Wednesday, December 7, 2011

POP – THE QUESTION

POP.

Last week, a great friend (and evidently, a wise little acre) challenged me to write a devotional about something totally random. OK, you're on!

You might remember me talking about a visit with my brother, who lives at the beach. I talked about the kelp that had washed up on the shore. And I talked about the little *bulbs* that are attached to it. (That was the challenge - write something about the bulbs).

I love popping those things.

Evidently, this just might be a genetic trait. Because I can remember popping those things since I was a child.

At one time, my mom's parents lived in Morro Bay. They managed a trailer park that was right next to the ocean. One of my favorite things to do when I visited was to walk along the beach.

There's a difference between Southern California beaches and the beaches that lie further north. I suppose part of that is due to the lack of millions (literally??) of houses and buildings that crowd the shore of the beaches here in the south.

But, the beaches further north are just more…WILD!

The water is colder, and the waves seem stronger. And usually, the beach is strewn with many more things to see and collect.

I can remember times when the shoreline was littered with tiny jellyfish. And times when we collected hundreds of sand dollars. Sand dollars of every size, too. It was always a minor miracle to me how something only about ¼ of an inch in diameter managed to survive the pounding surf.

My family would usually take the 6-mile roundtrip to Cayucos and back. Six uninterrupted, fascinating, glorious miles walking in the sand along the sea.

One of my favorite things to do was to pop those little seaweed bulbs.

POP. POP. POP.

OK, that's fun. But there has to be a purpose for those little bulbs.

Yup, there is:

"Seaweed is made up of a round, hollow bulb, from which ribbon-like blades emerge from the top of the bulb. The bulbous float at the end of the kelp is filled with up to 10% carbon monoxide gas. The gas-filled bulb pulls the kelp up so that the blades float close to the surface and receive adequate sunlight."

Interesting, huh?

So, here's the lesson.

Someone else delights in popping things.

Satan loves to pop the little bulbs of joy and peace and hope in our lives.

Nothing delights him more than to smash his evil foot on all the things that help keep us afloat in life.

He is, after all, a murderer at heart.

"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy." (John 10:10)


That job you rely on?

POP.

That house you feel secure in?

POP.

That healthy body and mind?

POP.

Those kids you adore?

POP.

That special friendship, relationship, marriage?

POP.

That list of popping could go on and on.


There he is, gleefully jumping and breaking those little bulbs.

Like I said last week, sometimes I think I can hear him cackle…

But you know what? Those little bulbs are only vulnerable because they're no longer attached. They are no longer connected to the thing that anchors them in the sea.

Washed up on shore – detached from their holdfast – floating away from the rocks – they become victims on the shore.

Is that what we let happen when we are tossed by the mighty waves of life?

Do we become detached from The Rock? Do we let go of our connection to the only One who anchors us?

If we do, we will undoubtedly find ourselves churned by the powerful waves and washed up on shorewhere we will become hapless victims of the Evil Bulb-Popper.

Yes, we need those *bulbs* – and the Lord understands that. These things help us stay afloat in life.

But I am learning a very important lesson lately…

What's even more important than staying afloat – is the need to stay anchored.

So, yes, I'm still going to enjoy popping seaweed bulbs (it's in my genes, remember?!). But I'm not going to do it without taking the time to look out to the mighty kelp beds that lie offshore.

The strong and sturdy kelp that is kept alive because it is anchored – held fast – by the rock it clings to.


POP – the question…


Are you more worried about staying afloat than staying anchored to The Rock?


(SIDENOTE: I have been recognized by Denise at Shortybear's Place. I am so blessed to have received this very thoughtful gesture. Thank you, Denise, for thinking of me - your kindness means so much!

Hey everyone, please stop by and visit Denise's blog - it's wonderful!)


(Other note: Having some issues with the Followers gadget, and slow loading. Please hang in there with me!!



BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

17 comments:

  1. And you did it! That's exactly what I've been doing lately. I've been more concerned... make that CONSUMED with just staying afloat than in securing the anchor. I have drifted close enough to the beach to hear that cackling of the Evil Bulb Popper. I spent some time anchoring this morning before coming here, and this was the first thing I saw upon coming.

    Thanks, Sharon. This one was timely and spot on.

