Secure Vessel

I’ve always wanted to name a boat.

If I ever really had the opportunity, what would I choose? Name it after a person I love, a favorite book or movie, or a clever, ironic phrase to make people smile?

Recently, I discarded all those notions and decided I’d name my boat “His Will.”

Why?

Because, then, no matter if the boat is big or small, grand or simple, even new or old, I would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that boat won’t sink.

No matter how difficult or easy that boat is to operate, I can believe I won’t be stranded on high or stagnant seas.

No matter how long it takes to get to the ‘golden shore’ as it were, I can trust that my boat will indeed make it there safely.

“His Will’ is the only vessel I want to be on. Getting on board is the best move any of us will ever take.

Blessings, my Dry Ground friends.

(photo by Yours Truly)

The Center of the Universe

It's only been a few hundred years since a majority of the world's population believed that the world was flat. It was only after they proved that the earth is not the center of the universe did people begin to believe that traveling toward the horizon did not mean falling off any cosmic ledge.

Think about the people living during that time. What an astronomical (literally!) perspective change they faced! I wonder - would I be one who went to my grave not accepting the Truth that Earth is round and revolves around the Sun? Or would I be enlightened and embrace the Truth and all the exciting revelations that come with it?

We can't imagine that kind of choice - whether or not to believe the earth is round or not? It's universal knowledge now, right? Everybody knows the Sun is center of our solar system.

Actually, maybe we can imagine that kind of choice - because it's kind of like discovering that your own personal planet isn't the center of the universe either. You find out that it isn't you holding all the other bodies in alignment. Right relationships don't happen because the other planets revolve around YOU. Harmony and balance occur when all bodies, including yourself, revolve around the Son, have the Son as the source of life.

When you embrace the Truth of that, an exciting perspective shift occurs. And other exciting revelations fill your life with peace, direction, love and contentment.

(photo by photobucket.com)

NOT a Morning Person

I'm not a morning person. Funny, then, that morning glories are my favorite flower. I just love how they open up to the first rays of sunshine and strain for the sky to soak up as much as possible. I wish I woke up like that. But my bigger wish is that I open up, strain upwards and soak up as much as possible of the Son on a daily basis... even if it isn't quite at first light. Hope all my Dry Ground friends are having a blessed week! I know I am!

POV Wednesday - Mercy

When a troublesome roadblock presents itself, how do you react?

Complaining?

Fear?

Anger?

Offense?

Anything frustrating our plans and desires can sting like a splinter or burn like a dagger blade. Either way, it’s usually uncomfortable and we don’t like the delay, detour or what seems like a dead end.

The Israelites encountered frustrating events even in the midst of their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt. They went from bondage to the barren wilderness when they thought they were headed to the Promised Land.

Well, I guess I’ve never read this carefully. I always thought they ended up in the wilderness because of their sin. But that’s not true – at least not to start with.

They were headed to the Promised Land, but not in the way they expected because God planned it that way.

Yep, He led them purposefully into the wilderness.

While His action may be construed as unkind, it’s actually a display of His great MERCY.

How?

He’s good enough to tell us. Exodus 13:17-18 reads:

When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, ‘If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led them a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.

This passage tells us so much! God doesn’t always lead us the shortest or most direct route. He displayed great mercy by protecting His people from fierce, deadly battles with the Philistine giants. And He loved them so much, He didn’t want them to return to slavery. He wanted them to experience the Paradise He destined them for. He also led them toward another barrier, the Red Sea, but only to show His glory and might by performing another stunning miracle.

Think of your own journey. Can you see God’s mercy? I promise you, it’s there.

Be blessed, Dry Ground friends! And remember, take God at His Word!

(photo by photobucket.com)

2012

I want to apologize for my unexplained absence.

You see, I gave up on 2011 about two weeks early. It’s hard to imagine now, but my flame of hope was a mere whisper, like a wick that has already begun to smolder. Dark, I know. Again, sorry. I literally couldn’t help myself.

Christmas was a pick-me-up, but its effects didn’t last very long. In fact, on the car ride home, I started to sink inside again. Until…

A near car accident – and when I say ‘near’ I mean near – woke me up to the fact that God’s not done with me yet. If He was, my Daniel and I had definitely been dead.

Sounds morbid, I guess, but I see it as quite the opposite. It was precisely the spark my smoldering wick needed. Without any other change in circumstances, I suddenly began to hope again. And it’s a hope that has lasted. I actually expect 2012 to be stellar.

This short but poignant experience helped me look at things from a different perspective.

Bottom line, I’ve got to start taking God at His Word.

So that’s my New Year’s resolution, as it were. To take God at His Word.

I pray God’s will, His great and perfect will, for you and your life in 2012, Dry Ground friends!