The Trip
Last November, my family and I crammed into the family car and traveled over ten hours to the edge of the big state of Texas. The trip was long and the food was delicious. Tacos, Tacos, Tacos.
Now for me personally, I’m very dedicated to the classic burrito. When I taste a well crafted burrito, my heart will praise God in an anthem!
When we first entered Texas we did what every traveler to a new state does; we took a picture by the “welcome to Texas” sign.
There I am….now you can find me in a crowd.
The thing about that guy, at that time, was that he had never seen the Ocean in real life. I grew up in Iowa. Do you know what’s in Iowa? Let me show you.
That’s right. Corn. Now, some may travel far and wide and capture them and their family next to the “Welcome to Iowa” sign. Then they may write how Gods glory is seen in…corn.
No. Probably not. But, carry on.
The point is that I never saw the ocean. I have seen the mountains of Montana. That is a sight. And Colorado. That was beautiful. These both will make you feel insignificant and small. But the ocean..that’s another creature.
Now we weren’t just headed “into” Texas but, through Texas. To an island. South Padre. Island.
The Bridge
Now if you’ve never been to this island, one thing that will bring you amazement (Other than the Ocean.) Is the bridge to the island. It’s massive!
Here it is
It’s long. Really long. You literally have to “travel the 7 seas” to get across it.
I literally popped out a tent half way across to spend the night. Okay, no I didn’t. You get the point. It’s big.
But, we made this trip to see extended family and friends, more than that, we went to stay next to the God exalting, glory-filled, other world thing, called the ocean. 🌊
The Glory of the Ocean
Now before I tell you how great God is and the obvious amazement that filled my heart that day, I have to answer Job. Or God, speaking to Job.
Specifically Job 38:16. When God asked: “Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?"
The answer is no. And, I never will. You want to know why? That’s like walking inside of a monsters mouth! That thing is huge!
My family was flopping around like fish in that death pool! That’s crazy! I said, “Nope, I’ll play with the birds, thank you.”
And that’s what I did.
See. I named him Douglas.
Now this is a great lesson. We can be next to greatness for the first time, and turn around and play with the simple birds. That’s remarkable! I learned that about myself that day.
Another thing that caught my attention, besides the monster of ocean and the cute, yet fierce birds—was the amount of shells!
That’s another thing I learned again about myself. I’m obsessive over what is abundant, free, and cool. So we collected a couple…
Don’t judge me. I have problems!
And check this out,
That’s right. A shell 🐚 creature. Leave a comment on it.
Oh yes. Back to the ocean.
Psalm 104:25 says, "There is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great."
This is something that became very real to me that day. A person looks out and sees a thing that seems to never end! But more than that God has filled it with creature we can’t see and I’m sure we have never found! This is awesome!
I think they say we haven’t seen 90% of the oceans. That’s amazing! This means that there are creatures out there that only exist for the enjoyment and glory of God.
Revelation 4:11 should resound in our hearts! It says,
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
He has put on this earth his own fish tank and we only see and know a glimpse. We should be blown away!
Isaiah put it this way,
Isaiah 40:12 “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?"
Answer, no one. Even with all our boast of technology. 90 % undiscovered. How small should you feel when you gaze at the ocean? Tiny.
That brings us to another wonderful part of God.
Mainly, his sovereignty.
He didn’t just create the massive water and leave. He controls everything in it.
Have you ever had a fish tank? Or even an empty pool! Those things are impossible to keep maintained!
We say, “ah, I can’t. I’m busy.” Not God. He keeps it and everything else consistent and working.
Glorious! The ocean screams out “God is glorious! Wonderful! Genius!”
Psalm 89:9 says, “You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them."
Raging is right. That thing will eat you!
All in all this trip was a blast and I am amazed by God and his vastness. I even fed a donkey!
Almost got kissed by a long horn.
Pet a zebra.
And a lot of other wild things! Gods glory fills the earth!
We must go and see these wonderful sights and we must not go away without allowing our hearts to be engulfed in the greatness of our creator!
I hope you enjoy this little glimpse of my trip and I hope you go and see it for yourself! I hope you can close your eyes and hear the rush of the waves and feel the water hit your toes. But in that moment I hope you say in your heart, “You are glorious!”
I hope you fall in love with Christ. He’s better than everything!
Cling to Christ today!
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