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6BODYOFCHRISTNEWSMARCH2015RightbeforemovingtoColorado14yearsagoIsurrenderedmylifetoJesusChristasmyLordandSaviorandIbecameanewcreationinChrist2Corinthians517.IhadneverattendedchurchasanadultexceptforweddingsandfuneralsandpreviouslyhadnorealinterestinlearningaboutGodorreadingthebible.Ifirststartedattendingchurchregularlyduringadifficultseasoninmylife.IwassearchingforsomethingbutIdidntquiteknowwhatitwas.IhadalwaysenjoyedgospelmusicandstumbleduponaradioprogramhostedbyJeromeTheRevBarberinHamptonVirginia.AfterafewweeksoflisteningIdecidedtocheckouthischurchSixthMountZionBaptistTemple.Thesermonthatmorningwasaboutfear.ThisresonatedwithmebecauseatthattimeinmylifeIwasafearfulperson.Iletfearandworrydominatemythoughtsandmydecisions.IrememberthepreachersharingthestoryinMatthew14ofJesuswalkingonwater.ImmediatelyJesusmadethedisciplesgetintotheboatandgoonaheadofhimtotheothersidewhilehedismissedthecrowd.Afterhehaddismissedthemhewentuponamountainsidebyhimselftopray.Laterthatnighthewastherealoneandtheboatwasalreadyaconsiderabledistancefromlandbuffetedbythewavesbecausethewindwasagainstit.ShortlybeforedawnJesuswentouttothemwalkingonthelake.Whenthedisciplessawhimwalkingonthelaketheywereterrified.Itsaghosttheysaidandcriedoutinfear.ButJesusimmediatelysaidtothemTakecourageItisI.Dontbeafraid.LordifitsyouPeterrepliedtellmetocometoyouonthewater.Comehesaid.ThenPetergotdownoutoftheboatwalkedonthewaterandcametowardJesus.ButwhenhesawthewindhewasafraidandbeginningtosinkcriedoutLordsavemeImmediatelyJesusreachedouthishandandcaughthim.YouoflittlefaithhesaidwhydidyoudoubtAndwhentheyclimbedintotheboatthewinddieddown.ThenthosewhowereintheboatworshipedhimsayingTrulyyouaretheSonofGod.verses22-33.WhenthepreacherfinishedhissermonheinvitedthoseofuswhodidnotknowtheLordtocometothealtartoreceiveJesus.Wontyoucomeheasked.IgotbutterfliesinmystomachIfeltlight-headedandmyheartwasracing.AsmuchasIdidnotwanttogetupinfrontofthatwholechurchandadmitIwasnothingwithoutJesusIlikePetercriedoutLordsaveme.IalsoadmittedIwasasinnerandacknowledgedthatJesusChristgavehislifeforme.IinvitedhimintomyhearttobeLordofmylifeandinthatmomentIbecameanewcreationtheoldhadgoneandthenewhadcomeTwomonthsafterbecominganewcreationImovedtoDenverandyestheoldwasgoneandsomenewthingscame.ButnotthekindofthingsIhadimagined.IwishIcouldtellyouthatfromthemomentofmysalvationmylifewasperfectandallmyproblemsvanished.ButwhatIcantellyouisthatIexperiencedsomepainfullossesandsetbacksafterIsurrenderedmylifetotheLord.ThroughthisseasonhoweverIlearnedthreeimportantprinciplesthatIdliketosharewithyouthathelpedmegetthrough.IcallthemmyABCsofChangeAttentionBeliefsandChoices.AisforAttention.Itseasytofocusoneverythingthatisgoingwrongbuttogetthroughachallengingsituationyouhavetochangeyourfocus.WhenPeterfocusedhisattentiononthewindinsteadofonJesushebecameafraid.Philippians4instructsustorejoiceintheLordalwaysdontbeanxiousaboutanythingandthinkaboutwhateveristruenoblerightpurelovelyadmirableexcellentorpraiseworthyverses4-8.BisforBeliefs.ItshardtobelieveGodspromisesinthemidstofasetbackandyetbelievingtheTruthhelpsustoknowhowtorespondandwhattodonext.WhenthedisciplesbelievedthatJesuswasaghosttheywereterrified.WhenPeterdoubtedhesank.TheNewLivingTranslationofRomans122saysletGodtransformyouintoanewpersonbychangingthewayyouthink.ThenyouwilllearntoknowGodswillforyouwhichisgoodandpleasingandperfect.CisforChoices.Onceyoure-focusyourattentionrenewyourmindandtrustthatGodiswithyouatsomepointyouwillneedtomakeachoicetotakeaction.FaithwithoutdeedsisdeadJames226b.PeterhadenoughfaithtorespondtotheLordscommandwhenhechosetogetoutoftheboatandwalkonthewater.WhatstepscanyoutakeinfaiththatwillmoveyouthroughyourcircumstancesKeepyourattentionfocusedonJesuschangewhatyoubelieveandchoosetotakeaction.ByPeggyClarkePh.DTESTIMONYDr.PeggyMitchellClarkeisamentalhealthconsultantordainedministerandauthorofthebooksDoSomethingDifferent...ForaChangeandDoggieTalesLessonsonLifeLoveandLossILearnedFromMyDog.Shealsofacilitatestrainingonvariousmentalhealthandwellnesstopics.Learnmoreatwww.DrPegOnline.comPeggyClarkeAisforAttention.Itseasytofocusoneverythingthatisgoingwrongbuttogetthroughachallengingsituationyouhavetochangeyourfocus.WhenPeterfocusedhisattentiononthewindinsteadofonJesushebecameafraid.TheABCsofChange1.DEWAYNEWOODS-LIFELESSONS2.JASONNELSON-JESUSREVEALED3.ANDREAHELMS-CLAPYOURHANDS4.BENTANKARD-FULLTANK2.05.SPENCERTAYLORHIGHWAYQCS-THEGODFATHER6.DORINDACLARKCOLE-LIVINGIT7.CRYSTALAIKIN-ALLINEED8.WOW20159.DARRYLMCFADDEN-WEREDMD10DEE-1-3SUPEP