Fountains of Life

Beached

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Last week as I was walking along the beach, there was a sailboat leaning
over on its side upon the dry sand. Close by, an anchor was lying on the ground, still attached to its poor owner, “Zing” from Virginia Beach. “Oh, my!” I thought. “This boat is quite far from where it’s supposed to be.”

It’s possible that this sailboat may have been traveling offshore and wasn’t that far from my beach, but the bigger dilemma was that boats are supposed to be in the water, not up on the shore!

As I gazed and photographed poor Zing, the Lord gently reminded me how similar I can be to this sailboat. There have been times when I, too, was far from where I was supposed to be — beached and out of place. I didn’t feel I was in God’s will, yet I was stuck — unable (or unwilling) to move. 

There are two ways to be beached: physically, like in a job or a certain situation; and mentally, in our minds and beliefs. I personally tend to get stuck mentally. I lose focus of the path God put before me, or I get easily distracted by other things, and the next thing I know, I’m sitting high and dry out of the water.

Boats are made to be in the water. Having grown up sailing with my family, sailboats glide through the water effortlessly when the sails are set well. Harnessing the wind only, there’s a simple flow in their movements. It feels natural — the vessel is doing what it was made to do. 

If we’re not doing what God made us to do, it usually feels unnatural or out of place. Not that we won’t have some unusual things to go through on our “God path,” but when we’re in His will, there’s usually grace for the experience. If we’re not, we feel like a beached sailboat.

Poor Zing has been beached here in Atlantic Beach for over a week now. She’s been moved around a little with the tides coming in, but still not where she’s supposed to be. No one has pulled her back into the deep water nor taken her away for repairs. Fortunately for us, God doesn’t leave us grounded like Zing. Isaiah 58:9 tells us that when you call on Him, He will say, “Here I am.” Father God is always near to us, to rescue us, help us, and bring us back to where we belong.

If you’re feeling stuck or beached or just out of place, call upon the Lord. He will answer you. He will never leave you beached and alone. He has a course laid out for you (Jer. 29:11) and He’s happy to pull you back to where you’re supposed to be. 

Am I Insignificant?

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We’re exhorted in the Word not to think too highly of ourselves and that’s true, we shouldn’t. (Rom. 12:3) However, I’d like to point out that sometimes we don’t think we’re significant enough to merit much at all — questioning sometimes whether God could even use us. 

As I was reading through the book of Acts the other day, I came across a story I didn’t really remember. It was just a few verses regarding Paul’s nephew, the son of his sister. In chapter 23, verses 12-33, this young man heard about a plot to kill his uncle Paul. Paul was imprisoned because the Jewish leaders didn’t like him preaching about Jesus. He had been interrogated once, yet not found guilty, so a plan was devised to bring him before the Sanhedrin again supposedly for more interrogation. However,  about 40 men vowed to murder him on the way there. What a devious scheme! 

Having perceived this plan, the nephew told his uncle, who in turn brought him before a centurion, who in turn brought him to the commander who was in charge of Paul in jail, since Paul was a Roman citizen. And to this commander the young man told of the evil plot. Long story short, Paul’s life was spared. 

Now we don’t even know the name of Paul’s nephew, yet he played a significant role in saving his life. This story is just several verses in a very large Book, but imagine how small this Book would have been had Paul’s life ended here! 

This made me think — none of us are insignificant. None. God individually created us for our own specific roles. Not only do we not look alike, but we don’t talk alike, we don’t dress alike, we don’t think alike, and we don’t behave alike. And we’re not supposed to. We each have a unique purpose. Yes — you have a purpose! You are not insignificant! I can’t do what you do and you can’t do what I do. So you be you and I’ll be me!  

Look at what Paul’s nephew did! In one sense what he did was very small and simple — he told the truth about something he’d heard to those in authority. Yet the ramifications of this small message was huge! In that sense, what he did was tremendous! It not only saved his uncle’s life, but it affected the lives of millions of people afterwards for years. And we are still feeling it’s effect now!

So dear reader, I tell you sincerely — you matter! You’re important! You’re just like Paul’s nephew. You are NOT insignificant! You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14) and God has a plan for your life! (Jer. 29:11) Now go be you. 

The Necessity of Community

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Flying back from the Dominican Republic recently I was reading a short but interesting book called The Longevity Book, by Kale Brock. In it he speaks of the four pillars of longevity and wellness: nutrition, community, movement, and attitude. It was a great read for the plane ride yet what I couldn’t stop thinking about was the importance of community that he spoke of and especially its impact in a time like now in 2020.

With pandemic messages and statistics throughout the media, and much fear and anxiety throughout the world, I thought, “Lord Jesus, this is a time, not only when we need You, but we need each other more!” There are ways to “gather” as a community — perhaps through internet, phones, social distancing or somehow — but we desperately need to stay connected to one another. If we don’t, the results are tragic. A friend of mine told me her friend’s daughter has been biting her lips raw because of anxiety. Those who are binge-watching TV are gaining weight. People are stressed and worried! Meanwhile, our health and happiness are being damaged by the lack of community!

I reflect back on our Dominican Republic trip, where, at the church,everyone wore masks yet still fisted or elbow pumped one another. We sang our hearts out together, praised the Lord, and danced and rejoiced in God’s goodness. Sanitary rules were followed the whole time and our lives were enriched through fellowship. We communed with one another. It was sweet.

