Riding out the storm...

I've been reading through the book of Acts, this morning I read the story of Paul's shipwreck.  It's a fascinating story, it's real and it's raw.  Yet it is so condensed that you really have to just sit and really take in the story as you read it word by word - put yourself in their shoes - in their ship...in their storm.  

Paul is being taken to Rome to appeal to Caesar for the charges the Jews have placed upon him.  By the time the ship is ready to set sail it's late in the season and Paul warns that it be best they winter in Fair Haven.

No one listens - the ship sets sail.

Soon into their voyage they are faced with a violent wind storm and the ship is carried along and violently tossed.  They've lost control and begin throwing overboard their cargo and the ship's tackle, hoping to lighten the ship.  The storm rages on and it's now been many days of crashing waves and relentless, tormenting winds.

Paul stands up in their midst, first bringing up the fact that they should have taken his advice and not set sail.  I believe this statement wasn't meant as a "rub in" but as a statement to build their trust in what Paul would say next.  He urges the men to keep up their courage and tells them there will be no loss of life on this ship.  The Lord has told him so in a vision.  Again he urges them to keep up their courage, as he believes God will see them through.

But...we must run aground.

Run aground!  I'm sure the thought of that was scary, how could everyone survive that.

Fourteen days in and they're still being driven violently along, how much longer can they endure this tempest.

They start taking soundings and realize that they are getting close to some shore.  They drop their anchors and wish for daybreak.

Some sailors try to escape - driven by fear - the fear of death.  If only they could escape in the ship's boat they may survive, they'd have a better chance then running aground and having the ship smash to pieces.

Paul is on to them and as they are lowering the boat he remarks that "unless these men remain on the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.  The soldiers immediately cut the ropes the boat falls to the sea.  

All escape routes are now dashed - everyone remains on board.

Everyone is encouraged to take food - Paul takes the bread and having given thanks in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat.  They were all encouraged and ate - all 276 of them.

They throw more cargo overboard and wait for daybreak to come.

Day comes, they see land, don't recognize it.  They cut the anchors, loosen the ropes of the rudders and hoist the sail to the wind and head for the beach.  They strike a reef and run aground, the stern starts to break to pieces with the force of the waves.  Those who can swim are told to jump overboard first and the rest should follow, some of planks, and other various things from the ship.

And so it happened that all were brought safely to land.

Not one person perished.

The outcome looked bleak...very bleak...death was eminent through their whole voyage.  Day after day, violent winds, crashing waves, water lashing on cold, weary bodies.  How long would this go on...how long could they withstand this.  

Again I am reminded it's easy for me to read the story and not realize the depth of what they were going through because I know the beginning and the end.

So what's your storm?

What are the waves and winds that are relentlessly lashing against you without letting up?

Do you feel like giving up...giving in...letting go.

It's too hard

I can't do it

I can't change

Life and circumstance will never change

He won't change...she won't change

I'll always be this way

This addiction will always have me...what's the point of thinking I could ever beat it

My marriage will never change

The list of storms could go on and on.

For Paul and that crew of 275 God was in the centre of that storm, His presence was aboard that ship.  The key to their survival rested in the fact that everyone remain on board...they stick together through the storm, no matter how bleak it looked, how raging it felt or how weary they were.

Can you trust God in the midst of your storm, staying anchored to him, his truth and his ways even if you can't see a way through, even if you don't understand it or feel like things will never change.

Stay where he has you, look to him, trust him, he will see you through.

Things to be thankful for...

144. Long morning walk with Charissa & Cooper

145. Answered prayers

146. Beautiful sunrise, purples and pinks

147. Quiet morning walk with Cooper

148. My Father God who knows my heart

149. Games night with the guys

150. Relaxing Saturday morning

151. Chat with mom

152. Chat with Matt

153. Benjamin's graduation service

154. Visit with Jocelyne

155. Nice drive with the girls, checking out the country side

156. Beautiful sunset

157. Goodnight's sleep

158. Vibrant pinks in the morning sky

159. Refreshing morning walk with Charissa & Cooper

160. God's love

161. Nice chat with Matt

162. Issues resolved - freedom/peace felt

163. Another gorgeous morning sky

164. Morning walk

165. Sitting on the deck in the sunshine at the end of the day, relaxing with my husband, Charissa and Cooper

166. Chat and laughter with Jocelyne

167. April & Kara over for a visit

168. My husband's encouragement when I struggle

169. Walk with my husband and Cooper

170. Beautiful Sunday 20 degrees

171. Relaxing on the deck

172. Chatting with Kayla

173. Sound of the eagle - the eagles are back

174. Bible study with the ladies

175. Chat with Matt

176. Lily's 3rd birthday

177. Morning walk with Charissa & Cooper

178. Dew glistening on the grass

179. Volunteers at the Village

180. Beautiful morning sky as we drive to Miramichi

181. Attending the Miramichi prayer breakfast

182. Chatting with Cyndi & Marc, the guest speaker

183. Visiting with Alice, Daniel and Geza

184. Relaxing morning

185. Reading a good book - a powerful true story - Shine On

186. Nice hike with Jocelyne, Charissa and Cooper at Black River Beach

187. Supper made by Charissa

188. Mother's Day - our mothers - chat with mom

189. Cards and calls from the kids

190. Afternoon spent with Jocelyne and Charissa

191. Tulips and chocolate from Jocelyne

192. Thirty years of marriage with my husband - I am blessed

193. Afternoon drive along the coast with my husband

194. Memories - reminiscing

195. Walking the beach

I am so grateful for this man I call my husband.

