Sunday by the Sea: A Whale's Tale

Not that long ago I saw a whale.

And no, I wasn't out on the ocean.

I was actually by the Klamath River in Northern California. Now, I don't know much about how the whale is doing, how she got to be there, and what's going to happen to her. I can tell you that she's a gray whale, and that her calf has already gone back out to sea. Hopefully sometime soon she (the mother) will be able to return to the sea, as well. But to have the experience of seeing a whale in a river - well, I just had to share it with you!

Nope, that's not just a big fish! That's a whale in the Klamath River!

Here's a closer look at the whale as she's swimming below the bridge.

My mom, sister, and I (not pictured) joined the crowd on the bridge and watched the whale swim around the river. Every time she crossed under the bridge, the crowd would cross to the other side of the bridge, too. Not exactly the safest thing to do on a highway... But it was a rather uncommon sight, for sure!

(I also took a video with my camera, but unfortunately it was taking forever to load for this post, so I gave up. It wasn't the best quality, but you could see the whale spouting a couple of times, which was cool!)

Of all the places to go whale watching, we saw one in a river! Such a grand creature... And just a small glimpse of all God has created. As the Lord asked Job:

"Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?....

Who hath divided a water-course for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; to cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; to satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?....

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?"

~ Job 38:16, 25-27, 36

Want to learn more about the whale? Here are a couple of news articles about her:

• The Huffington Post
• Times-Standard
  

Sunday Among the Lupines

Last week my mom and I went off on the great lupine hunt, which has now become an annual summer tradition. There is a place about an hour from where we live where beautiful patches of lupines carpet the hillsides in the summer. I guess this year and last year my mom and I were a bit eager, because we went in May and the lupines weren't quite as numerous as we had hoped!

However, we were still able to find some of these beautiful flowers, and one of the pictures my mom took has become this season's main picture here on my blog. (Summer has come a little early to "Seasons of Humility," I suppose! But this is a wonderful season to enjoy, and since Camp Humility starts tomorrow, it seems like this is a good time to welcome summer!)

In the Seasons of Humility, summer represents a time in one's life when one is humbly following God and trusting in His guidance and purpose, through His grace. It is a season full of hope and joy. I want this literal summer's blog design to remind us of this "season of humility."

One book I have had for a while is called A Handful of Flowers by Cookie Lee. This book discusses the various meanings of flowers and is full of lovely pictures and poetry/quotes. The symbolic meaning of the lupine flower is "imagination," and it is listed under the category "Ambition & Success." How very fitting for summer!

What I mean is that "imagination" is fitting both for the literal and symbolic summer. In the literal summer, all the colors of creation, all the vacation time in the sunshine, and all the reading (and writing, etc.) time is an open invitation to use our imaginations and to celebrate creativity--both God's creativity, as well as the creativity He has given us!

And in the symbolic summer of humility, when we are humbly walking with God there is so much "scope for the imagination," as Anne of Green Gables might say. ;) Ponder these words of Scripture:

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." ~ Psalm 139:14

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." ~ Ephesians 3:20-21

God's creativity and purposes are beyond what we can ever imagine! Note Ecclesiastes 8:17--

"Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it."

I found this quote on Goodreads from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery that sums it up so well:

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

May this season's blog design encourage you to use your imagination for God's glory and to praise Him for this mysterious, amazing life He has given us! In Jesus we can have hope for an eternal life with God that is beyond all imagination!

Sunday in the Sky

Lately I feel that I've been very self-absorbed. This next week is finals week for me, and I've had a lot on my mind. But there are so many people who are suffering deeply right now, especially with the tornadoes that left so much destruction behind in the South. I think what I need today--and every day--is time spent alone with God, in reflection and prayer for others, as well as a right heart attitude for myself.

Today let us turn our gazes upward. I read a very special devotional this morning that I wish to share with you. May it remind us to have a proper perspective today and in the days to come:

(Picture taken in Arlington National Cemetery last summer; click to enlarge.)

The Face of God

"During the Battle of Britain hundreds of Americans went to Canada to enlist with the Royal Candian Air Force (RCAF) and to join the fight against Nazi Germany. Eighteen year-old John Magee was one of these daring young men. After training he was sent to England where he joined No. 412 Fighter Squadron, RCAF. Flying his Spitfire in fighter sweeps over France and England he achieved the rank of pilot officer.

