Saturday, March 31, 2007
“Lessons from a Cruise Ship Part 3”
I can remember saying to my wife several years ago, “Why would I want to go on a cruise, all you do is sit on the boat and look at water, water and more water!” We here we were, on this incredible Christian cruise, and after a few short hours, the shoreline of Florida had all but disappeared into some fuzzy shapes to our west.
But, yet there we were stood, on the deck of this incredible ship, looking over the horizon at the most incredibly blue ocean I had ever seen. On the east, ocean. To the west, more ocean. A quick check at the north and south, and yup, more ocean there too. I think then it started to sink in, we are just this “tiny” ship in the vastness of God’s creation, the ocean. But, if God cares about the tiniest sparrow, then surely He must care about me, crossing this ocean (again, I’m still praying for smooth sailing).
All this ocean was created by God. The bible starts with the story of how God created the planet we live on, in the book of Genesis. On day two God spoke and sky appeared, to separate the waters. On day three of His creation he made land appear, and named the bodies of water, oceans. Of course, God also created the great whales and other fish in the sea, and I was really hoping not to have a “Jonah” experience while on the ship!
As the week went on, I spent many hours just peering at the magnificent ocean. I would get up early to spend my quiet time on the deck as the sun rose over the ocean. If you’ve never watched the sun rise over the ocean, it really is an incredible sight as the rays of light start to dance through the sky and are reflected across the waves.
Now the take away for today is simply this! Have you taken time lately to marvel, and I mean to really stand amazed at God’s creation? This incredible planet called Earth? The mountains, the forests, the deserts, the oceans? Have you stood on the deck of ship with ocean all around, and just praised God for His magnificent creation? Even if you live in a major metropolitan area, you can still go to a park, or travel to a place to just stop and look at what God has created.
In spring, God’s mighty creation is coming alive again, with the greening of grass, budding of flowers and trees, and yes, even new life in the oceans. It’s amazing watching the planet “wake up” from the winter season. How fitting that as we celebrate Easter this coming week, that we are seeing the new life of spring. Jesus death and resurrection give us promise of that new life that we can experience every day.
Spend time worshiping your Creator and thank Him for His wonderful creation today and the new life found in him!
-Garrett Novak
-Genesis 1:9-10(MSG)
God spoke: “Separate! Water-beneath-Heaven, gather into one place;
Land, appear!” And there it was. God named the land Earth. He named the pooled water Ocean. God saw that it was good.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The real reason people want to go to heaven is…?
What is the real reason people want to go to heaven?
More important is, “Why do you want to go to heaven?”
But the most puzzling question is, “Why wouldn’t anyone want to go to heaven”
Until Jesus comes, as He most certainly will,
-Lyn Sahr
-Phil 3:17-21 NIV
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Having just returned from Mexico, I am again reminded of the heartache of the poor. We take so much for granted in America. But my heart doesn’t ache so much for those who have little and are happy as it does for those who have plenty and are unhappy.
Happiness must be found within ourselves and through our relationship with Jesus Christ. Happiness outside of Christ doesn’t exist. And no other human person on earth can truly make you happy.
Until Jesus comes as He most certainly will
-Lyn Sahr
-Prov 15:13 NIV
A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Run the race of life with excellence and fight the good fight as if you are battling for your eternal life, because you are!
Until Jesus comes as He most certainly will
-Lyn Sahr
-1 Tim 6:11-16 NIV
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time-God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
Monday, March 5, 2007
How do you find peace like a river when you are in one of life’s hurricanes? You must go to the one who gives shelter in the time of storms.
Until Jesus come as He most certainly will.
-Lyn Sahr
-Isa 25:4 NIV
You have been a refuge for the poor,
a refuge for the needy in his distress,
a shelter from the storm
and a shade from the heat.
