Here is what God was and still is speaking to me today and beyond.

Tell Me To Come To You!

Matthew 14:22-32 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Max the Runaway

Day One – The text read, “Max escaped from his dog sitter today, and now he is missing. He has a nametag, but no chip. We are hoping some how he finds his way back to his real home.”

We responded with an offer of assistance and a promise to often walk around their home and our neighborhood while calling out “Max” at the top of our lungs. His human momma promised to update us, and we her.

As you may have guessed Max and his human family of four live next door to us. They were but a few days into their dream vacation in Puerto Rico when Max decided he was not interested in an extended sleep over at his uncle’s house that was located 35 minutes away in a small rural community surrounded by acres, and acres of untouched forest.

Max chose the first, windy snowfall of the season to launch his great escape. Did I mention that his inseam is a whopping six-inch and his belly skims the ground when he walks? I’m not dogging his physique (pun intended), but within two doggy steps in the snow Max is just a little snout sniffing at the air. Apparently in his bravado he had forgotten he was no bigger than a cat.

Day Two – Max was still on the lamb, and had endured outside temperatures that never climbed above 30 degrees all night long. His momma sent a text update with a mug shot photo of Max the Fugitive along with his vital information.

At some random point in the early afternoon, it was my turn to search for Max. After, exhausting all possible doggy hideaways, I began to talk to God about the situation. Here is a portion of my petition for Max.

“Father, You sent angels to the earth sharing good tidings of great joy. Angels warred on behalf of your people, and many times they were messengers of warning, direction, and instruction. I know Max is just a pampered dog whose intelligence is obviously under question at this time, but would You please send an angel to rescue Max and guide him back to the safety of his home.”

At that moment I was overflowing with faith for Max, and I heard myself declare out loud, “I believe that an angel can scoop him up and plop him right down in his own front yard. Use this miracle for Max as a witness to his family of your love, and compassion.

Suddenly, the wind began to whip the leafless tree limbs announcing rain was imminent. I looked skyward at the foreboding clouds, full of faith expecting to possibly see an angel bringing Max home.

Day Three – An AccuWeather Alert in red flashed a 24-hour flood warning that encompassed our area and the last known location of Max. That wasn’t a problem for God, because obviously, He can locate Max, and protect him from the rising water.

After checking the radar for updates a break in the rain was in the forecast. Garrett and I had what we thought was a brilliant idea, since we knew the address where Max had somehow out maneuvered his dog-sitter. Our plan was to slowly drive around the area while I leaned out of the window calling out his name while tightly gripping a secret weapon in my right hand. Even if the little jailbird was skittish, nothing says, “Trust Us” like a handful of warm rotisserie chicken.

Full of excitement we quickly loaded the car with a few supplies, and then headed out to search for Max. Unfortunately, before we reached the end of our road it began to sprinkle. No problem! The rapid fluctuation in the weather would not be a deterrent to us. We were on a mission, so we simply turned the volume on our GPS to maximum ensuring that we wouldn’t miss a single instruction. Right here there is so much to be said. Let me simply sigh….

With each mile we traveled the weather conditions steadily worsened. Think two lane roads that twist and turn like a rollercoaster ride in complete wooded darkness. Talk about the opposite of fun. After, we traveled for about 25 minutes a tunnel of heavy road level fog settled in, and made it impossible to safely navigate unknown roads. The difficult decision was made to abort our search and rescue mission.

Garrett then managed to maneuver quite an impressive u-turn on a shoulder less road, while I stared into the eerie fog covered forest. When the GPS rudely interrupted my thoughts an instant collision occurred between my faith and the reality of what I saw before me. Though I remained silent, the brutal ugly truth would not be. Max could have in all likelihood already passed away. How could he survive in this wilderness under such terrible conditions?

Once we arrived home I went to bed with a heavy heart grieving.

Day Four – I awoke at 7:30am to the sound of pelting rain, again. I sighed, and resolved that I needed to make peace with the fact that there would not be a positive outcome where Max was concerned. The search and rescue mission had officially been called off.

At 11:30am the anticipated fatal update from Puerto Rico announced it self with a cellphone ping. I hurriedly turned to leave the room, only to be startled by Garrett’s outburst. He excitedly began to read the text message aloud, “After 4 days lost, Max has been found and rescued. Thank you for your prayers. It truly is a miracle”!

