Beauty And The Beach

Once upon a time, there was one so fair -  that even with physical scars remaining  -  his royal beauty inspired a fisherman to jump out of a boat and swim ashore to get alone with the object of his heart's desire, way ahead of his friends. The fisherman's name was Peter and he longed to be in right standing with the one he had denied three times. This is a true story and the full account can be found in the gospel of John 21:1-14.

Recently, I was at the beach over Memorial Day weekend and was mesmerized with the magnificent view of The Gulf of Mexico. Daily we would see all sorts of military aircraft flying overhead, which served as a great reminder that our enjoyment of the beach in a free country was due to all the sacrifices made by our men and women in military and their families. It was sobering and thought provoking. Death is the currency used to pay for freedom.

I noticed all different types of people in various stages of life walking up and down the pristine coastline: laughing, relaxing and enjoying their day. There were many physically beautiful people in their prime spending their day out soaking in the sun. I observed all this while feeling a little like a sand crap - sitting under an umbrella, with hat sunglasses and wearing sunscreen SPF 50 for babies. I even occasionally covered myself with my towel.

​As I looked out on the beach, I thought of the phrase, Beauty And The Beach and Jesus came to mind. His sacrifice on the cross was the costliest of all in purchasing our freedom. I wondered what it was like the morning Jesus was cooking breakfast for His disciples after His resurrection. He appeared on the shore of Lake Tiberias and shouted directions to them on where to cast their nets. He had bread ready and then cooked the fish that He provided for them to catch. I wonder what that moment was like to be in the presence of Jesus, while He served breakfast? I wanted to write a post on the beauty of our Savior, but didn't know how to even start, so right there on the beach, I asked God to help me. And guess what? He did!

The night before we were to leave the beach, my husband and I stood out on the balcony and looked up at the deep, royal navy night sky. In awe of the spectacular display of stars, I asked my husband if we could pray the Lord's Prayer before going to bed and he replied with an enthusiastic, "Yes!" As we recited the part, "for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory" I saw the sky light up in the distance over the gulf with lightning.

During our vacation, I went to my husband's bedside table in the mornings and used his Bible for my daily time in the Word, but the last day of our vacation I noticed he had already packed his Bible. Since he was in the shower, I decided not to bother him. Thankfully, I remembered seeing a Gideon's Bible in the living room's side table drawer and when I opened it, one page was noticeably creased (to be more specific, it was the only page with a defined crease). Since I wasn't sure where I had left off in Scott's Bible, I thought I would read the folded page that stood out from all the rest. I went outside, started reading and just minutes later, my neck jolted back as I read the top of the second column, Psalms 27:4. The whole verse from the psalm of David reads, "One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."

I went inside to find my husband and said, "Scott, this is so awesome, look!" I told him about how I had wanted to write a blog about the beauty of Jesus and use the title, Beauty And The Beach and how I had asked God to help me with the words. God just directed my eyes to King David's description of Him. I was so giddy, I had to calm myself down. Went back out on the balcony to regroup and finish reading the creased page front and back. As I was reading the other side, there was another "Wow" moment! Psalm 29, verse 2 reads, "Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

And if that wasn't enough to make my heart leap, verse 3 reads, " The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters." Which is what I saw as we recited the Lord's Prayer while looking out over the gulf. Lightening seen out over the waters at the exact moment we prayed, "for Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory." I jumped up again in awe and called out, "Scott! There's more!" I came in so overjoyed that God was speaking to me so clearly and intimately through His Word. I love it when He reveals that He knows my thoughts, hears my prayers and then answers in such a mind blowing way. He doesn't have to do any of that.

Throughout generations since creation, people have found themselves getting a glimpse of The Majestic King who possesses a beauty so great it is hard to comprehend and even harder to describe. King David, a man after God's own heart, wrote about Him before He manifested Himself into this world. Peter and the disciples were able to see Him in His resurrected body while they themselves were still in their earthly bodies. His love for us and His indescribable nature is truly beautiful. His scars are especially beautiful, so get to know Him while He may be found!

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

With Love,
Christina

Stay humble & BOLD!

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  Psalm 119:105

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