“I feel His love and mercy
washing over all my sin”. The song plays through my head as I lay on the beach,
sunbathing, close to the water’s edge.
Waves. They never cease to
hold my amazement.
From here, every now and
then, I get a spray of salty mist. It
is like a gentle showering of His mercy.
I watch others dive into
the water as they play or surf. I hold
back. It’s cold.
It makes me ponder why some
do not dive into His mercy. Is it fear of being loved too much? Is it fear of failing God once again? Or can
it be that in accepting God’s mercy we are called to leave behind the sin that
holds us back?
Others enter slowly. Testing the water. That is ok too. Sometimes we have to give God a try to really
trust. (Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Psalm 34:8)
The waves never cease to hold
my attention. At times they come with a gentle rise and fall. Sometimes they crash against the sand and
knock us off our feet. It is like a crash of mercy that brings us to our knees,
as we cannot comprehend a love so fierce.
Regardless of the reason we
hold back, just as the waves continue to crash upon the sand of the beach, so
God showers us over and over with unfailing love and forgiveness. So, I gaze at the waves and praise God for
an unfathomable love.
“Heal my heart and make it clean.
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love as You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am from your kingdom come
As I walk from earth into eternity”
“As I walk from earth into
eternity.” An eternity bathed in His
goodness, love and mercy. And I think eternity must be somewhere on the ocean.
So I lay enjoying the
gentle spray, taking pleasure in his gentleness. I absorb the Son shining on my face. And, I feel Him lifting my
soul and bringing me into His presence and mercy.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations
3:22-23
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Beautiful words, Shanda!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back friend! God is always faithful--present with us all the while--waiting for us to seek the restoration of our heart and soul that only He can provide. Beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteI love you.
lOve this post and your reflection about the waves and God's words. I really need this:)
ReplyDeleteI love this bible verse and the song is lovely. A wonderful devotion for Sunday!
ReplyDeletePrecious words.
ReplyDeleteShanda - you have been on my heart so much and I thought of you specifically when I wrote my prayer for Weekend Reflections. As Karen said, "Welcome back."
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Joan
Yes, great is His faithfulness!
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful
ReplyDelete:]
ReplyDeleteJust lovely! Did you get a headache on your 45 mile bike ride?? Crazy woman! You're suppose to take it slow. So blessed to have met you in person last week. Looking forward to doing it again.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful comforting words. Thanks Shanda.
ReplyDeleteRecently the waves have been hitting hard with floods of emotions, not just with my daughter getting married and no longer being in the home, but with my intense desire to know Him, to truly know Him. I am thankful that His love crashes over me in relentless pursuit. Thank you for linking up with Freshly Brewed Sundays.
ReplyDeleteI love listening to and watching the waves of the ocean, too! There is something peaceful and comforting about it. Blessings to you, friend!
ReplyDeleteIn His Lo♥e, Ann