Janis D.’s Journal

Being born again will not save you from God's anger if you accept His forgiveness, but, do not forgive others yourself. I need to take this to heart. We all do.

Amazing. Peter, James, and John the brother of James, hear the voice of God. But, so soon afterward they don't even have the faith the size of a mustard seed. I'm afraid I'm like that. I pray to the Lord and when my prayers are not answered, I question God. What I should question is the size of my faith.

This reminds me that other people who give me counsel, even though it seems good and from their loving heart, it may be a stumbling block if that person does not have in mind God's will and desires. Lord, help me to always look to you for counsel and help me to discern when "good advice" from friends is not Your plan. Help me, Lord, to do Thy will.

I wonder how many times I have done this very thing? How many times have I not helped a family member in need, or paid attention to my children, or my parents, because I was sooo busy doing things at the church? Tradition in my church is Sunday School and church service on Sunday morning, evening service on Sunday night, Wed night prayer meeting. .. as well as all those other activities that have become such deep traditions in the church that one is actually afraid, or chastised for not participating. So, we go to these things, often ignoring the needs of others. How many of us have driven right past a person with a flat tire, or a hungry person asking for food, while on our way to a traditional church activity. Lord, help me to do Thy will when you tell me to do it, and not be afraid to miss some tradition in the church. And, help me to gently resist the pressure put on me by the pastor and church leaders to be at every service...no matter what.

I just realized something else about this passage! If Peter had stepped out onto the water and had NOT faltered in his faith and then had to be reminded by Jesus to have faith, Peter could have begun to have faith in his own great faith, and not in Jesus. We must be reminded to keep our faith in JESUS. .. and not in our faith!

This is the story of my walk with the Lord!!! I believe, but, then I doubt. I ask Jesus to show me his power so that I can increase my faith. He calls to me to take a stop of faith, just as Peter had to take that stop of faith and step out on to the water. I eagerly take that step of faith, but, then I falter and when things get a little tough, I again begin to fear and doubt. Thank you Lord Jesus to giving this account to us, so that we can see ourselves in Peter, and we can hear you say to us "You of little faith, why did you doubt"? And, then I can again have my faith restored.

So many times we desire to be people of "great" faith. We see the famous preachers, the hugh churches, and we think..... Oh, that I were to have so much faith. But, as so many times, Jesus teaches us just the opposite. If we have even the smallest faith, if it is real faith, faith in the Son of God. . .. . .that faith will grow into something magnificent. One does not know how many lives will be changed because of that faith. May we not desire huge faith, but rather, real faith, no matter how small.

Jesus was just speaking of those who were doing good, even doing it on the Sabbath...while the Pharisee's were condemning them for doing good on the Sabbath. He's talking about people doing the will of God.... doing good, loving others. They are filled with the Holy Spirit and are doing good. Then Jesus says.... anyone that speaks against Himself, Jesus, will be forgiven. But, to speak against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When we speak against those who are doing good. . . . . .we may be speaking against the Holy Spirit who is in them doing the good through them. I just realized what Jesus was talking about here!!! How many times do we hear one denomination speaking against another denomination because they are "doing good" but perhaps not following some customer, ritual, or "doctrine" that the first church holds so dear.... yet the second church is doing good, healing the sick, feeding the poor, loving the unlovable...doing what Jesus did? Could this be what this passage really means? That when the Pharisee's were speaking against those who were doing good on the Sabbath, they were actually speaking against the Holy Spirit and would not be forgiven? If so, we had better think before we speak against anyone who is doing good.

What a blessed promise! God opens his arms to those of us who are weary; to those who have burdens. He does not look for only the strong, for the people who have it all together. In this world we usually feel like we are loved only if we are strong, beautiful, successful. But, God opens His loving arms to us when we are at our weakest, our worse, and He gives us rest. What an awesome God!! Thank you Lord Jesus. I love You!

Jesus loves me! The God of Universe, the Creator..... loves me! Not one sparrow falls to the ground that the Lord does not know about and cares about. How much more His love for the created being that He created in His own image. This verse gives me so much comfort when in this fallen world I feel so alone and unloved at times. Oh, how blessed we are who know the LORD!!! Praise the Lord!