Something About the Shore

By Cynthia Ruchti –

I know I’m not the only one who could sit for hours staring off into the water. Big water. The Great Lakes. The Atlantic. The Pacific. The Gulf of Mexico…

Anytime a vacation or conference takes us near a wide expanse of water, I always feel we’re leaving the spot too soon, as if to walk away from the shore is an interruption of something vitally important.

I was born in a Pacific coast town, but moved inland with my mother just a few days later. Far inland. To the heart of the Midwest.

It’s not just the connection to my birthplace that draws me to the shore. It’s more than just liking water. It’s beyond a fascination with waves and tides.

Today, I think I figured out part of the pull. I reread a verse I’ve seen before, but landed on it this time as if spreading a beach blanket for a prolonged visit to the water’s edge.

Isaiah 51 expresses God’s promises about the endurance of His salvation. “Pay attention to me, my people; listen to me, my nation…My salvation is on its way, and my arm will judge the peoples. The coastlands hope for me; they wait for my judgment” (Isaiah 51:4-5 CEB).

Just a few verses before the passage that reminds us the earth will wear out like clothing, we’re given this beautiful picture of the shoreline itself longing for Christ’s coming. Whatever a theologian would say about it, I gained a deeper understanding of why I feel so at home near big water. The coastlines hope for Him. They long for His return. We share that in common.

The whisper of the waves as they kiss the shore says, “Come, Lord Jesus. Come, Lord Jesus. Come, Lord Jesus.” Just like the pulse of my heart.

Romans 8 affirms that the whole of creation groans with a longing we usually attribute to humans awaiting their answer, their salvation.

The next time I’m given the opportunity to linger near the water’s edge, I’ll understand a little better why staring out across the vastness of the sea resonates with an inner “watching and waiting.”

PRAYER: Father God, I’m amazed every day that even after years of digging into Your Word, there’s still more, always more to learn, more to grab onto, more to explore. Thank You for the reminder that I’m not alone in the pulsing anticipation for the future You’ve prepared for those of us who love You and follow Your plan. Glorious expectation that surges like the waves of the sea.

“…creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children” (Romans 8:21 CEB).

To my Friend

By Peter Lundell –

The one you loved has gone, slipped into another world that most of us anticipate yet oddly avoid until we have no choice. But you have taught us that either way we’re in God’s hands.

You and I live by the words we speak and write, yet her last squeeze of your hand went without them. In the face of eternity, it seems that all of life is irony.

Many days have now passed. Friends and family have held you well. God has held you. After the condolences and final good-byes, after we’ve gone home and hung up the phone, when the room is quiet, are you alone? Or does her scent linger in the closet, her shadow smile from a chair? Does the other half of the bed feel like a wilderness, or does her memory snuggle like a warm blanket?

Do you hear her voice echo in your inner ear? Do you embrace her in your heart? A memory can tenaciously defy a world that goes on without the one we have loved.

When the joy of a memory competes with the sadness of an event, which one wins? Surely memories themselves are real. How else could they reach past death to hold hands with hope and choose to look forward and smile?

Perhaps you feel God’s strength more than before––because you have to. Are the solitary footprints behind you your own or those of Jesus? Or are they somehow the same?

Someday you will go too. Another day will take me. And every last one of us. What matters is how we live until then. Tears in this life are brief, and we have all eternity to party. Until then we run our race and fulfill our purpose. We do not fear life. We do not fear death. Because we are in God’s hands.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:27-30 NIV).

“Lord, teach me to always remember that my life is in Your Hands. In good times. In bad times. You are not only there; I am in Your hands, and no one can snatch me out of them.”

Glue

By Elaine James –

“Faith, get on your mat!” I yelled at the dog.

She ran to her mat, sat down and looked at me with those puppy eyes as if she was saying, “Look, I’m in my safe zone. You can’t touch me now.”

Did you play “it” or “tag” as a kid? To play the game, someone had to be “it” and the one important thing you needed to know was the location of “glue” which is your safe zone. Glue was the spot you touched or hung onto so you couldn’t get tagged by “it.” You’re out if you get tagged. You win if you don’t get tagged.

