Beach Shoes

Before Sara started college, we used to go to the beach once a year.   On one trip, my husband Tim decided he just had to have a pair of beach shoes.  So we went from shop to shop along A1A (main beach road) to find him the perfect pair. It took a few stops, but he finally found what he wanted.

I have to admit I did think that was a strange request on his part.  He’s has always said if a shark was going to get him, it would have to be an ankle biter.  So when he wore his new shoes to the beach, I stood back and watched.  Would he actually get in the water with them?

As soon as the wave came in; he went the other way as fast as he could. I laughed at him and asked why he wanted the beach shoes if he wasn’t going to get them wet.  He wasn’t using them for their purpose.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

            God knew our purpose before we were even born and He made us accordingly.  Are you letting God use you for that purpose or are you running from it? Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet.  It may have been what you were designed for.

Staying in the Lines

I have never been able to paint or color within the lines.  No matter how hard I try, I always stray.  Even when I go slow and take my time, I still go outside of the lines. To be honest, I have been frustrated and embarrassed at times.  Then one day I realized that I wasn’t meant to stay within the lines.

 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)

            It’s okay to stray out of the lines as long as you’re following Jesus.  He alone has the perfect path-not the world for its patterns are imperfect and self-serving.

Fish Concussion

 

Did you do a double take at the title?  My daughter Sara bought a goldfish for her aquarium.  Over the last few months it has tripled in size and it’s huge!  I don’t know why, but it will jump out of the water and hit the lid over the tank.  It hits so hard sometimes that we hear it over the TV.  And it will do it over and over.  Tim and I joke about it giving itself a concussion.

 “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” Proverbs 12:15 (NIV)

            There’s nothing wrong with listening to advice.  It doesn’t make you weak or less intelligent. In fact not heeding good advice puts you on the same level as Sara’s goldfish.  It didn’t have the mental capacity to fully understand what it was doing.  And I would dare the hits to its head didn’t help.  

 

 

Driving Into a Wall

I remember when they first started putting airbags into cars.  I watched a commercial where a car was driven straight into a brick wall at a speed of 55 mph.  After the crash, the driver (a stuntman) opened the car door and walked away. 

            Afterwards the driver was asked in an interview if he was worried about driving into the wall.  He said the engineers personally guaranteed him the airbags would work.   He obviously trusted them or he wouldn’t have done it. I don’t remember which car company the engineers worked for, but I’m amazed at the fact that the stuntman had enough faith to drive into a brick wall just based on their word.  This brings me to a simple question.  Do you have the faith of that stuntman?

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

            No, I don’t have the faith of the stuntman.  If I had been him, I would have said, “No way!” or “Are you nuts?” You see my faith isn’t in man or his promises, but in my Savior.  A Savior who has never broken a promise, who knows all, and who died to give me eternal life.  Where does your faith lie?