By Cyndi

There’s a friend I surf with sometimes who’s a real hoot. She has a pretty loud and boisterous personality, yelling at missed waves, cheering on others for nice rides, and is overall very animated out in the lineup. It’s always fun surfing with her, yet, I can feel something behind all of that “noise” she makes. I believeshe’s looking for love and acceptance. And mercifully, I think she receives it within our little surfing community. 

But aren’t we all looking for that love and acceptance? Don’t we all want to feel worthy of being loved? Received just as we are by others?

Not everyone is as accepting and caring as our gang in the water. People can be rude, harsh, even downright mean sometimes. I’ve watched a man whip into a parking place before the lady who was patiently waiting for the person to pull out of it could pull in. I’ve also seen a person standing in line at the post office, complaining the whole time about the wait and the poor service, just fussing to everyone. She was so negative and judgmental. 

It’s very easy to judge the people around us without any thought of what they may be going through or their situations.

Fortunately, we have Someone who doesn’t judge us but loves us unconditionally. Father God accepts me just the way I am, faults and all. I don’t have to prove myself to anyone or any group that I’m worthy of acceptance and love because I know I’m a beloved daughter of the King.

Jer. 31: 3 is one of my favorite verses. It says He has loved me with an “everlasting love.”  That’s a never-ending love; a love that’s always there in every place and every situation. And because I know this, it’s my joy to receive this love and give it away to others — like my friend.

I don’t believe my friend knows God, but I’m hoping as I love and accept her as I am loved and accepted by my Father, that she’ll come to know Him too. I know she’s worthy of the same love that I’ve been given, so I’ll continue hooting for her waves and hanging out with her in the water, and pray for her to accept the One who accepts her just as she is. 

Have you got any friends looking for acceptance?

By Cyndi

Surfing isn’t a sport you can practice in your bedroom, in your backyard, or somewhere all by yourself where no one can see you. Nope. The majority of the time there are anywhere from a few to many people surrounding you in the water and on the beach when you “practice” surfing. It’s a public thing—the ocean is open to all and waves are free. So as much as I try to find a spot in the lineup without too many people, there are still those who get to see me in ‘all my glory’ make mistakes out in the open in front of everyone. 

Since I’ve always preferred being “behind the scenes,” surfing in front of everyone — especially really good surfers — has brought to light some of the shame, fear, and rejection that has been hidden within me. Am I as good as them? Am I worthy to be out here surfing too? By the way I surf, can I really call myself a surfer? 

Shame tells me I’m going to humiliate myself and look foolish. Fear tells me why should I even try, I’m too old for this, I’m gonna get hurt. Which leads to rejection telling me, I don’t belong here with everyone else, I’m not accepted, I’m not good enough.

This is what’s going through my head on a bad day, when I’m not resting in Father’s love. Notice how everything that shame, fear, and rejection tell me has to do with other people’s view of me? But why should that matter if I know deeply that Father God loves me no matter what? If I already have the approval, acceptance, and admiration of God Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, why should I worry about what anyone else thinks?

So on a good day, I’m secure in His love when I go surfing. Yes, I usually do make a fool out of myself and I wipeout a lot, but I don’t care. I’m having fun and communion with Jesus in the salty waters of the Atlantic Ocean. To me it doesn’t matter what others think — which, by the way, I’ve found some really sweet locals that are encouraging and welcoming — I know that I’m not out here to prove anything to anybody. I just want to enjoy nature, get some exercise and have fun!

Yes, I still battle with some of that shame, fear, and rejection at times. I mean, who really likes to make mistakes in front of everyone all the time? But I try to not let that stop me. I know I’m older and slower and will never be a great surfer, but it doesn’t matter. I rest in knowing that I am loved just as I am, not needing anything from anyone but my Father. Then I get in the water and savor His beautiful Creation here in northeast Florida with the sunshine, the dolphins, the wind, and the awesome feeling of riding a wave. 

There are so many versions of the Bible out these days; I like to read through different ones at times to see what God may speak to me from them. I ran across these verses in The Passion Translation the other day and I thought it was great. 

Romans 8:14-16— The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!” For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!”

Wow! I put some of those phrases in bold letters for my sake! (And hope they speak to you too.) Let’s look at these for a quick moment.

• • The fear of never being good enough. 

Do you ever feel this way? I do sometimes. Just the other day I said something to someone, and the minute it came out of my mouth I regretted it. It wasn’t very nice and I couldn’t help but want to chastise myself for my ugly behavior. I always keep doing or saying something wrong! Yet, I have—

• • Full acceptance…into the family of God.

After I’d said this ugly judgement over someone, Father God reminded me that I’m still accepted into the family of God no matter what my behavior is. He accepts and receives me just as I am, faults and all. (Though I still needed to repent.)

• • You will never feel orphaned.

An orphan has no parents, no one who loves and takes care of them. When I was sick a few weeks ago, my husband did a great job of taking care of me, however, he wasn’t there 24/7. So when I was lying in bed in the middle of the day (and he was at work) I knew that Jesus was there watching over me and healing me. (He also gave me a precious kitty who slept with me to make me feel better.)

• • The Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to me…and that I’m His beloved child. 

Father God constantly reminds me that it’s not my behavior that keeps me in relationship with him — it’s who I am, His child. I’m part of His bloodline. As a father, I can come to Him seeking wisdom or comfort. Whatever I need, He’s there for me, a true Father who takes care of me.  

I really liked the wording of these verses in this translation. This was a great reminder I needed. Sometimes I forget how He genuinely sees me and how much He deeply loves me. I hope this reminds you too.

By Cyndi

By Cyndi

As I was finishing up reading the book of Acts, in the last chapter Luke records an interesting thing. He mentions the ship he and Paul rode in was Alexandrian and had the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. How interesting. He didn’t say the name of the ship, only its origin and the adornment on its bowsprit. So I stopped and thought, “Why would Luke, the author of Acts, mention this? And for what reason would God want this in His holy writings?” It seems a bit insignificant. 

Then I thought about Luke being a physician, and God being our Father and it came to me: details. Details matter — to both of them. In Luke’s view, as a physician, mixing up pharmaceuticals, performing operations, and having precise knowledge about the body is critical to practicing his profession. He naturally was aware of details. Looking through God’s view, the nuances of Creation and nature, the plethora of diverse plants and animals, and the immeasurable differences within each of us humans, are all determined by details. 

Every good story has details, it makes it feel like you’re there. It gives life to boring accounts of “…and then this happened…” so Luke included them for us in his accounts as a good author.  (Take notice of this in all his writings, particularly in this last chapter.)

And, of course, God is into details too. Even as He is the Master Creator of vast varieties of flowers and birds, and the immense color variations within a single sunset, He is also into every detail of our lives. In fact, for me, it’s sometimes in these very details that I really sense His love and presence. 

Father God knows every little thing I like, every experience I’ve been through, every one of my relationships past and present. So when I cross a bridge and see a sailboat sailing, it reminds me of my father and I feel God’s presence. When I see or taste key lime pie, it reminds me of trips, old and recent, of the Florida Keys and His joy fills my heart. And last week when I walked on the beach and found a nice shark tooth, I smiled as I felt a little kiss from Him. (Papa God knows I love to find shark teeth.) He’s into the details of my life and I’m glad.

And the detail Luke mentions — this figurehead of the Greek gods, Castor and Pollux on the ship? That’s just God telling us through His Word that details matter to Him. They’re important. Details remind us that Father God is an intimate personal God. Can you sense Him in the details of your life?