Category: Mercy

  • We’re Alive!

    Ever experience a day or maybe even week that you really hadn’t planned on? You might be in a phase of life right now you never expected to be in thinking … This or that only happens to other people, but not me. Right? Wrong.

    I’m in the middle of that phase right now. I’m on a “new” boat in a marina I’ve never visited before, and cruising in uncharted waters. We’re among total strangers. Yet, in the midst of all this newness, God shows up in many ways.

    Let me take you back about 16 days. My husband and I recently purchased a new boat … new to us anyway. Actually, the boat’s about 34 years old. But she’s ours, and we’ll eventually become more used to her and the way she operates. Yesterday, while attempting to locate an anchoring spot for the evening, we ran aground. Big time stuck. Placing our first call ever to the Coast Guard put us in touch with a towing service. The tow service arrived in record time. They were efficient in what they did and put us at ease. The guys even asked how we were doing and how we were handling the disaster.

    Our response was that we are so thankful that no one was injured, no fire transpired from the engine room smoke, and the boat didn’t sink. The tow boat dislodged us from our stuck position and towed us safely to a marina complete with haul-out and mechanics. Is this an inconvenience? Yes. Will it be costly? I am sure it will be. Was God there in the middle of this? Yes, He was. He never slumbers or sleeps. Was this our plan for the week? Of course, not, but apparently God had another itinerary in mind.

    The situation could have been far worse. For some reason God wanted us to be there in a strange marina. He didn’t want us venturing forward toward home. Will I ever know why? Maybe. Maybe not. At this point, my responsibility is to trust Him fully. He has our best interests in mind even though it might not be comfortable. A young couple took us with them to a grocery and boat store for supplies. Many others from the marina asked if they could give us a ride to wherever we wanted to go. Kindness of strangers seems to abound. We are blessed.

    • Are you in a tough spot right now? Someplace you didn’t intend or choose to be?
    • Can you look past your circumstance and see the positives?

    “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” Isaiah 56:8–9.

    Dear God, thank You for working behind the scenes in my life. Even though I hadn’t planned on certain situations coming into my life, You knew ahead of time exactly what we’d experience. I can look back and say what a mighty God you are! Amen. 

    *****

  • Broken, yet chosen

     

    Shells on Clearwater Beach, Florida
    Shells on Clearwater Beach, Florida

    Recently my husband and I had the opportunity to travel south. One of my favorite pastimes is to look for shells while walking the beach. Each shell’s intricacies never cease to amaze me.

    Some portray wholeness
    Others appear broken
    or partial pieces
    Chipped and greatly worn

    I see spiny traces
    Translucent, fragile exteriors
    Various patterns with
    Random indentations

    Varying degrees of color intensity
    Brown, pink, black,
    Blue, gray,
    and off-white

    Sunlight causes one to
    Glisten and shine
    While another remains flat
    and non-descript

    Just like shells, people are unique. We display unique characteristics and qualities given to us by our creator, God. We all matter to God. Each represents degrees of stains, joy, and sorrow. No two of us are alike because God created you and me as a special design for a unique purpose in life.

    All of us have stories to tell whether they be tragic or more ordinary. Our words may come in the form of an encouraging note to someone hurting. These stories may appear in journal form, newspaper or magazine article, novella, or memoir.

    Do you know what special purpose God designed you for?

    “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it… You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” – Psalm 139:14–16/NLT

  • His grace is an ocean

    “And we are His portion and He is our prize
    Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
    If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking
    And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss
    And my heart turns violently inside of my chest

    I don’t have time to maintain these regrets
    When I think about the way
    Oh, how He loves us, oh
    Oh, how He loves us, how He loves all …” — How He Loves Us, by David Crowder band

    I recently listened to this song several times. I still have a hard time comprehending or beginning to understand the depth and immensity of God’s love. For me. For you. For humankind … knowing we often fail to show our love toward God. I say and do things I know displeases and makes him sad.

    Grace. Forgiveness. Love. All these characteristics are clearly evident in God. I claim this New Year — 2013 — to be a year of fresh starts. How about you?

    Dear God, I chose to be more aware of your love for me, my family and friends. I chose to recognize daily and even minute-by-minute blessings you freely give. I chose to learn more of you in your love letter, the Bible. I ask for your strength to accomplish these activities. Without you, I can do nothing. Amen.

    ***

  • Psalm of David

    Swiftsure - Clipper Cup

    Psalm 103. Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

    He forgives your sins – every one.
    He heals your diseases – every one.
    He redeems you from hell – saves your life!
    He crowns you with love and mercy – a paradise crown.
    He wraps you in goodness – beauty eternal.
    He renews your youth – you’re always young in his presence.

    ***