It's a Seascape kind of morning

“Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea.”  Mark 3:7

The beach is my go-to place.  Even when I can’t literally flee to the sea, I go.  I go to the place where Jesus and I can sit and soak up the wind and waves, the sand and salty breeze, and everything else I love about the sea.  It’s the place, even if only in my heart at times, where we talk and enjoy each other; I listen and reflect, overwhelmed and grateful that He has time for me.  The blessing of a moment of rest, even if it’s just mental.  Without it I’d be mental! 

This is one of those mornings.  But Jesus drew me this time, before I had a chance to even think about my go-to place.  He had it in mind.  He knew what I needed.  He knows what it means to me.  So when I opened my Bible to this morning’s devotion, I knew He was calling me away and I needed to follow. 

He.calms.the.waves.  He can calm my anxious heart.  I can trust Him to accomplish through me what I do not feel I can accomplish on my own.

We begin Vacation Bible School this evening.  We’re packing and prepping for the move to the farm.  I have dentist and doctor appointments to get Jordan to in the next two days.  When we come back on duty at the ranch we’ll be on for two weeks.  Our oldest son and his family come in this evening from Indiana;  Christina and the kids get to visit with us while he has business in Atlanta.  And we wait…we wait for the word from our youngest son that the kidney transplant for grandson Ephraim has finally been scheduled, and we will drop everything and travel down to Atlanta to be with them for the surgeries. 

 

Lord, I am wading out today with you by my side.  I am lifting my face to you and basking in the warmth of your love.  I am trying to grasp your greatness and goodness and praise You.  I feel like a grain of sand on the shoreline this morning, small, a little gritty, yet held in Your Hand and part of Your infinite plan.  It’s a beautiful feeling, knowing You are holding me, helping me.  Thank you for meeting me here today. 

 

 

Love My Outer Banks!

We’ve just come off of a week at the Outer Banks and I’m still riding the wave, so to speak. Glorious weather, a chance to relax and just enjoy the moments; sitting in the warm October sun, walking on the beach, watching sunset over the sound, flying kites, looking for seashells, visiting our old friends the lighthouses, checking out some of the shops and savoring some of the dishes at the local dives. These are just a few of the things that make this one of my favorite places to be. There’s something about being able to switch to island time, move at a slower pace, and take time to absorb my surroundings.

But there’s more. There are times I am sitting on the beach watching the waves pound the shore, and the majesty and might of God nearly overwhelm me. In my devotional time I read from Psalm 93.


The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. (KJV)


Now, read it again. Close your eyes. Can you hear the ocean roar in the distance? Can you feel the breeze against your face? Can you hear the gulls calling out over the waves? Listen. The Lord on high is mightier than the mighty waves of the sea.

At first I smiled that the Lord would have this passage in my Bible reading the week I’m at the beach. He’s so good that way! Then I just sat and soaked in the amazing truth of it. I knew He had directed this to me at this time for a reason and I wanted to have it blazed on my brain for the coming days and weeks when I’d be back to the real world. You know, that world of routine and demand and schedules and tasks to accomplish and work to be done. But He’s the God that reigns in that world too, and it’s just as beautiful although in a different way because He is the God of it. It’s all ordered by Him and I can trust Him with it. That may sound somewhat fatalistic or even casual to some but it really is that simple. I’m not saying it’s always easy to do, but simple just the same.

Now, I’m back to the banks…if only in my mind. “The Lord reigns…the Lord is mightier than the noise of many waters, yes, than the mighty waves of the sea.”