The Voyage

We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize
it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we can't.

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain....

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call.....

He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...

Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, dawn's early light...

The Savior is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love...

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

Take A Step Back

I packed her bag and put her lunch together at night. My alarm clock was set for 6am and the plan was to leave the house by 7am. All was in place for the morning. Tomorrow would be my daughter’s 1st day of summer camp.

At 5:40am, she came into my room bright eyed & bushy-tailed, asking me to help her get ready for camp. I told her she was a little ahead of herself and sent her back to bed… in which she climbed into mine instead (lol). Needless to say, I don’t think she actually slept as I did. I believe she lay in bed with her eyes on the clock, waiting for the 1st sound of my alarm. She was so excited to start summer camp! She saw the camp’s activity calendar & saw all the wonderful things they have planned for the kids. Swimming, field trips, and activities of all sorts… she couldn’t wait!

Before getting upset at being woken up early, I took a (mental) step back and smiled at her excitement. I took joy in her smile. I savored the moment.

With that joy; with that plethora of wondrous emotion, it made me think about how our Father sees us, how He takes joy in us.

There are many times, as parents, that we must take a step back to let our child find their own path… take that first step… ride the bike without training wheels for the first time… or even see them fall and hope they have the courage and will to get back up. I believe God sees us in the same light.

He’s given us instruction. He’s informed us of how He wants us to live our lives. And He takes a step back. He’s always within arm’s reach but there’s enough space to allow us to make the decision… shall we stumble and falter to the world’s ways or shall we rise above the challenges of the flesh and glorify our Lord in every aspect of our lives?

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Read God’s Word. Understand it.
Live it. Put it into action in every aspect of your life.

1 Peter 2:1-2 tells us to "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,"

Romans 12:15-21 reads "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in the mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us to "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

With the guidance and love our Heavenly Father has provided, we should be able to make right decisions and flourish not only on Earth but beyond our years of life. In return, He will smile upon us as a proud parent smiles at their child’s accomplishment.

John 14:21
"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

A Six Year Old's Battle

Written by M. Mendonca

I was six years old, and it was a true battle. A steadfast wind swept over the ocean and ordered an army of waves to storm the beach as if it was Normandy in 1944. The waves crashed and receded; water lurked ever more closely to the castle walls. I had spent the entire afternoon skillfully constructing my masterpiece out of sand, just as Brunelleschi had spent years constructing his Florentine dome, and I refused to acknowledge the fact that the ocean could deliver a sweeping and fatal blow in an instant. There was a large outer wall with towers erected at each corner, a neat bridge made of palms which connected the barbican to the bailey, and a deep that stood majestically at the castle’s center. Surely, this beach had never seen a finer structure.

With futile efforts, I tried to save my castle from the wrath of the sea and began to quickly pile sand into a makeshift wall in an attempt to divert the water. However, each time I reached down to scoop another bucketful of sand onto the wall, the ocean crashed down and dissolved it in an instant. Eventually, the relentless waters reached the castle walls and began to undo the tedious work I had done. Within moments, my castle was gone without a trace, and all that was left was a smooth patch of sand where it once stood.

I felt terrible; all of my hard work was ruined. I looked out onto the ocean as the waves crashed upon the shore and the water wrapped around my feet as if it were mocking my pitiful act of defiance. Rather than giving up and accepting defeat, I resolved to try something new and innovative. I picked up my plastic shovel and began scooping large amounts of dripping wet sand into my plastic bucket. With the bucket full of sand, I walked across the span of the beach to the edge of the dunes and emptied it into a pile. Back and forth, I repeated the tedious work for what seemed like an eternity.

Eventually I had enough sand, and I started to craft a new castle with the same precision I used with the first one. A few more hours went by and a new castle lay in front of me, more majestic and gallant that the first with two towering keeps instead of one. After completing my architectural triumph, I looked at my creation with pride and then over at the treacherous ocean that was sending more waves crashing against the shore. Though the mighty ocean tried, it could not reach my castle walls as I had strategically placed an entire beach between us.

As my family left the beach that day, I looked back at my castle still standing safely distanced from the water’s reach. It was then I realized what determination and persistence could yield. To this day, whenever I feel frustrated and beaten, I remember the day when a headstrong six-year-old conquered the ocean, and thinking of that, nothing seems impossible.

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Scriptures That Come to Mind
After Reading This Inspirational Essay...

Romans 2:7
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

Psalm 37:23-24
If the LORD delights in a man's way,
he makes his steps firm;
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

Matthew 17:20
"... I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."