It's been a few very trying months, to say the least. My husband and I have been looking forward to this week at the beach (The NC Outer Banks) all summer. After hearing everyone's tales of summer adventures, we were anxious to embark upon ours, which had been delayed by my surgery recuperation.
My husband and I are both early risers and so one of our favorite times has been to sit on the deck and watch the sun rise over the ocean. This, to me, is one of the grandest displays there is. I delight in watching the sun rise and spread its glorious tendrils as if in a heavenly morning stretch. Glorious rays of light seem to stretch on to infinity.
Even the waters seem to wake up and applaud with joy that a new morning has come. The sun glistens like sparkling diamonds as they dance among the breakers. The whole morning is aglow with God's new mercy, goodness and love.
"Weeping may endure for a night - but joy will come in the morning. His anger endures for a moment - but in His favor is light." (Psalm 30:5)
All through the day the waves continue to crash upon the shore. The crash, crash, crash continues day and night. To me it is like the steady thrum, thrum, thrum of a whooshing heartbeat. It's God's heartbeat. Steady. Constant. Strong. Never ceasing. Filled with love. I close my eyes and listen to the rhythm.
Even at night, we sleep with the sliding door cracked open and in the middle of the night, when all is blackness, I still hear the crashing waves reminding me that God's heart of love is beating and watching over me through the night. He never slumbers nor sleeps. His eye is always upon me. His ear is bent ever close....listening to my prayers. Even if I have bad dreams, His song gently lulls me back to sleep.
Every morning we watch Kayla (the big, friendly, black lab) and her master, Charlie, go for walks along the beach. To Kayla, the ocean is her playground. She delights in the sand and the surf and the ability to run ahead and fetch the ball that Charlie lobs with his David-like sling shot.
Hers is pure, unfettered joy and fun. She loves the place to which Charlie brings her every day. Because she knows he's nearby, she feels safe. She gallops ahead full throttle and then gently returns the ball to Charlie when he calls her name. She walks close beside her master's side, looking up at him....waiting for his next command. She is grateful for his love and attention. This is her happy place - at Charlie's side.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand” John 10:27-28
As Dave and I walk along the beach with Topper, our beagle, I am drawn to the shells at the tide's edge. The tides, I observe, act as though they are in a military cadence directed by God. They ebb and flow at His command. They remind me of God's vigilant protection. Nothing in this world startles God or catches Him off guard. Nothing happens that is outside His sovereignty.
I notice that many of the shells, because of the rough seas at the Outer Banks, are turned into "sea pebbles". Their rough, pointy, and jagged exteriors have been tumbled like raw gem stones in a jeweler's tumbler. The longer they endure this tumbling, their edges are smoothed down and their surface becomes like glass - smooth and shiny. As the water coats them they glisten and shimmer in the sunlight and they catch my eye.
Sometimes I have felt like those shells, being tumbled in the harsh trials of life. God knows, however, what He is doing. He is smoothing off the rough edges and making me into something beautiful that will reflect His glory. It's not pleasant but it molds my character and fashions me to be more like his Son. This is my calling.
One day the weather channel warned us that a storm was on it's way. Though the sun was still shining and warming our faces, we could see in the far off, distant horizon that a storm was brewing. The dark clouds were quickly closing in.
I kept watching the sun as it dodged in and out of the encroaching clouds. Finally, the sun shot forth its last rays as if to say, "Don't worry. Don't fear. Though the clouds and darkness may roll in and the rain will come, I will ALWAYS be right here behind them. Even though you won't be able to see me, it doesn't mean that I'm not right here, always watching over you. Eventually the storm will pass and you will feel my warm rays on your face once again."....and then the sun disappeared.
As it promised, twenty four hours later, the sun reappeared. Sometimes storms last for an hour....sometimes for much longer, but the sun always faithfully reappears.
As it promised, twenty four hours later, the sun reappeared. Sometimes storms last for an hour....sometimes for much longer, but the sun always faithfully reappears.
These are just some of the words the ocean has been speaking to me this week....
What about you? What has God's creation been speaking to your heart lately? Are there any lessons you learned or wisdom you gained this summer? Would you share in the comments? I'd love to hear....
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the beauty of Your creation. I thank you that you have designed all of this for my good pleasure. Help me not to take anything for granted or overlook any gift too small. I praise You for the glory and majesty of Your creation and the lessons through which you continuously teach me. Help me to be a student of You, my Lord. Let me always walk close by Your side so that I may hear you call my name and I may know your precepts. I thank you that, even though the storms and trials may come in life....You are always there. You will never leave me nor forsake me and You will bring me through so that I may better resemble Your Son and reflect His love. Continue to speak Lord, Your servant is listening. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Be blessed.....
