Up a Creek...
It's that time of year...it's summer! Finally!! And that means our 'neighborhood' (God's country) becomes a tourist destination. Outdoor enthusiasts from all over the Midwest make their way to Montgomery County, Indiana for camping, hiking and canoeing. It's one of best things about living here. (I highly recommend my friend's business, Clements Canoes!)
Less than two miles from my driveway are some of the most beautiful natural treasures. Sugar Creek winds through dense forest and along steep cliffs of Indiana sandstone. It's breathtaking. Bald Eagles soar along the tree tops, frogs croak from the banks, fish jump, snakes slither along and visitors take it all in, like stepping into one of the Discovery Channel shows.
Yesterday was a perfect day for a short trip down the creek. It was an impromptu event and we invited some friends along. My friend and her husband brought three teenagers with them. Everyone had been canoeing at least once...except for my friend. We joked about the probability of her ending up in the creek at some point throughout the trip, while we waited for the ancient, spray-painted, seen-better-days, retired school bus to haul us five miles upstream.
Once we got to our designated starting point, we dragged coolers, tote bags, paddles, kayaks and canoes down the steep bank and into the cool, swift-moving creek. Everyone made it into the water without incident and we were off on our adventure. The sun was bright and the skies were crystal-clear.
I could go on an on about how beautiful it was, drifting along, while my knight in shining armor insisted that I just relax and he would do all the paddling...but this isn't intended to be a nature blog. But as always, God used a life experience to show me a scriptural truth.
Remember my friend...the one who had never been canoeing? Well, about half-way through our five mile trip, they happened to end up floating sideways down the creek, not a big deal, except the water was moving pretty fast and was deep enough to hide some pretty large rocks that were lurking just below the surface...the kind of rocks I refer to as "deal breakers."
I watched in a friendly mix of horror and amusement as my friend and her husband both turned to look as a menacing rock met the middle of their boat, forcing the boat to tip towards the right and begin to take on water as my friend, her husband and the contents of their canoe spilled into the creek.
It was a test of strength to paddle back up stream just a few feet to pass a pair of water shoes to my ill-prepared friend, who stood in the middle of the creek, water up to her knees, pushing her from behind. She could barely move through the water with the slippery stones under her feet, causing her to wince in pain with each attempt to move.
One rock. Hiding just below the surface of the seemingly peaceful creek. A split second of letting your guard down and wham! *Cue the light bulb moment.*
"Thank you for inspiring tomorrow's blog post!" I called out to her.
Genesis 4:7 finds God talking to Cain, who is upset because God was more pleased with his brother's offering than his own.
1 Peter 5:8 says
If Satan made the dangers big and obvious, we would easily avoid them. But he is the master of concealing the dangers until it's too late. Our boat is on it's side and our paddle is floating quickly down stream. Gives a whole new meaning to being up the creek without a paddle, doesn't it?
I know this example to be so painfully true. Satan doesn't try to make us worship him. He will just throw something out there to take our eyes off of Jesus and trip us up. And when we find ourselves standing in the middle of the creek, scared to move for fear of falling, God will show up with a life preserver, or some water shoes, whether it's in the form of a friend with an outstretched hand or a supernatural intervention.
Experience has taught me to enjoy the ride while keeping a keen-eye open for those nasty rocks. I know that the next time my friend goes canoeing, she will be paying close attention to what lies ahead. And in my case, as I climbed out of the waters of sin and failure, and into the waiting arms of God, I am very aware of how fast we can fall when our focus is on the wrong things. Each day I pray for God's protection and help in keeping my eyes on Him, asking Him to remove any obstacles that threaten to knock me out of my boat.
I'm so thankful that we serve a God of second chances...and third chances, and 53rd, and 203rd...His love never fails.
And He will never leave us stranded in the middle of the creek without a paddle.
Be blessed!
