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25
Apr

The Word: Step out in Faith

PROVERBS 16: 3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."
PROVERBS 21:30 "There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord."

Can you recall a time that you stepped out in faith, but you weren't sure where it would take you? You thought the Lord was leading, but it took faith to make the next move? Sometimes it leads from one place to another...Sometimes it seems it isn't heading anywhere at all...but always, if you have been obedient to the Lord, you can look back and see His hand in the course of your life.

Yet most of us fear taking that step of faith, don't we? We feel as if the results depend on us.

It is easy to second-guess our every move...not sure if it is God leading us, or if it is our own desires. We get scared, we pull back, and we doubt. But when we stop and consider God, it is crazy that we would hesitate at all! Think about it: If you are walking with the Lord, and trying to please Him in all you do, don't you think He can close a door for you? Wouldn't He graciously steer you away from something that you thought was the right move, but maybe really wasn't? God is able to lead you, and gently correct you even as you go, one day at a time.

We all wish we could see the end from the beginning, but that isn't God's way. He has created us to live by faith and not by sight!

So, commit your ways to the Lord. Step out in faith. You can be sure that God will direct your path.
Written with Aloha,
By Monica, of thegrommom.com

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25
Apr

Personal Story

Sometimes all it takes is a simple step of faith to make a big Kingdom impact. Sometimes you have no idea how much you're being used until much later.

This has been just the case for a group of faithful people in Rio, Brazil.

Since meeting Bryan in San Diego over ten years ago, Maria Pugliese remained involved in the WOW ministry, attending outreaches and sharing with others about Walking On Water. After telling her Pastor about WOW, he asked her to invite Bryan to Rio to do an outreach. A couple named Joao and Luiza, who formed a group called "I heart JC" were also a part of this event, and together these three became the WOW Rio Team.

It took a simple step of faith for Maria, Joao, and Luiza to invite Bryan Jennings, as well as Tom Curren, Lakey Peterson, and the Hobgood brothers to the outreach.

Derek Rabelo was in Rio at the time with one of Maria's friends, so they invited him to be a part of the outreach. Knowing that Bryan would love Derek's story, Maria asked Derek to be a special guest.

It was at that Walking on Water Outreach that God brought all of these lives together. Derek shared his story, his friendship with Bryan began, and the Beyond Sight Movie was born. Maria says "It's been a blessing to see God put all of the puzzle pieces together right in from of our eyes, and even better that we feel so honored to be a part of God's puzzle!"

The entire WOW Rio team have been encouraged as they see God's plan unfolding. What began as a simple invitation opened doors that eventually led to the Beyond Sight Film. Now, on May 9th 2014 the Beyond Sight movie will have it's Brazilian Premiere at Maria, Joao, and Luiza's home church in Rio Brazil exactly two years after they introduced Bryan to Derek Rabelo.

**Maria has been involved with kids through the Rocinha Surf School. After bringing the kids to their first outreach in 2012, they have stayed in touch with the kids doing weekly Bible studies and leading children and some of their parents into a relationship with Jesus.

Written by Monica Swanson of thegrommom.com

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27
Mar

Beyond Sight in Theaters Update

What an amazing launch of the Beyond Sight movie in theaters!!!!! On March 7th we launched the theatrical release of the Beyond Sight movie in San Clemente, California and the theater has been packed out almost every night since that date!!!! We want to thank everyone who has attended the San Clemente, Newport Beach, Charleston, Idaho Falls, and Encinitas showings so far! Thanks to you the Beyond Sight movie has been #3 in the nation for "Per Screen Average" beating out the top hollywood films. More importantly many believers have been encouraged and many non believers have received Christ at the theaters. Our special guests have included Derek Rabelo, Magno Passos his surf coach, Damien Hobgood, and many of the producers of the movie. We were on the KUSI News, 91X radio, Kprz radio, Kwave radio, and other media outlets. We need volunteers who can help promote our upcoming theater showings through social media! If you would like to host a Beyond Sight movie showing in your city all you need to do is find at least four churches, schools, organizations, or business leaders who are willing to promote and host one showing time and our team will do the rest!!! So if you are interested just email [email protected] or go here to fill out the Screening Host Form: http://beyondsightmovie.com/for-potential-hosts/. Our next showings of Beyond Sight are listed below. We hope to see you in the theater in your city soon!!!

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27
Mar

Word: Luke 16:10

LUKE 16:10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."

Our small acts of faithfulness matter to God.

