Hello again! I hope you have all been able to enjoy the sunshine we've had here and there. It sure has been nice that it hasn't been quite as cold lately, hasn't it?  Course, as I look out right now it is cloudy and it just poured down rain....but it's still warm and I walked in the park earlier....was so refreshing!


If you are going through struggles this week, just know that we are praying for you.....

Let's walk along our virtual shore, dig our bare feet deep into the sand and leave our footprints behind us, as we leave behind our fear, anxiety and stress.....let the water rise to your ankles and let His healing water take it all back out to sea and leave it there where it can't touch us anymore.


                        


“Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” – Isaiah 43:1-3



            

                          

Oh dear.....

Here's an article I recently found that spoke to me, and maybe it will speak to you, as well.....

February 17, 2011


Step Away from the Shore by
Mary Southerland
Girlfriends in God


Today's Truth "Between three and six o'clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water" (Matthew 14:25, NCV). Friend To Friend Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see. John Shedd says, "A ship in harbor is safe--but that is not what ships are built for." Faith is willing to take risks, embrace the unseen and step away from the safety of the shore. We fear the outcome or don't understand the step God has asked us to take. We are afraid to fail and are more concerned about our "reputation" as a Christian than we are about being obedient to God. As long as the enemy can keep us preoccupied with a selfish perspective, our faith is impotent.

Authentic faith naturally produces action, but faith is hindered unless we abandon ourselves to that faith. Did you know that the African impala can jump to a height of over ten feet and cover a distance of greater than thirty feet? Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in any zoo by a three-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will land.

Many people say they do believe God is who He says He is and that He is able to do what He says he will do, but falter at the point of believing that God is willing to work in their lives. If we don't believe He is willing to keep His promises, we are not walking in faith. Oh, we find it easy to agree mentally with the truth that we serve a powerful God who loves us and has a great plan for our life, but that belief is worthless until it settles in our hearts and changes the way we live. If we don't live it, we don't really believe it. If we are not willing to step away from the shore, we will miss so much of what God has for us in life.

The story is told of Will Rogers who came to his friend, Eddie Cantor, for advice. Will wanted to make some important changes in his act but was worried about the danger of such changes, explaining that he wasn't sure if they would work. Eddie Cantor's response was, "Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is!" The same is true of faith.

Faith believes that God is willing. The life of Jesus Christ is the embodiment of God's willingness to work in our lives. The disciples had personally witnessed God's willingness to save His children. Yet, in Matthew 14, we find them in a boat, caught in a storm, afraid and still questioning God's willingness to rescue them. Did they cry out in fear? Yes! Did He come? Yes!

Jesus came to the disciples, walking on the water, between three and six o'clock in the morning, the darkest time of the night. I have often wished I could have been on that boat with the disciples, waiting for Jesus to show up. I imagine the questions and complaints were flying. "Why would Jesus send us out here, knowing the waves were high? Where is He? Why is He waiting so long to rescue us? Can't He just calm the waves like He did before? I ministered all day long and this is my reward? Is He really coming? I don't understand!" Sound familiar? It does to me.
We are quick to believe the lie that God is angry with us and as a result, will not bless our life or meet our needs. The truth is that God is willing and waiting to pour out His favor and blessings on a life of faith. Hebrews tells us that faith always honors God and God always honors faith. "Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him" (Hebrews 11:6 NCV).

I think part of the problem is that we don't know how to define "blessing." A blessing is not always easy, painless, simple, comfortable or expected. A blessing often comes, wrapped in the mystery of darkness. But I am learning this truth - anything that makes us cry out to God can be counted as a blessing. Why? Because when we are desperate and in pain, when we have no answers and the darkness is closing in, we cry out to God, just as the disciples did - and He comes! Not because we have earned His presence or His mercy, but because we cried out with a tiny seed of faith, as His children, knowing He is not only able, but willing to come. Step away from that shore, girlfriend. He will meet you there.

Let's Pray Father, I come to You today with a faith that seems so small. I want to believe You, Lord. I want to walk by faith, knowing that You will keep every promise You have ever made. Help my unbelief, Lord.

                       

                      

                             

          

 "Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all." ....Dwight Lyman Moody


"Love means loving the unlovable----or it is no virtue at all."  .....G.K. Chesterton

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength."
—Corrie ten Boom

Awesome......enjoy.....



If you heard Pastor Stone's message this weekend he said something about the fact that if you have taken a casserole to a potluck then you are in the older generation.  Darn it!  But  - to honor that, here's a yummy sounding casserole recipe to try out for your next pot luck.  :)

Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole

From Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 7/8 cups water
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Spread rice in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Rinse chicken and pat dry; arrange chicken pieces on top of rice.
3. Mix soup and water together and pour over chicken and rice. Sprinkle dry onion soup mix on top. Cover and seal TIGHTLY with foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Enjoy!

                                       

                                                                                  

The LORD Bless you

    and Keep you;

the LORD make His face

   shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face

   toward you

and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Bye for now!!