Fear and awe...

'Do you not fear Me?' declares the LORD 'Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it. --Jeremiah 5:22

We are on our way to visit our friends...sun and ocean. I am a lover of the warmth and can't wait to dip my toes in that salty sweetness and feel the waves pull and tug. But I have to confess, the ocean scares the crud out of me. When I sit on the beach and look out at the vast unknown before me, this panic stirs within. I love cruises but to be honest, being out in the middle of all of that surrounding blue brings a bit of fear. We entrust this hunk of metal that weighs tons with 10x10 rooms stacked upon one another to keep us afloat. But at the same time as I have this fear stirring within me, I have this desire to see more, to GO more. 

As we head out to Aruba for our getaway, I know I will sit on the beach and feel that pit in my stomach.  It's this feeling of utter overwhelm.  The immense water whose border is beyond what I can see. The sharks and the crashing waves that could take my life. The creepy, hidden things that no one has even discovered. The world that lives below the surface. Yes, I like having the borders of the pool, of the lake and the ocean gives me only one border, the beach I stand on (and even sometimes no border as you cruise across on the multi ton ocean liner). 

So yes, it puts this slight panic inside. I know I am little in comparison and I have no power when it comes down to it. When I come to the ocean, I approach it with reverence. This is the same way I approach God.  

The ocean is not out to get me but I know what it's capable of (at least a small portion). And God isn't out to get me but again I know what He is capable of and I approach Him with a fear and awe.  And today, as I stand on that beach and look out, I won't be able to not think of God and His power.   He could have sent us to Hell but He created a way for us to be with Him. He could have started over but again, He loved us enough to wait on us. So when I think of God, I don't think, "you could take me out right now".  But instead, I think "you are so powerful and perfect and you LOVE me. You SAVED me".   So I will embrace you and let your love wash over me like the waves wash over me and I will bask in your love as I will bask in the sun. I will stand on that shore and choose to feel the glee that overcomes the panic as I will stand in your presence and choose to feel that love that overcomes my sin. 

"I touch the sky when my knees hit the ground."