GLEANINGS — June 9, A.D. 2013                                                                                                              "Surf's Up!"

At almost any season here in the Bayshore Community, and perhaps more so now with the warm weather upon us, we see them – intrepid souls paddling out from area beaches to catch a wave and ride their newly waxed surfboards back to the coastline. What an exhilarating adventure, what a great example of how our good and kind Creator "...gives us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17 b). Hangin' ten for the glory of God, yeah!
We might think of God's grace in Christ as a far greater surf. It has mountainous breakers; it is an all powerful surge of redemption. With majestic crests it flows in with a thundering rumble from the vast, deep ocean of eternal love, crystal clear righteousness, and infinite wisdom. 
Believers are the surfers on its perfect waves, called to our adventurous ride of life-long discipleship by a windy Voice more irresistible than that of a salt breeze, wooing those who play there to their beloved sunny beach. 
The word of God, the holy Bible, is the perfectly designed and sturdy board on which we stand, and by which the Spirit makes it possible for us to manouever with skill, all the while being propelled by a power not our own. 
According to Wikipedia, surfboard wax (also known as surfwax ) is applied to the deck of a surfboard to keep the surfer from slipping off the board when paddling out or riding a wave. We keep from slipping off our board, the Scriptures, by hearing, studying, meditating upon, memorizing, and singing them.
The shoreline to which every surfer for the Lord is bound is Glory Land, promised by Him to those who persevere to the end. 
Sometimes we wipe out as we ride the mighty waves of grace toward that wonderful destination, and feel like Jonah who cried out, "...You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all Your billows and Your waves passed over me." (Jonah 2:3) We might get blinding sand in our eyes, be tossed about, and be stunned and bewildered in those perilous moments. Wipeouts can get ugly! 
Getting back on the board is essential, because according to God's promise to His spiritual surfers, another mighty wave is coming. "For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity" (Proverbs 24:16.)
So perhaps like their Lord, disciples do walk on water in a sense. Miraculous power enabled Jesus to tread the waves of Galilee, and the same power upheld Peter as he got out of the boat and walked on water toward his Master. Divine power is the force undergirding every life that is really lived by faith in Jesus. So...
"Let's go surfin' now, everybody's learning how, come on spiritual surfari with me!" (with apologies to the Beach Boys)