Life is Often Like a Wild Water Ride

Aw! Water! Refreshing, cool, thirst-quenching water. I’ve been packing a lot of water over the last week or so. The warmer weather and being outdoors requires it.

But, today, I’m talking about the beautiful water features that I’ve been enjoying. My Austin family and I spent the last week at the Gulf of Texas’ Port Aransas. The ocean, pictured here, was like I had never seen. Multiple waves were always billowing in. It was easy to stand in it and get cooled off. But in the early morning, it was always high tide which meant it billowed way into land. See this lovely sand castle being carved? I left the beach before this expert sand castle sculptor finished it. The next morning when I walked the beach, it had been consumed by the high tide.

Now, back at home, I enjoy my community's lake views -- still waters with a backdrop of magnificent sunrises. Over the years, our family has enjoyed every water feature you could imagine. We frequented lakes and rivers all over the U.S. and Canada where we camped, fished, skied, fished, river rafted and kayaked. And there are no adequate words to convey the beauty of the majestic oceans and seas that we cruised. I recall my sweetheart sitting back, delighting in the stillness and beauty of those moments in all of those water places. He loved taking it all in. He was "home" by the water. I'm quite sure he's made sure that our mansion in heaven is right by the River of Life.

What if life was like living by a pond or lake that represents stability and tranquility? It doesn't change much. With the exception of a severe storm (like the tornados we encountered many times), a lake is a secure place with clear boundaries, stable waters, and a quiet shore. There is a sense of order, control, and safe predictability about a lake, with few major surprises from day to day.

I have found life to be more like traveling down a river. It's extremely unpredictable and filled with many twists and turns, highs and lows, rapids and calms, unseen obstacles and unexpected objects. It can also be filled with exhilarating experiences that are packed full of adventure. You can ride the currents of a fast flowing river in a raft or kayak, but you have to avoid the potential dangers that can be devastating to a rider. We know that for a fact. When our kayaks tipped over, we were pulled into the rapids. But for the grace of God, we could have lost our lives. Our kayaks went on down the river….without us in them. Thank God, we had on life preservers.

As we journey on, we want life to be safe and secure for us and our loved ones, like my subdivision's lakes with borders -- no big changes or surprises. But, in reality, life is more like a river as it is continually moving in ways that we cannot control, predict, or expect. Doesn’t it feel like that’s exactly where we’re at right now? Every day is unpredictable – well, in our eyes – certainly not God’s. He is always in control.

The good news for us is that our security, stability, AND sanity are not found on the rivers of our lives, but in the Lord of our lives. Our hope is in Him who knows the way through the obstacles and the twists and turns. Our peace is found in the One who directs our course. Our hope is fixed upon the One Whose hands not only created the waters, but calms them, and He is THE ONE Who causes the unpredictability of the waters to work things together for our good. (Romans 8:28). I’m so certain – that all we have encountered in the last few months is a part of God's providence in our lives and through it all, we are secure in God's sovereign hands.
Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you....."

The Seagulls are Everywhere!

It’s not uncommon for me to be inspired for a blog from the “birds of a feather that flock together”, so here I go again! Yesterday morning, I was “perched” in my lawn chair at 6 am here at Aransas Bay on the Texas Gulf Coast, praying for the inspiration for tomorrow’s blog. The brilliant sun was rising and seagulls were walking stealthily along the ocean's edge for their next fish or mussel treat. They’d grab a bite to eat then fly away. Then another would land right in front of me.

Jesus talked so much about birds. In Matthew 6:26 He tells His followers not to be anxious about food, but to rely on God as the birds do, who are worth far less than the people He provides for. I started thinking about how privileged those birds are to live where food is so abundant. As I ate a bite of my protein bar, I remembered my granddaughter eating chips from her kayak and being attacked by seagulls. Sharing wasn’t what she had in mind and neither was I. I quickly shoved that bar in my mouth -- quickly! Those seagulls don’t seem to have a preference for land or sea food!

Are those birds really “privileged” or do they have an innate sense of being who they were destined to be? “Privileged” is a word we’ve heard in abundance in the last few weeks. “Privileged” as in born into wealth or born in a certain ethnicity or born into a specific family of origin.

Let’s consider who the real privileged folks are! I am saying that with happy thoughts daily because I choose to believe that I was born into privilege as a member of the royal family of God. I was born into a family that believed that and so did I. As children of God, we are privileged with abundance, but we must step out in faith and go for the opportunities that are just waiting for us. When we receive Christ by faith, we become His children. We are adopted into His family. "But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." - John 1:12.

In Matthew 6, Jesus put it this way “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (privileges) shall be added to you.”

Indeed, we are privileged to be children of God Who daily offers us so many blessings. It's time for us to recognize our privileges like living in a free country, having a roof over our head, running water, a warm bed to sleep in, and plenty of food to eat. Yes, we are privileged.

Our Hearts have Eyes

New land-scape and ocean-scape to take in this week. My Austin family and friends are in Port Aransas taking in everything beach and ocean for Brennan’s 16th birthday celebration. I was the first one up and at ‘em at 5 am to post my blog. Then I made my way to the beach to take in the magnificent beauty of the sun coming up over the ocean. It was a sight to behold. And, of all things God-given, I saw this cross. It was then I realized my heart must also have eyes because I sensed God’s presence and realized I want my heart’s eyes to see what He sees. I just need to open them up.

That reminded me of a song: “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see You.” I want to see Him more than in my family and nature, the skies, and the oceans. I want my heart’s eyes to open up to all His wonders and grace. That song makes sense as I read this scripture: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will SEE God.” Matthew 5:8. That "pure in heart’ must be the prescription for 20/20 vision for seeing God! I want that vision!

A pure heart doesn’t mean we are perfect people. If our purest intention is to see God, we will. I’ve said it in so many of my blogs that while I can’t see the Lord’s physical form, I do see evidence of Him all around me. So, in that case, we should always be asking God to open our eyes to the many things in our life that speak to His presence. We can keep our eyes wide open as we look for evidence of God around us. It’s amazing: The more we recognize even the smallest things as gifts from God, the more we start to realize how present He is in our lives.

If what I’m saying seems too difficult to understand – the part about being able to SEE God, then maybe there is something dividing your heart and distracting you from seeing Him. That’s when we ask God to help us SEE. It may be that it’s a simple distraction of our technology gadgets or people who come between us and God in nature, in daily potential encounters when we have an awareness of Him. And, maybe, we need to look closer at the people around us -- just maybe we’ll see God in them as they help someone with food or clothing or encouraging words. The truth is – the more we purpose to place our focus on Him – in scripture, in people, in our daily activities, the more we'll see Him.

I love you, my precious friends. I believe with all my heart God isn’t trying to hide from us. He’s everywhere. He’s just waiting for us to open our eyes to Him.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound...was blind but now I see!”