Setting the Anchor

When I met my husband, our love for the beaches took us out to deeper waters where we eventually were SCUBA certified and now 3 of the 4 kids are also SCUBA certified. Every other year we rotated our mountain and beach family vacations with beaches always being our favorite kind, mostly because they are way less work, especially with 4 kids in tow.
In 2014, the Lord moved us to Florida where we found it less expensive to buy a used boat than continually pay for 6 people to snorkel or dive every week. It was the first boat either of us had ever driven, much less owned. So crazy! Living an ocean lifestyle has been amazing and the Scriptures have taken on a whole deeper meaning as I study deeper waters, anchors, winds, navigating, stars, cast nets, fishing terms, etc. 
I love hosting friends and family and for the first time, I had some of my dearest Texas girlfriends over for a Girls Retreat. As we headed out for our day on the water, we set our course and readied ourselves with water, sunscreen, good music and stocked the boat with goodies and supplies. After a 15 minute trip out, we approached the buoy at the snorkel spot, got my co-captain help-mate set up to take over the controls so I could grab the line and tie us up. I could have done it by myself, but why, when you have someone willing to help you. It's efficient and just makes sense. Thankfully she is a teachable, confident girl and we communicate really well and think a lot alike. Sometimes it was a hand signal or a look and she just got it. We make a great team getting all the things done and running the boat was no different. She helped me get hooked up and take care of the two other girls who were newer to being in the water and got them in the water. For one of them, it was her first time snorkeling, woohoo!! The water was clear, refreshing and amazingI Great sister snorkel.
Next stop was the local Sandbar so we could chill & chat. Here however, you must drop an anchor. It was a newer spot for me so I wasn't as familiar with the ground density. I handed the controls back over to my co-captain once again and grabbed the anchor, got her aligned to the right depth and dropped the anchor. With waters quickly approaching 12" and less, it's a quick drop. Efficiency is key! You have to get it set so you don't beach the boat or float back out.
As soon as we dropped the anchor, I hopped out of the boat, checked the ground, looking for a solid spot to let the anchor do its thing. Curious, they asked Why and How I knew what to do and I explained how the sand was firm in some areas and mushy in others so it was important to make sure we had hit solid ground and it was caught so the boat wouldn't float away as we tootled around the sandbar looking for shells and critters. I only knew about the soft spots because I was familiar with the sandbar and remembered the bottom floor. It's a long swim if your boat gets away, haha! Who knew one of the smallest things on the boat could be so important besides the motor prop (another blog about the tongue coming soon)!
The first drop was not solid ground. It landed into very soft sand and the anchor sank a good foot below. As I pulled on it, it almost felt like a suction had been created and boy oh boy was it hard to pull it out of there. I couldn't do it and had to have my skilled co-captain girlie pull it out with the help of the boat. I swam over a few feet and found solid ground and set my anchor there, whew. 
Each morning we enjoyed our gathering around the table drinking our morning lattes, eating breakfast and feasting in the Word. This was one of my most favorite parts to every day, starting out anchoring ourselves rightly. As we enjoyed the Sandbar, the anchor conversation reminded me of our Bible Study that morning as we talked about the steadfast and faithful love of our God, the anchor to our soul. 

• Without our Anchor, how will we remain in the place we are supposed to be?
• If we set our Anchor in mushy ground, the smallest of currents can slowly pull the boat away. We must set it on a firm foundation so when strong winds come, we won't drift places we hadn't planned on going. And, if we place our anchor in shifting sands, and it sinks...boy oh boy do I know the extra grief and muscle it takes to set it back right.
• Having an Anchor is crucial to keep you where you need to be. The bigger your anchor, the greater the hold. 

It's so easy in life to put our hope in things of this world only to find ourselves in places we didn't plan to be and in deeper waters than we meant to go. 
There really is no greater Anchor than the Lord our God. He is steady and steadfast. He will keep us where we need to be if we allow Him to ground us on a firm foundation, His Cornerstone. 
And can we talk about co-captains? Yes, we can do almost anything by ourselves, but why would we if we have help? I am thankful for anchoring sisters to do life alongside me just as I am grateful for the gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells with us as our Helper and is familiar to where we are and can keep us focused and in the right direction. We are wise to lean into the One Who knows the ground beneath us, knows how to set our anchor outside of shifting sands that we would be kept in place, not tossed to and fro or drifting afar.

Anchor Sisters, Literally!

Lessons learned: 

• Have the right Anchor! You create a lot of extra work and unnecessary stress when you don't have the right one. 
• Know your foundation. Thank God for grace when it's the first time in a new place and you don't get it right, with a Helper, you can get unstuck and try again, and again, and again. 
• We need Anchoring friends.
• Avoid shifting sands.
• Hook your anchor on The Rocks or Solid Ground to stay put.
• God is endless grace. 
• He is steadfast. 
• He is sovereign. 
• He is faithful. 
• He is The Anchor to my soul, amen.

"So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf," 

Hebrews 6:13-20

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 

Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." Luke 6:46-49

Will You Take the Bait?

