Category: repentance

Let Us Kneel

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
(Psalm 95:6-7 NIV)

 

Every time I try to read through Job’s story I get distracted about the time his first friend starts talking. I get lost in the explanations. So, I skim the next 30 or so chapters until I get to the part where Elihu speaks up. He’s a young man who had kept silent while Job and his three friends debated the philosophical and moral dilemma of being. Elihu is angry because each of the other speakers have misrepresented the situation.

 
Job listens. God listens. Elihu rages a storm of words, and when he is finished, God speaks.

 
It says that God  speaks out of the storm. I wonder if while Elihu rants that thunder rumbles in the distance coming closer as he articulates his point. Or did the narrator just mean Elihu’s words were like a storm? Either way it makes for great drama. I like to think it continues to storm while God speaks to Job, lightening with torrential rain.

God asks the questioner questions. Point after point, rhetorically pummeling Job, who has been accusing and calling God to account. God, his Maker, recounts the intricacies of his creative process. I wonder whether Job was standing while Elihu made his speech. Did he fall on his knees when God spoke?

 

We do know that when God finishes speaking, Job really has nothing more to say. He puts his hand over his mouth. And after a few moments, he admits that he really didn’t know what he was talking about after all.

 
I imagine Job replying with tears streaming down his face, bowing his head in wonder:

“I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You ask, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I. And I was talking about things I did not understand, things far too wonderful for me.

“You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’

 “I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” (Job 42:2-6 NLT)

 
Job no longer sits in dust mourning, now he sits comforted. Godly sorrow leads to repentance ushering in a salvation drenched joy. Relief. Release. No regrets. Ah, a happy ending.
 
 

 
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Retreat: The Act or Process of Withdrawing

 
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 NKJV
 

Intuition Diairies

We found that as we neared the end of our trip, we had mixed emotions. We both let our minds wander back home to the pleasures and duties awaiting us there. Then we would remind each other, “We’re still on vacation, enjoy here and now.”

We left Luddington to make our way to Grand Haven. Grand Haven was a fun place to relax, a great spot for both boaters and landlubbers. The marina we stayed in was close to a row of specialty shops and the famed Musical Fountain show. The lighted water spraying in various shapes and designs garnered oohs and aahs from the audience. The selection of music was quite eclectic, from the theme from Space Odyssey: 2001 to a Country and Western tune to Hip Hop.

The next day, we just puttered around town. It was sort of melancholy day, because we knew things were coming to an end. We enjoyed an ice cream on the boardwalk, did one last round of laundry and then decided to eat in town. Too hot to cook. We found a bar and grill that made huge burritos. Les got the beef and I, the chicken. Smothered in cheese and a red sauce, this monstrosity was more than either of us could finish.

After dinner, Les checked the weather to see if we could cross the lake the next day. We decided to try, hoping the winds would wait until evening to pick up strength. We made the attempt knowing we could retreat to shore and head further south to Holland or Saugatuck. Our other back up plan was to try again on Friday, since the weather outlook was good.

The next morning, we hunkered down for the 90 mile run across the lake. I decided to drive first to keep my motion sickness to a minimum. As we travelled, the waves buffeted us, but we seemed to be making good time. We made it across about 20 miles, when we heard a clanking sound. We looked around inside the cabin. Nothing was making that sound. We slowed down to idle speed, so Les could check outside. The waves were pushing us to and fro, when he discovered that the roof rack that carries our bikes was coming loose.

I put the boat into neutral, while Les climbed on the side to secure the rack. Due to the rocking of the boat from side to side, I clenched my seat. Thinking my effort would help Les cling to the side of the boat, as I hoped and prayed that the wind wouldn’t knock him off. It was the most harrowing event of the trip. I kept praying. Finally, Les climbed back into the boat, announcing that all was secure.

I put on my bravest face, and asked if we should stay our course to cross the lake. Les came over to the GPS and showed me that we had 60 miles to go. He decisively suggested that we turn around; we were heading back to shore, veering southeast to Holland. I could have argued, but I didn’t really have the stomach or nerves to keep battling the waves. We had no idea if they would simmer down or get worse. It was one of those defining moments.

The meaning of repentance became very clear that day: change direction. Don’t stay on a reckless path. Get out of there. We knew that staying on the current course could cost the potential loss of the bikes. And even though pride tempted us to brave the waves and take the pounding, the firm voice of reason (aka, the Holy Spirit) told us to retreat, find refuge. Don’t be foolish.
 
That morning I had read the Scripture: “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)

We made it safely to Holland, which sits on Lake Manitowoc off of the main lake. We let down our anchor for the afternoon, praying for more wisdom. Les had checked the weather, and the forecast had changed from light and calm winds on Friday and Saturday to high winds with 2-4 feet waves. I decided to sit on the front of the boat and soak up the sun, the breeze and the peace of repentance.

Meanwhile, Les did his research and found out that he could catch the Amtrak in Holland; the station was only 1.5 miles from the marina we planned to stay at that evening. He also figured out that he could take public transportation once he made it to Chicago, to within a mile of the other marina, where we had parked the truck and trailer. He booked his ticket, and we made our way to the last stop of our trip.

 

In the morning, we walked together to the train station. After I saw Les off, I withdrew leisurely back to the boat to spend one last day reading, resting and relaxing in God’s presence.

 
Posted on by kelrohlf 0

Rest: Peace of Mind or Spirit

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.”

Isaiah 30:15 NIV
 
North Point Marina

The Intuition Diaries

The first day of our trip a small craft advisory kept us at rest. We weren’t able to leave the marina as the waves were too high for safe travel. The next day we embarked on the first day of boating, we were well rested after a day of eating, napping and exploring the North Point Marina grounds. On our day of rest, we celebrated Les’ birthday. I made Les dinner and I told him that I had a surprise…I was going to take him on a trip around Lake Michigan. He laughed.

For his birthday dessert, I made brownie waffles with strawberries on top.

We left the marina early Monday morning to cruise the 67 miles to our next port. While we puttered along the Wisconsin coast of the lake, I was thinking.

 I often ask Les what he is thinking and he will reply, “Nothing.”

I find this difficult to believe because my mind never seems to rest. I noticed while I was busy thinking that I either recall the past or project into the future. One minute I am thinking about all the fun times we had on previous vacations, and then the next thing I know,  I am wondering what’s for lunch or where will be headed the next day.

I asked Les about his ability to think about nothing. He admitted that he enjoys the present. He explores the scenery around him. He pays attention to the charts and the direction the boat is headed. He lives in the moment. I admire him. I can do this occasionally, but it truly takes discipline for me to rest and remain in the moment.

The trip today started out calm, and about halfway through our trip the waves started getting choppy. This caused the boat to bounce, which caused me to get a bit uneasy and queasy. I tried everything to enjoy the moment, including taking a nap.

 After my nap, Les asked if I wanted to drive and I declined. About an hour away from our destination, I decided I did want to drive and Les gave the helm over to me.

I was amazed at how I went from restlessness to restful once I had something to concentrate on. Rest takes many forms. It can be sleep, which actually renews our bodies. It may be just letting your mind enjoy the scenery around you. For me I need something to help me rest, so I rested my mind on the task at hand.

Once we got to Port Washington, Wisconsin, I was feeling relaxed. I was at rest, free from anxiety. We continued our rest by wandering around the town, eating a late lunch at Beanies(best fajitas ever!). We ended our day by riding our bikes on a local trail and eating ice cream for dinner.



 

 

Posted on by kelrohlf 0