One day while flying at the extremely high altitude of 30,000 feet, he was struck with inspiration for a poem. On the ground he finished his poem and put it on the back of a letter to his parents. The words of the young airman continue to paint a vivid picture:

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew--
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Unfortunately John Magee was killed three months after writing this poem. His majestic words have been quoted often, most notably by Ronald Regan, eulogizing the Challenger 7 crew after their tragic loss in 1986: 'They waved goodbye and slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God.'

To say that you have 'touched the face of God' may sound presumptuous. However, I believe that we all desire to come closer to God, and that there are moments when we feel his presence. The beauty of a sunset, a storm, many natural vistas, all evoke thoughts of God and his majesty. In quiet moments of prayer we often sense his presence and tender mercy. These moments are real and open to us daily as a sure way for each to 'touch the face of God.'

'The heavens declare the glory of God;
The skies proclaim the work of his hands.' ~Psalm 19:1"

~ Larkin Spivey, from the devotional book Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II ~

*Note from Amber: I was deeply touched when I saw a quote from this poem on a grave marker in Arlington National Cemetery (pictured above). And I was so blessed to find a reference to it today in my devotional reading! May you be blessed by these words, as well.

Also, I received a copy of Battlefields & Blessings from the author for review, and while I'm not very far into it, I might do a partial review soon. It's a powerful book!*

Sunday by the Sea: Robin Jones Gunn

"And he [Jesus] saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"
~ Matthew 8:26-27

Back in February I had the pleasure of meeting author Robin Jones Gunn at the Woman to Woman Conference hosted at my school (Corban University). I began a post series on what I learned at the conference, but I never finished it. However, I simply had to come back to it and at least share a few words of encouragement from Robin, as well as the picture (above) of me and her! It was super exciting getting to meet her, and she's very sweet!

Anyway, the title of the conference was What if God has dreams for your life? Robin talked to us about her own dreams and how God has worked in her life. (Her first talk of the two made me cry!) One verse she mentioned a couple of times was Ephesians 3:20 (The Message)--

"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."

God is all powerful! He is in control of all the seas, of all creation, of all period! And yet how often do we put limits on what we think He can do in our lives?

Here are a few inspiring quotes from Robin:

• "Shame off you!" (Robin noted that she and her sister used to say this to each other instead of "Shame on you" in order to remind each other of God's grace.)

• "When God fulfills our dreams, it's not how we think it's going to be." (We've heard it said that God works in mysterious ways. Well, I think that's true in that we often don't understand how He's working in our lives until we can look back after the fact, and even then we don't have the complete big picture that He does. Robin noted that God plants the dreams in our hearts, but the way He fulfills them is often quite different from our expectations.)

• "You are a victim of grace, honey." (With all the trials of life, sometimes we look at ourselves as victims. But I love Robin's reminder that the only thing we are victims of is God's grace, which is far, far beyond what we could ever deserve!)

I loved getting to meet Robin, and as I've not yet read one of her books, I'm looking forward to diving into the one I bought (and had autographed!) at the conference called Under a Maui Moon--hopefully soon!

Have you had the opportunity to meet any authors? Have you read any books by Robin?

I'd love to hear your stories! And as you begin this week, please remember that the God we serve is omnipotent--all-powerful--and He has a dream/purpose for your life!

Sunday by the Sea

"Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?.... Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?"
~ Job 38:8, 16

I finished two very sweet books in the past couple of days (A Path Less Traveled by Cathy Bryant and Give the Lady a Ride by Linda Yezak), and I was blessed by a wonderful truth reaffirmed in both of these books: God is trustworthy. Both of these books shared these verses:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
~ Proverbs 3:5-6

I confess that I've seen these verses often, and because of that I don't think I always pay as much attention to them as I should when I read them or hear them. But the truth is that it doesn't matter how "familiar" God's word becomes to us--we still have much we need to learn from it.

Thinking more about these verses, I've been reminded of the words: "in all thy ways acknowledge him." Lately the focus for me has been on my writing. I know I need to trust in His guidance and His will for my story that I recently finished writing (the first draft, anyway!) and any possible future stories He may want me to write. Of course, this is a constant struggle, and I need God's help to remain humble--open to help and open to His direction.

But it's not just in my writing that I need to learn to trust God. I need to trust Him with school, with my friends and family, with my hopes, etc.

My dear friend Casey at Writing for Christ had a post series on her blog this past week about purity and trusting God's timing and will for those of us who have yet to meet that "special someone."

