waves

there is something magical about the ocean

if you have never been to the ocean, you need to go just for the experience . . .

you might hate it . . . but seriously there is nothing like it.

it had been almost 3 years since i had been to the ocean . . . far too long

i love the ocean, i might just move so i can be closer to it.

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this past week I was in florida, visiting some family and taking a little vacation from the craziness that I call my life. It was a great time hanging out with my cousins and jut relaxing but more than that . . . it was one of the most spiritually refreshing experiences I have had in a while.

Over the last few days I was able to connect with God and clarify so much about who He is and about who He has created me to be. I realized that I haven't been true to the true self that God wants to create in me. I have sacrificed that for other things, and other people.

It kinda stinks that it took the waves to get me to understand these things. These things were right in front of me the whole time . . . but it took something more to get me out of my funk.
maybe you have never thought about it but I think that waves are very spiritual things.
the paint a very good depiction of life, and really make us think about how God works.
at first glance the waves look awesome . . . you run as fast as you can, and dive into the salty goodness. It is refreshing, it is moving, it is alive . . . your crew is with you. You are playing around, throwing a football, dunking each other, having chicken fights. Nothing could be better . . .

but sometimes the waves take control . . . and suddenly all the fun is gone. The break so hard against you that you lose your balance . . . sometimes you become disoriented. You lose sight of everything, and you desperately want to get your feet back on dry land.

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life is not very different. the waves look great . . . everything in our life seems great. We have those we love around us, and we are playing the game of life . . . doing what we want and enjoying every minute of it.

but then something happens, things shift and life isn't so much fun anymore. you lose control of your life and you wonder what happened ? All you want is for things to go back to the way they used to be.

but the reality is that once you have experienced the reality of the waves . . . you never look at them the same, they have a different quality . . . something has changed. Not that it is bad . . . it's just more real . . . it has more significance
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sometimes I wonder why God lets us deal with the waves of life (especially those who love him, and are doing the best we can). I think there has to be a reason . . . he has to be able to use the experience.

as I sat on the beach this week I think i realized it. I was sitting in the ocean . . . grabbing handfuls of sand, and as the tide came in watching it wash away the dirt and reveal all of the beautiful shells.

what a powerful image . . . i think God lets us experience the waves to wash away the dirt; to get rid of the unnecessary things in our lives. The writer of hebrews describes Jesus as the "author and perfecter of our faith" . . . i think the waves are part of that perfecting process.

so when the waves crash in your life . . . don't forget that they have meaning . . . God won't waste them . . . he will use them to bring out the beautiful "shells" that he has given you, and wants you to discover.

so when the waves crash, don't be discouraged . . . your king has not abandoned you, he is working through the waves, so embrace them, ride them trust that the waves will reveal how awesome God is.

keep fighting for your king

-dev