Good morning heavenly Father,

As I was walking in the park today, I noticed a train coming down the tracks you could see the big bright light coming from a distance. Sparky and I were about ready to come up on a bridge; he noticed a couple of deer’s and he was getting ready to chase them towards the train. I noticed at that moment he was not worried about the big massive train going down the track. Yet, when we started across the bridge and he could no longer see the train he froze. He could hear the noise of the locomotive yet he could not see it. I reached down and picked him up and he clutched his front paws around my arm. I repeatedly told him he was ok! He knows I would not let anything happen to him. As soon as we got to the other side of the bridge I put him down. Sparky looked up at me as if he was trying to say thanks and off he went exploring.

I know heavenly Father there is a lesson in this and that is why you allowed me to see this , my intention today was to come out here and be quiet and allow the Holy Spirit to speak on my behalf but you had a different plan for me this morning. So, now Father I ask you to help me fill in the blanks on what it is I am suppose to understand and learn from this.

Sometimes we are willing to face what we can see but we are not willing to face what we can not see. We either give in or give up which ever case it may be. So, is this the lesson you want me to learn today? Just because you can’t see it does not mean you can’t face it. That is a powerful realization in its self. It goes back to Peter asking to get out of the boat . He could see Jesus coming towards him he knew the masters voice yet he wanted to take it one step beyond what the rest of the disciples were willing to do. “Lord if it is you then let me come to you.” Jesus simple reply was, “come.” I have wondered did he do that to prove a point to the people in the boat. Look the Master is coming by walking on the water and now he is going to let me walk out to him. But then it is recorded when he could see the wind…. He became afraid and started to sink.

This morning Sparky saw the train coming down the tracks but yet when he got ready to cross the bridge,  He could no longer see the train he became afraid.  Even though, he could still hear the train;  he could hear how loud it was. He realized just how massive and noisy the train was for this reason;  he chose not to cross over the bridge where this beast was underneath his paw pads. In all reality he totally just shut down.

We are guilty from time to time of doing the same thing when a task before us is to big we may want to shut down or we might just do it!  I feel  the reason for this is sometimes we don’t feel we are capable of handling the task that maybe a spouse, a parent or even a friend has placed before us. We don’t want to disappoint anyone so we agree to do the task reluctantly and then when it comes time to actually do it we may practice first. We might even ask someone else’s opinion. Heaven forbid we get negative feed back. The time comes to do the task and all the things are going through your head like what if I mess up? What if this is not what they wanted from me!
Maybe it would have been better if I just tell them I can’t do it.

There is nothing wrong with shutting down.; it is what you do next that will determine who you will believe. Remember Jesus said I will never leave you nor forsake you. Oh, what wonderful words to turn to when you feel you can’t do a task. Not everyone is wired the same way. One thing that you do might frighten me to the point where I would die if I was asked to do it. However, I have come to the realization that the devil is hoping we see the wind just like Peter did and shut down.

I would like for you to take over a class for me! Would it be possible for you to lead song service? There is an emergency that I need to attend too out of town this weekend. Or, how about something like I want you to share with a stranger what Jesus means to you. Uh oh! you can feel the excuses coming already. I thought that is why we have a preacher? I am not good at speaking to strangers? I don’t want anyone to be offended! All this tells me is you can see the wind and you are starting to sink.

In case you are not familiar with the story in Mathew 14: 28 – 33 “Lord if it is you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” Come” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord save me!“ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,“ he said, “why do you doubt?“ And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying “Truly you are the Son of God.” (N.I.V.)

Dear heavenly Father, help me to be bold enough to step out of the boat but allow me to get out of the boat for the right reason. Help me to stay focused on your son and the calling you have placed on my life. I want to serve you with all you have given me. It is in your son’s precious name I pray these things Amen…