Last night as others at my school were out at different social events and I stayed in my dorm room, I felt overwhelmed with confusion and longing. As much as I want to be happy for others, it sometimes hurts to be single. I wonder if I'm undesirable. I wonder if I'll always be single. I wonder why I even let it bother me so much.

But I need to trust God in all my ways. How the Lord can be so merciful and patient with me is amazing! One moment I can feel so at peace about my life, and the next I can be consumed with self-pity.

Yet God doesn't change. The God who showed Job who was in control of all things (including the vast and deep sea) is the same God who is walking beside me each day. He is sovereign and completely trustworthy, and I can always rest in His faithfulness, knowing that He can see far beyond my limited vision.

He is trustworthy.

(Picture is from PDPhoto.org. Also note that my review of A Path Less Traveled will be posted here on Tuesday, and my review of Give the Lady a Ride will be posted on The Borrowed Book on Monday.)

Sunday by the Sea

Let's spend a Sunday by the sea and in the Psalms:

The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
~ Psalm 93:3-4

Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
~ Psalm 89:9

May you have a blessed Sunday filled with the peace of the Lord who is mightier than the waves of the sea!

(With thanks to my dear friend, Amanda, for suggesting Psalm 89:9 for a Sunday by the Sea post!)

Sunday by the Sea

"O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life." ~ Psalm 42:6-8

We often speak of the waves of God's love and grace, of the goodness and mercy that wash over us. But it is likely that we, as believers, have also felt waves of uncertainty crash over us, as well. Consider what the author of Ecclesiastes ponders:

• "There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 8:14)

We want to know why disasters happen. We want to know why one person seems to suffer so much more than someone else. We want to know why God causes us pain.

I am reminded of the viking Stoick in the movie How to Train Your Dragon. He wanted so desperately to find the dragons' nest--the place where all the dragons returned to with their food (the vikings' sheep, the fish, etc.). In his quest to find the dragons' nest, he lost many of the village's ships (and most likely many human lives, as well). He always got lost and turned around, and his missions failed. But still, he fixated on the goal of finding that nest.

Stoick didn't understand the dragons. He didn't know what he was getting into by trying to find the nest.

But his son, Hiccup, realized that the dragons are far different than what they had seemed. In fact, some of them made wonderful friends. And he eventually discovered the nest because only a dragon could find it.

When his son inadvertently shared this information, Stoick forced Hiccup's dragon to lead him to the nest--an island with a dragon larger and more dangerous than they could ever have imagined (the "queen" of the "hive"). It is only with the help of other dragons that they had any hope of victory.

Now, in regards to knowing why God does what He does, I am not saying that we can manipulate Him to help us find the answer. And I am not saying that the answer is horrible and dangerous.

What I am saying is that I think we often don't realize how completely incapable we are of discovering the answer. In our quest for it, we get lost and disoriented. Ecclesiastes 8:17 says:

• "Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it."

From our earthly perspective, the answer seems like it really must be terrifying, more so than some gigantic dragon that can stomp ships, fly, and breathe fire. For how could such a loving God let us suffer in seemingly unnecessary ways?

But the truth is, that is just our perspective. I do not wish to seem callous and say that you should never ponder why God is allowing you to suffer and grieve. In fact, I believe with all my heart that we should speak honestly to God, as the authors of the Psalms did. We can tell Him how we perceive things to be; He cares and knows how much we are hurting. But realize that the "dragons" that seem so repulsive to you may not really be what they appear to be. Only God can see the whole lay of the land from His perspective far above. We are "earth-bound" and in no position to see how everything fits together.

Sometimes we get glimpses. Like riding on a dragon friend, we get an opportunity to fly above and look back, seeing just a small part of how God is working in our lives. Those moments--when we realize that a certain pain-filled path led us to an amazing place--are gentle reminders to our tender hearts that God does have a purpose. We can trust Him. He's the only One who can get us home, and He's the only One who can guide us through this journey and into the next.

So don't be overwhelmed by those waves. Day and night, may we pray and rest in His lovingkindness. May we remember that God does have a purpose. And therefore, we do have hope.

(Note: The movie picture is from IMDb.com.)

Sunday by the Sea

"By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the deep in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast."
~ Psalm 33:6-9

God is the marvelous Creator of the universe. All the colors of the sunset spilling onto the sea; the tide bringing constant waves to shatter upon the shore; the dark storm and the moonlit calm--God's creation is so beautiful!

