Aperture of Light

The ocean is where I feel empowered and renewed by God the most.  I am drawn to it, in the same way that I am drawn to God.  Times when I need answers or feel too overwhelmed, I go sit and stare at the mighty ocean, the representation of God that overwhelms my soul.

It is gentle and soothing, yet powerful and authoritative.  You cannot control it and it can sweep you away at its liking.  You fear it, yet you cannot take your eyes from it.  It’s beauty overwhelms and transforms you.

I believe God shows me more of who He is when He takes me to the ocean.  I can hear His voice in the crashing waves and I have had many a questions answered there.

After graduation, God lead me back home, 123 miles from the ocean.  That may not seem like a lot to some, but I had been 10 minutes away.  That has been a new challenge, but I am content in knowing that God led me here for a reason, perhaps to show me more of Himself in other things.  I pray that He will lead me back one day soon, but I know that He has a purpose for everything.

In the culture that we live in, we often get what we want.  And when we get it, we want more.  It seems that we are more depressed overall than the people who have very little. Hmm..  I often find myself irritated over things that I wish people would do or over things that I wish that I could have..like a full-time job.  But then I realize how much God has given me.  I look at my life and say, “God!  You did not have to give me every one of these blessings!  How good you are to me and how little I show thanks.”

Today I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up a magazine.  It was one that I would never buy because of the content that it is known for, but I knew that there was supposed to be an article with three stories about three women who survived sexual slavery and were rescued.  Each of these women told the story of their abduction, the horrific sexual, physical and emotional abuse that they endured and how their lives are now.  These women are amazing.  Despite the degradation of their bodies and spirits, they are strong women today.  They are pursuing their careers, are in loving relationships and are telling their stories in hopes that the same thing will not happen to somebody else.

I also saw a special on 60 Minutes tonight about Jaycee Dugard.  She is a women who was kidnapped at a young age and held prisoner in a couple’s backyard for 18 years.  She described the abuse that she endured and how she made it through until she was finally rescued.  What was so amazing about her particular story was the way that she sees life now.  In everything that happened, she could find something positive; a positive lesson that she had learned.  Despite the fact that she was locked up for 18 years, her mother sitting next to her telling her how sorry she was that Jaycee had lost her childhood and adolescence, Jaycee simply said that she was free now and had so much more of life.  She was thankful for everything that she has.  Though nobody would ever wish to endure what she did, Jaycee was the one finding the light in the situation.

So, how can we love God more?  I think it starts with thanksgiving.  God works every situation in our lives out for “the good of those who love Him.” – Romans 8:28

We need to love him and trust Him.  God does not put anything in our path that we cannot overcome, if we rely on Him.  And He wants us to be overcomers.  It’s a big step to give a painful situation to God; to humble ourselves and thank Him for preparing us in this way.  His grace will fill us up when other things or other people try to empty us.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  - Romans 8:35-39

Emily uses art to glorify God and she feels His presence most when working in the ceramics studio.

 “Just like God made us out of clay, I make my own creations out of clay. I connect with God in the studio, knowing this is how he has control over our lives. Though I have control over the clay, it sometimes decides to do things on its own, however when it works with me and shapes to the plan I have for it, it becomes something beautiful. The ceramic studio is my resting place where God speaks to me and I can simply dwell with Him.” – Emily

Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. -  Isaish 64:8

I went to Kohl’s today.  If you have ever been in one of these department stores you will immediately notice the music.  This is not because it is good, but because it is loud!  As, I walked around and had no choice but to listen to it, I noticed that a lot of the lyrics of the songs that I was hearing had a common theme.  They were all about “how can I find happiness?” or “I just want to know that I’ll be okay, can you promise me that?” or “show me that I will be happy ten years from now, because I’m not now”.  That made me sad.  Most of the shoppers in this store are young girls.  Women that are looking for meaning in life and often find it in the wrong places.  I just wanted to tell them, there is a way to be genuinely fulfilled!  A way to have real joy, as opposed to momentary “happiness”.  There is a God who wants to fill the hole in your heart, to mend your brokenness and tell you everything will be okay.