I See the Light

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

A green light shone every six seconds.

Seventy-seven steps. The number of stairs a person would need to climb to get to the top of Marblehead Lighthouse. Tim and I have climbed those steps to the top, in the daytime, where we stood against the railing and viewed Kelleys Island in Lake Erie. When we turned to face the lighthouse, we peeked in on the magnificent LED lights that shine in the night.

We are drawn to the lighthouse at dusk, when the green light flashes every six seconds. There isn’t a beam, like a search light, instead there is a steady lamplight warning boats of the hazard of the nearby land and rocks.

Boats aren’t the only thing aware of the light at night. Mayflies are drawn to it. They appear around May, June, and July on Lake Erie. If there are a large number of the flying creatures, the lake is clean because these insects choose a clean environment to lay eggs. On Kelleys Island, I asked a young lady if they were bothered with mayflies. She told me they mostly come out at night because they love the light.

In my everyday life, God is my lighthouse. He’s not shining a search light, instead He’s a steady beam of light which draws me to Him out of the darkness of our broken world. Like the boats, I need Him to warn me of the dangers, and like the mayfly, I’m drawn to Him as my shelter.

David reminds me God is my stronghold and my shelter. I have no need to fear, because He’s the light which draws me to Him and the salvation for my soul.

When I keep my focus to God’s light, as I walk through this dark world, hope wells up in me and I embrace His peace.

Seek God’s light and salvation.

Be Still

When I sit on a rock under Marblehead Lighthouse, my mind stills.

Most days my brain spins a dozen directions, but God has given me
this one place where I can guarantee I will be still.

I also enjoy my flower bed when I water it or sit in my Adirondack chair
and soak in the beauty of the blooms.

Sometimes in our busy lives, sitting silent and 
letting the Holy Spirit speak is difficult, yet necessary.

Find a place to be still, and soak in
the love of God and His amazing creation. 

It's okay to rest the body and mind and allow yourself to recharge.

His Love

The trees around Marblehead State Park fascinate me. 

As they grow out of the rocks, some roots submerge between the cracks, 

while others crawl over top and seek refuge.

Regardless, the trees continue to grow because they have nourishment

from the earth, where the roots dive deep.

Much like these trees, as believers in Jesus, our roots dive deep into his love—

even as we dwell on this earth.

His love sustains us.

 

The Assurance of God

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I am the most peaceful—when I’m by the water, listening to the waves lap.

We spent a couple of days at Lake Erie. I could sit and listen to the water race to shore and lap back out all day. There is something about the sound and the motion that covers me with calm. Perhaps the lull or the push and pull, or maybe the overwhelming feeling that God is in control, and I don’t need to worry about one little thing—because the crashing waves remind me of the incredible power of God and his love for us.

As I sat by the lake, on a huge rock at Marblehead State Park, I closed my eyes and my mind painted a picture of the Father who loves me. I imagined him reaching over and giving me a hug. At that point, I understood, a little more, the peace that surpasses my comprehension—the peace I feel in times of trouble. Only then did I get a glimpse of Jesus’ gift of calm.

In John 16, Jesus preps his disciples, the twelve he chose, to understand his future. He laid out God’s plan and assured them that whatever happened to him, he was with God. He revealed to them their future, too. They would all go to their own homes, their villages, back to their work, and he’d be with his Father in heaven. Even as Jesus assured these men, who traveled and taught with him for three years, that they’d experience peace, he reminded them they’d have trouble.

The presence of trouble doesn’t mean we are without the assurance of God.

Isn’t that the way of the world? We all experience problems, obstacles, and doubts. Yet, Jesus offers peace. As his followers, we have the same assurance as the disciples. A peace planted in our hearts by God.

Seek his peace.

My Happy Place

Psalm 62:1-2

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Let me tell you about my happy place.

I love my home and hanging out with my family and friends. I enjoy attending church and worshipping with the congregation. But the one place I love to sit and pray, think and listen is miles away from home.

Large rocks rest on the shore of Lake Erie, around Marblehead Lighthouse. We visit the park once or twice a year (more if we can squeeze it in.) After we tour the grounds and maybe climb the lighthouse, we wander to the shore where the water meets the rocks. I ease onto a giant rock and watch the waves slap the moss covered boulders. The seagulls entertain and the sound relaxes every muscle in my body. My mind settles, and I take in the beauty of God's creation.

No matter what season we visit, spring, summer, autumn, or winter, the rocks remain the same. The granite holds me above the ice cold water where I'm safe and secure. Many times I've taken my notebook and pen and written words from the inspiration.

Even as I find refreshment from visiting my happy place, true rest comes from a deeper source. The God I love provides the respite my soul needs. At times I find myself overwhelmed by the love God pours on me. I don't deserve his grace, yet he fills my heart with peace. No matter the circumstances, He's my refuge. He's my fortress in times of trouble, my strength when I need help. He's the peace and joy of my heart.

No matter what we go through, the ups and downs of life. God remains the same. He is the rock who calms my soul.

Do you have a happy place? Somewhere you totally connect with God? If not, find that place. Even when I can't go to my favorite place, the Holy Spirit settles my restless soul with peace and hope.

Kindness: In Uniform

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Because I love snow and Christmas, Tim surprised me with a day-trip to Marblehead Lighthouse State Park. After four+ hours on the road and a quick stop in Gibsonburg to pick up my favorite doughnuts, we pulled into the almost empty parking lot. Snow covered the ground and before us stood Marblehead lighthouse decked out in garland and greenery. The moment I stepped out of the car a sense of peace washed over me. Calm swept across my being. I don't find many places on this earth where I fall into a totally relaxed state. But on that small peninsula surrounded by rocks, water, and this time of year—snow, my soul felt a sense of awe and wonder. We wandered around donned in Santa hats for an hour or so. What a wonderful gift for the season.

But that's not the whole story. As we explored on the rocks and snapped photos of the beauty that surrounded us, another car pulled in. Two young police officers climbed out and wandered toward us. They appeared to be checking on the park as they walked out to the rock we stood on. At first they chatted, asked us where we were from and what we we're doing. I'll admit, I got a little nervous. I thought maybe we shouldn't be in the park. As the conversation continued, they complimented us on our holiday hats. Then they did something so sweet. One officer reached in his pocket and pulled out a gift card. "We're doing 'Gifts from Cops'," he said. He handed me a Target gift card. Kindness in uniform. Not only had the trip made my day. Their kind gesture pushed the joy meter to the top. Policemen work on the holidays, they protect us, and watch out for us. And they take the time to be kind. I gave the young man a hug and snapped a photo of them with Tim. I pray those two young men have a blessed holiday.

I hope you have the opportunity to share Jesus' love and kindness with everyone you meet. Merry Christmas!

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

My Lighthouse

1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The lighthouse rose from the shore of Lake Erie; a signal to boats that land was near. Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on all of the Great Lakes. The 300 mm lens shines a green signal that flashes every six seconds. Without the light at night, boats would crash into the limestone along the shore, causing disaster and possibly death.

I love lighthouses. To me they represent the hope I find in Jesus, in a dark and difficult world. Without Jesus light I'd be floating in troubled water, not sure where I might crash. Sadness and sin are all around me. When I read the news or watch television, I'm sick from the desolation and destruction people create. That's why in all the sadness and frustration, I seek the true light, the one who gives me hope and joy. Jesus is the light that cannot be extinguished. His light of hope is eternal. So even in the midst of darkness I can walk with Him. Praise God for the light of Jesus!

 

My Lighthouse by Rend Collective

I found information about the Marblehead Lighthouse at:
http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/marbleheadlighthouse
http://www.marbleheadlighthouseohio.org/