196. Fish & chips dinner

197. Call from mom

198. Gorgeous sunrise

199. Refreshing morning walk with Charissa & Cooper

200. Safe flight to Toronto

201. Helping out with Will and Amy

202. Time spent with Lily

203. Chat with Lily into the night - "why Oma?"

204. Amy's foot is getting better

205. Beautiful warm sun shiny day

206. Time spent outside with Lily

207. The beautiful Baltimore Oriole

208. Chat with my husband

209. A walk to the river and some fishing with Will and Lily

210. Matt over at Will & Amy's for a visit while I'm there

211. The way Lily loves her Uncle Matt

212. Checking out St. Jacob's market

213. Hanging out with Matt Saturday night

214. Time spend with my sisters and nieces

215. Kayla's wedding shower - celebrating her upcoming wedding

216. Laughter at memories of Kayla shared

217. Family

218. Short visit at mom and dad's

219. Seeing Daytona, Elmo and Zoe

220. Cute and playful kittens at mom and dad's

221. Quick visit with Jill

222. Tea party with Lily & her unicorns and Amy

223. Playing outside with Lily

224. Chat with my husband

225. Sunshine through the rain shower

226. Bedtime stories with Lily

227. Beautiful country landscape

228. Good flight home - nice chat with my fellow passenger

229. A smile so full of life

230. Catching up wth my husband

231. The call of the eagles through my bedroom window

232. Meeting a kind woman named Dawn

233. Picking Will, Amy and Lily up at the airport - Lily smiles

234. Family

235. April & Kara bringing some toys and books over for Lily

236. Help from Shelley

237. Relaxing day with Will, Amy and Lily

238. Nice time at the aquarium

239. Pizza supper with Lily and my husband while Will and Amy spend dinner out together

240. Lily's chatting while going to sleep

241. Beautiful Saturday weather in St. Andrew's

242. Touring Minister's Island

Can't wait to meet this little one.

243. Lily's delight at hearing echos from the valley and woods

244. Lunch out as a family

245. Quiet Sunday afternoon

246. Walk to the river with Will, Amy and Lily

247. Lily's chatter with her dad on the way to the airport - her giggles

248. Safe flight home for Will, Amy and Lily

249. Early morning walk with Charissa and Cooper - mist on the river

250. A good day

251. Vibrant sunset

252. Celebrating my husband's birthday

253. Nice dinner out

254. Seeing an eagle perched on a tree on our walk

255. Hanging out with Kara & April

256. Beautiful morning walk

257. Quiet walk with my husband at Kilarny Lake

258. The prompting of the Holy Spirit
259. Some of the guys out fishing in the river
260. Playing with Weston and Remi
261. Good chat with my brother
262. Bible study, good conversation
263. Good choices made by one of the men
264. Beautiful morning walk
265. God working in me
266. Nice visit with Charity, good conversation
267. Answered prayers
268. Night hanging out with Charissa
269. Strawberry rhubarb pie made by Charissa - delicious

270. David and Shawn C. over for coffee and pie
271. Early morning mist on the river
272. Good chat with Matt
273. Beautiful sun-filled day
274. Touring Deer Island with my husband and Charissa

Napping while waiting for the ferry to Deer Island.

Good thing we looked back before heading over the knoll or we would have come back 30 minutes later to a road and vehicle submerged!  

275. Laughter - almost being stranded on an island because the tide was washing over the bar road

276. Dinner with Shawn and Charissa
277. Seeing a black bear run past our house
278. Serving at the Prison Fellowship Banquet with the men
279. Out for a walk with Kara, April and Cooper - wading in the river
280. Taking an older couple on a tour of the Village
281. Laughter doing a video with David and Shawn
282. Down by the river with the kids and Cooper
283. Bible study with the ladies
284. Celebrating Charissa's birthday
285. Good day together spent shopping and hanging out
286. Video call with Lily and Will
287. Kids and Cooper swimming in the river again
288. Video call with Will, Amy and Lily - Lily's laughter
289. The smell of lilacs and fresh cut grass

290. Charissa cleaned our vehicle
291. Games night with the guys
292. Good chat with a mother and her daughter
293. Celebrating with Brayden and Kirsten on their wedding day
294. Beautiful weather for an outdoor wedding

295. Hanging out with family
296. Laughter
297. Some quiet time spent with my husband
298. Father's Day - thankful for my husband, my dad and my father-in-law
299. Afternoon spent with my husband's family - lots of laughter

300. Chat with mom and dad
301. Beautiful skies driving home from Nova Scotia
302. Chat with Will
303. Chat with Matt while out on a walk with Charissa and Cooper
304. Laughter with Charissa and Kayla
305. Early morning bird songs through my open window
306. Morning mist on the river
307. Beautiful peaceful morning walk with Charissa and Cooper
308. How the Holy Spirit works in my life
309. Quiet evening town run with my husband
310. Some of the guys over for coffee
311. Morning walk in the rain
312. Good chat with the wife of an addict - praying with her
313. Much needed rain day
314. Getting caught up at home
315. Taking Kara to her riding lesson
316. Beautiful, peaceful day spend with my husband checking out Cape Enrage and Hopewell Rocks

317. The majesty and beauty of God's creation

318. Beautiful sunshine and blue cloud filled skies
319. Visiting a man in the hospital
320. Summer breezes
321. Sitting on the deck with Charissa and Cooper, enjoying the sunshine