After six days on the road we’ve seen everything from LA to Monterey. Last night the sun was setting over Hwy 1 as we pushed hard to reach San Francisco before dark. We crested a mountain, and unexpectedly a perfect beach appeared several hundred feet below. It was too cold for a walk, but something in me said pull over anyway.
The scene was startling. A perfect half-mile sand beach nestled between majestic cliffs jutting out of the water. God seemed to be there, speaking to my heart as we strolled the beach, shivering.
Yet, many times we wonder just where God is. These faith and church issues can be overwhelmingly complex. Earlier this week, Marla said what I sense we’ve all felt at times:
“When you make a choice to lay down your life, sometimes freight trains run over you. I don’t know….my brain is fried and my heart is torn and ministry all seems messy today.”
She went on to say, ” Times changed, underlying philosophies shifted and so we all must adapt, but sometimes it feels like we are under attack for remaining as faithful as we know how. If a true dialogue is going to take place, there must be a freedom from condemnation on both sides.”
Michael, a past youth pastor vented these thoughts, “It just freakin’ blows my mind how religious organizations can say one thing for years and then one day say ‘Oh, it’s okay now.’ …And no explanation or admittance that they somehow might have missed it, got it wrong…a simple recognition of that would be enough for me…”
So where do we put it all? That was my question as I walked. Then in a still quiet voice the Spirit said…
Have I not created these cliffs from the waters themselves? And, long before you and these issues you wrestle with. Be still and know that I am God.
As we own our responsibility to wrestle with these faith and church issues, we need to remind each other to…
Be still and know that He is God
Thanks for the reminder. Keep flushing the brain and getting a good mental detox (I know I enjoyed mine a few weeks back).
Just bob your head and say what God did on that last day of Creation, “It’s All Good” – NOW REST.
MT
Wow what great pictures! It was great having you in Altadena and being able to talk for awhile; I’m glad I managed to find your blog!
Thank you, my friend.
Isn’t that just life…pressing hard, and then God says unexpectedly “meet me here.” He had that little beach walk planned for you since before those cliffs and sands took shape and I praise Him that you said “yes” to the invitation “meet Me here!” I wonder how often I go flying by, eyes fixed on some destination…..it’s too cold for a walk….
The streets and beaches of California were blessed to have footprints left by the ed bahler family, and fingerprints left on hearts touched with your love along the way!
Come again!