Waves of Pardon, Mercy, & Grace

     Growing up, Fernandina Beach was my family's go to place.  To be able to share that my children is such a blessing.  Mother's Day began with the usual handmade gifts from the kids, church services at our favorite little country church, a delicious southern spread at Mama's, gifts to Mom (& from her to us), but ended with my loves on the beach.  This would be our home for 7 days!

     The very first morning, Nathan & I enjoyed the sunrise together.  I am not naturally a morning person, but waking up to the perfect view of sea shore right outside your window has it's ways.  

      No matter how many pictures I took of this sunrise nor where we travel to on this earth, I fail to capture His glory.  It's uncontainable & indescribable.  Yet, being at the beach fills my heart with pure joy.  I don't know if it's the quiet, peace with only the sound of the waves kissing the shore or the newness of each day as it reminds me of His everlasting love every morning.  Heaven just seems a little closer in a house by the sea!

     One evening we opened up a discussion about sin & the things God doesn't like.  We talked about how He can wash those things away forever just like the waves.  We went out & wrote different words on the shore.  The littles drew sad faces, & we helped them write too.  In no time, the waves had washed them all away.  I am so thankful for the opportunity we have to share with our children the love of God, how He pardons with His mercy & His grace, how He died for our sins to be forever gone, & how He replaces those things in our life with everlasting goodness!  Only He has the power to replace hate with love, suffering with healing, pride with humbleness, sadness with joy unspeakable & full of glory, etc.  He is a good, good Father.  He doesn't withhold any good things from His children.  Psalm 84:11 plainly states, "For the Lord God is sun and shield:  the Lord will give grace and glory:  no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly."  Psalms 103:12  "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us."  & verse 17-18, "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and His righteousness unto children's children.  To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them."  The prophet Jeremiah penned the words of Christ referencing the sea in 5:22, "Fear ye not me?  saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it:  and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?"  Nothing has power over my God!  Though the devil with his waves toss against us & roar, they CANNOT overtake us.  God holds us in His palm.  He controls our atmosphere.  The world may be raging, but our comfort is knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God reigns supreme!  When we finished our illustration, I turned to see Nathan had written me a message.  So yes, here is our cheesy beach picture for all the world to view!   :)

A cousin (& one of our BFFs) brought her kids to play too!     

A few fun beach pictures:

Nighttime doesn't even slow this crew down!

& then to top it all off, my Daddy's company has their annual convention at the Ritz Carlton, & we invade the pool!  #grandkidperks

Our favorite twin nephews came to "slum" it at the Ritz too!

Just because I have pictures on this same anchor when I was their age  #preciousmemories

& the pirate statue too:

      We watched the sunset on our way home together, relishing every moment as a family, & already missing the sand between our toes, sun on our faces, & salty kisses!  Some of the best soul therapy ever is spending time with our Creator & those we love on the beach!  Counting down the days until our next sea adventure...Saint George Island, it won't be too much longer now!