Messages

The Word: John 16:33b

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

God promised us in His Word that we would suffer, be persecuted, go through trials, face spiritual battles, and have other difficult life experiences.  So, why are we surprised when they happen?  The good news is that God also promises that IF we allow ourselves to be pruned and trained by the storm,  we will later enjoy the fruit of the purposeful pain.  Battles and Blessings ... Battles and Blessings... Battles and Blessings!  Jesus said:  “In this life you will have trouble” but don’t forget that He also said “Take heart!  I have overcome the world!”   So go into 2019 and the rest of your life expecting storms, but knowing you walk with the ONE who calms the storms and Walks On The Water!

Written by Bryan Jennings · @Bryanjennings7

The Word : Proverbs 22:29

"Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank."  -Proverbs 22:29

Creatives like Daniel Mansson are such an inspiration with their passion for using their gifts and talents to serve and glorify God. This reminds me of when Moses assembled the whole Israelite community to construct the Tabernacle of the Lord. (Read Exodus 35, it's really exciting!) He called on people with all different kinds of talents, gifts, and abilities to do whatever they did best to be a part of the project! He called on people to offer what they had (gold, bronze, oil, goat hair!) and to do what they could do (cut stones, make art, spin the goat hair!) to work together building the Tabernacle of the Lord. What a picture of God's people, using their gifts and talents, wisdom and even material possessions as a community to magnify the Lord.

May we all be inspired to consider in the year ahead what we have been individually gifted with, and how we might offer the Lord what we have to build His Kingdom. There is no greater honor!

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

The Word : Romans 10:17

There is nothing more encouraging than hearing testimonies of how people have come to faith in Jesus. The transforming power of the Lord is amazing, and no two stories are just alike. However, there is one theme common to every great testimony: Someone had to share the message! Whether the gospel is shared from one friend, neighbor, or co-worker to another, or someone invites their friends to church, or a movie showing where the gospel is presented, God invites us to share His love with others.

This is all rather mind-blowing, really, as God could do everything without involving us at all. In fact, the very act of using us broken, mixed up people to do His work could be seen as quite inefficient. Yet that is how God rolls! He loves us enough to include us in His work. He invites us to team up with Him to accomplish His purposes. What a good God!
I encourage you to consider the people in your lives who do not yet know the Lord, and ask yourself what their testimony might one day be. Then ask God if He would like YOU to be a part of it. It may be as simple as inviting them to church, an event, or a movie showing. It might be as honest and vulnerable as sharing your own testimony. Pray for them, and be prepared to be a small part in a very beautiful story of eternal significance.

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

The Word : Colossians 3:12

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." -Colossians 3:12

Ryleigh's closing words in this month's Personal Story were incredibly special: "Through Walking on Water I have learned to always have a kind heart because you never know whose life it will change." Her words remind us of the power of kindness in our every day interactions.

How often do I pass up opportunities to be kind? And why is it so hard to be kind sometimes? Shouldn't kindness just come natural to us as Christians?
I suppose there is a reason the Apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” He knows these qualities do not come naturally. Just like we must clothe ourselves physically each day, there is effort involved. (Have clothes ever put themselves on you?) In the same way, we must choose to "put on" Godly character qualities. There is a team work between us and the Holy Spirit! We choose to obediently clothe ourselves with God's character, and the Holy Spirit makes us able.

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

Letter from the Director

As our daughter Ella and I were flying west bound back home from Texas we ended up with a two hour long gorgeous sunset. The closer to the sun we got the more beautiful the sky lit up! People recently have been asking me how we were able to accomplish so much over the past 23 years of the Walking On Water evangelistic surfing ministry and my simple answer has been that we did one thing right, we stayed close to the Son and kept going towards the Son -- especially in the darkest moments! Jesus always gave us the next assignment and we would by faith go towards it. I am more excited today than ever before because I believe God has given me his heart to share the Gospel with this generation and He has given us very clear next steps and assignments to accomplish what only He can do! These next steps include launching a mobile entertainment strategy reaching this generation on their phones, Damien Hobgood and Hunter Lysaught producing a new core surf documentary, Roger Thompson and myself writing a script for the first Walking On Water major motion picture, and continuing to do what we have always done (Surf Camps, Movies Outreaches, and Mission Trips) but doing it all better. As we move forward we are committed to doing things with excellence, to having our staff and volunteers working in the areas of their gifted strengths, to plan well, to work hard, and to remember in prayer that the battle and the glory both belong to the Lord! Please prayerfully consider partnering with us in this next season as a volunteer, financial supporter, and/or prayer partner! Our end of 2018 fundraising goal is $500,000 and God has already provided $129,000 towards it! See you on the front lines as we share the good news of Jesus Christ’s love with this generation who needs it more than ever!

From Bryan Jennings • Founder & Director of Walking on Water

The Word : John 5:17

“My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working." - John 15:17

Summers packed with surf camps and mission trips can be an exhilarating, and exhausting time. Pouring out God's love to others and seeing young people put their faith in Jesus for the first time is about the most rewarding experience you can have. Yet if we were doing it in our own strength, we would wear out physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Thankfully, ministry is not meant to be done in our own strength or from our own power. Jesus even claimed that he only did the work that he saw his father doing!

