 minutes at an average unheard of for me of 19.1 mph. Through it the Lord has kept my legs strong and a much tougher seat (so to speak).
Couldn't help but think about Peter and the other disciples in the boat on the Sea of Galilee again today. They saw Jesus walking on the water and in verse 26, it says they were terrified. Believing it to be a ghost, verse 27 says they cried in fear. They were already in a state of fear due to the storm on the Sea. Now to see something coming across the water. What is amazing about this whole scene is what Jesus says to them. First notice that Jesus did not cease the storm. But in the midst of the storm He says, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." The comfort was not going to come in Jesus ending the storm; it was in the fact that it was Jesus who was there. It was the Son of God who was with them. They were seeing Him perform a miracle with Him walking to them on water. But His presence is not a miracle - it is a promise from the Son of God. Jesus promises all of His followers, "I will never leave you or forsake you." The question is, "Is that enough?" In the midst of the storms of life, do we go through them terrified, totally afraid or do we face them knowing that the Lord is with us. He may not calm the storm, but He is there. He will never leave us. All too often, we have the attitude that His presence isn't enough. we want to know He is there but then also a sound roof over our heads or a full bank account, or a credit card, or whatever it will take to shelter us from the storm. One of my favorite verses in Ps. 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is he who takes refuge in Him." Imagine how much blessing from the Lord we miss out on when we put our trust in everything but the Lord. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him, not all the other things we so often trust.
Have a good Lord's Day tomorrow. Enjoy the fellowship with your church family and the Word of God. Talk to you on Monday!!
19.1!!!! Still not feeling broken into the saddle? Powerful message and one to share. Is that enough? That can be a brick between the eyes.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that the other gospels dont talk about Peter walking on the water. Only about Jesus coming to the boat and then going to the other side.