Family Devotions: Peter Walks on the Water with Jesus

Today Rich read out of Matthew 14:22-33 of how right after feeding the 5 thousand, Jesus sends the disciples in a boat on the Galilee and he goes off to pray, during the night a storm comes up and Jesus walks on the water to the boat.  The disciples were frightened thinking he was a ghost.  Peter calls out to Him asking if he can walk on the water too.  Jesus calls him to come and he walks on the water until he starts looking at the waves and wind and becomes afraid and begins to sink.  The Lord lifts him up and takes him to the boat.  What a powerful lesson that was and we then thought of Peter and John going through the Gate Beautiful after the resurrection and infilling of the Holy Spirit and telling the lame beggar, silver and gold they did not have but in the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk and he went leaping and walking and praising God.  We thought of all the lessons they learned from Jesus and how many we can learn too as we read the Gospel stories.  

We found this cartoon clip on You Tube that Mary really liked and she watched it twice.

Here is the link: https://youtu.be/K2t3-S6eSUU

Mary loves the reading and talking about the story, but for her it really comes alive with the little movies.  If you have anything you would like to add to this devotional and tell about a devotional you do, just tell us in the comments below.  Have a very blessed day!  You all are in our prayers.

Whose Disciple Are You?

The other day I Googled, "Who discipled the Apostle Paul?" and came up from this quote by Charles Stanely.  It sounded really good until I clicked on the link that said, "About Charles Stanley".  I was saddened.  Here is what I read:

"After Paul’s conversion, he disappeared into the desert for three years, during which time the Holy Spirit instructed him in the ways of God. He emerged, ready to communicate divine truth.

The Lord speaks to believers so that they will comprehend the truth, conform to the truth, and communicate the truth. These same steps form a road map to discipleship. What happened during Paul’s desert years was only the beginning of a life-long process—God renewed his mind and transformed him into the image of Christ. For the apostle, that change began with connecting his rich biblical knowledge to the revelation that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.

Paul knew Scripture thoroughly, but the truth that Jesus was the promised Messiah made him reconsider the foundation he’d been trusting. Everything he knew about God had to be reevaluated in light of this new information. Paul had a history of wanting to please God, so the Holy Spirit no doubt found him a willing pupil.

The apostle’s spirit had to be shaped according to the Father’s will. And the Lord kept working on him long after Paul left the desert and began his ministry. Every person who reads his letters is a witness to the work of God in a submissive man.

The Lord’s discipleship road map looks similar for every believer. Like Paul, you are the Holy Spirit’s student, and the knowledge you reap from Scripture should be changing your life. Be like the apostle in this way to become a disciple maker by sharing what you learn with others."  by Charles Stanley

About Charles Stanley: "Dr. Charles F. Stanley is the founder and president of In Touch Ministries, whose In Touch radio and television programs have been translated into more than 100 languages. He has also been senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia since 1971.

Dr. Stanley received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Richmond, his bachelor of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his master's and doctor's degrees from Luther Rice Seminary. He has twice been elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention and is a New York Times bestselling author. Charles has written more than 50 books, including In Step with God, Landmines in the Path of the Believer, Living the Extraordinary Life, Finding Peace, Into His Presence, Success God's Way, The Handbook for Christian Living, The Source of My Strength, and How to Listen to God."

My question:  Dear Mr. Stanley why didn't you follow Paul's example? You tell people to dig into the Word and read it for yourself and your list and boast all the people who taught you but I don't see any mention of the Holy Spirit in you great list.

Philippians 3: 4-11

"If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

⁷ But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of  knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, ⁹ and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; ¹¹ in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." 

(I added the underlining)

What is the power of His resurrection?  I think this scripture will shed some light.