For the "Contentment Reading Challenge" I'm currently re-reading The Redemption, and I'm almost halfway through. It has been a pleasure to re-read this exciting, seafaring love story, as well as to re-read Tyndall's exquisite descriptions of the sea. I thought I would share a few of them with you:

• "The sparkling water was an artistic blend of turquoise and jade green. Its waves glittered in the sunlight like precious jewels before disappearing on the shore, dissipating into a million shimmering pieces of white crystal. Palm fronds danced gleefully in the wind, rejoicing in the magnificent view nature had given them." (p. 43)

• "The ocean was calm tonight. Merrick took in a deep breath of her salty scent, looking off into the distance where the waves glistened like liquid silver in the moonlight. Beyond, they faded into a darkness so intense it was as if the ocean fell from the face of the earth. No wonder people used to believe the world was flat." (p. 118)

• "She glanced over the exquisite scene. No land was in sight, just the vast, blue ocean, calm and deep, extending as far as she could see, its waves twinkling in the sunlight." (p. 62)

Can't you just picture it? I can't imagine the dangers of sailing out on the sea, but I also can't imagine how amazing and invigorating it must be, as well. Tyndall has captured the scenes wonderfully! I'm so glad that God gives us stories to tell and stories to read, and that He gives us the gift of creativity. How much more should we stand in awe of our Creator, God!

Note: As for the Contentment Reading Challenge, I'll plan on posting mini "reviews" of each book I re-read when I do the monthly updates, so stay tuned to hear more about The Redemption! Also, be looking for a special interview with this author, MaryLu Tyndall, for the Season of Love Blog Party.

Sunday by the Sea

I just got back from a Sunday stroll with my mom and sister on a trail that goes by the sea. Whether you live close to an ocean or not, I hope you get to spend some time outdoors today and enjoy the beauty of God's creation!

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands: thou hast put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"
~ Psalm 8:3-9

Have a wonderful Sunday!

(Note: The picture above is from my trip to Texas. Today I walked a part of the Hammond Trail in Northern California that goes through some of the woods and by the coast. I enjoyed the sunshine and seeing the beautiful sea!)

Sunday by the Sea

On New Year's Eve my family and I watched Nim's Island. As a hopeful author, I really enjoy this movie (which I've seen more than once), particularly the storyline involving the author, Alex Rover. (Caution: Potential spoilers given in the rest of this post.)

In the movie, the "Alex Rover" books are full of action, tension, fighting, near-death experiences, and overall danger. But the author (Alexandra--Alex--Rover) who writes the fiction books about the hero (Alex Rover) has multiple phobias. She doesn't leave her apartment, she uses antibacterial hand sanitizer constantly, etc. When a young girl finds herself alone on an island in the South Pacific, she calls on author Alex Rover, thinking she's asking for help from the fearless adventurer. But Alexandra Rover and Alex Rover are not the same people. In fact, they are vastly different.

Throughout the movie the fictional hero is shown like he is a real person, talking with the author. He encourages her to go and be the hero the young girl (Nim) needs her to be. So she does the right thing and sets out, suffering through motion sickness in the taxi (even before the taxi starts!), fear on the plane, being in a foreign country, getting dropped off of a boat 100 yards offshore, being terrified on a helicopter, and practically drowning. Alexandra Rover can write about adventure, but this journey she embarks on is the first time she's really lived an adventure.

When Alexandra almost drowns, Nim is the one who saves her. In a scene right after the rescue (on the beach), Nim is disappointed with the supposed "hero" who shows up on her island, so she asks Alexandra to leave. The fictional hero (who is quite dashing, might I add, as played by Gerard Butler) shows up again and has a discussion with Alexandra. He tells her he won't be her "crutch" anymore--that she needs to go and help Nim. And then he leaves, walking straight out into the waves of the ocean and telling Alexandra to "be the hero of your own story."

Now what does this have to do with me and any other hopeful authors (or published authors) out there? Well, first of all, we should remember that characters can have quite the lives (and minds!) of their own. ;) But really, it's so easy as writers to find our adventures in the pages of books, whether ones we read or ones we write. And it is good to use our imaginations, to share our passions through the written word. However, we ought to also remember to live the adventure that is the life we have been given. We need to put our faith into action in real life, as well. We have to step out of the boat.

