God saves

Escape

Posted on by Betsy

New Year’s Eve brought something unexpected to my little family this year: fireworks. Very close fireworks, which possibly came from the back yard adjoining the little townhouse we were staying in. It felt in some moments that the fireworks were in the room with us. That is annoying when your idea of welcoming in the new year is to be in bed by ten, and fall asleep hoping you will remember to start dating things with 2022 the next day. But for my dog, fireworks are terrifying.

Georgia is not bothered by storms, thunder, Nor ’easters, etc, but when that high whine of something about to explode happens, she takes her 100lb. body and tries to find the smallest place of safety in the house. We have spent many a July 4th huddled with her in the kneehole of the built-in desk of our guest room. On New Year’s Eve, my husband sat with her on the laundry room floor until the jubilation was finally over.

Where do you go to escape? When the cacophony of stress threatens to deafen you, when your eyes have seen more tragedy than joy, when your heart breaks with the absence of your one true love, where do you flee?

I hope you flee to God. I pray that you know that in any circumstance, God is a sound-proof rock cave that can withstand any type of assault … whether it be physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual.

Listen to how the psalmist put it:

Psalm 71 (Common English Bible)

I’ve taken refuge in you, Lord.
    Don’t let me ever be put to shame!
2 Deliver me and rescue me by your righteousness!
    Bend your ear toward me and save me!
3 Be my rock of refuge
    where I can always escape.
You commanded that my life be saved
    because you are my rock and my fortress.

4 My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked;
    rescue me from the grip of the wrongdoer and the oppressor
5     because you are my hope, Lord.
    You, Lord, are the one I’ve trusted since childhood.
6 I’ve depended on you from birth—
    you cut the cord when I came from my mother’s womb.
    My praise is always about you.

I don’t know what is about to explode in your life right now, but I do know where you can go for shelter. God’s power is available to deliver you and save you from all manner of evil, slander, wickedness, oppression, and harm. And explosions.

Flee to the Rock, and you will find hope.

Check out my friend Shannon’s thought-provoking post, and sorry about the song that will get stuck in your head all day!

Sheltered by Michelle Robertson

Daddy, Watch!

Posted on by Betsy

Summer days at the beach and the pool are busy times for parents. There is little rest, relaxation, or reading when you have to keep an eagle eye on the little ones. Sand castle building, running into the surf, jumping into the deep end, hunting for ghost crabs, etc. all require careful parental monitoring. And if you take your eyes off them for a second to grab something from the beach bag, you’ll likely hear, “Mommy and Daddy, WATCH!” as your child perfects a somersault, learns to swan dive, or masters flying a kite.

We feel better when Mommy and Daddy are watching, don’t we?

Psalm 17 begins with the same plea to our Heavenly Father. Daddy, watch! Daddy, listen!

Psalm 17 (Common English Bible)

Listen to what’s right, Lord;
    pay attention to my cry!
Listen closely to my prayer;
    it’s spoken by lips that don’t lie!
2 My justice comes from you;
    let your eyes see what is right!
3 You have examined my heart,
    testing me at night.
You’ve looked me over closely,
    but haven’t found anything wrong.
    My mouth doesn’t sin.
4 But these other people’s deeds?
    I have avoided such violent ways
    by the command from your lips.
5 My steps are set firmly on your paths;
    my feet haven’t slipped.

This Psalm, attributed to David, was probably written during his time of being hunted and persecuted by King Saul. Young David is without a defender. He feels vulnerable. He is being oppressed and feels alone. So he cries out to his Daddy.

6 I cry out to you because you answer me.
    So tilt your ears toward me now—
    listen to what I’m saying!
7 Manifest your faithful love in amazing ways
    because you are the one
    who saves those who take refuge in you,
    saving them from their attackers
    by your strong hand.

Have you ever been in a similar situation? I sure have. I have felt attacked, misrepresented, vulnerable, and alone. That does not feel good. Are you feeling this way today? What does it mean to you to realize that God is always tilting his ears toward you?