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  2. Another great devotional Sharon. Staying afloat or being anchored is a great question to ponder because there is a big difference between the two.

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  3. I just talked today about sometimes a Christian's life has some troubles. You deal with it - pray about it - and chose to let go of the troubles while staying close tot he Lord.

    sandie

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  4. I love these Biblical lessons you are drawing from nature. They are delightful nuggets, Sharon. Please write more for us.

    Staying anchored, too!
    Mary

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  5. This is a good one, Sharon. So much to consider here. I am grateful to be anchored to the Rock of my salvation. No mere devil is going to pop my joy or peace! I will pop him because he is under my feet!
    Blessings!

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  6. POP!!!

    You did it girl! Congrats!

    "Someone else delights in popping things."

    "Satan loves to pop the little bulbs of joy and peace and hope in our lives."

    And pretty successful, he may think he is, but I sure like Sandy "popping him"

    This is so filled with excellent insights and reflective questions! WOW!
    Don't know what I'd do with the Rock I cling to and He is just that and so much more... My Refuge today! Soaking, staying afloat... yep, that's what I do. Yet Our Lord and Savior, Jesus has done what Sandy says and you did on the beaches "popped" him, Jesus crushed him
    (I vividly remember that scene in the "Passion of Christ") I can hear the sound as the Rock steps upon his head and "pop"! Gone! and He has given us this authority too! Luke 10:19 and Genesis 3:15 speaks of someone in the future who will "crush the head of the serpent." This is a sign of God's love for His creation; in spite of man's disobedience, He gave mankind hope for the future.

    Reaching and holding on to the Anchor!
    Awesome job, Sharon!
    Love,
    Peggy

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  7. correction... what I'd do WITHOUT the ROCK!!!

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  8. That is so true how the enemy likes to pop our bulbs, Sharon. It is so hard too because he's so good at it to resist him sometimes, but greater is He that is in us than the one in the world. We need to remember that indeed! Wise words today!

    You just keep popping those bulbs, Sharon! I would do the same too!

    I am having Blogger issues too; doesn't give me all the updates to blogs I follow, very frustrating!

    betty

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  9. Here's to random devotionals!! Love it! I'm staying attached to the Rock and holding fast! Jesus is my Awesome "Anti-Popper"!

    Blessings, Joan

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  10. Dear Sharon,
    I was at your blog place last weekend and read your Saturday Stroll post... it was really good and ministered to me. I just love Mary, how she treasured things in her heart... she is really my top favorite New Testament Bible character. I want to be like her. She is my model for submission, and willingness to obey... and what's more, rather than blah-blah-blah-ing about the difficult or awesome things in her life, she treasured them in her heart. I love that.

    I am glad I dropped by here today to read about the seaweed post.

    You have such deep insights, Sharon... I always come away blessed and refreshed each time I visit.

    Last Saturday your blog wouldn't let me leave a comment... but today I'm glad to be able to do so and encourage you!

    You are a blessing to blog world.

    Love
    Lidia

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  11. Random, my foot!
    This was great! God continues to use your words and heart to minister to us all!
    Love you!

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  12. Another great and insightful analogy, Sharon...anchored to the Rock that is higher than I....

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  13. Beautiful, Sharon!

    (I don't see a way to email you, and I'd like to contact you. Will you please email me? myplacetoyours(at)gmail(dot)com Thanks!)

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  14. Oh, so needful this devotional was - IS - in my life this morning. Feeling so much pressure at work again - and production week with little 'holiday' plays that completely miss the point of the 'holy day' - functioning in the system is a real bulb popper. Thanks for your reminder to not just pray to stay afloat, but to cling with all I've got to the rock. Floating results in drifting - feeling the depression in the drifting - and looking at the clock I'm gonna be late for work again! Gotta go - thanks for the right Word to start my day!
    Joy!
    Kathy

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  15. Yes, he sure likes to pop those bulbs - and plant harmful thoughts in our minds. You know when we stay anchored to The Rock, we don't have to worry about staying afloat!

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  16. Hi Sharon -

    Engaging piece, dear lady of GOD.

    I love Mark 4 - KJV where it mentions great storm, verse 37, and then verse 39 where it mentions great calm. Hallelujah! we can have great calm in great storms. Glory to GOD Most High!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)