Thy Sea, O God, So Great, My Boat So Small

Thy sea, O God, so great,
My boat so small,
It cannot be that any happy fate,
Will me befall,
Save as Thy goodness opens paths for me,
Through the consuming vastness of the sea.

Thy winds, O God, so strong,
So slight my sail.
How could I cub and bit them on the long
and salty trail,
Unless Thy love were mightier than the wrath
Of all the tempests that beset my path?

Thy world, O God, so fierce,
And I so frail.
Yet, though its arrows threaten oft to pierce
My fragile mail,
Cities of refuge rise where dangers cease,
Sweet silences abound, and all is peace. (Author Unknown)

Let the Summer Games Begin

I thank you, God, for the beautiful blue sky, relationships, fun, family, friends, food, laughter, the sun, a light breeze, Your hedge of protection around us, sparkling water, provisions, clean air to breath, sweat, sunscreen, freedom, music, and everything else I forgot to mention.  Truly, I am blessed.

Psalm 68:4-6 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;

lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;

his name is the Lord;

exult before him! 

Father of the fatherless and protector of widows

is God in his holy habitation. 

God settles the solitary in a home;

he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,

but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. (ESV)

Sister

It means "toilet water".  Just kidding!  I believe it says, "Sister".

All to the Glory of God

31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31. ESV.)

God of the Untrusting

I suppose we are skeptical by nature. Perhaps just wired that way to help us discern the truth from false teaching...or not. Maybe it is a pride thing...a "no one is going to get one over on me" mentality. I have to be honest, I find myself doing it. Doubting.

The other day hubs was watching a documentary (and an interview) with scientists who believe they have found proof of mermaids. They had recovered remains from the digestive system of a Great White shark (I believe it was) and based on the fragments, theorized what the creature would like in its entirety. Further, a second man of Science showed video he had obtained from the deep ocean and played recordings of sounds (like those of whales).

I found myself filing this "evidence" along with that of "Big Foot", the "Lock Ness Monster", and (dare I say) aliens from other planets. To say I am not convinced is an understatement. However, I have never been thousands of miles below the surface of the sea, and I have no reservations in thinking there are a multitude of animals, plants, etc. down there I could hardly even imagine them.

For example, God's word speaks of Leviathan. What is that?! Is it a physical creature or a symbol?

In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1 ESV)

"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook
or press down his tongue with a cord?
Will you play with him as with a bird,
or will you put him on a leash for your girls?
Behold, the hope of a man is false;
he is laid low even at the sight of him.
No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up.
Who then is he who can stand before me?
Who can strip off his outer garment?
Who would come near him with a bridle?
Who can open the doors of his face?
Around his teeth is terror.
His back is made of rows of shields,
shut up closely as with a seal.
One is so near to another
that no air can come between them.
They are joined one to another;
they clasp each other and cannot be separated.
His sneezings flash forth light,
and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.
Out of his mouth go flaming torches;
sparks of fire leap forth.
Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke,
as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
His breath kindles coals,
and a flame comes forth from his mouth.
In his neck abides strength,
and terror dances before him.
The folds of his flesh stick together,
firmly cast on him and immovable.
His heart is hard as a stone,
hard as the lower millstone.
When he raises himself up the mighty are afraid;
at the crashing they are beside themselves.
Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail,
nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.
He counts iron as straw,
and bronze as rotten wood.
The arrow cannot make him flee;
for him sling stones are turned to stubble.
Clubs are counted as stubble;
he laughs at the rattle of javelins.
His underparts are like sharp potsherds;
he spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire.
He makes the deep boil like a pot;
he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
Behind him he leaves a shining wake;
one would think the deep to be white-haired.
On earth there is not his like,a creature without fear.
He sees everything that is high;he is king over all the sons of pride." (Job 41:1, 5, 9, 10, 13-34 ESV)

Believing without seeing (or smelling, hearing, or touching) is difficult. I get it. When I talk about Jesus (and God) it may fall on deaf ears. The one to whom I am speaking might say to himself/herself, "She has no idea what she is talking about!" Some might even find it offensive and hate me because of it...I have been told as much but I still love those individuals...very much.

If Given the Truth, They Can be Depended Upon

“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.”

- Abraham Lincoln

Did You Know...

I-80 is one of four freeways that runs from coast to coast in the United States?  I have not driven this one all the way across, yet, but I did drive I-10 West to East (then back again) in 2008.

The Nostalgia of it All

A street car named "Desire"?

Found the Rain

The forecast reported rain but we were not seeing any.  Found it.

God of the Unforgiven

I sin.  I hurt those around me at times.  God knows my heart, whether it is intentional or not...but the bottom line is, I have and I do.  Further, there are occasions when I just CANNOT forgive myself!  Even after many years.

Notice I called this, "The Unforgiven," not "The Unforgivable."  EVERY sin (but one) is forgivable (especially by God).  So, why is it so hard for me to give myself a break, sometimes?  Why can't I just let it go?  I beg for forgiveness from who or what I injured and from God, Himself.  And, of course, He grants Me His grace!  So, why can't I shake the feeling of blame and regret.  At times it brings tears to my eyes.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love....

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. (Psalm 103:8, 10-13 ESV)

There are two main ways I think about God: 1) God the Father and 2. God my King.  This helps me grasp His character...the very one that is demonstrated in both the Old and New Testament.  To me, He is never changing yesterday, today, and forever.  He is the same God in the Old and of New Testament time (in which we are still).  Reading the Old Testament assists me in remembering my King's reign, His laws, and the "no tolerance policy" of the old covenant.  The New Testament echoes His unwavering grace through His Son, Christ Jesus, and lets me know I may approach His throne any moment of any day because when I stand before Him, I believe He sees His Son, instead of me.  And, that makes me smile...to be loved as by a father and to be protected and cared for as by a King.