My first feelings were absolute pure joy.
My first words were overflowing praise, and thanksgiving.
My first thought after those were, “Dear Lord, I am just like Peter!”, UGH!

Sadly, even though God had granted me extraordinary faith to believe, and pray that despite all odds Max would be rescued, eventually I found myself quite literally sinking into “little faith” territory just like Peter did. UGH! UGH!

On the first day I absolutely believed that God would launch a supernatural mission to locate Max, but three days later I was equally convinced that he could not have survived the hunger, predators, and severe freezing temperatures. It pains me to point out the obvious, but a few hours before my prayers for a supernatural miracle occurred, I had given up believing for that miracle.

Needless to say I’ve been reminded that sometimes the distance between great faith, little faith, and no faith isn’t as far as we hope it is.

Peter had “great faith” for a supernatural miracle as he began his water walk toward Jesus.
Peter also had “little faith” after he shifted his focus to the natural reality of his circumstances.
Eleven followers had “no faith”, because they didn’t even put a single, hairy toe into the choppy water.

Honestly, I think initially we are full of supernatural faith from God for something or someone. We believe, pray, and wait in eager anticipation for what God will do. However, there comes a moment, or usually several moments when we ever so slightly shift our focus from Jesus and what He promised – to all the “natural reasons” that it might not come to pass soon, or at all. Here are a few reasons this may occur.

What causes a slight shift of focus?

Sometimes it’s the heaviness of living out life.
Sometimes it’s the length of time-spent waiting.
Sometimes it’s the urgent “right now” before us.
Sometimes it’s the lack of faith expressed by others.
Sometimes it’s the stronger storm surge than we anticipated.
Sometimes it’s someone else receiving what we are still waiting to receive.
Sometimes it’s the enemy pointing out how disappointed God is when our faith begins to ebb.

Then there is this!

Everything Is Possible – Help Me To Overcome My Unbelief!

Mark 9:22-24
22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”23 “‘if you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

My friends please don’t miss the magnitude of these few verses between Jesus and a father, on behalf of his demoniac son. His words, “if you can” to Jesus did not illicit an angry, offended response or rebuke from Jesus. He simply answered, “Everything is possible for one who believes”.

Can you feel the anguish gushing forth from the father’s heart captured in the next eight revealing words? I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!

This cry is my cry unto God for 2024

What I’m Asking God Throughout 2024 –
I’m asking God to often perform a faith checkup on me
I’m asking God to highlight specific areas where my faith may have dropped to “little faith” level.
I’m asking God to identify when and why “little faith” or “unbelief” has crept in.

What I’m Asking Myself Throughout 2024 –
Do I continue to pray as fervently, and often for that long awaited answer?
Do I continue to daily awaken believing that “today” I will see God’s answer?
Do I believe that it will happen one day, but probably not today?

What I’m Asking for Friends Throughout 2024 –
An increase of supernatural faith, and the fulfillment for what you have waited to see.

What I’m Asking from Friends Throughout 2024 –
An increase of supernatural faith, and the fulfillment for what I have waited to see.

In closing –

This past year I have been extremely inspired, and deeply impacted by the stories of Daniel, Peter, Anna and Simeon. Each of their stories I selected randomly, or so I thought. Ultimately I discovered they were timely and God selected.

Each of them walked out their supernatural faith with boldness even during adversity and waiting. They did not waiver when their faith was tested, or questioned. Regardless of circumstance, culture, or sin level in the world they occupied and lived as they prayed and believed.

Why does this matter?

Daily we are bombarded with complex problems, and human brokenness that boggle the human mind. Oh dear ones now more than ever the world is searching for direction and answers to what they see and do not understand.

Forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but I know we are now fully living in the “Only God” season. Man for all of his wisdom cannot meet our needs or offer a natural solution to what ails so many. We are enrolled in the ‘School of Dependency’ as we increasingly must rely on God as our true source for nearly everything.

As followers of Christ we must believe that God is able and willing to provide an answer, direction, and intervention in supernatural, miraculous ways. He always has. He always will.

We must believe it. So we can share it.

Much love,

Wendy