That is what I thought of in that moment when I stared at the dog. She was in her safe zone.
I have played the game as a child. The game is different as an adult. My mind is the playground where instead of getting tagged by kids, I get tagged by the evil one. He catches me and I am out; it feels like I am inundated with all sorts of negative thoughts. As a child after I got tagged I was out. I liken being “out” to not feeling secure in life. When I’m insecure others’ comments, betrayals, stubbornness, impatience, bad moods…make me feel out! The Holy Spirit reminds me to go to the B.I.B.L.E, which can be an acronym for “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” I run to God, I get glued, and then I am in a safe zone where I cannot get tagged.

When I awake at night and my mind is racing I focus on Him because He alone calms my racing thoughts. My approach is to acknowledge God by practicing the presence of Him. I do this by singing a hymn, praising, thanking, and praying to Him. I know the power of praying scripture and I find that this is the perfect time to pray for others too.

“The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:11 NIV). At one point in my life I focused on this verse and asked myself if God is my fortress, what would it be like to be in God’s fortress? I let my mind wander further. What would it look like, who would be allowed in? I feel physically safe and that can be attributed to the Lord. This verse was my safe zone and I was stuck to God.

With all that said, I look at my darling dog with my puppy eyes and bark back “I’m glued to Jesus. He’s my free zone and you can’t bother me.”

Warning: The devil’s version of “it” still exists. Don’t be caught in the game. Stay glued in your safe zone, a place you can stick to Him!

Prayer: Lord Almighty help me to remember You are with me; You are my fortress. I want to stay glued to You and be in Your safe zone. Teach me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Are You Born Again

By Judy Davis –

To be born again we must accept Jesus Christ into our hearts as Lord and Master of our lives. We will no longer desire the things of the world such as those things we did before accepting Christ. It may take time for those desires to leave, as it is a process. Change will come as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us.

I have been a born-again Christian for over 30 years. I knew God had touched my heart and life supernaturally when I called out to Him in the midst of pain and suffering. Rebirth had come! Everything was brighter, grass was greener, the sun was brilliant and the moon had a glow of light bursting forth in the darkness. It was as if I had been seeing through a dark glass and had put glasses on for the first time after going to an optometrist.

After being reborn, I could not read and study enough of God’s Word. I was thirsty for the things of God. My life started changing. Today I still have not reached where I would like to be in my walk with Christ, but know in my heart He is leading me beside the still waters.

You may ask, “How I can be reborn?” God loves you and it is His desire for everyone to receive salvation.

First, admit you are a sinner. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV).

Second, believe in Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).

Third, confess your sins and ask God to change your life. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).

PRAYER:

Father, change my heart O God, make it new. Help me to lean on you every day so that my life will be pleasing to you. Giving thanks for the changes you have already made and the ones you plan to make.

“You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:7-8 NIV).

Ice Cream Dilemma

By Michelle Lim –

There is nothing more difficult for my five year-old than standing in front of the ice cream counter and being asked to choose a flavor.

Superman ice cream, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cookies n’ cream—the list of choices is daunting.

Hands pressed to the glass he looks down at the flavors. “Superman. No, chocolate.”
He wavers back and forth until I finally require an answer.

It struck me the other day how much that sounded like how God feels about our choice to serve Him. He desires from each one of us unwavering faith.

But just like in Bible times it can be a challenging step. Defining moments come in our lives and we often don’t realize their import until they are gone.

In one such moment in the book of 1 Kings the prophet Elijah reminded Israel to be decisive in its faith. At that time the Kingdom of Israel was under the rule of King Ahab, one of the wickedest kings in all of Israel’s history.

The children of Israel were worshiping Baal and other gods right along with the one true God. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel encouraged the evil that continued to happen in the name of various religions.

Elijah issued a challenge to King Ahab to show all of Israel the one true God. King Ahab was to invite all of Israel to see the display on Mount Carmel. Two altars were built, one to Elijah’s God and one to Baal.

The prophets of Baal tried to call down fire, but their sacrifice remained cold. Elijah had more faith than I could possibly imagine. His faith didn’t waver. He called out to the people of Israel to quit wavering between religions, but to believe and serve only the one true God.

Dousing his sacrifice with water over and over, Elijah ensured that there would be no doubt about the hand of God. God consumed the sacrifice with fire.

When I watched my son try to pick ice cream flavors, I was reminded of how easily we can be distracted by other things in our lives, choosing them almost as if they had God’s place in our lives.

It’s amazing how something as simple as picking ice cream can challenge a heart.

“Elijah came near to all of the people and said, ‘How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people did not answer him a word” (1Kings 18:21 NASB).

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