The Ocean is God Almighty's Reflection

God's reflection

We were on vacation last week at the beach. So far we've been able to visit the seashore about once a year.  This year my parents, sister and her hubby came for a visit. We were able to rent a beach house and spend 4 days on the Gulf of Mexico coast. 

The vast expanse of the waters never cease to amaze me. Words cannot begin to express the sense of God's awesome presence that envelop my entire being when I spend even just a few mere minutes on the oceanside.

We arrived at the beach house late afternoon last Monday. Everyone, except Dad, walked down to the shore while I stayed behind to prepare dinner. They returned just as the spread was ready. My brother-in-love prayed over our evening meal. He declared that God's creation was beautiful and was a reflection of Him.

The Boston Clan
(minus my brother and his family)

Amen to that!

Nature truly reflects the glory of God. I'd like to take that truth a step further and declare that The Great I Am is far more beautiful than all of His creation. 

After dinner, all of us took a walk down to the beach. I knew how much amazement my mind would experience, so I grabbed my Bible before we headed out the door. I am so glad I thought to do that.

As I sat on the shore I read a few verses from the book of Psalm:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear; though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.  Psalm 46:1-3

The Holy Spirit dropped a thought into my mind after I read that passage. The ocean is a true reflection of the Lord indeed. The ocean is very relaxing, peaceful, and breath-taking. Yet, it is also awesome in power, fearsome and even dangerous in its depth. Does that not describe the Lord of hosts?

God's presence is peaceful and calming, but following Him with abandon is a scary thing when we don't know what path lies ahead. However, God is good and He is powerful. He is faithful to give us exactly what we need to take the necessary steps to follow Him. His holiness is fearful, especially when we understand how our wicked hearts rebel before Him, yet His compassion gave us a way to be healed of such vileness through the sacrifice of His own Son on the cross and His resurrection.  

I felt like I was right next to the Lord
every time I sat on the shore.

Oh, yes indeed, the Alpha and Omega is mighty, doing just as He wills, conforming us to the image of His Son.

Oh yes, He is truth and He is faithful. Everything He does is excellent. How can I be so stubborn before Him?

Every time the Lord reveals more of Himself to me, more of my heart's wickedness is displayed. That moment of awe last week uncovered more of my true selfish ways. 

We've looked forward to this vacation for several months. The closer the time came, the more excited we became. As we traveled in the car, we almost burst with excitement to be able to relax on the beach once more.   

If only we would harbor such anticipation to spend time alone with the King of kings every morning, every afternoon and every evening!

If only I would harbor such anticipation to spend time alone with the Alpha and Omega!

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Thankful Thursday ~ 6/4/15

Today I am thankful for...

1. God's Truth - The Almighty God is true. He is truth. Period. There is none beside Him. There is none above Him. Nothing in this world is more valuable, more beautiful or any wiser than the Great I Am. 

2. Jesus Christ, our sure foundation - In a world that is chaotic and lacking absolutes, I am thankful that there is a Solid Rock on which we can stand, and that is Christ Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone. 

3. The ever gentle Holy Spirit - He is such a gentleman. He is so patient, always pointing back to Christ. Even while He convicts my foolishness, He is kind and gentle.  May I learn to be this way myself. 

4. Our home - We are so blessed to have a roof over our heads to shield us from the outside elements. The Lord provided a way for us to afford this house. May it be a temple full of praise to Him at all times. 

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Wordless Wednesday: An Evening in the Country with Friends

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Thankful Thursday ~ 5 Things

There are 5 things for which I am thankful today:

1. I am thankful for each new day as they are another opportunity to seek God and His righteousness. 

2. I am thankful for God the Father, who demonstrated His own love toward us by giving us the gift of salvation through His Son; God the Son, who willingly laid down His life, taking upon Himself the wrath of God that I deserve; and the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth, illuminating God's Word to our understanding. 

3. I am thankful for my wonderful husband who does love me as Christ loves the Church. 

4. I am thankful for my SugarBear and Little Man whom the Lord uses to conform me to the image  of Christ Jesus. 

5. I am thankful for my gracious parents-in-law (or I should say, parents-in-love) who have put up with so much foolishness from me (to whom I'd like to apologize for all that foolishness).

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.    ~Jude 1:24-25

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Wordless Wednesday: Homemade Wreaths

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The Mother's Homeschool Journal ~ May 22, 2015

In My Life This Week...

God's grace is most certainly sufficient and He's given more than enough to sustain me and to help me overcome some things. I know I don't love Him nearly enough (there's so much more of Him to love and so much more of me to give!) and that has stopped me from pressing on, crucifying my flesh and taking up my cross all my life in the past. 

Just about a month ago, the Holy Spirit started to work in me. I am seeing a change/growth in myself now. By God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit,  I continue to put myself in the way of truth no matter what my efforts are, no matter what mistakes I've made. It's not about me trying to do good. It's about the Holy Spirit drawing me and my willingness to submit to Him.

My gaze used to be on myself and my efforts for salvation, but my eyes have been opened up to see that the only thing that saves me is faith in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus plus NOTHING. He paid it all and there is absolutely nothing I do to earn that.

Oh, that I could've seen this truth before now!

In Our Homeschool This Week...

We're winding down the formal lessons. We have cut back to one single lesson/subject per day, however we will continue to read and write daily.   

Meal Planning Changes...

A certain disease that has plagued me for quite a many years has become quite a bit worse causing me to change my diet,  or, err, to follow the diet I should've been following all this time, or risk esophageal cancer. Yep. No fried food for me. No hardly anything for me! :-(

The silver lining is making this necessary dietary change may help to lower my heavy weight and elevated cholesterol level.  Making the change is proving to be a difficult thing.

No more tacos?!? ARG!!!  :-(

We're Listening to...
We've been listening to a series of children's catechism sermons preached by Mr. Paul Washer. We are on the 6th and 7th sermon (each sermon averages around 10 minutes in length). We've been exploring the very first question: What is the chief end of man?   Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We have moved on to the next question: How can you glorify God? Answer: We bring God glory by loving Him and doing what He commands.

Those are the short answers. Mr. Paul Washer does a very good job going into depth on children's level, giving good examples and scripture to illustrate these truths. All 4 of us have learned (and are learning) a lot from this series. 

I'm Looking Forward To...
A week at the beach in a few weeks. My family is coming for a visit and we've rented a beach house. I can't wait to put my toes on the sand, listen to the ocean and catch some rays.... oh, and visiting with my family. *wink*

Things I'm Working on...
Spring cleaning! We started to deep clean the house this week. It seems like an overwhelming task, but a check off list helps.

So far, we tackled the kitchen: Inside the cabinets and the fridge, wiping down the walls and base boards and everything in between.

Now, to keep up the motivation....

A Scripture Passage to Share...
4 But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).
6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us [b]joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved ([c]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]

Ephesians 2:4-9 Amplified

Wordless Wednesday: Spring Cleaning

Disclaimer: Children were not harmed nor overworked during this session. 

*wink* 

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