2 Kings 4:1-7 tells us about a poor widow, expecting a visit from her creditors, and fearing what they would do when she could not pay them. She turned to Elisha the Prophet for advice, and he told her to take the single jar of oil that she DID have, and ask everyone she knew for empty jars to fill up using her one jar. The idea would have seemed absurd, considering she only had one jar of oil to use, yet the widow was faithful with what she had. She followed the instructions, and miraculously, every jar she had gathered was filled with oil. It was enough to sell, and pay off the creditors.

This story makes me think of our little acts of faithfulness. Sometimes we are called to do big things for God. But more often, we are called to be faithful in the little things. The daily things. The unseen things. And it may be easy to think that surely--these are not very spiritual at all. How could our little jars of oil be used in any significant way?

Yet God sees our faithfulness all the same. He doesn't measure our spirituality by how big or small our faithful deeds are.
He simply looks for a faithful heart: A heart ready and willing to obey God with whatever we DO have.

Consider your jars of oil today. Instead of looking at what you do NOT have, consider what you DO have. Then pour it out in service to the Lord and thank Him for the strength to do it.

Written by Monica, of www.thegrommom.com

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04
Mar

Word: Faith

Hebrews 11:1
NOW FAITH IS THE ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN."
V. 6

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
God's Word is clear on the subject of faith. It is all at once a gift (Eph. 2: 8-9,) and a requirement for pleasing God. Faith fills us with hope, and enables us to walk out God's will for our lives. Yet many of us still find faith a mystery. We want more, but we hesitate to take hold of it. We reach out in faith, and then pull back in fear.
Hebrews chapter 11 gives lays out some of the biblical heroes of faith. From Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, and many more, who "conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions..." (v. 33) Scripture goes on to say that all of these people, gained approval through their faith. (v. 39.)
These stories are a gift to us as we model our lives after men and women of faith found in Scripture. Their stories can inspire us to take that next step of faith in our own lives.
God also provides us with faithful people in the world today that continue to give us living examples to follow. Derek Rabelo's story is an incredible picture of how faith works. With literally no physical sight of his own, Derek's story shows us how he has overcome fear, to embrace a life of faith. What a beautiful picture for us to model after!
We can apply the principles of Derek's faith-walk to our own lives. His story can help us to overcome fear. To reach out and not pull back. And as we trust God more, and more, we will begin to discover the rewards of living a life of faith. A life that is pleasing to God.

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04
Mar

Personal Story: Derek Rabelo.

Working on the Beyond Sight Movie is a lot of responsibility! Because the aim of the film is to show people how much God can do in our lives. As I started working on the film, God opened many doors to make this possible. Through this movie I was able to meet many people and made many friends. I am often asked “how can you surf even though your blind”, really GOD guides me, I see with God's eyes and he gave me two ears that work really well! I want people who hear my story to learn that even if you are blind or disabled, we can not sit around waiting for others to do everything for us, although we need help like everyone else, we still have to fight and persist, but remembering that God is in control, and through that I hope to help motivate and inspire others through what God is doing in my life. For someone who doesn’t have much faith in their life but is starting to think a little bit about God I would want to encourage them to know that God is everything in our lives and by seeking first the kingdom of heaven, the rest will be added.

As for what is to come in my life, I will keep surfing, surf other peaks, work, study, and God will surely provide the necessities. Through this experience and through life’s ups and downs I have mainly learned that everything has its timing and that is God’s timing, but during the film it was rare to have low moments, it's good to show people how wonderful God is and how even in the difficult times for example in Kelptyn’s situation, parents will absorb something good from it and God will use them in mighty ways.

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13
Feb

BEYOND SIGHT MOVIE FINISHED AND WORLD TOUR BEGINS MARCH 7TH, 2014.

Friends, We are very excited to announce that after a year and a half of very hard work the Beyond Sight movie is finished and the World Tour will begin March 7th in San Clemente, California! Derek Rabelo, his father Ernesto, coach Magno Passos, and many of the S4J Hawaii and Walking On Water Films Producers will be special guests at the many screenings in Southern California March 7th - 20th. Our hope is to tour the Beyond Sight movie in many cities in the United States, the U.K., Australia, and other English speaking nations in 2014. Then in 2015 the world tour will continue to other nations when the subtitles and/or voice overs are finished in other languages. This movie would not have been possible without the generous financial support of over 400 people around the world and we want to thank each one of you! It will be very rewarding to see each of you at a Beyond Sight movie screening in your city and country over the next year or two! As you can see by our screening dates the Beyond Sight movie will be in certain theaters for an entire week competing against Hollywood blockbuster films. Please help us promote the many movie screenings we have planned already! Seats are limited! You can find screening times and buy tickets here: www.beyondsightmovie.com If you would like to help promote and/or host a Beyond Sight movie screening please email [email protected] If you would like to make a donation to help fund the World Tour of the Beyond Sight movie you can do so here: http://walkingonwater.com/donate/ Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers for the Beyond Sight movie!!! Bryan Jennings Producer & Co-Director www.beyondsightmovie.com

