I'm cold-natured. Typically, from October to March or April, it's t-shirt, shirt, sweatshirt, and jacket season, even though we have a perfectly good furnace. (Granted, we try to save a few bucks by keeping the house cooler. And nobody else seems to freeze or we would bump it up a little.)

I realized though, when I broke down and raised the thermostat a couple of degrees today, that I do the very same thing in my spiritual life. I plod along, depending on my own efforts, even though I have all the resources of heaven available to me.

Things get tough- that's okay. I'll just grab another jacket. I'll get by.

That's not what God wants for us. Jesus said He came that we would have life, and not just any ordinary life. Abundant life. Bursting at the seams life. (John 10:10)

No thanks. 68 degrees is good enough.

Why would I impose artificial limits on God? Who knows. Maybe I don't think I'm worthy. I have to remember Jesus makes me worthy. It's an insult to His sacrifice if I refuse to live in the grace He paid for.

We Wisemans had an adventure this weekend. A friend of mine mentioned early in the summer that she planned to ride her bike to a neighboring town for their Community Days, and she asked if I'd like to try it. I agreed, and soon my teenager expressed interest in going. So did my husband, and that meant my son was in, too. So Saturday morning, we packed the 4-year-old in the seat on my bike, packed the supplies on Jon's bike, and off we went.

We logged three and a half hours of riding, 24.1 miles total. (Of course, there was a pancake breakfast, a parade, and some pulled pork in the middle of that ride.) God blessed us with a 15 degree break in the afternoon temperatures, and a good time. I teased my friend that it was hard riding with her, because she never huffed, never seemed to be pedaling hard, never even sweated. She was patient and easy-going, a perfect 'trail boss' for us newbies.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 NLT

I'm so thankful that God gives us friends who love us, listen to us, but also challenge us. My friends constantly challenge me to step out into new territory. They stand by and encourage me when I'm ready to quit. They remind of the things I tend to forget when I'm frustrated. They don't think less of me in those moments when I'm falling well short of Christ's example.

Jesus calls us friends in John 15:13-15, and He certainly challenges me, stands by me, encourages me, reminds me when I forget, and loves me even in failure. But to help me grasp the reality of that, He brought people into my life who would model all these things. And He allows me the privilege of a relationship with them in which we can help each other out.

We need mentors who walk before us, and we should always have disciples following our footsteps, but what a great gift to have friends to walk beside us. I love all of you.

If I will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? John 21:22

After Peter received a prophecy from Christ about where his path of following Christ would take him. Jesus plainly told Peter martyrdom awaited him. Out of curiosity, Peter asked about his buddy, John. What's gonna happen to him? Jesus answers the question with a question- what is that to you? Then Jesus says, "You follow me."

It's easy to look around at other believers and measure our life, our effectiveness against what we see. However, that's the wrong scale. Our call is individual and our purpose is ordained by God and uniquely suited to us. No matter what's going on around us, we need to stick to our mission.

So when others have great ministry success, receive recognition, have tremendous fruit to show for their efforts… Don't give in to discouragement. Keep focused on Jesus.

When others fail spectacularly, and bring reproach on the name of Christ… Don't be distracted. Keep focused on Jesus.

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Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? John 21:15

This question, repeated 3 times, marks a critical moment in Peter's relationship with Jesus. Ashamed at his denial, tentative about taking on the ministry Jesus had for him, afraid of failing again, the last thing Peter wanted to do was answer this question in front of the other guys.

There are volumes of commentary on this exchange. Most agree that Peter's 3 denials warranted 3 public affirmations. There are several good insights as to what the "these" are that Christ refers to each time. However, without hearing the inflection in His voice or seeing His body language, we can't know for certain.

Context gives us a couple of possibilities, though.

Do you love Me more than the comfort of your routine?
Simon Peter had just spent the night fishing. Jesus instructed the disciples to go ahead to Galilee and He'd meet them there. With no sign of Jesus and not sure what to do next, Peter and the others fell back to what was safe and familiar.
Do I love Jesus enough to follow Him into situations that are stressful, or nerve-wracking? Am I willing to walk away from my perceived comfort zone?

Do You love Me more than these guys?
Peter had said, in no uncertain terms, that even if everyone else abandoned Jesus, he never would. Well, he did. Jesus allowed Peter to humiliate himself in front of his most intimate friends.
Do I love Jesus enough to respond in humility when He puts me through a fire or two? Even if my close friends see me fall?

Do you love Me?
Jesus always had a job for Peter, a ministry, a calling, a purpose. Peter's failure never forfeited that. In this moment, in this simple question, Jesus assured Peter, "I still want you. I still have a place for you. But I won't lie. It will be hard. It will stretch you beyond what you think you are capable of. Are you in?"

Lord, You know I love You.