Peter is cool

Yep, that's right.  The apostle Peter is cool.  He messed up and put his foot in his mouth and that is one of the many reasons why I clearly stated and will continue with the phrase:  Peter is cool.

Peter is the one that after telling Jesus that He is the Messiah goes to tell Jesus that what Jesus just said about His death isn't going to happen.  How did Jesus respond?  He called Peter Satan.  Ouch!!!  However, that wouldn't have happened had Peter not spoke to Jesus.  Which would be worse?  Saying the wrong thing or saying nothing at all?  Plus how many other of the twelve were thinking the same think but were too chicken to voice it?  My guess would be that God would rather have us say the wrong thing to Him then not be willing to speak at all.  He longs for conversations with us.  We are His children and He delights in us.  And He knew that Peter was speaking from his heart, even though he didn't understand at the time that Jesus was discussing what He was sent here to do.  And God has big enough shoulders to see into our very souls when our tongue works without a brain.   However, I wouldn't recommend that with other people.

Another great moment was when Peter called out to Jesus on the water that if it is you to call me out as well.  I would be willing to bet that ANY of them could have called out the same thing and Jesus would have responded the same.  Yet how many of them climbed out of the boat and walked on water, even if just for a short period of time?  Peter.  And as long as his eyes were on Christ, he was succeeding.  It was when he started to focus his eyes on the waves that he started to sink.  How many times have we taken our eyes off of God and onto our circumstances?  Yeah, we do the same thing.  But don't let that stop you from climbing out of the boat.

Then there is the washing of feet and the boasting of how he would NEVER betray Jesus.  What did he do at the first chance?  Swear to God that he has never even heard of Jesus of Nazareth.  I couldn't even begin to imagine the dread that went into his very core when Jesus looked at him that final time.  Rumor has it that from that point on, every time Peter would hear a rooster crow, he would cry.   It is easy to put him down for that however, how many of us swore "I would never..." just to turn around and do it.  Did Peter need to be humbled?  My opinion is yes.  And sometimes the lessons that we need to learn hurts to learn.

Even after the resurrection Peter once again said something that he shouldn't have said.  Jesus told him what his future will entail.  Instead of saying okay Lord, what did he say?  "What about Him?"  (He was referring to John BTW.)  I dare you to tell me that you have never done that!  If I said it, I would be lying.  I have two younger sisters and all three of us did it to each other.  I have yet to meet someone who hasn't done that.  In all honesty, that is one of my biggest personal struggles. 

What I love so much is that he was courageous.  He had a true, complete love for Jesus.  And the majority of his foot going into his mouth was because he did love Jesus so completely.  Even though Peter didn't understand everything that was planned, he didn't let it stop him.  What I love the most is a fact that most people don't know about him.  Before Peter was crucified upside down, he was tortured.  And part of that torture was watching his wife be tortured and cricified.  Yet he cried out to her the whole time to keep her eyes on Jesus and that soon she will be in paradise with our Lord.  Now that is a man that I want.  That is the type of man I pray for.  Whether it happens or not, who knows.  Either way, I am the bride of Christ no matter how often I act like Peter.  I just hope that someday it will be in the positive things he did and not just his mess ups.

God Bless and remember to always be Snakebirds

Biggest Fears

This last weekend at church we discussed bravery.  Then the first question asked for our small group what is your biggest fear.  It really made me think what exactly my biggest fears are.  There is more than one unfortunately.  So rather then just share them with a few, I will step up and share them with all.

My first fear is to let God down, to disappoint Him.  I am sure that I already have in many ways and many times.  It still bothers me.  Someday I will be facing Him knowing how much I've messed up in life.  All the opportunities that I blew or allowed fear to prevent me from going forward with.  Looking at where my life is now, it isn't where I thought I would be and I am disappointed in my life.  Yes, God is in charge and yes, nothing I do will ever surprise Him.  He has never been shocked by my actions and deeds.  But it still bothers me.

Another one which is big is to pray for what I know I need and what He requires us to pray for.  Why?  Because He isn't going to answer them the way that we want Him to.  It's easy to whine and complain crying out to lighten our load yet how often do we pray that He will strengthen our backs to handle the load that He has given us?  Because the load will get heavier the stronger our backs become.  When we pray for patience, He gives us opportunities to exercise it and exercise is not always pleasant.  It hurts the muscles.  He will give us calm in the storm but what we desire is for the storm to go away.  There are certain things that I know I need and must pray for, however, I also know that as He bestows those things upon me, life becomes harder.  Jesus promises us a life with suffering and strife.  I'm a wimp and don't like those things.  There will be blessings in the end but the journey does get rough.  If He is to make me a diamond, then I must endure the crushing and fire that all coal must go through first.  God's gems are never easily made.  But to be privileged to be called upon by Him makes it all worth it.  He qualifies the called not call the qualified.  Lucky for me because I'm not qualified for hardly anything.

I have more, many, many more.  However I'm not up for going over those besides they are lame.  I know that I will die alone but I am afraid of living alone.  Loud sudden noises.  A death with no meaning.  Being sat on by a large purple elephant.  Just basic stuff.

God Bless and always be a Snakebird

Cole