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| Safe Harbor |
I know a man who thought he would die on a lobster boat through a series of mishaps. He was so relieved to make it home alive that he married his girlfriend. I know another man who had never been sailing who bought a boat. He took his wife and three small sons out for the maiden voyage only to be hit by a squall. First the boat's jib wire snapped off, the boat was knocked down twice by the 50 mile an hour winds, the upper shroud on one side snapped, the lower one shredded to the last bit of wire, the engine broke. Finally the engine got going, but only in reverse and they motored backwards into the harbor. Did I mention the screaming children who thought they were about to die? He was so thankful to be alive that he bought and read the Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship Book, labeled all lines on the boat, installed a life raft, satellite beacon, radio, and GPS. He went on to conquer the fear, enjoying multiple sailing trips logging hundreds of miles.
Have you ever experienced the terror of thinking your life was about to end? How did you react? Terror can be a good thing!
Some of you set sail in big ships; you put out to sea to do business in faraway ports.
Out at sea you saw God in action, saw His breathtaking way with the ocean:
With a word He called up the wind-
an ocean storm, towering waves! You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out;
your hearts were stuck in your throats. You were spun like a top,
you reeled like a drunk,
you didn't know which end was up.
Then you called out to God in your desperate condition;
He got you out in the nick of time. He quieted the wind down to a whisper,
put a muzzle on all the big waves. And you were so glad when the storm died down,
and He led you safely back to harbor.
So thank God for His marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children He loves. Lift high
your praises when the people assemble, shout Hallelujah when the elders meet!
Psalm 107:23-32