The reflections I shared while leading Sunday worship  ~  May 29, 2022 

We are living on God's great ocean. We celebrate and give praise to God for a beautiful and safe sail to Senegal. I believe the rivers, oceans and other water ways are one way God shows us how to be steadfast and set our devotions for a life filled with Grace, determination and humility.

Just as the river empties into the sea, we learn how to expand beyond our personal banks to share our God given talents and strengths with others. Like a river, as our life meets the vast, and often dark depths of a large ocean, we pray to be part of something larger.

The sail to Senegal, on the Global Mercy ship, is God's invitation to be part of something larger. Mercy Ships mission - to serve those needing hope and healing, was propelled by God, in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. We praise God for His enduring love and direction. God's love is often compared with the depths of the ocean. We believe God's love is deeper than any ocean.

In Psalm 95:5-6 we read, "The sea that He made belongs to Him, along with the dry land that His hands formed. COME! Let us worship and bow down, let us kneel in the presence of the Lord, who made us".

Matthew 8: 25-27 talks about the disciples being afraid on rough waters. The passage states, "They went to him and woke him. "Lord!", they cried. Save us! We're going to drown!". Jesus replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?". Then he got up and rebuked the winds and waves and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and waves obey him".

We traveled from the land and rivers of our familiar places, into the vast Atlantic Ocean, then to the shores of Senegal, to serve the God who made all things. We go forth, without fear, in the company of faith filled people, as God's servants, to do His work.






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