She was a person who had possessed the strength to pass through the storms of life and receive all their buffetings and wounds without being altered.”
–C.M. Curtis (Return of the Outlaw)
“He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm.”
–Job 26:12 (NKJV)
———————————
I’m not a seaman. With that said, I can imagine what some of those early voyages must have been like. In my mind, those sailors were extraordinary. When I think of the expanse of the water and on the horizon all you can see is more water, well, I don’t think I’d like it much. I had two uncles who joined the Navy during World War II. One stayed in for over twenty years–he was a die-cast sailor.
I’ve read many of the Hornblower stories, and especially like the books by Alexander Kent. Warfare on the sea, battles on the sea, danger from wind, waves, and weather. Nope, I’ll stick to the mountains. In fact, in my later years, I don’t care much even for the beach. Oh, there was a time, in my twenties when I went deep-sea fishing in Florida. Annie and I with Granny and Pappy would walk along the bay and scoop up crabs which made fine eating, and I will grant the sea that point, there is plenty of good eating there.
Jesus must have enjoyed the sea. I wrote from Matthew yesterday, that “Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.” (13:1). The sea, if there aren’t many people around, is a good place to sit and contemplate. Watching the waves rush to shore, hearing the sound; it’s easy to think of the majesty of God. Easy to put things aside and ponder the things of God. Jesus did it, so there’s nothing wrong with it. He didn’t even mind the storms. Put him in a boat, He’d go to sleep and sleep right through the tempest that was raging. He didn’t even mind getting his toes in the water. Remember that time He decided to take a stroll?
Two thoughts I want to leave with you that I came across in my reading. One is from Brendan the Navigator. I didn’t know who he was but found he was also called Brendan the Voyager. He was an “Apostle of Ireland,” born in the fifth century. He said this, “Do not fear. God will be of our crew, be at our helm, act as our pilot. Ship sweeps. Leave set the sail. We are His company, this His ship. May He use us all to His will.” That should give us some comfort. When the storms of life assail, I can depend upon the Lord to keep me. When the waves crash into the ship, my feet may get wet, but I will be upheld by His strong arm. That might have been the thoughts of Paul, when he went through the three shipwrecks. (2 Corinthians 11:25). Shipwrecked! Imagine, alone in the deep, fish, monsters of the deep, sharks and Paul was there once for a night and a day.
The second thought comes from life. Put yourself out on a small ship, a frigate of days gone by. You have your destination, but the wind changes. Do you complain, or depend upon the captain? Listen, in life sometimes there comes up quite a gale. The winds may reach hurricane force in your life. Do you moan, groan, despair or trust and depend upon the Captain? Listen to the voices around you, what do you hear? “The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” (John Maxwell)
“Others went to sea in ships, conducting trade on the vast waters. They saw the LORD’s works, His wonderful works in the deep. He spoke and raised a tempest that stirred up the waves of the sea. rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths, their courage melting away in anguish, they reeled and staggered like drunken men, and all their skill was useless. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He still the storm to a murmur, and the waves of the sea were hushed. They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet. Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for.”
–Psalm 107:23-30 (HCSB)
———————————
I’m not a seaman. With that said, I can imagine what some of those early voyages must have been like. In my mind, those sailors were extraordinary. When I think of the expanse of the water and on the horizon all you can see is more water, well, I don’t think I’d like it much. I had two uncles who joined the Navy during World War II. One stayed in for over twenty years–he was a die-cast sailor.
I’ve read many of the Hornblower stories, and especially like the books by Alexander Kent. Warfare on the sea, battles on the sea, danger from wind, waves, and weather. Nope, I’ll stick to the mountains. In fact, in my later years, I don’t care much even for the beach. Oh, there was a time, in my twenties when I went deep-sea fishing in Florida. Annie and I with Granny and Pappy would walk along the bay and scoop up crabs which made fine eating, and I will grant the sea that point, there is plenty of good eating there.
Jesus must have enjoyed the sea. I wrote from Matthew yesterday, that “Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.” (13:1). The sea, if there aren’t many people around, is a good place to sit and contemplate. Watching the waves rush to shore, hearing the sound; it’s easy to think of the majesty of God. Easy to put things aside and ponder the things of God. Jesus did it, so there’s nothing wrong with it. He didn’t even mind the storms. Put him in a boat, He’d go to sleep and sleep right through the tempest that was raging. He didn’t even mind getting his toes in the water. Remember that time He decided to take a stroll?
Two thoughts I want to leave with you that I came across in my reading. One is from Brendan the Navigator. I didn’t know who he was but found he was also called Brendan the Voyager. He was an “Apostle of Ireland,” born in the fifth century. He said this, “Do not fear. God will be of our crew, be at our helm, act as our pilot. Ship sweeps. Leave set the sail. We are His company, this His ship. May He use us all to His will.” That should give us some comfort. When the storms of life assail, I can depend upon the Lord to keep me. When the waves crash into the ship, my feet may get wet, but I will be upheld by His strong arm. That might have been the thoughts of Paul, when he went through the three shipwrecks. (2 Corinthians 11:25). Shipwrecked! Imagine, alone in the deep, fish, monsters of the deep, sharks and Paul was there once for a night and a day.
The second thought comes from life. Put yourself out on a small ship, a frigate of days gone by. You have your destination, but the wind changes. Do you complain, or depend upon the captain? Listen, in life sometimes there comes up quite a gale. The winds may reach hurricane force in your life. Do you moan, groan, despair or trust and depend upon the Captain? Listen to the voices around you, what do you hear? “The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” (John Maxwell)
“Others went to sea in ships, conducting trade on the vast waters. They saw the LORD’s works, His wonderful works in the deep. He spoke and raised a tempest that stirred up the waves of the sea. rising up to the sky, sinking down to the depths, their courage melting away in anguish, they reeled and staggered like drunken men, and all their skill was useless. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He still the storm to a murmur, and the waves of the sea were hushed. They rejoiced when the waves grew quiet. Then He guided them to the harbor they longed for.”
–Psalm 107:23-30 (HCSB)