I'm with you

I know I have written about the book, "Love Does" before.  The book is one of those things you are reminded of throughout your life.  There will be specific situations where you remember a story or something from the book which helps you make a decision in life.

The chapter in the book is titled "I'm with you" and it has followed me around for the last 2 years.

It is not an easy task, to be with someone.  The concept is pure, to stand by the side of a friend, a family member, or a loved one as they go through life in the good times and the bad.  But to actually stand there, to offer support and love for someone while they are going through some of the hardest times is difficult.

I was out with a new friend recently when she told me "You have a lot of stories."  It is true, I do have a lot of stories.  Stories of failure and success.  Stories of laughter at my own expense and laughter at someone else's expense.  I have so many stories that after she made that comment I began trying to catalog all of the stories in my head.  I started realizing I could not keep track of everything that had happened in my life any longer, at least not in my memory.

I started fast forwarding through the images I had stored in my memory, sort of remembering the main points of various stories or times in my life.  The memories that stood out the most were the ones of friends and family standing next to me.  The stories were not the best memories to have, they were raw and emotional ones, but they left me with the greatest sense of love and respect and gladness.

Take for example my friends back home, Alan and Jaimie.  I can remember having a challenging time financially for about a month.  My pay checks were not what I needed them to be and it came down to gas in my car and food on my plate or paying my bills.  Alan and Jaimie had me stay at their house for two entire weeks.  They fed me everyday and spent time with me every night.  They were with me.  They did not shy away when I was having a rough go of things.  Not only did they remain close, but they took me in as part of their family and made sure I came through on the other side.

When we have someone in our life it is so important that we are with them.  That we stand by each other's side in hard times.  Even if we don't know what to say, simply tell them "I'm with you."  Even if you don't know what to do, stand by their side.   Sometimes we don't need someone to give us advice or do anything for us.  Sometimes we just need to look to our left and to our right and see friends standing next to us, supporting us.

I have a friend right now who is going through some of the darkest times imaginable.  I cannot begin to fathom what I could say or what I could do for his family to help them.  All I can do is continue to say "I am with you."  Whatever his family may need, I am with them.  I know one day he will look back at these times and not remember them for the darkness or the fear, he will remember them for the friends who stood by his side through every bit of life.  The ones who were with him.

Who is in your life that you can stand with?  Who needs you to call and say you are with them?

Remember, the second greatest commandment of all is to "Love your neighbor as yourself."

So, in my 27 years of life experience I am learning it is more important to be able to look back at all those memories we are able to have and picture those people who were with us through it all.; the people who never gave up, who stood by our side and said "I am with you."

"Come" to Jesus

Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, "It’s a ghost!" They were so frightened they screamed. Just then Jesus spoke to them, "Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid." Peter replied, "Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water." And Jesus said, "Come." Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, "Lord, rescue me!" Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, "You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?" Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, "You must be God’s Son!" (Matthew 14:24-31, 33 CEB)

I can remember being a little kid in Sunday school and hearing this story of Peter walking on water.  When I was a little older, maybe 10, an old Christian band called "Audio Adrenaline" came out with a song with the lyrics "If I keep my eyes on Jesus I can walk on water."

I am not sure we understand this entire story.  Hell, maybe I don't even understand the story.  I don't think this is so much a story of the flashy attitude Jesus had.  I don't think it is a story which should focus our attention on two men walking on water.  I cannot begin to count how many times I've had people ask me "If I believe in Jesus can I walk on water too?"   

I received a new bible a few weeks ago and decided to start reading through the beginning of the New Testament.  So I started in Matthew and I read one or two chapters every morning which brought me to Matthew 14.  When I read this story I was not so focused on Jesus and Peter being able to walk on water as much as I was focused on Jesus giving Peter what Peter asked for.

Jesus was simply walking out to join the disciples.  The Bible doesn't say Jesus had an ulterior motive in making some teaching situation out of the whole experience.  I would like to think that is how Jesus operated.  Not as some marketing or business genius figuring out how to trap people into a situation where He could teach them something new.  I like to think Jesus organically developed people's words and actions into teaching scenarios.  Like this instance with Peter.

Jesus said "It's me."  He didn't say anything else.  Peter spoke out, "Lord, if it is You, tell me to come."  Jesus responds with "Come."

God not only gives us what we ask for, He also provides what we will need to complete it.  Jesus didn't only say "come", He also provided Peter with the ability to walk on water.

I believe it is easy to become too worried about what God thinks.  I heard long ago that God has given us a green light.  It is not easy to make decisions without consulting someone first, especially if the person is God.  I want my decisions in life to be validated with knowing or thinking I heard God say it was okay for me to do something.  I believe sometimes God simply says "come" and does not necessarily tell us how to come.  Peter could have swam to Jesus, maybe he could have thrown Jesus a rope and pulled himself to closer His side.  Instead peter walked to Jesus.  Jesus didn't tell peter to walk on the water, He just said "come."

Maybe God does not care how we get to Him, maybe He just cares that we come to Him.

Don't let fear of missing God deprive you of living a fruitful and productive life.  Choose to "come" to God and do so in any way that you see fit.  God will let you know if you are missing it.  If He is not telling you to stop maybe it is because He wants you to keep going the way you are going.

Get a dream, get a vision, get a goal, map your route and then tell Jesus to ask you to come.  The next step is simply stepping out of the boat and walking towards Him.