Gleanings From the Beach

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.”  John 15:7

I spent some time at the beach recently enjoying the sunshine, the rest, and renewal.  I listened and learned a lot about life from the beach.  I abided in God’s presence and just listened.  I want to share some of what I gleaned from the beach with you -

At the beach, there is equality.  Everyone is the same – enjoying the sand, the water, the waves.  When you are in the water, there are no differences.  Everyone is enjoying the moment.

There are rules at the beach that seem to be obeyed by everyone – you can leave your stuff – your chair, your towel, your toys and everything you have brought and set up and nobody bothers it if you go take a walk.

A smile or head nod crosses all language barriers.

Children are filled with joy and laughter at the beach.  Their smiles are contagious.

Complimenting a child brings a smile to them and their parents.

People are more polite on the beach than in their vehicles going and coming from the beach.

The waves always come.  No matter the time of day or night, the waves never stop.  Like the waves, things always happen in life.  You cannot stop life from happening.  You learn to embrace it and jump in just like you jump into the waves.

There is always a breeze at the beach.  In life, there is always the wind of the Spirit around us if we take the time to recognize the Spirit’s presence.

It is more comfortable and cooler at the beach than at the pool.  There are those who vacation at the Beach but spend all their time at the pool and never go to the actual beach and experience the sand, the water, and the waves.  They never experience the beauty of God’s creation.  It is like people who are Christians and do not live in the joy and freedom of the abundant life that Jesus gives.  They never experience the fullness of life that God gives freely through His grace.

Always look up.  The clouds are always changing.  The sunrises and sunsets are God’s beautiful painting each morning and evening.  You need to look for the beauty around you.  It is always present.

If you look at the water, waves, sand, sky and people, God created them all and knows every grain of sand, drop of water, and hairs on every head.

Every moment is a God moment because God is in every moment.

Footprints are like are past sins – God washes them away.  When we look back immediately, they are still there because we still linger in our past.  When we focus forward and allow God to cleanse us, the past mistakes are gone. 

The closer you run to the water and the waves, the firmer the sand, but you get hit by the waves.  The closer you are to God’s strong foundation, the stronger you are when you get pounded by life.  When you start to sink in your run on the beach, you are too far from the water.  In life, we sink when we are too far from the Living water of Jesus.

You can miss God’s glory if you don’t look up.

Clouds are every changing just like life.  But God is who does the changing and is with us.

Listen to the sounds of the beach.  God speaks loudly in the waves, softly in the clouds.

There is always room for you at the beach.  No matter how crowded it may seem, there is always space somewhere on the sand to set up your chair and towel.  God always has room for you.

You need to rest and take in the calming water, the breeze, the sunshine, and be in the moment and not think about what comes next.  Just rest and relax.  Life needs to be lived in the present not in the future.  Sunshine warms the body and spirit.  God’s Son fills our soul.

Stay active – get up and walk the beach.  Play in the water.  Movement is important at the beach and in life.

When you bike at the beach, make sure you announce to those in front of you, “Bikes on your left.”  It is amazing how many people do not know which is their left and do not know which way to go.  Some bikers do not tell you and come up quickly behind you and scare you.  Sometimes in life, we are prepared for what is coming behind us and know what to do.  Sometimes things sneak up on us and we are not ready and do not know which way to go.

It is good to have friends wherever you travel – someone who knows the best restaurants and things to do and be of help when needed.  It is good to have a friend in Jesus who is always with you.

God will speak to you through every experience in life, you just need to listen and abide in His presence.