Can I be transparent with you?
Even though there are things I see that seem to say otherwise… I am declaring these will be our best years yet.
I think there are MANY of you who are in that same boat – THAT boat where there are things YOU see that seem to say or even scream that it might NOT be your best year yet…
After a powerful Word which I heard, no, make that, RECEIVED, last October, I have decided to prepare my heart, yield my spirit, and renew my mind to walk through the vision into the manifestation of it. And that means for me, learning to ask How? in faith rather than doubt. To learn HOW to remove the stoppers that so often beset us and at least delay, if not steal, the hope and vision in our hearts.
Here we are, just like Peter, James, and John, and others, sitting soggy in the bottom of the boat in the midst of life’s storms, with Christ (In Us), asking Christ – who, shockingly, is silent and sleeping through what we perceive as life’s great tragedies – why He doesn’t do something, or do MORE, or, yes, if we were really brutally honest, if He cares.
I am not afraid to admit that in the midst of great adversity those things besiege my mind and sometimes even my heart. And I know I am not alone in the family of faith in this either.
I believe He wants all of us to know there is no condemnation in that. As long as we feel there is, we are immobilized by shame of letting doubt in – so much so that we stay in denial that keeps us in that state of pretense.
Listen to this: 11 out of 12 of the disciples remained in the soggy bottomed boat paralyzed by pretense, fear, doubt, unbelief. I did the math on that just to see… that is roughly 92%
AND as I checked in on our New Year’s count-down clock on our new 
website today… I was reminded that roughly 92% of all folks that make New Years resolutions quit.
Hmmm. INTERESTING discovery. Coincidence? HA! I think not. I think my attention was deliberately drawn to that similitude today to say this:
I’m pulling the stopper in the soggy bottomed boat and I am stepping out courageously and more boldly than I ever have before.
(Yea, it could, it could easily could be a scary statement if I fixed my eyes on it for long.)
There may well be 92% of others in that same boat that will not #stepout but I have determined to press my spiritual fast-forward button and FIX MY EYES on the future ahead of me – where there is another boat, and yes, other storms, but where I boldly step away from the 92% toward THE ONE who is already out of the boat and on the water and beckoning me to step out, to “Come!”
I thank Peter and those who intersected my life in his stead, like Brother Keith & Mrs Phyllis Moore, Pastor George & Dr Clarice Fluitt, Brother Dave Vaughan, Brother Royce & Carolyn Sweatman, and Pastor Stan & Becky Tedrow. I thank God for them all for going ahead of me in their journey, for stepping out of the boat into the waves and for allowing me to learn from their tests, trials, AND triumphs of faith.
This year, I follow them onto the even DEEPER waters, out of the boat, not my first time out but most definitely out there further than ever, with waves that are frankly, unfathomable.
I AM fixing my eyes on Jesus the author and FINISHER of my faith. With a quivering voice, tear-filled eyes, shaking knees, but a spirit strengthened by HIS POWER IN ME…
I am pulling the stopper and stepping out.
I am wondering as I do this… is there anyone else whom has He prompted to do the same?
You?
For sure, it is me. It is our time, like Peter.
I gotta say though, it feels a bit more like being Neil Armstrong – because this step feels like it is in a new realm!
So, anybody want to join me? Join me as I take a deep breath in and take that big step over the side of the boat, enter into a new season of life, commanding power instead of feeling pathetic or pitiful, and declare…
~ Michelle
[sexy_author_bio]
Dr. Michelle's mission is to educate, activate, challenge and equip others to live a full, satisfying life, ever-growing in the Kingdom of God.
Michelle is a mountain-taker in all expressions of her calling. Sometimes it is on literal mountains leading ladies on spiritual adventures in faith. Other days, it is consulting with Kingdom-minded businesses and ministries to develop professional website platforms and social media strategies. Still other times, you will find her training mountain-takers to possess their physical land - their health, spirit, soul, and body - teaching classes and doing wellness evaluations for churches and corporations large and small, as well as providing "secret service" concierge wellness services for other speakers and ministers.
Wherever the call of God takes her, she firmly believes it is time for Christian businesses, entrepreneurs, and ministry leaders to be diligent to ‘write the vision and post it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may be able to read it easily and quickly as they hasten by.’ And then ACT on the vision.
Read more About and Experience here: http://thepictureofhealth.com/michelle-2
- Great Faith Adventures - August 15, 2020
- Great Faith Adventures – Video Gallery - March 10, 2018
- 2016 Annual Year End Ministry Report - February 4, 2017