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<h3>Walking Where the Waves Are</h3>There’s something deeply appealing about the shoreline. The sand beneath our feet is steady and familiar, grounding us in what we know. The water is close enough to touch—full of possibility—yet far enough to avoid discomfort or risk. From the edge, we can watch the waves roll in and still believe we’re part of the moment, all while staying safe. The shoreline is a place of comfort and observation, a threshold between certainty and the unknown.But we see in *Matthew, 14:22-33, that when Jesus came walking toward the disciples on the water, He didn’t call Peter back to the safety of the beach. Instead, He invited him into the very heart of the storm—a place where fear and faith collide, and where comfort is surrendered for the possibility of experiencing the miraculous.Walking on the water was never about Peter’s strength, bravado, or confidence. It was about simple, raw obedience in the midst of uncertainty. The miracle didn’t happen because the storm ceased or the waves calmed—it happened precisely because Peter stepped out while chaos still surrounded him, trusting that Jesus’ command was greater than his circumstances.How often do we linger at the shoreline, mistaking proximity for faithfulness? We pray, we listen, we observe—but our feet remain planted in the sand. We wait for calm seas before embracing costly obedience. Yet Jesus often meets us not in the absence of the storm, but in the very center of it—where our dependence on Him is all we have.The beach allows us to stay dry, unchallenged, and in control. The water, however, requires the courage to surrender certainty and the humility to trust. One lets us hold onto our plans; the other demands we let go and depend fully on Jesus, even when the outcome is unclear.Peter began to sink when his focus shifted from Jesus to the swirling winds and towering waves—but even then, Jesus was close enough to grab his hand. The storm didn’t disqualify Peter, nor did his moment of doubt end the story. Grace met him exactly where fear threatened to overwhelm.Sometimes the greatest act of faith isn’t just believing that Jesus can calm the storm. It’s trusting Him enough to step out onto the waves while the storm still rages—knowing that His presence is our anchor, no matter how high the waters rise. * Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus Walks on the Water22) lmmediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23) And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24) but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25) And lin the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26) But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27) But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, q“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”28) And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29) He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and rwalked on the water and came to Jesus. 30) But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, s“Lord, save me.” 31} Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32) And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33) And vthose in the boat wworshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Walking Where the Waves Are

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5The imagery Jesus gives us in John 15 paints a vivid picture of quiet trust and surrender. A branch, firmly attached to the vine, is not anxious about tomorrow’s weather or frantic in pursuit of what it needs. It does not dart from place to place searching for light or water, nor does it exhaust itself with worry. It simply abides—rooted and secure, drawing every bit of life and nourishment from the vine itself.This image reminds me how much of my own restlessness comes from forgetting my true source. Too often, I find myself striving—rushing from one solution to the next, trying to control outcomes, searching for fulfillment in places that were never meant to sustain me. But the branch flourishes not because of effort or movement, but because of its unbroken connection.Jesus’ invitation to abide is an invitation to union and communion with Him. To abide is to surrender the frantic search for what only He can give. It is a posture of restful dependence—trusting that He provides both sunshine and rain, growth and fruit, in every season.In Christ, I discover the freedom to stop striving and start receiving. As I remain in Him, He is faithful to bring forth life, growth, and beauty—far beyond anything I could ever produce on my own. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Ray's Reflection on John 15:5

<h3>Walking with Jesus - Day 13</h3>"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2 ESV)Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, as written, in Hebrews 12:2, we find profound inspiriation.Distraction often creeps in subtly and silently. The moment we shift our gaze away from Jesus, it's as if the storms of life suddenly appear larger and more daunting than they truly are.Jesus persevered through the agony of the cross because His focus was unwaveringly set on the joy that awaited Him, our salvation and reconciliation with God. In moments of trial and uncertainly, we, too, can find strenght to endure difficult circumstances by keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Him.Rather than being overwhelmed by the tumultuous waves of life, we should look to the One who walks effortlessly upon them, knowing that with faith in Him, we can navigate through any storm.

