Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
Melanie - June 13, 2008
I was on vacation in Destin about two weeks ago. The house we were renting was right on the beach and every morning I sat on the balcony and watched the waves roll in.
It was not a bad way to spend time.
Maybe it's because it's not part of my everyday landscape when I'm at home, but anytime I see mountains or the ocean they make me stand in awe of God and His incredible creation.
Especially when I read verses like Psalm 93: 3-4, "The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea - the Lord on high is mighty."
One day while we were there, we played in the water and sat on the beach most of the day. We were finally exhausted and came back inside to eat something. Because a trip to the beach isn't complete without some Fritos and bean dip.
As we sat on the balcony, eating our Fritos, we noticed two guys that had swam really far out. All we could see were two heads bobbing and we wondered how they would get back in.
About that time we heard someone yell, "HELP!" It was so faint that we barely heard it, but then we heard it again. "HELP!"
We looked through the zoom lens of someone's camera and could see one of the guys waving his arms.
My husband ran downstairs and down the beach to get the lifeguards. They came flying down the beach, grabbed their surfboards and headed out to save these two guys. It took them about twenty minutes and one of the guys was so tired that they couldn't even get him to stay on the surfboard.
Finally they got him in and he stood up to walk the last few steps to the shore. You could tell he was exhausted and scared.
I thought about it the rest of the afternoon. How close was he to just slipping under the surface forever?
It makes me think about life before Christ. How many times did I go out way over my head? How many times did I underestimate the temptation I was putting myself in and the power it would have to pull me under?
If you knew my whole testimony, the answer would be A LOT.
Then one day I'd had enough. I knew I couldn't save myself. I knew I didn't have the power to swim back to a safe harbor. So, I just called out, "HELP!"
And there He was.
He lifted me up and surrounded me with His love. He surrounded me with people who encouraged me and supported me as I found my way back to shore. It wasn't always easy and at times I wasn't sure I was going to make it.
But I did.
By the grace of God, I did.
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Comments (17)
Amazing post Mel! Your words reminded me of a poem that speaks to me in the same way - The True Love by David Whyte. Every blessing!
Posted on June 13, 2008 7:50 AM
Amazing post as always! Blessings to you.
Posted on June 13, 2008 8:07 AM
By the grace of God, you heard that poor man calling for help. You were ready for “such a time as this!”
Thank God that He hears us, too! Great post - thanks for sharing!
Posted on June 13, 2008 8:14 AM
What great analogy and spiritual application from your vacation. I am enjoying seeing how you adapt your writing style to fit your blog and this one. I’ve always known you were a frustrated writer looking for an outlet. Now, you have found two.
Posted on June 13, 2008 8:18 AM
Love this post Melanie! I am so happy to see your writing in a different format, but still so you. What a blessing!
Posted on June 13, 2008 8:41 AM
I loved this story. It does remind you how fragile we are, and how powerful God’s strength is!
Posted on June 13, 2008 9:08 AM
To which I can only say, Amen.
Posted on June 13, 2008 10:56 AM
Me, too, Melanie. Me, too.
God has been so good to me. So undeservedly good.
Posted on June 13, 2008 12:14 PM
Well said. I find it hard to believe that anyone could stare out at the strength of the ocean and not be overwhelmed by the strength of its Creator.
Posted on June 13, 2008 1:10 PM
You’re like Sears — you have a softer side. I love it. :)
But don’t think you can just quit writing about fashion and… um… what else do you write about on that OTHER blog?
Oh yeah. C. Sorry, I forgot. :)
Great post.
Posted on June 13, 2008 2:10 PM
What a wonderful illustration of God’s saving grace, Melanie! Good stuff, my friend. :-)
Posted on June 13, 2008 3:36 PM
Melanie, What a clear vision God gave you to meditate on. He does that for me often, too. In fact I just blogged about being in the mountains last week and how powerful He is if those majestic Rocky mountains would bow to Him. I love how He will take anything that we stop to think about and draw our attention to Himself and all He has done for us. Thanks for sharing.
Posted on June 13, 2008 3:53 PM
And now we all get to benefit from your amazing journey of faith! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Posted on June 13, 2008 4:29 PM
What a wonderful debut posting for you. It is so exciting to see how the Lord is using your writing. I am so very proud of you and for you! Many prayers have been answered for your Mama over the years! You are a blessing, and you bless others.
Posted on June 14, 2008 7:57 AM
Wow! That was beautiful. And how amazing to be apart of someone’s earthly rescue. ~ He has another chance for a spiritual rescue if he doesn’t already know the Lord. : )
Posted on June 14, 2008 5:03 PM
I’m so glad he split heaven and earth to rescue us!
Posted on June 16, 2008 1:29 PM
Oh how I know that feeling too well. I sunk so many times, its a wonder I couldn’t even get back up. Thankfully, we come through with the strength of something or Someone that we didn’t even know was in the resucing business.
Blessings, Fran
Posted on June 16, 2008 8:41 PM