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....."

What Medicine Do You Take?

If you're like me, your medicine cabinet has just about everything you need in it for the common cold, headache, cuts, scrapes, bug bites, sunburn, tummy ache, etc.  I've got aspirins, ointments, sprays, oils, ice packs, heating pads to help conquer the ailments at any given time.

Yesterday morning, while getting ready for my day, I listened to a Joyce Meyer broadcast that I had previously recorded.  Her message sure hit home and impacted me enough that I'm sharing with you the part that I loved and took to heart the most.

She had two HUGE medicine bottles on the stage -- two medicines for our souls.  One said, "Trust" and the other said "Do Good".   Joyce said,  "This is a prescription for trust. The doctor is Jesus and the patient is whosoever. The instructions are take as many, for as long as you need it, refills are endless. There are some side effects, so you'll need to be careful. The side effects are: peace, joy, stability and confidence.  Trusting God is the best sleep aid in the world."   And the other presciption was "Do Good" -- side effects:  extreme happiness.  Trust God and do good.  That sounds like two medicines that would take care of spirit, soul AND body.  Those two medicines that Joyce mentioned:  "Trust God and Do Good"  will solve any problem we have.  Psalm 37:3 says "Trust in the LORD, and do good".

I loved this analogy.  How easy it is for us to go to the medicine cabinet for the physical issues we might be dealing with, but what do we do when we are in fear, dealing with anxiety, disappointment, discouragement, depression, anger, self-doubt, and so many other emotions?  The answer is Joyce's answer "Immediately go get the prescription and medicine of God's Word."  The Word of God fixes everything that ails us.  There is an answer for everything in God's Word.   When in fear, take a dose of courage; when anxious, take a dose of peace; disappointment -- a dose of a thankful heart; discouragement -- a dose of encouragement, etc.   We wouldn't put up with a headache very long before we'd take an aspirin for relief.  And we shouldn't put up with all the sufferings of our soul.  How do you spell relief?  TRUST GOD and DO GOOD!

Great Granny = Sweet Memories

Day 66 of Photo Inspirations -- Great Granny = Sweet Memories
When my kids come back to Tulsa, paying a visit to Great Granny is always on the itinerary!  I loved it, yesterday, when we stopped by to see her.   Payton and Alexia will be in a 3-Day Speech & Debate Competition starting next Thursday, so they presented their speeches to Great Granny.

They both did such a great job making Granny smile, and laugh, so big.  And in her wisdom, she offered them sweet compliments and great critique -- just what they needed to hear.  Granny listened to many speeches in her 52+ years of marriage to Dad, a Pastor, so she knew just the right words to encourage them.  She had had a lot of practice.

Alexia had her best friend with her at Granny's and she gave her a guided tour around Granny's house -- showing her lots of photos from their baby and kid years.   Just before we left, they had to show Canaan "their" toy closet.

Actually, it's been the "toy closet" for all of the great grandkids -- all 8 of them -- from my 22 year old grandson to our youngest 20 month old niece.  The same toys that each and every one of them played with -- with the exception of a few new ones for the newest great grandchild.

There's something to be said for living in one home for over 25 years -- the home that she and dad moved to when their previous home was demolished by a tornado.  This has been the perfect home for Mom and Dad, and when Dad graduated to heaven, now Mom's perfect home.  The toys that the kids pulled out are the same ones that each grandkid played with or pulled through the house.  How great it is that some things don't change -- and some things you can always count on to be there for you.

Great Granny is the family icon for stability and consistency.  She has her fixed routines and her "ways" that are unchangeable.  We gave up many years ago on trying to get her to conform to our way of thinking.  But, when I think about it, I'm glad she hasn't changed.  She learned it from the ONE who sets the best example of parenting and HE NEVER changes.  He's always there for our visits with Him.  He's always ready to listen to us, to celebrate our victories and to comfort us in our failures.  He is consistent in His love for us, even when we just don't "get it right".  But He is there to applaud our successes, cheer us up when we're disappointed, and give us great critique when we miss the mark.  And, by the way, He loves us so much that He's probably got OUR pictures all over HIS house.

Be of Good CHEER!

I love the story our good friend, Zig Ziglar, told about the businessman who got a ticket for driving too fast on the way to work, who got to his office and yelled at his assistant, and then she yelled at the receptionist, who came home and yelled at her son, who kicked the poor cat. That little story describes how "our presence" -- good or bad -- can affect the atmosphere in our world.

Did you know that we can operate in God-given ability to bring heaven to earth and create environments of love, hope, faith, and good CHEER in every facet of our lives? It's our choice whether we bring anxiety or peace, doubt or optimism, anger or love into our world. Our kitchens, our workplaces, and even our cars can become "sanctuaries" -- safe havens and stability -- even in the midst of the bustle of activity....and life. They can be places were love is lived and where people sense God's peace and acceptance -- just because of the atmosphere we create.

Husbands and Wives, Dads and Moms, Granddads and Grandmoms -- we ought to be the family CHEER Leaders. And here's my suggestion for a family cheer. Get them up in the morning and say, "All right family. Let's all begin our cheer for the day. Jesus said be of good CHEER (Matt. 14:27), so here's our good CHEER. "WE ARE HAPPY. WE ARE BLESSED. WE ARE WINNERS. YES, YES, YES!! Two bits! Four bits! Six bits! A dollar! All for Jesus.....stand up and holler!!"

Okay....that's dorky, but seriously -- isn't dorky better than gloomy, cranky, angry and dreary? Our joy-filled, blessed, and grateful attitude will change our world and our calm, peaceful, and loving presence, that we create, will be infectious to our world. Let’s spread THAT presence today, and be of good CHEER!