James 2:26 says, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

In Nim's Island, Alexandra Rover wrote about amazing adventures. But if she hadn't stepped outside of her apartment and taken risks to help someone else, she might have missed the most amazing adventure--her own life. Her fictional hero walked away into the sea, but she found a new home, a new purpose, and a new (real) hero in the end.

I'm not saying we have to force our fictional heroes to walk the plank and leave our lives forever. We are writers, and if God has given us that gift we should never throw it away. But we shouldn't let our fictional adventures (read, watched, or written) keep us from living the real adventures God has given us in our lives. And sometimes, I think it's alright to let our characters dive beneath the waves until we have proper focus, putting God first and living for Him each day.

(The pictures of Nim's Island are from Amazon.com. Find out more about the movie at IMDb.com.)

Sunday by the Sea

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof."
~ Psalm 46:1-3

When I was glancing through the Psalms for a possible verse for today's post, I came across the ones above, and I just knew they would fit well with what I saw and learned yesterday. I spent my last full day in Texas visiting the island of Galveston with my cousin Virginia and my uncle Wes. I had such a delightful time with them! (The picture above is one I took of the Gulf of Mexico.)

Virginia knows so much about the history of the area, and she was telling me about the hurricanes that have hit Galveston. Hurricane Ike caused a lot of damage to the island when it came through, and the sea wall doesn't offer much of a barrier anymore should another hurricane hit directly.

While the island sees a lot of tourism, and I found it to be quite lovely, some buildings show obvious signs of hurricane damage. I couldn't imagine living in Galveston, knowing how close that beautiful, dangerous water would be to wiping everything away.

But no matter where I am, waters will "roar and be troubled," whether those waters are actual waters or the "waters" of different life issues. But God will always be a shelter, a refuge that will not be wiped away by those waters. The waters will not hurt Him--in fact, He is in control of them. So when they hit, may we cling to Him, trust in His steadfastness, and know that He can use those waters for our ultimate good.

To end this post, I'd like to share a video/photo slide-show I put together from my last full day in Texas. This video doesn't show all of the family that I spent time with this Thanksgiving break, but it gives you a small glimpse of my adventures. Enjoy!

Thankful for a Sunday by the Sea

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"
~ Psalm 8:3-4

Oh, we have so much to be thankful for!

I am thankful that the Lord who created the beautiful, mysterious, and vast sea also created me and loves me!

I am thankful that the Lord, through Jesus Christ, took away my sins and offered me a hope far wider and deeper than any ocean!

I am thankful that the Lord gave me family and friends (including all of you!) with whom I can play in the waves, walk on the shore, or simply talk about the loveliness of God's creation.

I am thankful that the Lord blessed me with opportunities to write (including devotional posts like "Sundays by the Sea") and I pray He might use them to bless others and bring Him glory.

And there's so much more I am thankful for! What are you thankful for as we enter this week of Thanksgiving?

"Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of him, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness."
~ Psalm 30:4

(The beach picture is from PDPhoto.org.)

Sunday by the Sea

"And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea." ~ Matthew 14:22-25

"Jesus went unto them." This account in the gospel of Matthew is so beautiful and so humbling. Jesus walked across the water to the disciples, upon the choppy sea with the winds raging, and told them, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."

To which Peter replied, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water."

And Jesus answered, "Come."

He beckoned Peter to come and walk on the water. To see that it was indeed Jesus, Peter's Lord and Friend. To trust that Jesus wouldn't ask Peter to come if He wasn't able to empower Peter to do such a thing.

"And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." He knew Jesus wouldn't let him fall. He was initially bold and confident. Then "he saw the wind boisterous," and "he was afraid." And he started to sink.

He declared, "Lord, save me."

What did Jesus do? "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?"

Jesus was right there, able to "immediately" save Peter and keep him from sinking deep within the waves and drowning.

I have been on the Sea of Galilee. I have been in a boat on that sea (much like a large lake), on a gray day with light rain and slight wind. I have heard about how the storms can sweep down the hillsides around the lake and rage upon the waters. I have been around "the midst of the sea," where land is far enough away to make you feel distant, like you're on a grand adventure.

Or, when the sea is less peaceful (such as in Peter's case), like you're far away from safety.

And yet, Jesus was right there. Able to help Peter walk on water. Able to save him the very moment he began to sink.

