TROUBLED WATERS

TROUBLED WATERS BY TERESA IVES LILLY

           Life is full of challenges, ups and downs, good and bad, but the hardest times in our life are like trying to walk through troubled waters.  Have you ever tried to walk in a river or stream with an undercurrent that is swirling around rather than flowing in one direction?  It tends to suck you down, as if it is pulling your feet out from under you.

            The hard times in life can be like this.  You try so hard to push your way up stream in your job, You try to walk straight for your family, You want to see clearly were your next step will fall, but life’s troubles swirl all around pulling you and clouding your vision.  You find yourself unable to stand in the river at that point. 

            For Christians I have only one suggestion:  Walk on the water.

            When the disciples were in a boat and they saw Jesus walking on the water, each of them was in a whirlpool of their own.  Fear of the unknown had attacked them, wondering what to do next, but Jesus told them “Come out and walk on the water.”

            Physically, we believe that to be impossible.  But Spiritually Jesus is still calling us out of the water which is threatening to pull us under.  He tells us to  take the step and walk on the water.  The steps that are involved in this are: To See Him, To Obey Him, and To Keep our eyes on Him.

            When Jesus approached the boat the disciples didn’t know at first it was Him.  They had to search with their eyes to see Him.  The way we can search with our eyes to see Him is by reading His word.  When you begin to read His word daily, He will be revealed to you. 

             For Peter to make the choice to step out onto the water, He had to determine in his own heart to obey Christ.  We must do this also.  As you continue reading his word, He will reveal commands to you.  If you determine to obey those commands, He can help you to rise out of your circumstances.

            Finally, when Peter took his eyes off of Christ he began to sink into the water.  When we stop looking at Christ’s words and obeying His commands, our life will begin to sink back into the troubled waters.  

            …And he said, Come. And Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt;

             Remember that Christ won’t let His people drown.   As He did for Peter, he will do for you…He will stretch out His hand and take hold of you.   He may have to say, “Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt me?”  But He will not let you drown.  Have faith, seek to see Him, Obey Him and Keep your eyes on Him, then He can call you to come and walk on the water.
                         

ORPHAN TRAIN BRIDE NOVEL BY TERESA IVES LILLY

When Kelli heads west on the orphan train as a helper, she expects to return to the orphanage and live her life there as an old maid, but once she sees the town of Emporia, she desires to stay.
After overhearing a cowboy telling the general store owner that he is looking for a mail order bride, Kelli rushes forward to offer herself.

Will Carter accept her as his wife? Will he adopt the small boy who is left over on the train? and what is the underlying reason that Carter wants a wife? Is it for love?

and when a natural catastrophe takes place, will Kelli and Carter's rocky relationship be able to endure?

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