Day 13: Walkng with Jesus - "Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus"

Quote of the Day

<h3>Our Daily Devotion - John 15:5</h3> Have you ever felt like you were running on empty? Days blur together, responsibilities stack up, and each task feels like another weight added to already-tired shoulders. You keep pushing forward, trying to hold everything together—but deep down, you know you’re drained, dry, and longing for more. Jesus never intended for us to live that way. He invites us into something deeper—something sustaining.In John 15:5, Jesus speaks plainly: apart from Him, we can do nothing. Not less. Not a little. Nothing.Picture a branch—lush and green—drawing its life from the vine. The moment it’s cut off, it begins to wither. Leaves curl. Fruit fades. A branch cannot produce life on its own. It must remain connected to the vine.The same is true for us. We cannot grow, thrive, or bear lasting fruit unless we remain in Christ.To abide in Jesus is to make Him your home—not a guest you visit when it’s convenient. It’s choosing daily dependence over occasional check-ins. It’s settling into a place of belonging, trusting Him in both abundance and drought, leaning on His strength whether the skies are calm or the storms are fierce.Here’s the good news: you don’t have to force growth. You don’t have to strive or manufacture fruit. Your calling is simply to stay connected. When you remain in Him, He supplies what you lack. He pours living water into dry places. He fills the empty spaces with hope. He produces fruit in you—love that overflows, joy that endures, peace that steadies anxious hearts, patience that holds firm—fruit that could never come from effort alone.So today, pause. Breathe. Let go of striving and rest in His presence. Stay close to the Vine—the true source of life, purpose, and renewal. That’s where strength is found for every season. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Our Daily Devotional - John 15:5

<h3>Tuesday Trail Wisdom</h3>Out on the trail, you learn pretty quick what matters and what doesn’t. A branch doesn’t argue with the tree about where it’s planted. It doesn’t pace back and forth looking for a better deal. If it’s connected, it lives. If it’s not, it dries up. Simple as that.Jesus said it plain in John 15: “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” That’s not condemnation—it’s clarity. Most of the trouble we get into comes from trying to ride ahead of the Vine, thinking we’ll figure it out as we go. All that does is wear us out and leave us fruitless.Staying connected isn’t flashy. It’s quiet. It’s daily. It’s choosing faithfulness over fuss and trust over hurry. You don’t make fruit happen—you stay put, and life flows where the connection holds.That’s trail wisdom worth keeping:Stay connected to Christ, and let Him lead you and handle the growth.— Lane StreetRiding for the Cross Brand

