The disciples were frightened, but Jesus was asleep and the storm did not disturb Him.  As it grew worse and worse and the disciples became more than ever afraid, they went back to where Jesus lay and wakened Him, crying out, “Master, dost Thou not care that we perish?”

When they said this, Jesus arose and spoke to the winds and the sea, saying, “Peace, be still!” Then at once the wind went down and the sea became calm, and the hearts of the men were filled with wonder and still greater faith and awe, while they said to one another, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” They had not yet learned that Jesus had power over all things whenever He chose to exercise it.

At another time when the disciples had crossed the Sea of Galilee, expecting that Jesus would join them upon the other side, a storm came up, suddenly as before, and the waters were quickly piled up in great waves; for the lake was narrow and deep, and the storms usually burst in full fury with little warning, doing much harm before there was a chance to escape.  At this time the disciples had hard work to row the boat against the wind, and it was tossed about here and there by the waves in the middle of the sea until, toward morning, Jesus went out toward it, walking upon the water.

When the disciples saw Him coming they thought it was a spirit and were frightened:  but He spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer; it is I, be not afraid.”

[Illustration:  Jesus walking upon the waters.]

Then Peter said:  “Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water.”

Jesus said, “Come,” and Peter stepped out upon the water and started toward the Master; but his faith was not strong enough, and as he began to sink he cried, “Lord, save me!”

Jesus stretched out His hand and held him up.  “O thou of little faith,” He said, “wherefore didst thou doubt?”

When Jesus came into the boat the storm ceased, and soon they reached the shore.  Then the disciples worshiped Him and said, “Of a truth Thou art the Son of God.”

RUTH AND NAOMI.

The story of Ruth and Naomi is one of the sweetest and most touching of all the Bible stories.  It shows the beauty of unselfish devotion and constant love, and the happiness which they brought, and teaches a lesson which is very helpful to us all.

A long time ago, in the days of the judges of Israel, there was a famine in the land of Canaan, and a man named Elimelech, whose home was in Bethlehem, went with his wife Naomi and his two sons to live in Moab.

After they had been there a while Naomi’s husband died, leaving her with the two sons.  Then, by and by, the sons married, and their wives were very good to Naomi, and loved her.  But it was only ten years before both of the sons died, and Naomi thought it was best for her to go back to her old home in Canaan; for she had been told that there was plenty in the land once more, and she wanted to see her own people and the relatives of her husband who was dead.  So Naomi told her daughters-in-law to return to their own homes, because she could not expect them to be willing to leave everything for her sake.