In John 5:19-20, Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed."

When we are trying to work or serve or love the people in our life in our own strength, we will wear out. But we need to remember John 15:5, when Jesus says: "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." We were not meant to do it on our own! We are meant to stay connected to the vine, and to depend on Him! If you are feeling weak or worn out now, turn your eyes to the Father. Learn from Him. Abide in Him. Find rest in Him. And be amazed at what He can do in and through you.

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

The Word : 1 Peter 5:2

Photo by DeMasi Photography

Bryan Jennings' "coaching and parenting" interview reminds us of the common elements between coaching and parenting, especially as our relationship with our kids transitions from ‘telling’ younger children, to ‘coaching’ older ones. In coaching and in parenting we have a great opportunity, and responsibility, to shepherd those God has put under our care. In fact, anytime we find ourselves in authority over another person - in work, sports, or family, we should look at it as an opportunity to serve, as a calling from the Lord.

The truth is, sometimes it's easier to teach or coach someone we hardly know than it is to patiently parent our own children. Parenting requires sacrifice and endurance, and a lot of it. We can easily take for granted the privilege it is to bring up our children -- teaching them, training them, and leading them the way a shepherd would lead his flock.

Let's remember that our kids are God's gift to us, and our role as parents is a true calling. Next time you are overseeing someone -- from an employee at work, to a student, athlete, or your own child, consider your role as shepherd. When you see what you do as a calling and a way to please the Lord, it changes everything.

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

The Word : Isaiah 9:2

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great a light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." - Isaiah 9:2

Chris Probasco recalls Isaiah 9:2 as a theme verse for his call to mission work. When he was a young Christian and became aware that there were people in the world who had never heard the gospel -- people literally "walking in darkness" who needed to "see a great light", Chris' response was to ask God: "Where do you want to send me?"

Stories like these challenge and humble me. Those of us who have known the Lord for some time tend to take our faith for granted. We might push those dark places of the world into the recesses of our mind. We avoid questions about being sent (or about being uncomfortable in any way.)

God answered Chris by leading he and his wife to the Basque region of Spain -- a spiritually dark place. The Probascos were given the opportunity to shine God's light into that darkness... an adventure they will never regret.

I have to wonder what the world would look like if more Christians were moved by the fact that there are still people walking in darkness. What if more of us asked God: "Where do you want to send me?" And, what if we, too, were willing to go into the dark places...in our neighborhoods or workplaces...across town, or across the globe? We are often afraid to ask God these questions, but we need to remember: There is no safer place to be than in the center of God's will. His call is always higher, better, and more fulfilling. So, let's be brave and ask where He might want to send us. Then let's be willing and eager to take his bright light into the dark places. Let's live the adventure we were created for. One with no regrets.

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

The Word : Philippians 3:10

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of suffering..." - Philippians 3.10

Paul, who penned much of the New Testament, knew what it meant to suffer. He wrote many of his letters in times of suffering, persecution, and even from prison. Paul wrote truths that we would often rather forget: That trials and suffering are a part of life as followers of Jesus. Yet he also shared that suffering can provide us with some of the richest fellowship with Christ we will ever know.

We would all like to live a pain free life. No one goes out looking for trials or suffering. Yet none of us will be spared from these realities either. The good news is, for those of us who have a relationship with Jesus, we can see these things as a way to know Him more, to experience His presence, and to fellowship more deeply with Him.

Easter is a wonderful time to reflect on Jesus' resurrection and the gift of eternal life. Yet, let us remember that there would be no resurrection if Jesus didn't first suffer and die. And even more, he suffered and died for our sins. As we embrace all of the good this Easter, let us take time to also meditate on Jesus' sufferings. Then let us see our own trials as a means to know Jesus more intimately, both the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering.

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com

The Word : Matthew 10:39

“What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul?”

Your LOSS or your GAIN?

Jesus' teaching flips our worldview upside down. People are constantly trying to find fulfillment through success at work, sports, school, and relationships. Yet Jesus says to find our lives, we must lose them. (Matt 10:39)

Jesus was born into this world with a mission to go and lose! Or at least that is what it would look like to people if they only looked through human eyes. They would see a man claiming to be the Messiah -- God in the flesh, but who was humiliated and defeated -- killed on a cross. However that is not actually what happened! What was really happening was Jesus understood that it is more blessed to give than to receive, to lose so others can win, to die so that we could have eternal life. He was on a mission to serve and not to be served, and to die rather than to cling to life for himself.

So if our King and our Messiah was on such a mission-- shouldn’t we live the same way? Giving can seem like losing, especially when someone does not reciprocate. Jesus said not to throw a party for “your friends, your brothers, or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.” (Luke 14:12) That word repaid is huge here! Jesus encourages us to give without any expectation of being “repaid.” That might feel a lot like losing. However Jesus reminds us that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that a life of truly giving is the most fulfilling life of all.

Satan, our enemy has spoken the lie from the beginning, that if you live life God’s way you will lose. And there is nothing further from the truth! What seems to be a loss will actually be a gain! On the contrary Proverbs 16:25 says "there is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads to death!" Jesus' upside down theology is the greatest news of all time.

Written by Monica Swanson • monicaswanson.com