If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.
Embody Faith || Weekly Devotional
When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
— Matthew 14:26-28
Think back to childhood summers, at the beach or the pool, and hear the joy-filled voice of your childhood friend encouraging you to get into the water. “Come on in, the water’s great!!” they yell, but you know it’s going to be ice cold so you hesitate. “Come ONNNN!” they shout. You take a deep breath and run full speed ahead to jump in with them.
I hear Jesus’ voice calling out to Peter in a similar way. “Come on out! The water’s fine!” It’s a brisk morning with dense fog, and just a few small waves rippling across the sea. The disciples hear their teacher’s trustworthy voice, and it’s Peter who dares to listen, to step out onto the water and walk towards Jesus.
If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.
We could stay in the boat where it’s safe and familiar, or we could listen to God’s voice, inviting us to trust and step out in faith.
I find myself at one of those precipices in my life right now, hearing God’s voice calling me and hesitating a bit before stepping out.
When my family and I left Wisconsin in January and moved back home to Washington, we decided that my husband would jump into his full-time role as Executive Director of Lutherwood Camp and I would care for our little one while building up this ministry to become my full-time job.
I’m really excited about the work we are doing with Faith in Motion. Our whol goal is to help people experience God’s expansive, profound, inclusive love, and for them to then go out and share that love with the world. Faith in Motion is really about putting our faith into practice: we believe faith is not something we just think about, but something we are called to embody. It shapes how we live and move and have our being. It’s a faith that is alive and in motion.
Building up this ministry and making it my full-time job is a BIG step out of the boat, but I clearly hear God’s voice calling me out onto the water. However, I know that if I try to do it alone, I’ll end up flailing like Peter did and start to sink. So I am reaching my hand out to all of you for help.
Today, we are announcing a pivotal campaign to raise $70,000 over the next seven weeks. You can read more about the campaign and our goals here, and I’ll be sending our official fundraising email tomorrow. But for today, please know this:
You all and your presence here, reading this devotional every week, have helped me find the courage to step out of the boat. Thank you for helping me find my faith! My prayer for you this week is that you have people surrounding you who are there to give you the courage you need when it’s your turn to step out in faith.
With love,
Kelsey
Book Club!
September’s Pick: Anne Lamott’s Somehow: Thoughts on Love
“Love is our only hope,” … “It is not always the easiest choice, but it is always the right one, the noble path, the way home to safety, no matter how bleak the future looks.” - Anne Lamott in Somehow: Thoughts on Love
Join us via Zoom to discuss the book! Monday, September 30th at noon PST//3pm EST AND the same day at 5pm PST//8pm EST.
All are welcome! Sign up here.
On the Pod!
Rev. Lydia Posselt: Faith, Hope, & LOL on Parenting
After hearing from several parents a request for podcast recommendations for progressive faith related podcasts, Rev. Lydia Posselt (she/her) decided to take matters into her own hands. Having found very little out there that fit the need, Lydia started Faith, Hope, & LOL: A Parenting and Faith Podcast. In today's episode, she talks with Kelsey about why this need is so important to fill, why the gap exists, and what support parents are asking for in the faith sphere.
You can find Faith, Hope, & LOL anywhere you listen to podcasts!
Open your heart. Listen to some Good News. Fill your well.
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What’s Filling My Well
Experiencing God
The other night, I met up with a dear friend for dinner and as I drove back, the sun was setting over the Cascade Mountains, turning them purple as the sky went pink. It’s always a beautiful reminder of God’s incredible creation, and a reminder to slow down, breathe, and take it all in.
Flowers on the Porch
We can’t keep flowers inside because our cat, Velcro, will eat them, so whenever my husband brings fresh flowers home they go in a vase on our front porch. I get to admire them throughout the day from my usual spot in the living room and they bring me so much joy! This week, it’s a beautiful bundle of purple tulips.
Toddler Giggles
As I write this, I can hear my toddler belly laughing with his dad as they make a fort together under a blanket.
This Scripture passage has always been so powerful to me. You really have to put your faith in action to step out with your eyes focused on God and ignoring all else that makes you doubt. Scary, but rewarding and learning a lesson in trust. I am so happy to support your venture as it is so needed in today's world.