A Call to Speak Life

When Oceans Rise

I was going to start this out really cliche by saying "close your eyes and imagine" then I realized you wouldn't be able to read it then so...

[Real intro]

My parents recently moved to a lake, their life long desire. When they delivered the news to me that we would be moving out of the only house I've ever lived in, being the angst ridden 17 year old I was, I took it pretty badly. By badly I mean I had a complete melt down in the middle of Cheddars. There were tears. Lots of tears. There were so many thoughts going through my head in that one moment "I won't know anyone", "Why do my parents hate me", "My friends are never going to speak to me once I'm gone", "Everyone there will think I'm weird". Needless to say change is not my forte.

It wasn't until later that I understood, God has called my parents to this new town with these new people to work through them. This simple fact eased so much fear in me. God has his hand all over my family.

Fast forward two years later and the transition from home town to lake house is complete. It's bittersweet, but not nearly as painful as I expected. Some of my fears were valid, but looking back at everything that has happened since then everything makes sense. God worked in and through my mess to show me the good coming from this change. 

Now that we live at the lake my Mom and I love to go and sit at the beach area with our feet in the water, usually when the sun is setting. It almost sounds like a movie.

*Morgan Freeman voice*
"The girl and her Mother take time to enjoy God's creation while detoxing from such a taxing day of being human." 

THERES A POINT TO THIS I PROMISE

A few days ago my Mom and I were sitting trying to relax at the end of the day when I realized that the waves from the lake weren't reaching my feet anymore. Waiting for the next surge of water to cool me I played in the sand, like any 19 year old does. Eventually, becoming impatient, the water still hadn't hit me and I started getting hot and curious to where the boat that had been providing such wonderful movement to the life giving waves had gone. Then God hit me then and there (don't you love when He does that).

He said "Are you having too much fun playing in the sand to jump in the water?"

Boom.

So may times I get caught up in waiting for God to reach me, I get bored with the wait and I leave out my part of the agreement. TO RUN. To never stop chasing Him. To give into whatever He has for me.

I could say I surrender all day long, but until the act of walking out into the deep with eyes focused on him actually occurs then my words have no meaning. Why do we stop? 

It gets easy and comfortable to not dig in the word to just say we're christians instead of actually acting and living like Christ. 

We sit in our beach chairs too stubborn to get up, waiting for the water to reach us, waiting for God to come to us like "Okay God, you're in my heart now and I love you. Now do your magic and I'll just watch." GET YOURSELF OUT OF COUCH POTATO MODE AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. Jump in the water! Emerse yourself in it. No matter how scary, dark, or shark infested. Trust that God has your back.

Let Jesus be your lifeguard. (sorry I'm corny)

I love the popular song Oceans by Hillsong United that says:

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without boarders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me."

I've heard thousands sing this, cry out with tears in their eyes, with these words on their lips. But how many times do we have to sing it before the lyrics click? This is a dangerous prayer. 

I stand firm in the idea that being a follower of Christ means stepping into a warrior mentality. I heard Pastor Chris Estrada say once "Dangerous places are safe places in the kingdom" and I believe that to be absolutely true. This takes an immovable faith.

 In James 1:6 it says "But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts, like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed."

Like waiting for the waves we so easily become a wave in our faith. Moving from this to that because our faith becomes rocky and easily shakable when we aren't rooted in Him.

Most of the time I wait for some kind of sign to act out in faith. A prophecy, a note, sky writing, but I love what 2 Corinthians 5:7 says:

"For we live by faith, not by sight."

Simple as that. 

Living life expectant that God will work, and willing to live and love in His name.

My good friend told me recently that our relationship with God is no different than a human relationship, he said "If you're in a relatinoship with someone, and life is getting in the way, it's not a choice, it's not like you just don't want to talk to them. IT'S A FIGHT. It's EFFORT. It's gritting your teeth and making time for them wether you want to or not, because you love them...when life starts throwing punches and getting in the way, if you aren't willing to fight back, you'll never have your relationship."

Are you ready to surrender it all? If he called you to drop everything and go across the world, across the street, to a different church, could you? Are you willing to sacrifice it all for the King of Kings, Jehovah Rapha, Father, Creator? Is He not worth your surrender? Or are you too busy sitting in the sand waiting for the water to reach you? Are you too busy enjoying the things of this world? Too busy playing church? 

Wake up and be a servant, stand up for the faith you claim. 

I'm sick of being stagnant. (water puns haha)

So my prayer for everyone who reads this poorly written thought,

I pray that your faith is increased. 
That you truly want to be led where you trust Him no matter the circumstance.
That you don't sit waiting for the water,
but that you run full force diving into everything he has.
That he wakes you up at night with dreams so glorious and rich, you can't go back to sleep because you want to spend more time with him.
I pray you go against the current and push forward wether alone or surrounded by people that encourage you.

Fight for the change you want to see.

Your Friend,

DeAnna