It was a semi windy afternoon,
clear blue skies,
and the water was calling my name.
I walked my way down to the shore with a paddle in hand where our three kayaks lay upside down.
I slid off my shoes, grabbed the small red kayak by the handle, slid it into the water, and let it drift some in the lake while I stared at it dreading the moment my feet have to step into the cold water.
When I mustered up the courage, I stepped out into the water, settled myself into the kayak, and began paddling into the open waters.
The water was semi calm, but the wind was strong.
I paddled and paddled until I found myself slap dab in the middle of the lake.
I closed my eyes and quiet the voices in my head taking just a moment to embrace where I was;
I listened intently to the water hitting my boat,
to the birds song,
to the faint conversations that echoed from across the lake,
to the quiet whispers of my Father.
I let out a sigh and opened my eyes again,
my boat, I noticed, was now at the shore on the other side of the lake.
I let out a chuckle and began to watch the waves hit against my boat, rocking it back and forth.
They got stronger and stronger as the wind began to pick up.
I started to feel my boat tip a bit.
“Daughter.”
I heard Him say.
“yes?” I asked,
“Start paddling back toward the middle of the lake.”
I picked up my paddle and started rowing against the waves.
I was hard, it took work, it took patience.
I got to the middle as He requested, but the waves began to push me back where I was before.
I picked up my paddle again and kept moving to that same spot.
“Daughter.”
I heard Him say.
“yes?” I asked,
“The waves of life will keep pushing you back to your comfort zone.
Where people will tell you how you need to live your life,
what you should look like,
how you should act,
what you should do.
But, life with me looks different.
Life with me causes you to go against the waves of society,
the waves of the world.
You have to keep paddling against it if it you want to live an abundant life.
It will be harder, it will take more work, more faith, more trust, more patience. But you can do it because I’m the boat you’re sitting in and i’m the paddle helping you get to where you need to go.
Keep paddling, daughter.
I’m with you.”
There will be waves in your life that will keep pulling you in one direction.
Life with God looks different,
it goes against the waves of society.
It will change the way you act,
the way you dress,
the decisions you make,
the lifestyle you live.
It will be hard at times… He never promised that it would be easy.
But its one worth living and laying down your life for,
because it’s filled with favor, gentleness, love, and peace.
I STILL HAVE $495 LEFT TO FUNDRAISE FOR THIS SEMESTER THAT I NEED BY APRIL IN ORDER TO STAY IN CGA.
I’VE COMMITTED TO BE IN THIS PROGRAM FOR YEAR WHICH MEANS I WILL BE HERE FOR ANOTHER 2 SEMESTERS AFTER THIS SEMESTER IS OVER.
I WILL BE DONE WITH THIS DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAM THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY 2016. I NEED A TOTAL OF $6,575 IN ORDER TO STAY IN THIS PROGRAM FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR!
PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING ME ONE TIME OR MONTHLY; $25, $50, $75, $100 OR EVEN $150 A MONTH GOES A LONG WAY!
