Month: March 2020

There was a quiet splash, and her little body slipped below the surface. Ashley had been playing near the boathouse and had spied a challenge. She was out of sight from her mother and her family. Now was her chance… Her pulse quickened as she wondered if she could make it out to the end of the boathouse, along the outside of the building. Placing her little toes on the narrow top of a wooden crosspiece, while gripping the wood with her small fingers, she inched her way along. Soon she was at the outside corner where the water was deep, and the challenge intensified. As she reached around the corner, attempting to grasp the wood, her foot slipped, and into the chilly water she fell.

As she came up for air, Ashley struggled to stay afloat. The depth of water that she found herself in didn’t allow her to reach the bottom with her little toes. On instinct, she began to frantically swim the doggie-paddle, and inch by inch slowly made it to the side of the boathouse. Clutching the boards, she moved closer and closer to the shore. She then dragged her tired and soaked body out of the water and back to the cottage… into the comfort of her momma’s arms.

Many years before Ashley (actually, me) was born… a missionary boarded a ship, with plans to travel from a port in Asia towards Rome, stopping in at small ports along the way. The days were getting cooler, and the crew realized that winter was quickly approaching. The missionary warned them that they would lose the ship, cargo and their lives if they continued on. He wanted to winter in the harbor of Fair Havens. The majority of the crew felt differently, though, arguing that the harbor wasn’t a suitable place to winter. They continued on in their journey.

A soft gentle breeze turned quickly into a wind of hurricane force. They submitted to its strength, and their ship was driven along, with the men terrified of running aground on sandbars. They began to throw cargo overboard. Then they threw the tackle overboard. Now they were scared for their lives. Refusing to eat, their stomachs were gnawing with hunger.

The missionary finally stood up in front of the men and spoke from the heart. He gently reminded them of his advice back before the storm. But then he encouraged them, saying, “…keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed…. keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God…” He then informed them that he knew at some point they would have to run aground on an island.

After two weeks of this voyage, in the middle of the night, the men sensed something! They felt that they were getting close to land. A few of them checked the water depth and it was 125 feet. They waited and checked it again. It was 90 feet deep. Now terror set in. They were afraid they would be smashed against the rocks. Quickly, working together, they dropped four anchors and prayed for daylight. The missionary begged the men to eat, telling them that they needed food to survive. In quiet confidence, he took some bread, thanked God for it, and began to eat in front of them. They all joined in and a feast was had! After eating their fill, they lightened the boat by throwing the grain overboard.

As the sun came up, the men were overjoyed to see a sandy beach! They were ready to make a run for it with the ship. After cutting loose the anchors and hoisting the sail, they raced towards the beach. The ship ran aground, striking a sandbar. The stern began to break apart with the pounding of the waves.

The men on board were given their orders. They were to jump overboard. If they could swim, they were to swim to land. If they were unable to swim, they were to grasp hold of planks or pieces of the ship and make their way to safety.

They all made it to the land. Every one of them. All 276 of them. Including the missionary, Paul, as recorded in the book of Acts.

Do you feel like you’ve just landed in deeper water than you can handle? Have you lost your footing? Have you dropped below the surface and are struggling to come up for air? Does the shore seem to be miles further away than your strength will endure for? Are your memories of security being washed quickly away with the monstrous waves of fear? Have you lost faith in the Master of the ship and the seas? Are you laying awake at night, tossing about, as moments of panic swirl through your mind? Are you struggling to find something to cling to as life crashes against you with full force, blinding you sight?

Are you drowning?

Reach out. Your piece of wood is only a grasp away.

The Master of the ship, the God of the Universe, the One and Only God Almighty.. has given us promises to cling to. Grab onto one. Or two…. ’cause then you’ll have one to help a friend.

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Matthew 6:4

“Look at the birds of the air;… your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ” Matthew 6:26

“So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” Isaiah 43:2

Ahhh… cling tight… and rest. After all, He made the wood. He’s with you. He’ll care for you. He’ll hold you. He’ll shield you.

He’s got you.

What a pretty plant! She arrived close to Mother’s Day as a gift from my daughter and her husband. Her white petals were clearly defined and exquisite, giving her a stately elegance embossed in true beauty. The fine green stem struggled to hold the weight of the flowers, and was grateful for the stake that was next to her. Her petite stature told of secret dreams of wanting to be so much more.

As the heat of summer turned to crisp fall days, her petals started to fall… one at a time…. leaving her beauty a distant memory. She was left with just a few leaves and a barren stem.

However, I had visions of growth, of new blossoms, of a magnificence that she had yet to know. So I read… and read more… learning all about the orchid plant! As I discovered what the plant needed, I knew that she was not going to like what I had to do.

I gathered my supplies. This wasn’t going to be pretty. First of all, I needed to cut back the spike that had held the flowers, close to the leaves. Then, holding the plant securely, I held the plant upside down, and removed it from the safety of her pot. I then placed in her in a new larger pot, with nutrient rich soil, allowing her room to grow. She then was given a good watering.

Over the course of the next year, she needed to be moved around. She couldn’t get too comfortable. At one point, I placed her in a cold room and left her for awhile… and then brought her out into the warmth and sunlight of a sill. I turned her often. Some days she basked in the sun and other days she sat alone in the shadows. And I watched. She sent out air roots but no spikes. I watered and I waited. At times I let her dry out… and then I’d water her with extra fertilizer. And I continued to wait….

Then I saw it!! A new spike was coming out between a couple of the large green leaves. Slowly but surely, it grew heavenward, higher and higher. And then… the blossoms started to form…. Oh, so many of them! And then a second spike grew out of the first. More and more blossoms… promising breathtaking beauty. Quietly, they began to bloom. One at a time… as more and more blossoms burst forth in excitement.

Her quiet beauty hides a story of change, discomfort, hunger, thirst, uncertainty, pain, waiting, unknowns …. and trust.

Has your life, like mine, been through times of feeling like you’re being uprooted… but really God is just allowing you room to grow? Have you been through seasons of excruciating pain, where you’re wondering why…. but God is pruning you with love and wisdom, to allow for new growth? Have you been suffering through sleepless nights of uncertainty…. but God is calling you to let go and trust Him? Have you felt dry and drained as you pour into those around you…. but God is offering you His water, to satisfy your parched and thirsty soul? Have you felt the ache of rejection and aloneness… while God is preparing you for a deeper relationship with Himself?

Thousands of years ago, a prophet named Jeremiah struggled at times with God as well as his own personal weaknesses and failures. And yet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he paints such a clear picture for us of God’s plan for our lives.

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in Him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out is roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 17:7,8

Take a deep breath and relax… knowing that God loves you far too deeply to not be at work in your life. He calls us to trust. Completely. With abandon.

Then those around you will see the breathtaking work of God.