No place is far away from Jesus. The Lord is always near, and I was reminded of that truth while traveling around Israel. In the vast desert, God was there. In the crowded streets of Jerusalem, no matter how scared I felt, God didn't leave me. On the Sea of Galilee, He was with me.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith doesn't make "things not seen" exist. But it does make our hopes real, and it does give us proof of what has always been there, and what will always be there. It is trusting that when God asks us to "Come," He will give us the power to do so. It is believing that He will always be there, no matter where we are or what He asks us to do, to be our goal and the strength we need to reach that goal. It is knowing that He isn't bound by anything, but that He is just as real in Israel as He is in California.

Unchanging. Unwavering. And so close He will save us "immediately," if we ask for Him to save us.

"If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." ~ Psalm 139: 9-10

(Pictures of the Sea of Galilee are from the Free Israel Photos website.)

Sunday by the Sea

"Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name." ~ Jeremiah 31:35

I urge you to read Jeremiah 31:31-37 (which is a bit long of a passage to put here in this post). God is so good and merciful, and He is also sovereign!

This week is going to be a very busy one, and I have a feeling that there's going to be a lot of emotional stress/turmoil for me in the coming days before Thanksgiving break. But in all that is to come (much of which is self-induced, to be honest, as I usually don't attempt to work ahead as I ought to), I can rest in the fact that God is in control. No matter what we do, God still fulfills His purposes in the world.

I've been reminded recently in my reading for my Christian Theology class that God, while completely loving and forgiving, is also completely just. In fact, His justice goes hand-in-hand with His wrath. He expresses wrath and righteous anger against sin, because as perfect God He must hate sin. That's why Jesus was the propitiation for us--God's wrath had to be fulfilled, through God Himself as Jesus (the perfect sacrifice), in order for us to be close to Him. In that way, His wrath was satisfied and His grace could be given.

Now, what does that have to do with God being in control? Well, as I was also reminded in my reading, we tend to downplay the wrath of God. But God's wrath is not "bad" at all, and should not be dismissed. It is good to have a holy fear of the power of God. We are supposed to be humble before Him. And in the truth of His strength and His justice, we can rest in the fact that He is above us all and worthy of our praise and trust. Whatever we go through in this life, He is powerful to work through us and through the hard times we face.

"For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished."
~ Jeremiah 30:11

(The ocean picture is from this site.)

Sunday by the Sea

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

It's a moving scene. A school of fish has just warned Dory to swim through the trench, not over it. And dear Dory, with her short-term memory loss, instantly forgets what it is they told her.

But then she and Marlin (the clown fish) approach the trench. It looks terrifying, dark and gloomy. As Marlin says: "It's got death written all over it."

But then a "little red flag" goes off in Dory's mind, and she tells Marlin she thinks they should swim through the trench. She tells him, "Trust me on this."

Marlin looks skeptical.

Dory clarifies, "Trust: it's what friends do."

A simple yet powerful statement. One which Marlin ignores, proceeding to distract Dory and get her to go over the trench.

For those of you who have seen Finding Nemo, you know what happens next. You remember the swarm of jellyfish above the trench, the race through the tentacles, and the scars on Dory's side. What seemed like a great decision to Marlin turned into a fearful ordeal.

How often do we experience the same? No, we most likely won't encounter a swarm of jellyfish, and we most likely won't get stung by tentacles. But we will suffer in other ways for not trusting our truest Friend of all.

Now, obviously this example from Finding Nemo cannot serve as a complete comparison, nor could anything or anyone in general compare to our God. However, I think there is a lot we can learn from Marlin's lesson.

Marlin is a fish that plays it safe. He's seen the evil in this life, having lost his wife and almost all of his children (except Nemo) to a hungry barracuda. And the last thing he wants is to put himself or Nemo into any dangerous situations. He chooses to rely on only himself, sure that he knows what's best and no one else can keep him or Nemo from harm. He refuses to trust the school teacher (Mr. Ray) in the beginning with Nemo's safety, and in this illustration he is refusing to trust Dory, no matter that she has shown herself to be a loyal, caring friend.

Our Lord has proven Himself to be the most loyal and the most caring friend we could ever hope for. When we choose to go our own way, believing we know what is best, we sin. We rebel against our God, and we fail to trust our Best Friend. And He bore the scars for our choices when He died on the cross.

Unlike Dory, Jesus died and rose again. He is God and He is omnipotent and completely righteous. He has offered us grace if we choose to believe in Him and the saving power of His sacrifice. And now through His mercy we can be close to Him; we can be friends with God.

