wind.waves.sand.Son

First off, I often find that God chooses to meet with us when we least expect it.

That being said, I wasn't expecting an encounter with Him when I went to Clearwater beach at 10:30 at night with a group of friends.

We goofed around for a while before walking down to the water. It was a windy night, so the sand was blowing and the waves were crashing. Perfect, if you ask me.

Now, I have to say, the beach is one of the most spiritual places for me, so it shouldn't have surprised me that God was trying to communicate with me. But alas, I was surprised.

You see, lately I haven't walked very closely with Him. Through my lack of discipline and my own sin, I wasn't in tune with Him like in the past. But a few days before this beautiful Saturday night, I had come to a breaking point with some situations in my life, and my path back to communion with Him had begun.

With that background setup, I found myself walking down the beach communicating with Him. At first, I was thinking about how strange it seemed that I wasn't being social, but the more I walked, the less concerned I was.

Then the subject came to everything I was experiencing, questioning, struggling with, and excited about. I declared to Him that I only want to do His will, that I was tired of struggling with my sin, that I didn't understand why people act the way they do. Then He answered.

All of a sudden, in the midst of everything, as I heard the wind roaring and felt the sand and waves beneath my feet; as I looked out over the water and up at the night sky, I heard the still soft voice say, "I have it under control. I am the God of the wind you hear, the waves you feel, and the sky you see, and you just need to walk with me, cling to me, stay faithful to the course."

And as I continued to walk, I listened to David Walker singing "How He loves," and I was overwhelmed as I heard:

"We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us."

In that moment, as the wind roared around me, I FELT those words instead of merely hearing them. I was being held by Him, and I didn't want it to end.

I would love to say that after that moment, my troubles went away, but they didn't. But I know that it is ok, because He knows about them and He knows what He is doing with them. And as I walk with Him, all things will be revealed.

I know this was kind of long, but thanks for staying with me. And thanks to my crazy beach going friends for a spiritual night.

Champy ><>

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:29-30

So this is the new year...

Well, it's 2009 now. It's crazy to think about how fast last year went by. I've been reflecting on the last year, and it was a huge year for me. And 2009 is going to be even greater, I can feel it.

In my reflection, I had to look at the good and the bad. Where God allowed me to succeed, flourish, and grow, and where I took the reigns and failed. It's humbling, to say the least, but I was encouraged on Sunday the 4th when Pastor Jeff emphasized that 2008 was gone and we have to move forward. So that's what I'm doing.

And I'm setting some goals for this year. You can call them resolutions, but that word just carries a connotation of eventual failure and I can't bring myself to call them that. I'm calling them goals so that I strive for them and work for them, and don't give up on them when I fail.

So here goes:

1) I hope to read one chapter or more of a book everyday. And not just read the chapter, but internalize it and apply it. And if that means I only read half of a chapter one day, then so be it.

2) I want to blog more. I started a blog here and I haven't updated in a while. My hope is that I can share what I'm learning in my books or what God has taught me in my time spent with Him. At least one posting a week is my goal. Check back!

3) Invest in my 6th grade boys community group more. They are a gift; crazy at times, but still a gift, and I want them to develop a closer walk with the Lord.

4) It's on the top of a lot of lists, so it might be cliche, but I do want to work out more and eat healthier. That's all I'll say about that, but I'm going to work on it.

And a constant goal that I won't add to a list because it isn't something you check off of a list is to continue to grow in my relationship with my Creator. Through more time spent with Him, Bible study, worship, and prayer.

So, there they are. Ask me how they are going. Hold me accountable to them. If you took the time to read this, then you have my permission.

Be Blessed,
Champy ><>