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“SEEK ME”, Faith Flourishes in Ocean Grove

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I knew it was the best opportunity to ‘escape’ to Ocean Grove, NJ. 

I wanted to know that I allowed myself ‘a decompression day’ from everything – which still allowed me to be connected (my new cellphone works great) and be in the super duper frame of mind to look for the presence of the Lord. AND THE BEACH TOO… plus excited that my friend joined me, she has moved so it’s good to see her when I can, this was her first visit here so I connected her with this gem of Ocean Grove, ‘God’s Square Mile’…

Driving 7am, started my day with catching up with one of the recordings of an online sermon from a great church – the pastor had a message about Joshua 1, Faith and Obedience… “Don’t just listen to God, DO WHAT HE SAYS”… and then after a great moment sitting on the beach at 8am (with a great parking spot) writing my morning blog, and attending half of a boardwalk church 9am service with a guest missionary sharing on college campus ministry, I made it up to the great Auditorium with revival vibes, met my friend for 1030am service, and guess what? the scripture was for the sermon? Joshua 1… WOW, it’s like God chased me to have me hear these messages and scriptures and connect with the people also who needed to hear… If there’s nothing else in my life, and there is, I know that the Lord makes me a connector of people… 

I nestled into what I figured would likely be a different take on Joshua 1, “FEAR NOT”, but fear not I was thrilled with the amazing message, structured in his own way, he was a natural speaker and leader and had the funny story at the beginning to engage the group… (about the hallmark movies, and I immediately sent his sermon link YouTube version to a couple friends who are hallmark movie junkies)…

FEAR NOT! I highly recommend his sermon, it touched my life and my friend’s life and I will tell you the punchline of not the joke but the message: “the opposite of fear is not courage, but FAITH…” the sermonist spoke about irrational fear, how that is evil and overtakes us, whereas the Lord gives us natural, healthy fear, that keeps us safe, but we have to be weary of that catastrophic irrational fear… 

I had to go up to the sermonist after and share my photo of my stick figure of when Jesus pulled me out of the water from some irrational fear… Yeah – and he was able to chat with my friend as well – very nice opportunity to chat… 

Well, also ran into old friends of mine and someone I consider a new acquaintance friend of mine – she runs the bookstore Hub and we chatted about blogs last time after I wrote one on her wifi (and my phone was broken but I got to log onto my laptop inside and outside her store at the beginning of vacation at the beginning of July) – and this time (end of July) she recognized me and we chatted again – it is good to meet Godly people – she wrote a children’s book about the spiritual history of Ocean Grove – using Genesis 1:1 as the Founders did – and this was founders day week – and camp meeting week…  It is – life is – the world is – our faith is – all started by God – because IN the beginning was God.

Ah – the little cottages there and the ice cream and porch of that place and then the beach – ah…  Love Ocean Grove… When I buy the beach tag I consider it a church donation – it is so good to be immersed in the Lord’s blessings there. And the Ocean was low tide and warm enough to take a dip – no real swimming for me that day but book reading – and reading about Peter from “A Fragile Stone” – my beach book – authored by Michael Card the singer – a great read as a book and a great ‘read’ on Peter – how Jesus worked with Peter and also called him friend…  Peter like us fragile and yet strengthened by the Lord and His mission for us.

Ah – time to roll home but not before I took a moment to charge my phone, computer (no I didn’t ever get to work on it – that is OK) and recharge some more faith via singing at the pavilion at 4pm before driving home, the songs I all new – both contemporary and classic and wow it was like the Lord knew to keep me in Praise mode… He did – He does…

Well, enjoy the day and get out there and FEAR NOT – no irrational fear – just day by day, hour by hour, live the life He leads us on..

Oh – the best reinforcement of this all came from my new acquaintance friend at the bookstore – who decided to get thru the roadblock of her blogs and social media and everything marketing by hiring an outside doer company and stay in her creative mode and let them do the marketing – she said she had prayed to the Lord about all her questions of life and direction (“especially at her age” she said – retired a few times from previous paths”  – and THE LORD essentially said to her: “You’ve been seeking answers, NOW SEEK ME”…   

YUP – Seek the Lord first – and let HIM lead…

YUP…

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!

Ocean Grove sermon: “FEAR NOT” starts at the 40minute mark in the link – YES REALLY WORTH LISTENING TO!!!