Are you facing a trench right now that looks completely impassible? Trust God. If He guides you to that trench and you know He wants you to go through it, then believe that He knows best. Follow His lead and heed His words in Scripture.

Remember:
"Trust: it's what friends do."

"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him."
~ Psalm 18:30

(Finding Nemo pictures are from the Pixar website.)

Sunday by the Sea

"There is a grandeur of the spectacle of the sea itself, as it slips on and off its many colors like robes, and now is all shades of green, now purple, now sky-blue. . . . And all these are mere consolations for us, for us unhappy, punished men: they are not the rewards of the blessed. What can these be like then, if such things here are so many, so great, and of such a quality?" ~ St. Augustine (as quoted in Augustine of Hippo, quoted in The Legacy of Sovereign Joy by John Piper)

For Christian Theology class I have to read the book The Legacy of Sovereign Joy and write a short paper on it. I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning last night in order to finish the book, and as I read I came across the quote above and knew it would be beautiful inspiration for a "Sunday by the Sea" post.

Even focusing on just one part of God's creation--the sea--one can only stand in awe at the beauty God has made. And to think, the loveliness we see in this world cannot be compared to the glories of untainted heaven!

It is so unimaginable to us. I am reminded of Stuart in the movie Kate & Leopold when he is trying to explain what he has learned about time. He says something like, "It is as unimaginable as a dog seeing a rainbow. Dogs are color-blind. . . . I'm just a dog who's seen a rainbow, and none of the other dogs believe me."

We, as believers, are like dogs who know there are rainbows out there, even if we can't even comprehend how amazing they are. How could you explain a rainbow to someone who is truly color-blind? Where would you begin to make comparisons? I don't think you can. How much more so is the grandeur of heaven incomparable to what we know!

Here's to a lifetime full of hope for the rainbows we have yet to experience!

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
~Ephesians 3:20-21

(The ocean picture is from PDPhoto.org.)

Sunday by a Waterfall

This past weekend with my parents was wonderful! We actually didn't end up going to the E.Z. Orchards HarvestFest because it was rather rainy here in Salem. However, we did go to Silver Falls State Park, which was beautiful, even in the rain!

While we were there, we spent most of our time at the South Falls, which had trails all around it. We could go on a trail behind it, above it, and around below it. And while I was there I was blessed by a look at perspectives.

As humans we are like a little droplet or stream of water that makes one small part of a big waterfall. Before we reach the big drop-off, we slowly meander along, unaware of what lies ahead. And then when we reach the edge, we see a free-fall that scares us and seems completely wrong. We can't see the big picture from our place within the waterfall.

But God sees it all--and far more than we can imagine. God sees the whole, beautiful waterfall. He can see where we are, the fear we have of the unknown that lies before us and the falls we have to go through. But He also sees how each little droplet comes together to form something both spectacular and awe-inspiring when seen in its entirety.

He sees the slow motion free-fall, and He sees the grandeur from a distance. And we can trust in His all-encompassing perspective that is so far beyond our own.

The falls we endure can be painful and difficult. But know that the entire waterfall God sees is stunning. He has a purpose for all of us, and the droplets of our lives come together in ways we can't even comprehend to form a living, powerful praise to God and His design.

This is just one small analogy, and it can't even come close to fully demonstrating the greatness of God's plan for our lives. But I just wanted to share with you the encouragement I received from witnessing one lovely and amazing part of God's creation.

"Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it."
~Ecclesiastes 8:17

(The picture above is of the South Falls and is from Salemoregon.com.)

Sunday by the Sea

"He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. . . . As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he many carry away in his hand." ~ Ecclesiastes 5:10, 15.

I need desperately to be reminded of this. How complicated life becomes with greed! I have indulged myself so much lately, from food to books. I'm not satisfied with the piece of cake I had at dinner--I also want some of that candy I let myself buy for my pumpkin candy container. I'm not satisfied with the wonderful deal I got on a book online--I also have to buy the "Love Inspired Suspense" book I let myself look at in the store.

So much is about attitude. We are aware of our limits, but we test them until we are overcome with the desire to cross them. Oh, I need help! How many times have I talked about my desire to stop buying so much, to stop being so greedy? I'm so sorry to you, my readers, for being so hypocritical. I go through spurts where I let myself go. I just let myself get whatever I want, and in so doing, I lose sight of what is truly valuable.

