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“Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

It was the miracles of miracles.  

The first mass miracle took place in Decapolis, where between ten to fifteen thousand people were fed with two only fish and five loaves of bread.

I can only imagine the excitement as the multitudes watched the fish and bread multiply before their eyes. Yahweh Jireh, their Provider, fed the hungry in an unprecedented display of His glorious provision to the masses.

The disciples’ hearts must have overflowed with joy… and Pride.

After all, they were His selected men. The ones who were chosen to walk alongside the Christ.

As we read the text, it’s interesting to realize that, instead of allowing them to remain with the crowd a little longer, Jesus immediately “made” His disciples get into the boat, cross the sea and go to the other side ahead of Him, while He dismissed the crowd (v. 22).

I believe Jesus knew their hearts were swelling with pride for being part of Messiah’s inner circle. They needed to withdraw, get away from the accolades of men and the material substance of the miracle, regroup, and realize that He had come to give them much more than just daily bread.

He knew their faith needed more testing and they were about to get it.

Success and popularity have the power to excite us and make us start hoping for great things. The problem is that, though we hardly ever realize it, our hopes for spiritual victories too often include hopes for our own advancement. Therefore, after a season of miracles and supernatural blessings, God often pulls us out of the hype and excitement and sends us on to the next journey of testing, where we will realize that our faith must grow in the same proportion as our humility and dependence upon God and God alone.

After a season of miracles and supernatural blessings, God often pulls us out of the hype and excitement and sends us on to the next journey of testing, where we will realize that our faith must grow in the same proportion as our…
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It’s true – We see the bread before our eyes, and our faith grows within us. After all, we can touch it, taste it, feel it. The provision and deliverance are real. We can boldly shout to the world: He provides! He heals! He reigns!

But then, just as He did to the disciples, He takes us out of the material and sends us into the sea of the Unknown. In the dark hour, storms rise, and our boat tosses about.

Fear rises within us… And we forget.

The eyes which have seen the miracle are suddenly blinded by the darkness around.

The hands which touched Provision become restless.

The tongue which proclaimed the miracle can’t even pray.

We watch the winds and the waves raging at us, and we forget the grand miracle we just witnessed ashore.

In our distress, we see a ‘Ghost’ walking on the water, and we don’t even realize that it is He.

The One who just broke the bread and multiplied the fish… walks towards our situation and we don’t identify Him. The one who heard our heart’s cry… comes to our rescue in the night and we can’t recognize Him past the storm.

The One who just broke the bread and multiplied the fish… walks towards our situation and we don’t identify Him. The one who heard our heart’s cry… comes to our rescue in the night and we can’t recognize Him past the storm.
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Oh, how my heart understands Peter as he realizes it is Jesus who has come to their rescue.

How much I understand his reason to say, “Tell me to come to you on the water!”

He knows Jesus is his safety. He’s eager to believe. He thinks his faith to be strong. He trusts his heart not to wave.

So do we, Peter. So do we.

And yet, as our eyes veer from the Savior’s face and focus on the raging sea, our faith is tested once again; we forget the bread and the fish. The storm reveals our weakness…

And we sink.

And yet, as our eyes veer from the Savior’s face and focus on the raging sea, our faith tested once again; we forget the bread and the fish. The storm reveals our weakness… And we sink.
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Oh, Lord, my God, how I truly understand, that it doesn’t matter how many times we’ve watched you act, our feeble hearts so often betray what we know:

That even when You seem to have left us alone, You’re always there…

That all we have to do is call Your name… “LORD! Save me”

And hear You say:

“Take courage! It is I.

Don’t be afraid.

You can walk on water.

You can face the storm.

Because it is My omnipotent hand that calls you out of a life of little faith, to one that watches Me deliver, again and again.

Don’t trust your heart, child.

Just trust My hand.

I’ll pull you out of the icy, stormy waters.

And make them solid ground.

Because wherever I stand… you cannot sink.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” Isaiah 43:2

LINKUP PARTY opens on May 24 at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open! This week – an encouragement to those who feel the waters of trials taking over their lives. If Jesus is standing near, you are safe! Join us and share your blog!
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The post Wherever Jesus Stands, You Cannot Sink {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“Sorry you all had to sit through that,” the quietest woman in the room grinned, “because that was just for me.”

We all know what she meant.

One of the amazing abilities of our Lord is reaching out to us individually while reaching out to us all.

His sweet love and unique relationship with each of His children involves personal gifts and private moments. There are inside jokes and memories that hold us warmly, tucked into His care.

One of the kindest, more precious things the Lord has taught me is this: He doesn’t just care for me, He cares about me.

One of the kindest, more precious things the Lord has taught me is this: He doesn’t just care for me, He cares about me.
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Sometimes the sunrise’s streak of gold peeking over the trees is just for me.

The weather isn’t what everyone wanted, but He did it for me. I asked last night.

Whoever donated those exact boots to the thrift store didn’t know it, but they were just for me, an unexpected gift from the Lord.

My husband’s shoulder, though not his own selection, isn’t too large or too small. It’s just right- made, I believe, just for me and my heavy head.

As I speak to God on a matter, asking a specific question, He rephrases it back to me with an answer through the song on the radio proclaiming truth I need in that moment. The lyrics are familiar, but that time, He played it just for me.

At the end of one Saturday, I am tired of struggling and weary. Settling into bed, I open a book I’ve been struggling to enjoy, one I’ve grown tired of plodding through. I’m reading it only because I committed to. But THAT chapter rubs salve on my soul. Words just for me, custom shaped from an author’s keyboard to my aching heart by the Lord’s own hands.

I open the Good Book, the only one I’m known to actually hug goodnight, to the page I left off on. This is His word, active and alive, and it quickly enfolds those feelings of fear in the triumphant embrace of the one who died just for me. Words spoken a couple thousand years ago, spoken right now to me by the same Savior.

In the words of the Isaiah 25:1, “Lord, you are my God.”

And because of Christ, I’m more than just God’s creation, set on my course alone. I’m God’s child.

Because of Christ, I’m more than just God's creation, set on my course alone. I’m God's child. @BethanyMcIlrath
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Do you know if you’re His child, too?

As His child, do you see God’s good gifts- the just for you kind?

It’s a precious gift, this truth that God cares so much for just me and just you.

It’s a precious gift, this truth that God cares so much for just me and just you.
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We’d love to hear in the comments about something God’s done just for you this Christmas season!

{A version of this post was previously posted here}

LINKUP PARTY opens at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

1. Add your Link.

2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

Linkup Party is open! This week, my friend @BethanyMcIlrath shares a profound truth that fills this Christmas with significance: God cares for you and me in a very private, individual way. Join us & Share your blog!
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The post Just For You {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.