Tube

We all needed an outing so I asked who wants to go for a boatride...and I immediately had three little takers. And after a short ride I asked who wanted a ride on the tube...it was unanimous... it was not their first ride ...that had been conquered weeks back...but it was their first ride with only me in the boat...

When it came time to jump in...Blake (4 years) no hesitation jumped right in...William (2) my careful thinker wanted assurance that I would go slow...and Catherine...she is always up for everything. As I looked back and saw their life jackets swaddling their little bodies, there little hands grasping the handles...the boys flanking Catherine..they waited anxiously for the ride to begin. It was slowish...not scary just enough for the tube to skim the water. And there they were...independent, or so it seemed but connected to a pull that had power...Soon it was time power down and get them out of the sun. But when I slowed down the water wake filled the tube...and instead of sitting in a dry tube there were now emerged in a baby pool..which probably felt good....and they couldn't wait to tell me about the water (like I didn't already know) ....no danger, no fear just a varied part of the experience. And we made the best of it saying can you imagine a floating baby pool....that could move. And we laughed, all got back in the boat and headed home...each having their turn to drive.

Now about this tube ride...and how it relates to us...each day we are on a ride of our lives...literally...and figuratively. We too find ourselves hesitant to jump into things that we are unsure of and don't know the outcome of...but the key is do we trust the driver?....and are we staying connected to the power source?...or have we made every attempt to untie the rope and have left ourselves floating without a solid bearing? Sometimes we are pulled in directions that are moving fast and other times life seems to be moving too slow. But there is always a balance...and the driver knows how to get us to that point.

When thsoe babies were in that tube, they had no control...all efforts were manifested by the power of the boat and directed by the driver. If only I would submit to that reality in my everyday life...trusting Jesus to pull me according to his speed and his purpose and his balance. If only I would willing jump into an opportunity that God has offered and trust Him to pull me through it according to his plan. Those opportunities are not just big ones like jobs, or finances, or health issues or decisions on where to live and how to negotiate obstacles that are before us...they are also opportunities of kindness, and encouragement, and taking time to pay attention to what is going on in someone elses' life.....and opportunities to put others first.

Just as that tube sits flaoting in the center of a huge body of water...so are we floating in a huge sea of opportunity...that is prompted by Jesus himself. I have to ask "Do I trust the driver?...Do I have confidence in the power of his vessel? Am I willing to be faithful when I see an opportunity wave in my direction? My answer is "Yes, when I am mindful of His presence...btu too many times I am so distracted that I get sidetracked in my thinking and float along forgetting that I am tied into an awesome source of power.....who does have the reigns of my life in His hands. So what am I so anxious about? It doesn't matte the speed of the power, or the force of the circumstance as long as I have a committed and experienced driver on board, I will remain at peace and faithful and hold on....knowing that all will settle out as it should according to His purposes. I am just called to relax in His grace and as I seek God's will...and hold onto what I know to be true, and right and good...and honorable and never loose sight of my driver ..who has already established his authority and victory through his son Jesus.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Dear Lord, We are floating in a sea of opportunities...your opportunities. Help us to see them and be willing to jump into them for your glory.....and help us to stay balanced on our ride. Let us not be blinded by fear or anxiousness or uncertainty...and help us to hold on to the truth and hope that you have set before us. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

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email address: cjodeit@gmail.com
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http://simplygod-cathy.blogspot.com/