After this wonderful church service we had the joy of hanging out with one of the pastors and his wife at their home. We nibbled on chicharron and drank freshly made papaya and guanabana shakes as we sat in their patio telling stories, laughing, and simply enjoying the rain falling onto the metal roof. What a refreshing time it was! And all because of community. 

I’m truly thankful for our Dominican friends and the community of Christian brothers and sisters, and my goal is to somehow continue this same semblance of fellowship here in the States, especially in these trying times. 

Dear reader, our lives truly depend on community and I believe these verses in Ecclesiastes say it well: 

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. (Ecc.4:9,10)

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By Cyndi

Heart Blockages

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This week I went with my mom to her cardiologist. She’s in the process of getting tested to see if she has A-fib or not. Apparently your heart pumping too slow is just as bad as your heart going too fast, for when it’s too slow, it allows the blood to pool up — stagnate — and cause a clot to form. Of course, we know this could possibly produce a heart attack or stroke, which is why my mom’s doctor is checking it out. Heart blockages are not a good thing.

As I sat in the doctor’s office looking at all the posters about clogged arteries and such, I was reminded of something I’d read earlier this week by Laurence Freeman about sin. He says, “…if we see that sin is something that blocks us rather than being the breaking of a rule …. then we begin to see that God doesn’t punish us.” It’s not about the anger of the Lord falling upon us sinful people, it’s about a blockage keeping us from having a continuous relationship with Him.

What a wonderful analogy right before my eyes in this sterile room!

Sin stops the flow of life between us and God — it pools up like blood in an artery, makes a clot and gets in the way of us communicating back and forth with our Abba Father. It has nothing to do with any punishment from Him, for He is Love. (1Jn. 4:8) He’s not about trying to find fault with us, penalize us, or cause pain because of something we said or did. Now sometimes we may suffer the consequences of our own actions, but that’s simply the principle of sowing and reaping being played out. As Laurence Freeman also states, “Sin contains its own punishment.“

We merely create a heart blockage when we sin. Our hearts aren’t open and free to hear the Holy Spirit clearly and — as I’ve had some blockages of my own this week — we tend to not walk in the fruits of the Spirit much either. (Yes, my behavior in traffic situations this week have produced some rotten fruit out of me!) But…BUT…the good news is there’s an easy fix. An easy remedy!

Repentance clears out all the clotting! It’s quicker than any outpatient procedure and works better than a pacemaker! Repent and forgive. Blood will flow freely from our heart through our arteries when there are no blockages. So goes it with our relationship with God. (And yes, my friend, I did humbly repent!)

Hear me, dear reader, it’s not about punishment. It’s not about His love being withheld from you. He’s promised there’s nothing that could EVER possibly separate us from His love! (Rom. 8:38,39) (Yes, I was kind of shouting there!) 

His life — His blood — is in us. May we fervently choose to remove any blockages hindering that precious flow in order to live as a living, breathing example of His heart of love on this earth.

Better Than Normal

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There’s something about the phrase “new normal” I just don’t like. I’m not sure why, but I just don’t. Maybe it’s because I’m not willing to accept things as they are now as “normal” or what. Personally I want something better — something better than normal.

When I think of “normal” I think of consistent, regular, common, routine, usual stuff — nothing un-usual. Yet, when I read about Jesus, He wasn’t exactly what we could classify as normal. He multiplied fishes and loaves to feed thousands with only a prayer; he healed all kinds of diseases in all kinds of people by all kinds of different ways; he had extraordinary wisdom to confound the
learned religious leaders, and even called for a dead man wrapped in grave clothes to walk out of his tomb! That’s not exactly what I think of as “normal” or “usual!”

However…I’d like to.

I’d like to think that we, as the church representing Jesus here on earth, could be regularly working these same miracles. I’d like to believe that we, endued with the same Spirit as Jesus, could walk in the same power and authority as He did. (Rom. 8:11)  I’d like to see us, the church, become better in the coming days than in our old normal way of life.

Maybe we’ve been brought to this place so we won’t go back to our normal way of life. As it was in the case of 9/11, the world has changed because of Covid -19 and it’s for sure things aren’t the same as they were anymore. 

Yet, there is part of me that wants to get complacent again. I liked my routines. I liked things the way they were. I was comfortable. It’s much easier to live in what I know than to change and move into something I don’t know. The unknown can be scary. But God’s been nudging me to “move forward” and I’ve been dragging my feet. 

He’s calling me to get out of the boat; you know — to walk upon the water, take risks. People are hurting. People are afraid. People are anxious, depressed, and insecure. They need Jesus. They need the Jesus in me. (Gal. 2:20; Col.1:27)

I hear the phrase “new normal” and cringe. First because I’m rebelling against it, secondly because I feel the Lord pulling me by it. I really do want something better than normal. I want the church to be living and breathing – alive – in this world! I want to be walking in the Spirit, daily, being sensitive to everyone around me, listening for Jesus’ voice and direction, moving in miracles, signs and wonders! (Heb. 2:4) Yet, I know it will require sacrifices and risks on my part.

Nevertheless, here we are. So as I step out and risk moving forward, I’m confident His love will keep me safe. (Rom. 8:31) I can’t fail in Father’s eyes.

And I believe it’s gonna get better, my friend. Much better. Better than normal. 

 

(By Cyndi)