"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Well, I finally had a glimpse of what it feels like to "prowl around like a lion, seeking someone to devour." I went fishing for the first time on our boat. Years ago, we went on a fishing charter where everything was done for you on the boat and all you had to do was cast...which we got nothing anyway. But, this weekend, the family went out and we did it all on our own. We chummed the water, baited our own hooks and began the cast and wait routine. The prowling....and waiting. 
Down here in the Keys, being on the water is gorgeous. Eventhough I wanted food on the table, and for the kids to catch it themselves, just the scenery alone was worth the hanging out on the boat all that time just to enjoy the turtles, corals, the landscapes and array of other fish we got to enjoy. It was a lovely day out, fish or no fish, but...it was quit the "hunting" experience.
We had learned that in order to draw the fish, you bag some chum and mix in the oatmeal which will camouflage your waiting hooks. We would shake the bag now and then, set new hooks and bait, and wait. We watched and waited patiently, scanning the area for what was coming next. The fish probably assumed "Wow, how wonderful, and new, and easy....look at this delightful treat bag." And we were up top assuming they would fall for our bait. We were luring them in by what they wanted most- fresh, free food. We just waited. Little by little, we chummed the water, sat still and silent and waited. We waited for "someone" to take the bait.
I was reminded of 1 Peter 5:8. Isn't that what Satan does to us? He chums our waters, makes it look good, waits patiently, sitting still while we swim around trying to decide if we will take a nibble as he draws us in...only for us to eventually get hooked?! He is clever. 
What draws you in? What type of bait gets you curious, or tempted enough, to come a little closer in, and maybe, possibly, even attempt a nibble.....just once? Just like each fish has it's own type of bait-mix, so do we. The temptation-mix that catches our attention and lures us in is as diverse as all of us are. None are the same. What hooks you, may not be what hooks me. You can't help but notice all the thousands of lures in any bait shop, big or small, you can choose from to bait (and catch) just the right fish. Imagine the schemes of the devil...they are just as plentiful. 
Next time the waters around you get a little cloudy, "...be watchful!!! Your adversary the devil, prowls around...seeking someone to devour." Remember, God CLEARS our water and Satan CHUMS our water. 

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil."

Ephesians 6:11

Where are you? Shore, Boat or Water?

"Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." And Peter answered Him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me! Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."  Matthew 14:22-33

It's a very familiar Bible testimony. Many sermons have been preached from this passage. While there are numerous applications and lessons to be learned, God brought this back to mind as I visited with a friend who was struggling with  anxiety: her strength and courage, and the lack of it. Many of us struggle with anxiety and it can be paralyzing. Fear can nearly suffocate us. This was me for many years, until God's healing power suffocated my fear. It drowned it out and it was no more! AMEN!!!
As I was listening to my friend, I was trying to understand where she was in her walk of faith. Where was she in her fear? How do I encourage her to the next step? God brought this passage to my mind and He showed me the steps between courage, trust and fear.
Here are the different places you can be:
1. Those standing on the shore looking at the boat, wanting to get on it. Hope
2. Those on the boat. Faith
3. Those who step out of the boat. Trust
4. Those who continue to walk after the fall. Boldness.
Disclaimer: I am not a therapist or trained professional!!! I can only share from my personal experience and those shared with me. Just sayin'
Now we can continue (lol)...as I stand on this side of healing from the bondage of fear and anxiety, I can see the different places I have been. I have to be careful to not take steps backwards. I can clearly see that I am on the shore or maybe even in the boat in certain things while there are things in my life that are all about persevering boldness. Many people stand there on the shore wishing and hoping and wanting to get on the boat yet they are too afraid. Fear keeps their feet dry. What a victory when you step out in faith and finally get in the boat! And probably the hardest part is trusting the call to get out of the boat and walk! It takes guts, a Holy Courageous Confidence, to walk, to step out there and trust that Jesus really is there. Do you believe it? Do you trust Him? Then, some of us have trusted and made that declaration to walk out to Him! We have an eternal hope that is placed in Saving Grace, we have faith assured through walking with Him and we trust the Promises of a faithful God and we are bold enough to keep on walking even after we trip and fall, We hold onto His helping hands and boldly take another step, and another, and another.

Where are you? What is your next move? If you know a friend who feels "stuck," Can you see where they are and challenge them to hope, believe, trust or grow in Holy Courageous Confidence? We are each somewhere! May we join together as we encourage each other and intercede for one another on our walk towards Jesus!!! There is nothing better than getting your feet wet!!!! Take the time to go back to the shore and help others get on the boat and into the Water!!!

 

 

Thank You Lord Jesus for being faithful when I am weak. Thank You for Your saving Grace that helps me get in the boat and walk on water with You! You are an amazing God! All glory, honor and praise belong to You! Thank You Father God for those You have placed in my life as Captains of the boats, Lifeguards on the shores, who help me, guide me, teach me, instruct me, mentor me and show me how I can do all things through You! Bless them for their servants hearts and may their passions be flamed in You and caught by many more to be set as a city on a hill, shining a beacon light for You!! Amen.