The Wave Beneath My Boat. . .

While kayaking a few days ago, we encountered some rough water with big swells and waves.

(To read the story of that trip click here.)

I was grateful we were traveling with the waves instead of against them. We have done that and it is hard work for recreation.

As I paddled in the water, I could feel the stronger waves pick up the end of my little kayak. At that point I would paddle as forcefully as I could. My effort combined with the effort of the wave, would push me far in the water. Once the wave was past, I would paddle my normal stroke until I felt another wave at my stern.

Immediately I thought the words of Jesus, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work."(John 5:17) The dynamic of our lives as Christians should follow the pattern of His earthly life. We do not do all the work ourselves. God does not do all the work for us. It is our working through the Lord Jesus Christ. I paddle and the wave pushes. We work together.

There have been times in my life when I wanted the Lord to completely override me and do things for me which I felt totally incompetent to do in and of myself. There have been other times when my self-sufficiency has overcome me and I have run out ahead of God and done things by myself, completely apart from His Will and working.

Our life with the Lord is a union, compared to a Head and a body, and a husband and wife. We trust Him for the wisdom, strength and will. We believe that He works in us "both to will and to do of His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13) He is always the wave beneath our boat, and we just keep faithfully paddling.

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ;
to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen."
Hebrews 13:20

"A Cup of Coffee Sure Would be Nice"

As I type this, my hand alternately holds a cup of steaming hot coffee. Sipping the fresh fragrant beverage reminds me of Mrs. 'Nirva.

Mrs. Minerva was one of the sweetest women at the convalescent home where we hold church services. Each Sunday or Tuesday when we were there, you would hear Mrs. 'Nirva (as she wanted to be called) say one of several favorite phrases. One was "Every day's a good day!" This cheerful sentiment would be expressed frequently throughout a single meeting. She would also be heard to say, "This is a lovely little chapel!"

The phrase she repeated which touched my heart the most, perhaps because I alwayImage via Wikipedias agreed without fail, was, "A cup of coffee sure would be nice!"

Mrs. Nirva loved coffee. For a long time I wondered why the care-givers wouldn't just give her a cup of coffee. Then they told methey had indeed given her coffee, but she would immediately forget she had just finished a cup and would begin to ask for another. Mrs. Nirva had a continual longing for coffee, (me, too!).

Everyone longs for something. Some may long for a child to fill their house. Others may long for their nest to be empty. Some may long for a big house, some for a smaller house. Some long for a job, some long for retirement. Some long for the companionship of a mate, some long for the quiet of solitude. Some long for peace, others for the stimulation of debate. Everyone longs for something.

The truth of the matter is that our hearts are actually longing for the Lord Jesus. As the song says, "For our lonely hearts are made only for Christ Jesus. They rest not until they find the Lamb of Calvary."

Often we think we are searching for something. . .the healing of an illness, the healing of a broken heart, the finding of something lost. . .and when we actually find those things we find our hearts still have an aching in our hearts, a place not quite filled.

We will never be fulfilled, never be satisfied, until we look to the One who came to be our satisfaction and fulfillment. The Lord Himself told us, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33)."

When we first seek Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith, as the "one thing needful" then all those other things can be added. They will be the whipped cream on top of the Cafe Mocha, not the coffee itself, but an added something that adds to it.

"But Christ is all, and in all.(Colossians 3:11)"

beyond the bow. . .

September 6, 2010
Mobile Bay

Our first "picnic" trip!

We were relieved as we drove up to the put in to see Pole Cat Bay calm compared to our previous visit. We put in and circled around South to Mobile Bay. When we crossed under the bridge of the Causeway and entered Mobile Bay we encountered surprising swells and waves. It took a good amount of concentration to keep on course and to maintain balance.

We headed closer to shore than we had done previously, hoping the water would be calmer, and it was. From that point on it was a fairly smooth paddle. We reached a small area of sandy beach, although not the one we had hoped to reach. It took a little maneuvering through the shallow water to remain in enough water to stay afloat, and still come in to the shore.

Once out of our boats, we had hoped to sit on some driftwood as we ate our snacks, but ants (and some funny hopping type insects) discouraged that. We had our "picnic", enjoyed the scenery and enjoyed having a place where we could stretch our backs.

As we were heading back, the sun was starting to set. I was planning on taking some sunset pictures, but the waves by this point were much to steep for me to take my hands off the paddle for more than one picture. The great thing was that the waves were actually pushing us along our way. I would feel the wave come from the back of my boat and would paddle forcefully with the wave. When it had passed, I would paddle normally until the next wave came. Glen told me when we were back in the car, he had wondered how I kept getting so far ahead of him.

Once we made it back to Pole Cat Bay, the water there was once again calm and still. We both enjoyed sitting in the water for a few minutes, but the light was quickly disappearing. Reluctantly, as usual, we left the water for another day.

Where the Food Is. . ..

Lately there has been a great deal of conversation and speculation as to whether or not President Obama is a Christian. Invariably in this discussion it is mentioned that the Obama's do not attend church since moving to Washington, DC. Often this is discussed in contrast to both Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush who frequently attended church.

Let me first state that whether President Obama has a true relationship with the Lord Jesus is between him and the Lord. It is not for me to decide. But it does remind me of something that happened the other morning when we were kayaking.

We set out just before sunrise and I noticed several fishing boats on the water, dragging their nets behind them. In the air all around the boats flew multiple sea gulls. These birds weren't circling the fishing boats to prove they were birds. They weren't flying to prove they could fly. They were circling the fishing boats because that is where the food was. The fish were on the boats.

When discussing a Christian attending church, one must question, why does a Christian attend church? Certainly not to prove that one is a Christian. A Christian goes to church because they want to. They want to be taught by the pastor and teachers there. They want to be encouraged by their brothers and sisters in the Lord. They want to have the opportunity to share and sing and pray together. It strengthens their heart, or as the Bible states it, "iron sharpeneth iron."

Several months ago, extenuating circumstances kept one of our friends from church. When he rejoined us, he told us how much he had missed "this fellowship together." The manner in which he expressed it made me think of an almost tangible bond between us all. For Christians it is not only something we want, but something we truly need. When a Christian doesn't want to fellowship together with other believers, that usually is an indication of something wrong somewhere.

The Lord has given us His Spirit, His Word and the communion of our brethren in the body of Christ for support, encouragement, correction and instruction. We do well to follow the advice of the author of the book of Hebrews:

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25