http://beyondsightmovie.com/tour-dates/

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20
Jan

The Word: Isaiah 52:7

ISAIAH 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

The beginning of a new year is a great time to consider what each of us might be called to do to share the good news of Jesus in our world. We are not all called to the same mission field, but we are all called to be missionaries. We are called to "proclaim peace," to "bring good tidings," and to "proclaim salvation." And indeed, these are all beautiful things!

Most of us are busier than ever. It is easy to put off involvement in mission work. Excuses come easily. But as followers of Christ, we really don't have an excuse; Jesus didn't leave His disciples with the charge to be busier, or to be more involved in activities, but to "make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:16-20)

Some of us are called to foreign missions. Some to church ministry. Every one of us can reach out to friends, family, and those we cross paths with every day. Many of us can be used to financially support those doing full-time missions. Thank God for the diversity in our giftings and passions! Our callings may change in different seasons, but one thing is certain: We are all called.

One good idea is to gather your family together and talk about how God might best use you in the year ahead. Then make a plan, and hold each other accountable. Whether you make a plan to do ministry together, to pray for specific families or people groups, or save up to give as a family, the actions you take will have eternal value.

With Aloha,
Monica--of thegrommom.com

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20
Jan

Walking On Water Mission Trip to El Zonte, El Salvador

The Walking On Water/AMG International mission team has returned safely and with much excitement and encouragement at the work being done abroad. Our team consisted of 21 Southern California natives sent out on a mission to spread the powerful love of Jesus Christ to the people of El Zonte, El Salvador.

Each day would generally consist of rising early for the magnificent sunrise over the ocean, which El Zonte borders. A surf session, breakfast, individual devotional time, and then we were off across the river for an exhausting few hours of Vacation Bible School. There was an average of 50-60 kids each day at the Vacation Bible School. This year’s theme was finding strength in the Lord and allowing Him to help us overcome our fears. After the Vacation Bible School our team would eat lunch, and then some would surf with the locals until sunset or sunburn kicked in, while others would play games on the beach with the non-surfing locals. Three Walking On Water Surf Campers came on the trip and were used by the Lord in incredible ways to build relationships with the local youth surfers. The boys fixed tattered surfboards and handed out clothes they had brought; they were truly lights of Christ’s love. The day would close with dinner at a local restaurant, team devotional, and much needed sleep.

A huge thank you to all of our prayer warriors, and to the companies who helped sponsor our Christian Surfers/Walking On Water Surf Contest: Z-Flex Skateboards, Cobian Sandals, RUE, Billabong, and On A Mission. A specific thank you to Beautiful Feet and Cobian Sandals for providing 200 sandals, which were handed out to local women as our team members gave pedicures.

Finally, the biggest shout out to Amy Giffin, our dear friend, team member and sister in Christ who has Cerebral Palsy, but who also surfed for the first time while in El Zonte!

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02
Jan

Australia Beyond Sight Movie Promo Trip Update

As our team was busy finishing the final edit of the Beyond Sight movie and planning the US theater release we received an invitation from Australia that we could not pass up. On November 14th Derek Rabelo along with Bryan Jennings and his family traveled to Sydney to be the special guests at the Stand Tall event and at the C3 Church services. The Stand Tall event had over 1,200 enthusiastic students and it was the first of what turned out to be twenty guest speaking opportunities at schools and churches. During their very productive time in Australia they hosted a pre screening of Beyond Sight to leaders in Sydney, shared Derek's story with over 5,000 people, saw over 120 people make first time decisions to follow Jesus Christ, and developed a very special core leadership team who will be planning the Australia premiere and tour of the Beyond Sight movie in 2014. We can't thank everyone enough for their support in Australia! For more information on the Australia tour in 2014 please email [email protected]. The World Premiere of Beyond Sight will be in Newport Beach, California in February or March of 2014 (Date to be announced soon). This premiere will launch the world tour of the movie to Australia, Hawaii, and other locations.

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