Issue 1200 – Ebbs and Flows – July 21, 2023
We’re back from our brief getaway to the Long Beach, Washington, area. The area was beautiful, and we enjoyed our trip, but it was far too windy for us to spend lengths of time on the beach while I sketched and Kathy read. Still, we saw some interesting sights and enjoyed some great food.
The clam chowder at the Drop Anchor was so good we had it twice. A small cup came with our supper on Tuesday night. We enjoyed it so much that we returned and had a lunch bowl on Wednesday. It isn’t fine dining or fancy cuisine, but they make great food and have good service. I’d highly recommend it.
I’ve lived in many places, but mainly inland, away from the sea, so I had forgotten the simple beauty of the tide coming and going. It is incredible how much the regular ebb and flow of the ocean changes landscapes. When we arrived, the areas that were submerged entirely were mud flats as far as the eye could see when we left.
I confess I didn’t take today’s picture. It is one I found online. I don’t know who took it, but the unknown photographer should get the credit. There was too much mist when we visited to get a good image of the low tide.
As usual, we took our time driving down one way and coming back another, avoiding major highways where possible and seeing different sights.
One of the highlights of our return trip was a brief stopover at Rainbow Falls near Chehalis. It’s a pretty tiny waterfall, although it looked like it could be quite powerful in the right season. The river was full of deep swimming holes, and the campsite was lovely.
A less than stellar part of the return trip was being stuck on the I5 going through Seattle at rush hour. After the better part of two hours, we finally came to an exit that would allow us to move to a secondary highway and avoid the crashes and construction zones Google Maps told us were still ahead.
The ebb and flow of the tide, the coming and going to Long Beach and the stop-and-go dance of stalled, rushed hour traffic got me thinking about life.
There are times when life is great and others it is hard. At moments we advance, or we might retreat, or we are just stuck in place for a while. We might be on the mountaintop of joy and exaltation or deep in the valley of despair.
Through it all, God remains faithful. He is still the sovereign creator of heaven and earth. He held that role before anything was ever created, and He will still be Lord when it is all destroyed. Whether we are rushing forward with the incoming tide or stuck far from shore in the mud flats of life, God is there.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-3
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Life ebbs and flows. Joy has its place, along with sorrow. At times we experience the joy of victory, and others the agony of defeat. Still, through it all, we can trust in Him.
I don’t know if the tide is in or out in your life today, but you can hold fast the Jesus. Give Him praise.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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