Less than two miles from my driveway are some of the most beautiful natural treasures. Sugar Creek winds through dense forest and along steep cliffs of Indiana sandstone. It's breathtaking. Bald Eagles soar along the tree tops, frogs croak from the banks, fish jump, snakes slither along and visitors take it all in, like stepping into one of the Discovery Channel shows.Yesterday was a perfect day for a short trip down the creek. It was an impromptu event and we invited some friends along. My friend and her husband brought three teenagers with them. Everyone had been canoeing at least once...except for my friend. We joked about the probability of her ending up in the creek at some point throughout the trip, while we waited for the ancient, spray-painted, seen-better-days, retired school bus to haul us five miles upstream.
Once we got to our designated starting point, we dragged coolers, tote bags, paddles, kayaks and canoes down the steep bank and into the cool, swift-moving creek. Everyone made it into the water without incident and we were off on our adventure. The sun was bright and the skies were crystal-clear.
I could go on an on about how beautiful it was, drifting along, while my knight in shining armor insisted that I just relax and he would do all the paddling...but this isn't intended to be a nature blog. But as always, God used a life experience to show me a scriptural truth.
Remember my friend...the one who had never been canoeing? Well, about half-way through our five mile trip, they happened to end up floating sideways down the creek, not a big deal, except the water was moving pretty fast and was deep enough to hide some pretty large rocks that were lurking just below the surface...the kind of rocks I refer to as "deal breakers."
I watched in a friendly mix of horror and amusement as my friend and her husband both turned to look as a menacing rock met the middle of their boat, forcing the boat to tip towards the right and begin to take on water as my friend, her husband and the contents of their canoe spilled into the creek.
It was a test of strength to paddle back up stream just a few feet to pass a pair of water shoes to my ill-prepared friend, who stood in the middle of the creek, water up to her knees, pushing her from behind. She could barely move through the water with the slippery stones under her feet, causing her to wince in pain with each attempt to move.
One rock. Hiding just below the surface of the seemingly peaceful creek. A split second of letting your guard down and wham! *Cue the light bulb moment.*
"Thank you for inspiring tomorrow's blog post!" I called out to her.
Genesis 4:7 finds God talking to Cain, who is upset because God was more pleased with his brother's offering than his own.
"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is couching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."Or maybe it comes in the form of an ominous rock, waiting for you to not be paying attention. That rock will be there to take your boat right out from under you.
1 Peter 5:8 says
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."Life is like the creek, sometimes the water is low and clear and we can see every rock, fish and bug. But other times, when the water is rushing by and over the banks, we recognize the danger and stay far away from the creek. It's the times when everything seems fine. The water is not too high, and not too low, cloudy and swift, every thing looks peaceful on the surface, but as soon as you take your eyes off the water, and start looking around at everything else, the hidden dangers will get you.
If Satan made the dangers big and obvious, we would easily avoid them. But he is the master of concealing the dangers until it's too late. Our boat is on it's side and our paddle is floating quickly down stream. Gives a whole new meaning to being up the creek without a paddle, doesn't it?
I know this example to be so painfully true. Satan doesn't try to make us worship him. He will just throw something out there to take our eyes off of Jesus and trip us up. And when we find ourselves standing in the middle of the creek, scared to move for fear of falling, God will show up with a life preserver, or some water shoes, whether it's in the form of a friend with an outstretched hand or a supernatural intervention.
Experience has taught me to enjoy the ride while keeping a keen-eye open for those nasty rocks. I know that the next time my friend goes canoeing, she will be paying close attention to what lies ahead. And in my case, as I climbed out of the waters of sin and failure, and into the waiting arms of God, I am very aware of how fast we can fall when our focus is on the wrong things. Each day I pray for God's protection and help in keeping my eyes on Him, asking Him to remove any obstacles that threaten to knock me out of my boat.
I'm so thankful that we serve a God of second chances...and third chances, and 53rd, and 203rd...His love never fails.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)
And He will never leave us stranded in the middle of the creek without a paddle.
Be blessed!
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