Life and the High Storm Surf Warning

Photo by Dee Kamp

 

Life and the High Storm Surf Warning

          A storm was brewing and declaring itself with gusts of wind and purple-black clouds pressing in fast over the Pacific Ocean. The white capped breakers were rolling and crashing high up against the shoreline rocks and bluffs. From my vantage point of the second story window I watched as a man and woman strolled slowly along beach. They appeared unconcerned and even unaware of the great storm coming or of the high surf rising.
         The locals in these tiny beach towns will warn new comers it’s not wise to take the sea for granted or take your eyes off the surf. When a storm is coming or has recently passed the sea is able to send what’s called a sneaker wave that can rush upon a person silently and quickly and able to wash them out to sea.
          And as the Israelites learned in Jeremiah, it’s not wise to take one’s eyes off God or take Him for granted either.  

“…Should you not fear me? declares the LORD.

“Should you not tremble in my presence?

 I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.

The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.”

Jeremiah 5:22 NIV

            God inhabits our prayers and times of worship. When we thank God for all He provides, and that’s everything from stopping the sea at an invisible boundary line to the smallest detail that blesses our lives every day― it is a lifesaving choice.  

             In the act of lifting up our thankful heart to God we discover how it takes our eyes off our problems and miraculously lifts our spirits and blesses our heart.

            It’s good for us all to keep an eye on the high storm surf warning and it’s even more important to have a thankful heart and keep our eyes on the Lord!

    “Worship lifts us out of ourselves and reminds us of who God is.” Susan Yates quoted from Quiet Places of the Heart

 

“Life and the High Storm Surf Warning” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© March 9, 2012

Promise of New Life



 

Photo by -Dee Kamp

 

 



Promise of New Life

I read the morning newspaper and felt sad and emotionally drained from what was there. Then outside my window a little brown sparrow rested on the railing of the deck and amazed me by how loud and strong he sang his sweet song of hope― in it was God’s promise for new life.

“For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. Colossians 2:12 NLT

Its spring. And in spring we are afforded a fresh perspective by a daily reminder in all God’s creation. We acknowledge and believe in His promise of new life written not only in the Bible, but in every bird song we hear, in every new leaf that unfolds, with ever flower that blooms. God has given us all hope in His promise of new life by the death and the resurrection His Son Jesus Christ.

 ^“So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” ― Eugene H Peterson’s “The Message”, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“Promise of New Life” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© April 14, 2014

Meet Me in the Quiet Place





Bench in Ome Gardens by Dee Kamp

 

Meet Me in the Quiet Place

A quiet place is a stepping aside mentally from the world around us. It’s when one hears that still voice inside the heart saying, “Meet Me in the quiet place.”

 “And Jesus said, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Mark 6:31 NIV

 

It takes a bit of practice. It takes determination not turn to the thoughts in our head about our lives and busyness and concerns. But when this happens, take heart and turn right back to Him again. It’s okay, don’t give up, go right back because Jesus understands this challenge we have.  It’s not complicated, it’s not about religion or theology― it’s simply a matter of the heart― a heart seeking to be alone with God.

A prayer for today:

“Lord Jesus, I thank you that a new day affords another opportunity for dedication and devotion to You. You have turned a fresh page in my life’s story. It comes from You without blemish or soil; help me to keep it so.

Forgive the past blotted with my failures and sins, and help me to walk in Your light today.

Help me, O Lord, to realize the hope of Your calling, the riches of the glory of Your inheritance.

Above all, grant me the spirit of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of You in all I say and do today.  And lead me once again to the quiet place alone with You.”

 

 

 

“Meet Me in the Quiet Place” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© April 10, 2014

 

All the Way Home!



  

All the Way Home!

              The sun hadn’t risen beyond the hillside yet, and the kitchen was warm and steamy as I was folding in fresh blueberries into the muffin batter in the little kitchen of our Beaver Valley Country store.  I was about to pour the batter into the muffin tins for baking when I heard the screech of a car out on the highway and a car door slam. I hurried up as I knew someone needed me to open the doors to store early today.

            I unlocked the door and I was surprised the car had driven away leaving a young woman standing there alone looking sleepy-eye lugging a heavy backpack. I invited her in and inquired about where she was headed today. I was stunned to hear her say―”France!”    

            She was in her early twenties and spoke English well. She told me she had been staying in student housing at the state park studying art on a special scholarship. But she received a call in the middle of the night from her mother that her brother was extremely ill and she needed to get back home to France right now! She had no car, no busses left this early in the morning and she needed to get to the airport soon where a ticket home was waiting for her!

            Did her family know what they asked of her? From this remote place on the west coast of Washington State to France looked to me like mission impossible. I felt sad I couldn’t help her out myself, at the least to get her onto the ferry to Seattle.

            Just then, another car pulled up and a woman rushed up to the door declaring how happy she was we were open! She needed to get gas for her car now for she was in hurry for her trip today! It was twenty miles to the next gas station, “Am I ever grateful to see you open this hour of the morning, I had no idea how little gas I had for this trip today,” she declared.

            Without hesitation the young woman from France, walked over to the new customer and asked if she could drive her as far down the highway as she could this morning. She explained her story of her brother and her urgent need to get to the airport as soon as possible. Could this woman help her in anyway?