Joshua 1:1-11 NIV

Joshua Installed as Leader

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”

BLESSED ASSURANCE AT OCEAN GROVE

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You know – not really ready for vacation but had to get ready and I had the car packed in waves of unorganized mess with 3 times as much as I need – but well, I plan to get some time to organize this week – a week of vacation… Ahhhhh….

And so – not knowing but then knowing – whether it would work out that I could go to my new favorite beach place, Ocean Grove, for the 1030 church service before travelling onwards for vacation, well it worked out!!! Blessed Assurance that God is in charge – and He is. (FYI Blessed Assurance was written by Fanny Crosby while vacationing here in Ocean Grove).

I had Blessed Assurance last night and then this morning – well the outside cat that I am feeding for a friend turned up after going missing for a couple days – he gave 2 small meows when i arrived at 630am  = whew! and he had eaten the food – so that is a relief. Blessed Assurance that he will be OK this week with another friend feeding him. – and then BLESSED ASSURANCE at home I saw that my own cat – who has not been eating well – had used the litter box – TMI sorry but this is blessed PROGRESS ! Let us pray for an increase in eating…  one day at a time.

Blessed Assurance – rest assured divine. With all that – for sure I felt the freedom to leave the house and start my adventure with the beach and then vbs etc. (especially when i got the perfect parking spot – here with 0 time left before the church service – wow!)

And oh yeah – still don’t have my phone – well – there is WIFI and a table here at the bookstore – and the nicest host who also is writing a blog – and with the wifi at the picnic table next to the building, in the shade, I can check in with the world and my family… You know that feeling of unease not being reachable and yet they are ok even if they are not reachable by me. Well that melted away at the church service… Yeah!!! OCEAN GROVE IS WHERE I FELT (AND FEEL) THE PEACE – OH HOW BLESSED THIS BLESSED ASSURANCE!!!!

AND THAT BLESSED ASSURANCE IS THAT “JESUS IS MINE” – IS THAT IN OUR UNEASE, WE ONLY NEED TO REMEMBER THAT HE IS ALL WE NEED – HE IS ENOUGH. (I appreciated that someone this morning gave me a sticker that said “you are enough” AMEN !

And wow the sermon spot on – oh the music amazing – oh the vibrations of the organ music – I am going back at 230 for the Sunday organ recital concert.  and so spot on the preaching – the sermon by guest Pastor Vito Aiuto (link below) spoke of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 3, as he urged them (even in his own distress) for them to keep going – and “DON’T LOSE HEART” – yes – we have so much but really in the worst of times, and Paul was in them, we still can pray for others and be at peace with this blessed assurance of Him giving us salvation – and we can live and be OK ultimately.

The sermon (and the whole service) is really worth the listen – and when he mentioned JOSEPH? Joseph being taken to Egypt against his will but in God’s plan? WOW – that is what my VBS is this week – I had to run up to him after the sermon and say thank you and God bless! cool… and wow the music so spot on – the hymns and Him.

BLESSED ASSURANCE!!!

God’s Got this!!! AMEN!!! Let’s get this vacation started!

WHEW!!!Here is a video of the service! 

Better READING from the Lord, Proverbs Plus

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I got my summer reading all set for the beach! These laminated pamphlets (from Rose Publishing) with titles like “Proverbs” and “Prophets” and “Bible Maps” and “Bible Timelines” are perfectly going to be my “short” sets of reading for absorbing the Lord’s Word in bite-sized chunks. AT THE BEACH!!!. I really hope to get to the beach quite often – already dreaming of it even though it might be a month before we get there and have to be all bundled up with the sharp ocean breeze, but that is OK. And then when it does get warm enough, I already know the two best shade spots, no umbrella required. Under the pier or under the pavilion on the boardwalk – I know the plans that will be good! Lord willing the sun will shine – and we know the Lord is willing.

And as I see in a bookmark I just acquired, quoting Jeremiah 29, scripture’s wisdom and wish for us is to TRUST GOD – “For I know the plans I have for you.” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best reading “into” the Word is reading ourselves into it. The Best Better experience is to know that the Lord has given us the Word as Wisdom to live by and live through. And we are to know that the Lord DOES want us to live – so to live BEST – live BETTER – we best listen to His best advice. God’s Word is Better Advice than anywhere else. 

That’s MY plan – a plan to prosper – to not harm – to give hope and a future -that plan of mine is to keep reading the Word. The BEST reading is from the Lord!