Lane Street's - Tuesday's Trail Wisdom

<h3>A Reverent Faith in a Casual Age</h3>Modern Christianity often struggles with reverence.In an effort to make faith feel accessible and relatable, we have slowly softened the mystery at its heart. The holy is made casual. Awe is exchanged for comfort. Jesus becomes our best friend, and God is reduced to Papa—familiar, friendly, and unintimidating. Worship becomes therapeutic rather than transformational.And quietly, almost imperceptibly, the fear of the Lord—the beginning of wisdom—slips from view (Proverbs 9:10).This is not a rejection of intimacy with God. Scripture itself proclaims that we are adopted as sons and daughters, able to cry out “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). Christ calls His disciples friends (John 15:15). God is not distant, indifferent, or cold. The Christian faith is deeply personal. But intimacy in Scripture is never detached from holiness.The same God who invites us to draw near is the God before whom Moses removed his sandals, for the ground was holy (Exodus 3:5). The same Lord who speaks tenderly to Isaiah also causes him to cry out, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). The disciples who reclined with Jesus at table later fell facedown in terror when they glimpsed His glory (Matthew 17:6).Familiarity without reverence does not deepen faith—it diminishes it. When reverence is lost, the Gospel is quietly reshaped. Repentance becomes optional. Obedience is reframed as legalism. Sin is minimized, and grace is cheapened. Christ is welcomed as comforter but resisted as King.Yet Scripture never separates love from lordship.Jesus is gentle and humble of heart (Matthew 11:29), but He is also the One before whom every knee will bow (Philippians 2:10). He forgives freely, yet commands, “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). He is the Lamb who was slain—and the Judge of the living and the dead (Revelation 5:12; Acts 10:42).A Gospel without reverence is a Gospel without a cross.The Church has always held that true worship is not casual encounter but sacred participation. We do not approach God as equals, but as creatures redeemed by mercy. Even in our adoption, we remain recipients of grace, not its authors. As Hebrews reminds us: “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:28–29).Reverence does not create distance—it restores right order. Awe does not contradict love—it protects it. When God is treated as a peer, worship collapses into performance. When Christ is stripped of His kingship, discipleship becomes negotiable. When holiness is treated as optional, grace loses its weight and glory.The early Christians understood this well. They gathered not casually, but with trembling joy. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, the breaking of the bread, and the prayers—and “awe came upon every soul” (Acts 2:42–43). They knew that to draw near to God was both gift and surrender.Christianity was never meant merely to soothe us. It was meant to sanctify us.The call to “fall on your knees” in O Holy Night is not sentimental poetry—it is biblical truth set to music. It echoes the great Christological hymn of Philippians: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10). The Incarnation does not lessen reverence; it demands it. God made low calls us lower still—not in shame, but in adoration.What our age needs is not a more casual God, but a renewed vision of His majesty. Not less intimacy, but deeper worship. Not a faith that fits comfortably into our lives, but one that calls us to fall to our knees.For the God who invites us to call Him Father is still the God who reigns in glory—and He is worthy of reverence. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

A Reverent Faith in a Casual Age

Here's Your Sign!

<h3>Legend of the White Hat — Episode 6 The Fence That Stayed Standing</h3>A story about boundaries, belief, and the quiet strength of staying put.&nbsp; The fence didn’t look like much.A few leaning posts. Rusted wire pulled tight by hands long gone. It wasn’t straight, and it sure wasn’t new, but it had one thing going for it—it was still standing when others weren’t.Lane Street noticed it the way a man does when he’s learned to pay attention to what lasts.The storm had come through hard. Wind howling sideways. Rain beating the land flat. New fences—fresh lumber, shiny wire, built fast and proud—were laid out on the ground like they’d never mattered.But this one?Still there.The old rancher who built it never rushed. He dug deeper than necessary, tamped the earth by hand, and didn’t move on until it felt right under his boots. Folks used to laugh at him.“Overkill,” they said.Lane figured they hadn’t lived through many storms.Boundaries have a way of getting tested—not on calm days, but when pressure builds and the wind starts pushing where it knows you’re weakest. Faith works the same way.The fence wasn’t there to impress anyone. It wasn’t there to look good from the road.It was there to hold.Lane ran his hand along the wire and thought about how many people confuse flexibility with wisdom, compromise with kindness, and silence with peace. Some fences aren’t meant to keep others out—they’re meant to keep something sacred in.The storm didn’t spare the fence. It tested it.And when morning came, it was still standing—not because it was rigid, but because it was rooted.Lane tipped his hat, turned back toward the trail, and carried the lesson with him.Some things survive because they were built right the first time.

Legend of the White Hat — Episode 6

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Ray Mileur

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If you’re looking for a speaker who connects with hearts, lifts spirits, and inspires through real stories of faith, family, leadership, and resilience, reach out to Ray Mileur—the guy in the white cowboy hat. With boots-on-the-ground faith and a life rooted in walking with Jesus, Ray brings hope, encouragement, and the steady light of God’s love to every audience he serves.

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Ray offers biblical counseling for individuals and families seeking clarity, comfort, and direction through God’s Word. In times of grief, stress, conflict, or spiritual struggle, he walks alongside others with compassionate, Scripture-grounded counsel—helping them move forward with renewed hope, faith, and trust in Christ.

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