Reaching out for Grace

Reaching out for Grace

LORD, if it's you, Peter says, "tell me to come to you on the water"
Now Peter is not testing JESUS; he is pleading with JESUS.
Stepping onto a stormy sea is not a move of logic; for me i am so scared of water because i don't know how to swim, the faster i dog paddle the faster i sink, i don't get it. but its the truth.
But, with Peter it is a move of desperation. Peter grabs the edge of the boat.
Throws out a leg and then the other and steps out of the boat. Several steps are taken. Its as if there is an invisible ridge of rocks that runs beneath his feet.
at the end of the ridge is the glowing face of a never say die friend.
Now don't we do the same i mean come on be truthful don't we?
We come to Jesus in an hour of deep need. We abandon the boat of good works. We realize, like Moses, that human strength wont save us. So we look to GOD in desperation. We realize, like Paul, that all the good works in the world are puny when laid before the Perfect ONE. We realize, like Peter that spanning the gap between us and JESUS is a feat too great for our feet. So we beg for help. Hear HIS voice. And step out in fear, hoping that our little faith will be enough.
Faith is not born at the negotiating table where we trade our precious things in exchange for GOD'S goodness. Faith is not an award given to the most learned. It's not a title that goes along to the most religious people.
Faith is a desperate dive out of the sinking boat of human effort and a prayer that GOD will be there to pull us out of the water. The apostle Paul wrote about this kind of faith.
"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith and not from your works of yourselves, it is the gift of GOD not by works, so that no one can boast"
The supreme force in salvation is GOD'S grace. not our works. Not our talents. Not our feelings. Not our strength.
GRACE is GOD'S sudden, calming presence during the stormy seas of our lives. It is there if you will reach for it. Believe me even now. I don't care how old you are, how smart you are, or how religious you say you are, you have to understand it's a gift. a free gift that our loving GOD has given to us because HE loves you and me. so when you are in the stormy seas of our lives, like i am now,
We hear HIS voice; we take the step.
You say Why ? Donna are you crazy, i may be but i believe with all of my heart, i need HIM, i cant live with out HIM. So to your question of Why?
is because we are great sinners and we need a great SAVIOR!!!!!!!
We like Peter, are aware of 2 facts: 1. We are going down and GOD is standing up. So we like scramble out. But we leave behind lets say the Titanic of self righteousness and stand on the solid path of GOD'S Beautiful GRACE.
And , surprisingly, we are able to walk on water. Death is disarmed. Failures are forgivable. Life has real purpose.
READ THIS READ THIS READ THIS READ THIS AND REMEMBER IT IF YOU DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU HAVE JUST READ.

GOD is not only within sight. HE is within reach.
So reach out and grab GRACE the beautiful gift that HE has HIS arm stretched out just for you to receive. Will you reach out and grab GRACE or not. I am praying you reach for HIM. I promise you wont regret it. I learned to be able to take that next step, but it wasn't with out practice or until i wised up and stopped thinking i am able to do it myself. and get through it myself. myself myself myself NOT!!!!!
GOD loves you! HE has given HIS best just for YOU! I am taking the step will you?

i love you all.