                There was a pause as the woman studied this eager young woman. And then a miracle happened! This woman, who just now happened to nearly run out gas, said to our surprise,

            “Yes I can help you even more than you may think. I myself am on the way to the airport this morning to meet a relative there. I’ll be happy to drive you all the way to your destination.”

            “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love.”

 Romans 5:3-5 NLT

            Was this a coincidence? No, I knew it was God’s perfect timing. We saw tears of joy in the young woman’s eyes and heard her say, “Merci’! God has surely blessed me today!”

            Sometimes God requires us to make a choice to trust Him, believe in Him and stay steadfast to the journey we are called to go. No matter what it takes, no matter if it’s a trip to the airport and all the way home to France.

 “All the Way Home” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© April 9, 2014

Life Is Happening Right Now

 

 

Life is Happening Right Now

“This is why I tell you not worry about every day life-whether you have enough food and drink

 or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?...

       So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.Today’s trouble is    enough for today. Matthew 6:25-34 NLT

 

    While sifting through a well-worn devotional book I inherited from my sweet and dear mother-in-law, I found a little handwritten note inside. I’m not certain who wrote the note in this old copy of Springs in the Valley by Mrs. Charles E Cowman in 1939, but the truth of it still hits right at home in my heart.

Life is what is happening right now. This is it, it is well-and it’s all okay.

Life isn’t happening after: The bills are paid, or when- A cure is found. Or when -reconciliations abound. Or when -A promotion is achieved. Or when-the wedding takes place. Or when-we are vacation bound. Or when-The baby is born. Or when retirement begins. Life is happening here and now. This is it- it is well- and it’s all okay!

 

“Upon Thy Word I rest

Each pilgrim day;
This golden staff is best
For all the way.
What Jesus Christ hath spoken
Cannot be broken!”
 by―Frances Ridley Havergal

 

“Life is Happening Right Now” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© April 4, 2014

 

 

 

An Angel Knocking at the Door

Old farm house North Dakota by Dee Kamp

 

 

An Angel Knocking at the Door

            Sometimes, if prompted, when we were alone and sharing a task from canning to crocheting, my Norwegian maternal grandmother would tell her story of living out the hard times in North Dakota as a young mother with four small children.

            It was the Great Depression and one had to be strong and resourceful.  But I remember so well one particular story when Grandma was home alone and Grandpa was away out of town for work when she all four children were very sick with the flu.

            She was barely managing and she was so sick and weak that one day when a persistent knocking kept coming from her front door she had to crawl across the floor to get there!  She spoke of it in a whisper and shook her head at the memory of how surprised she discovered there.  

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.

Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.” Luke 22:43 NLT

 

            As Grandma spoke her Norwegian accent became more pronounced and she said, “Oh, ufta, it took all I had to open dat door. I was so ashamed how weak I was and what a mess I must look like, oh ya for sure. But when I did, I was certain God heard my prayers and He had sent an angel. There stood a woman who said she was from our church. But I couldn’t remember her at all. She had basket in her arms filled with fresh baked bread and a large container of hot soup enough for us all. Oh ya, for sure, I was taken aback, for I hadn’t told anyone we were all sick― but ya sure, don’t you know? The Lord knew it well enough.”

            Let us pray to Jesus when we are weak and afraid, for He too found it necessary to pray for strength when He was on earth. Pray to the Holy Spirit, who will impress the truth on our heart that we are never alone, God will hear us and uphold us, (Isaiah 41:10). It’s as necessary as the food we eat and the air we breathe.

            Only then will we be able to submit ourselves fully to the will of God and day by day discover how He will keep His promise when we pray to Him, to sustain us, strengthen us and He may even surprise us with an angel knocking at our door.

 

“An Angel Knocking at the Door” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© April 3, 2014

 

Rich In Ways Money Can't Buy

Photo by Dee Kamp

Rich In Ways Money Can’t Buy

            From the first time people first settled here where I live along miles of forest land, there have been mini-farms with bountiful gardens, summer get-away cabins, fishing and hunting camps, retreats and campgrounds.

            But now new homes are being built and old ones remodeled into grand homes, and huge estates that are expansive, modern, and expensive in stature. I guess the rich and famous have discovered our land here for its beautiful panoramic views.  

But still the old timers, the simple and the humble who have tilled the land remain here every hopeful and hearty in their shadows. And from them I gained great wisdom on what makes one happy.

             “You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart, he is mine forever.” Psalm 73:22-25 NLT

            My elderly neighbors, who have lived in this area more than forty years, captured the truism of Asaph’s wise words when they said to me years ago, “We feel like we live in the little house on the prairie next to them big fancy homes. But we still enjoy and appreciate God’s creation. We still fish and hunt and plant our gardens and gather our eggs. We don’t envy them. We are rich in ways money can’t buy.”  

            Asaph realized, and then shared with us, (Psalm 73:1-28) that those who put their hope and confidence in their wealth and what they themselves can do, live in a dream world. The reality of true contentment and happiness for every heart, is one dependent on God alone, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

            “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” St. Augustine

“Rich In Ways Money Can’t Buy” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© April 2, 2014