Jesus Called Peter's Bluff....

One hot day at a Sunday BBQ, decked out in church clothes I sat on the edge of the host's beautiful pool, secretly wishing I brought my bathing suit, but to embarrassed and prideful to wear it in mixed company....The kids had been in and out for hours, other adults not having the same sense of horror with themselves were ready with towels and floats while others like me just got our feet wet.

After several hours in the scorching heat, I said to one of the other women in a half hearted dare, 'I'll go in if you do' and before I knew it she was walking deeper and deeper, in HER sunday best...

WELL NOW WHAT! - - - "I guess I'm going in!"

I am a woman of my word, but the half hearted dare that came out of me, didn't expect her to take me up on it! - - - She called my Bluff! - - - So in I went... Once I was in, I was sooooooooo glad!

Before we knew it another beautifully dressed and manicured woman joined us as did one of the pastors and my husband...IT WAS AMAZING - It was hysterical and Everyone was Shocked, we were all laughing so hard, and the pastor did a cannon ball in the deep end!!!
FREEEEEEEDOMMMMM!!!! It was liberating!

I always loved the story of Jesus calling Peter to walk on the water. When you read the story it's almost as if it were a dare (well I'm stretching it a little here)

As the story goes, Jesus told the disciples to get in the boat and go ahead of Him. He lingered on the shore for hours, and when He finally set out to meet them, there was a huge storm, the boat had been battered by wind and waves for hours... Then Jesus walked on the water to them and when they saw Him, they were terrified it might be a ghost. Jesus comforted them with His voice and words of assurance and then Peter shouted (here's the bluff part), "LORD IF IT's YOU, CALL ME ON THE WATER."

WELL GUESS WHAT....Jesus Called Peter's Bluff....(well ok so maybe it wasn't a bluff, just go with it a little)
Peter had to either shrink back into the boat, or answer the call and follow through, surrendering himself to what ever the consequence may be.
Peter had to lift His own foot out of the boat. He had to put one foot in front of the other to get to Jesus. It wasn't by His power that he was upheld, that was the miracle...Christ secured the surroundings, without changing them. Peter was supported as he fixed his gaze on Christ!

Have you ever given Christ permission to call you out?

When I was single I remember camping upstate and taking a picture of me standing in the middle of a river, on the tip of a rock that just touched the waters surface...It looked like I was walking on water...

I can remember praying with youthful fervor, "O Lord that I would be able to walk on water, eyes fixed on you, and not fall." Well fallen I have from time to time, and certainly I don't know what I was thinking as far as how great those 'exploits' might be...but here today I can look back and say, Wow God, you have called me on to the water several times...to step out beyond my comfort zone, to go where I have no experience to go, to walk where I shouldn't be able to walk!

Once again I have found myself in another place where there is an incredible opportunity to do something I can not do on my own, can not afford, and am scared to death about.
I like my little pond....

I have prayed and prayed for years about this and have continually tossed it out to God about recording some of the songs I've written and trust He has given me. Until now, I've recorded them privately with my brother or by myself.

Cindy and I began to do some legwork, prayer, fasting and 'tossing out some lines' for Gracious Vine Music to record. We spoke to some personal contacts in California that are professionals in the industry and had the invite, but not the funding...

We had a local studio owner come hear us at a local cafe, but still no funding...
We both recognized that something was stirring in us and we both knew it was going to happen but that it would be in the spring...nine months from when we first started conceiving the excitement of it all.

We both surrendered the entire thing to the Lord...'God if you want us to do this we are willing, but we have ZERO money for it...you'd have to completely supply it...
Within a week of our concerted prayers for the project, we were contacted by a person that wanted to Give to us 'for a specific project the Lord told her to give towards' - BOY were we encouraged, surprised and amazed!

Without telling people about the recordings needs...the finances for the studio appeared...down to the penny in a huge lump sum from another individual who had NO CLUE as to the cost! ANOTHER astounding and resounding affirmation from the Lord!

OK so now we were going to have to follow through...and wouldn't you know it...as we pursued an avenue to record...the dollar amount was exact!!!!

When we say to Jesus if it's You Lord, Call me to come...we better be willing to follow that through! Because Jesus called Peter's Bluff, and he certainly called MINE!....

I can't tell you how excited, nervous and amazed I was....

So now, after months of gearing up and practicing, reworking and rehearsing original songs, this past month or so we have been working on our recordings in the studio. Andy White of East Gate Recording Studio in Riverhead, has be so gracious to us...so helpful in giving us tips, encouragement and walking us through it all...We are so amazed...

We have taken a step out of the boat...we trust Christ to uphold us...we look toward Him and focus our gaze toward His face!

"LORD if it's YOU................"


Passage Matthew 14:22-33:
Jesus Calls Peter on to the Water