What does this have to do with the sea? Well, the picture above is of me probably a couple of years ago or so (back when I had bangs!). I was with a good friend, my mom, and my sister. The four of us were on a little beach, collecting shells. What wonderful gifts memories are! What wonderful gifts family and friends are! What a wonderful gift the beauty of God's creation is!

When I get caught up with material possessions, it is as if I'm sitting on the beach, hoarding bits of shells and grains of sand in one little space--alone. I'm missing out on the opportunities for memories with others having fun on the beach. I'm missing out on the feel of the wind on my face and the sun shining warm around me. I'm missing out on the spectacular view of the ocean meeting the horizon.

In the same way, I've been squandering money and collecting little bits and pieces, missing out on something special and wonderful when I lose my eternal perspective. I need to look up from my pile of sand and stand in awe of the wide ocean of God's purposes and the destiny He has for me.

May I use the gifts God has given me wisely. May I hold some shells in my hand and smile at the blessings God gives, seeing their beauty as a reminder to look to the everlasting beauty of the Lord who created them.

May I not lose sight of the ocean for the fragile fragments I hold for now.

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
~ Matthew 6:21

Sunday by the Sea

"I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? Why are thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." ~ Psalm 42:9-11

God is unchanging. He stands strong forever. And yet we still go through difficult and sorrowful times, and we hear the voices of those who ask where God could be in the midst of them. Perhaps one of those voices is our own.

I'm still rather young, and I confess that while I complain, I become stressed over school, and I have had some hard times, I haven't been faced with a lot of tragedy. But I know that no matter the sort of heartaches or pain I've seen or will see, God my Rock will continue to be there--unchanging. And may I remember that if and when tragedies surge around me.

There is a song by Nickel Creek called "The Lighthouse's Tale." While it is a terribly sad song, it paints a picture of a lighthouse that continues to stand and guide sailors even when a horrible tragedy happens. Now, unlike the lighthouse God is omnipotent, and He is in complete control through all of the happiness and tragedies of life. However, like the lighthouse, no matter what happens, we can trust that God is still standing strong and shining His light. And while a lighthouse may erode away with time, God will never fade.

What a comfort! To know that no matter how the waves and the weather of life rage, God will still be our Rock. He is an everlasting Light that has been, is now, and will always be shining with love and hope. (Note Hebrews 13:8.)

"O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." ~ Psalm 43:3-5

Sunday by the Sea

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of going to our school's annual Beach Party. Now, I know the risks involved when going to the beach. Besides the obvious danger of being carried out to sea (the real danger), some risks include getting wet, getting cold, and getting so much sand on you that you have to sit on a towel in the car and hope that you don't spread it everywhere like a virus.

Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point.

So you can see why I don't always want to go to the beach--not because I don't love it, but because I dislike being so dirty, miserable, and freezing. (The coasts of the Northwest are nothing like what you normally associate with beaches--except for the sand and water part, of course. In other words--it's cold!!!)

But I am so, so glad I went to this year's Beach Party! Yes, I did get wet--drenched, really. Yes, I did get cold. And yes, I did get sand all over me. And yet I had a great time (aside from waiting in a super long line for dinner, but that's what happens when there's free food and lots of people).

In all seriousness, one of my favorite parts was getting into the water. I almost decided not to do "Ocean Rush"--the event where a bunch of students line up on the beach and then run into the icy cold waves all at the same time, in order to get a free T-shirt. ;) But the thing was, after getting back out of the water to get my T-shirt, I wanted to go back in. And that's when the fun began.

The waves were rather big, and I know you always have to be careful and watch for waves that will be strong enough to pull you out to sea. In this case, everything turned out fine. There was a group of us who played in the waves, feeling the awesome push and pull of the ocean.

I don't think I can describe in words (nor would I want to) all that was going on through my mind. But I will tell you this: I was in awe of the beautiful strength of the tide, amazed at what God had created. The water came at me, swirled around me, and rushed back out into the vast horizon. It was astounding to know that this part of creation was only a glimpse of the majesty of God and what He can do. Equally astounding was the reminder that God can see all. He knows all the places the ocean reaches, and yet He also stands with me and sees what I face: an unknown that is both exhilarating and frightening.

And to think that this is only temporary! I need to remember never to think of God as limited in any way. I can't even imagine what God has planned for eternity, and I'm glad. It is beyond exciting to know that I can trust Him and that I can be hopeful about His plan!

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him."
~ Isaiah 64:4