A Walk on the Beach

My wife, my youngest daughter and I have been enjoying a much needed vacation the last few days. We are enjoying a great time of rest and relaxation on Miramar Beach just east of Destin, Florida.

This morning I arose early, made myself some coffee, and started looking at my computer. Just then, good judgement from God's Holy Spirit came over me and told me that this computer is going home with me, the beach isn't, so I slipped on some flip-flops and headed out to the beach.

Jennifer wants to make a little seashell collection for her new apartment in Conway next fall so I've been picking up a few along the way. This morning I found more than I had found all totaled for the week! I spoke to some guys fishing, saw a small stingray swimming around, I watched a heron fish for a time, and saw a crab or two rolling with the tide.

While I walked, I met a few others out for a stroll and some of those crazy people out jogging/running on the beach. Some ran past as I leisurely strolled through the surf. We all left footprints. But as the waves licked up onto the sugary beach the footprints were wiped out, removing any sign that anyone had been there.

That reminded me of the forgiveness of sin that God offers. No matter how big the footprint, how deep the imprint, how close together or how far apart, the wave washes the footprint away. The same is true for God's children. God isn't some pompous policeman sitting on a throne in heaven watching for us to slip up so He can throw down a judgment to 'get us'. Rather He is a merciful father who watches His children to help them back up when they fall, to brush them off and put them back on the right path. God doesn't love us less when we fail, His love is contingent upon Him, not us, and He is perfect...in love, in mercy, in forgiveness and peace.

I know we all let stuff build up in our spirits; wrongs that we've done, things we've done that don't please God, or things that embarrass us after the fact. The fact is God forgives, thoroughly and completely, as far as the east is from the west. Not north and sound as there are points both north and south, but there is no end to east and west, they just dissolve into one another, like footprints disappearing on the shore.

I am convinced we are too hard on ourselves. We need to fill ourselves with the joy and peace that God offers and let Him remove from us the pain, hurt and guilt that sin brings. Enjoy the day my friends. It's a gift from your Father!