This beautiful writing is a reminder that in fact, we are never alone. God sees. God hears. God will be our refuge against our attackers, and save us by his strong hand. When our steps are firmly on the path he has set before us, and if our feet do not slip from his ways, we will prevail and find safety in his arms.

No matter what it is you are dealing with today, know that God’s ears are tilted toward you and his faithful love will save you. Thanks be to God!

Watchful Osprey Parents

Keep Your Head Up

Posted on by Betsy

Memorial Day Weekend brings many things to the Outer Banks: tourists, traffic, revenue, beautiful beach days, and good times. On the Friday prior, it brings something else: the return of the Life Guard Stands.

This acts as a catalyst for locals. When we see the stands coming out of storage from the beach houses and being erected, our pulse quickens. Summer is finally and officially here! Businesses prepare, restaurants shine up, rental agencies ready welcome packages, and I begin to pray.

The season we all depend on and wait all winter long to enjoy will bring another thing that we dread: ocean rescues. I used to get excited when I saw the Coast Guard helicopters flying overhead, until I realized they aren’t training…they are rescuing. I see the guard stands returning as a sure sign of summer, but now I see it with a sigh in my heart. Someone will lose his or her life here on our beach this summer.

The beach areas on the North Carolina coast are subject to undertows and rip tides that have a deadly force. Posted all along our beach accesses are signs with information on how to stay safe in the water. Unfortunately, many folks don’t read these as they trundle by with their arms laden with umbrellas, towels, shovels, and coolers. 80% of all ocean rescues involve getting swimmers out of rip tides.

HERE IS HOW TO SAVE YOURSELF FROM A RIP TIDE:

1. Don’t panic. Rip Tides are only about 20-100 feet wide. You can swim out of one.

2. Don’t swim directly to shore. When you feel the undertow pulling you out to sea, the urge will be to swim straight to shore. That will result in your being pulled out to sea.

3. Swim parallel to the beach. This will enable you to swim out of the the current. Think of it like a treadmill that won’t turn off: you have to “step off the side” to get out of it.

4. If you are too exhausted, just relax and float. Tread water until the current dissipates, and then slowly make your way back, swimming parallel to the shore at an angle. Signal for help and wait for the Life Guard to come to you.

5. Learn how to spot rip tides. They look like disturbances in the wave line. They can be a flat and glossy break in the wave pattern, or a foamy one. While the waves come parallel to the shore line, rip currents run straight out to sea, cutting the wave in half.

We struggle with rip tides in life as well. There comes a time in everyone’s life when a rogue wave suddenly breaks on your shore, cuts you off at the knees, and threatens to sweep you out into the deep. Death, divorce, cancer, job loss, the discovery of a spouse’s betrayal…all the things that catch us off guard can feel like we are caught in an emotional current of foamy power, and we can’t even keep our heads up.

But just like a real rip tide, with God’s help you can swim out of yours. Even if all you can do is tread water and float until rescue arrives, you can survive. The trick is to keep your head up. Stay focused on God’s activity in the midst of your panic. Keep praying toward heaven for help until it arrives. Lift your eyes upon Jesus and don’t look down.

Isaiah 43:1-5

“Israel, the Lord who created you says,

    “Do not be afraid—I will save you.
    I have called you by name—you are mine.
When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you;
    your troubles will not overwhelm you.
When you pass through fire, you will not be burned;
    the hard trials that come will not hurt you.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the holy God of Israel, who saves you.
I will give up Egypt to set you free;
    I will give up Ethiopia and Seba.
I will give up whole nations to save your life,
    because you are precious to me
    and because I love you and give you honor.
Do not be afraid—I am with you!

No matter what it is you are floating in, God is with you. As big and frightening as your troubles are, they will not overwhelm you. YOU belong to God.

Gracious and Loving God,

Save me today. My head is going under for the third time and I can’t breathe. The weight of this wave of despair holds me down and spins me senseless. Come into my troubled waters and save me. I am yours, and you are mine. I wait, and I watch. My deliverer comes! Help me in my waiting. AMEN

Be Safe by NOAA