His Peace In All Times

Taken from the back door

"The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
²⁵ the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
²⁶ the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace."
                       (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV)

I just got off of the phone from talking with my husband, Howard. He is not a real happy camper this morning. He is on vacation at our home in Michigan. Our home in Michigan is at the mouth of a river leading into a bay. On top of the normal tides moving in and out because the bay is on Lake Superior; he has experienced a couple of seiches since yesterday. This morning, we video chatted and the water was up to the top of the deck at the back of the house. The dock is floating around and it is not a floating dock. He is going to have a mess to clean up after the water quits moving so much.

He is not a happy camper. But, like the tides that go in and out, so does just about every aspect of every one's lives. That is the way it is. All we can do is pray this wonderful prayer for one another. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord look upon you with face and grant you His peace.

Due to the storms there have been a lot of areas and homes that have been devastated (destroyed) in the past few weeks in the Upper Peninsula. We are fortunate on Huron Bay. The mess at our home is nothing more than a mess. It can be cleaned up with a bit of work.

May God grant you His peace!

God's peace - Pr. J

Time For Change?

The grass is long. The water low.

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the

    heavens.

                                         (Eccl 3:1 NIV)

 

There is a time for everything. I absolutely thank God for the years I've been able to spend on the beautiful Silver River and Huron Bay. This morning; though, I'm wondering if it is time to make a permanent change. My husband and my intentions for retirement were to be able to spend the summers in the Upper Peninsula. But, this is getting a little old.

 

We pulled into the yard that looked more like a hay field. The grass is long. The water in the river was very low. For those of you who do not realize it; but, the Silver River has tides coming in and going out. So within an hour the river was back up to the back porch. There was not too much damage from the rising and receding water levels. Logs piled up and the bridge to the river is slightly damaged. Nothing much changed about that. We have gotten used to it over the years. Upon entering the house, we noticed a slight mildew smell. We were relieved as last summer the entire house had to be scrubbed in bleach which took my entire two weeks of vacation. So, we were pretty happy with the way we found the place. But, then the lights started flashing on and off and within a short while the power went completely out in half the house; to include the kitchen, two bedrooms and the bathroom. The office and most of the living room are still up and running. So, today hoping we can find an electrician who can find the problem and maybe even fix it before I head back to work.

 

In the meantime, I am beginning to wonder if this spending summers up north is going to work for us. Howard mentioned last winter that maybe we ought to sell. This property really deserves year round care and as it is looking right now; it is something that we cannot do. This morning I find myself considering it. This morning I find myself wondering if it is the time and the season to move totally on.

 

May God help us to discern the times and the seasons in each of our lives.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Still Waters

Video: Kayaking on a peaceful day in Huron Bay on Lake Superior

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil;

my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23 KJV

It is no secret that I love the water. I enjoy being beside still waters and even on them. I even enjoy the storms because for me they are reminder that God is with me. I have no need to fear for nothing can happen without the Lord knowing what is going on. He is with me always.

The water reminds me that I have been washed in the waters of baptism. The storms remind me that I have been baptized by the Spirit and I am reassured that by the goodness and mercy of God I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Even this day, I abide in His Kingdom for He is with me.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Leviathan

 Huron Bay the last time Cassie and I went Kayaking together

"In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword—his fierce, great and powerful sword—Leviathan  the gliding serpent,  Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea." (Isa 27:1 NIV)
 

Leviathan, the great sea monster, is mentioned a few times in Scripture. In addition to Isaiah 27, you can find mention of Leviathan in Job 3:8, Job 41:1, Job 41:12, Psalm 74:14, and Psalm 104:26.

 

On the rare occasions that I've found myself out on the lake in the midst of a storm I've thought of God overpowering Leviathan. OK - so they are not rare occasions. It seems like the wind picks up almost every time I am out on a boat (big or small) on a large mass of water. I actually warn people that they should not take me fishing unless they want a storm or their motor to conk out... Others should not take me out with them if they don't want to play with Leviathan, or maybe it's God, out in the middle of the water. I don't mind the storms. I know that the LORD is with me, even in the storms. The rushing wind reminds me of the power of the Holy Spirit. God is big enough to destroy Leviathan. He is big enough to protect me, if that is His will. But, if I'm not up to another storm, I stay as close to home as I can with my kayak...

 

Symbolically, the sea refers to a large number of people. So, for those of you who are big into the Revelation of John, the dragon that comes out of the sea in the book of Revelation most probably refers to the fact that the evil one will come from among the people. "The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name." (Rev 13:1) We are not looking for a literal dragon to come out of a literal sea, but an evil that comes from the midst of the people. Revelation is filled with symbolism. Please, do not take it literally.

 

The picture of the evil one may be a bit alarming; but, remember the promise found in Isaiah today: The LORD will slay the evil one in the midst of the people. There may be times when things seem just awful. There may be times when your leviathan decides it's time to play with you. But, know this: the LORD will surely rescue His people. He is our very help in the time of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Forgive That You Might Live Life

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Col 3:13 NIV)

Life is just way too short to spend any of it being angry at others. God intended for us to live life. We ought to put up with each other the best that we can. Sometimes, that is not so easy. Sometimes, we do have to walk away because; you see, bearing one another works both ways. We are human beings and can only endure so much persecution before we become non-functional and unfruitful. There are times in our lives when we must forgive and move on. Sometimes, that moving on means distancing ourselves from the one who would continue to have you bear them up and constantly push you down.

Jesus instructions to his disciples when he sent them out to share the Good News of his Kingdom included this:  "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet." (Matt 10:14) Do not hold a grudge. Forgive generously. But, remember that you ought to be moving forward in life and sharing the gospel. Do not allow yourselves to come to a standstill, locked in grief or anger. God gave you life to live it. Live life in Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J