Amen

Call to Worship – Shore and More

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It’s great to remember to “walk by faith and not by sight” – a scripture sign that I saw in Ocean Grove NJ last night, along with beautiful light too… The light of living well (and abundantly too)…  JOY…

At the shore escape, I sat on the beach in the shade reading… reading about Heaven (great little book by David Jeremiah) and reading about Fanny Crosby, songwriter and child of God. Truly Fanny Crosby, blinded as an infant, gained spiritual sight in INSIGHT of the HEART to be a poet and hymnist of the mid to late 1800s, living in the LIGHT of Jesus’s Way. These people in this era experienced faith in revival in the cities and here at the shore. Fanny, like me, like us, can visit and live in the experiences of the waves of God’s Love more numerous and powerful than the ocean waves. Waves of the ocean and of love, like we experience in Grace and Mercy. We must let it wash over us to understand.

Fanny Crosby wrote in an early hymn lyric:

“More like Jesus would I be.

Let my savior dwell in me.

Fill my soul with Peace & Love.

Make me gentle as a Dove.

More like Jesus as I go.

Pilgrim, in this world below,

Poor in spirit I would be –

Let my Savior dwell in me.”

And isn’t that the central core of LIVING BY FAITH? Less of us and more of Him. To be poor in our spirit ourselves and let Jesus lead the way. AND WORSHIP THE LORD because He calls us too – and because our Sprit aches for acknowledging Jesus.

Less angst, more acceptance. 

Less worldliness, more forever thinking.

LESS US, MORE HIM.

Less demanding, more giving. 

Less profiting, more prophetic. 

Less put-off, more praise, even in pain. 

“Be Joyful in Hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Romans 12:12

Jesus praised His Father as we should… The praise of the Spirit dwelling in us is greater than anything we could produce. Let us take the moment to embrace the grace, and sing out God’s Glory in song and spirit. Let us let the Lord lead our day and way.

Amen

Freedom, Death, Life – A Beach Day Foray

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Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 KJV

I know not to be playing on the rocks, but I was free to sit on them, these massive piles in the ocean. I needed to warm up, in the sunshine. Yes! YES, I SAID WARM UP! Warm up as the beach ocean breeze brought 65 degrees water temp into the heatwave, and so it was NOT nearly 100 degrees like at home, 1 hour away, but perfect 75 to 80, except in the shade, chilly! The clerk at the store said enjoy yourself – we all need some time to ourselves – AMEN – and for me this was my reading day.

What a treat! BEAT THE HEAT! The pier brought cold air up channeling it like a cave wind – and people under it were wearing sweatshirts while reading – yes sweatshirts – I brought my books too – but I moved out a bit – to under my umbrella. I think this is my new favorite beach – instant shade with the pier – free parking – and signs of God everywhere.

The rock outcropping next to us did not move, but the people could and the waves did. The lifeguard came to warn a small boy to get away from the rocks. It is the crash that is dangerous – and this is in life too – the flip flop washyness – best we stand firm in our faith and trust in the Lord. Here is another translation of psalmist David’s scripture: Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22 NIV

Not shaken – Not moved – and we are cared for – that is what my scripture card said – and what a perfect day to bring my summer reading books – about the Rapture: the Great disappearance – interesting and so is the second coming of Jesus after the millennium. The Rapture – the time when the dead in Christ will rise to the Lord first and us (if we are still alive) will rise next. And it is said people will wonder where we went. SO, if we leave these books and our bibles around – perhaps people will realize what happened – and trust in the Lord Jesus too – ready for their opportunity to meet him and accept forgiveness.

Cared for! and yet we are people in this world not without debate, and thus the second book suggested to me I will read too – when AT THE BEACH for this summer. Yes imagine that – there are differing of opinions of God’s end times for the earth. All I can tell you right now is just be ready for any scenario – and know that we GO with Jesus and therefore we will OK in the forever-run.

The saying is: those who are born once, die twice. and those who are born twice – die once. yes – so with a born again spirit in Jesus, we won’t die the second death – and thus we WILL be OK in the forever – and so therefore don’t fear the first death – or the rocks to be bashed against – or fear much of anything. 

So feel the righteousness of Jesus as the wind inside the empty sails – the anchor holding up the umbrella – that pure gift of perfect to cover our imperfect – better than sunscreen – and so at the beach DO wear sunscreen and a hat and stay in the shade if you can – but accept the foray into the world – the tough world – knowing Jesus is with us. And let us pick up our freedom live in His Grace. 

Amen

His blessings are all around us! 

Amen

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The Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2