Tag Archives: Christian encouragement

~The Ocean Series~ Distressed Wood

June 28, 2018Spiritual Encouragementbeach house, Christian encouragement, Christian life, death of spouse, distressed, distressed beach chair, distressed wood, docks, empty nest, encouragement, Ephesians 2:10, retirement, spiritual encouragement, The Ocean Series, uncondtional love, who I am in ChristT.W. Allgaier

Distressed Wood.

My husband and I have vacationed on a certain beach a few times in the past. Each year we walked along the beach looking for a distressed wooden love seat that was left on the sand. Each time we saw it, it was more distressed than the year before.

Many things that are left out in the salt water and wind become distressed. Docks, dock posts, iron… All of these show the wear of time, and were all once new. Now they seem authentic. Pain and time have brought on wear and tear.

Funny how we age and feel like we may be distressed or “past our prime.” You may be retired, an “empty nester”, a wife left alone after the death of a beloved spouse…..

Why even the most wonderful beach houses are older and full of distressed furniture and wares. They have a story to tell. They mattered and were useful to many over the years.

The same holds true for people. Your retirement is proof that you made a mark on the world and worked hard in your career. Your empty nest is an indication that you have helped raise a generation that can now go out in the world on their own. The death of a spouse can be a testimony to how much you have loved and were loved.

You are still valuable. A season of life might have passed, but a new one is now ahead of you. Our flaws may have been exposed, our pain obvious. We ourselves may be distressed…but could they be marks of learning and living this life?

We are loved by Abba Father and can still used in ways we never thought possible!

And remember people actually buy things that look distressed when they aren’t! Hmmmmm…

~Be Encouraged Today~

~The Ocean Series~ How about those Lifeguards?

June 20, 2018Spiritual EncouragementChristian encouragement, Colossians 1:13-14, encouragement, Jesus, life preserver, lifeguard, red flag warning, Rest in Christ, storm, The Ocean Series, tropical depressionT.W. Allgaier

My hubby and I were walking along the beach one balmy evening. The wind had picked up quite a bit, there was a tropical depression headed our way. We could not see it, but we could feel the change!

And as you would imagine, the people out in the ocean loved it…even though those red flags were flying high. Many people just don’t heed warnings that are right in front of them. They would rather believe that it “could never happen to them.” Most of us have been in those situations one time or another. Continue reading ~The Ocean Series~ How about those Lifeguards? →

~The Ocean Series~ Beach Umbrellas

June 12, 2018Spiritual Encouragementbeach umbrellas, Christian encouragement, colorful umbrellas, encouragement in Christ, God's peace, Grace, Rest in Christ, spiritual encouragement, The Ocean Series, wind gust, worksT.W. Allgaier

Most of the time when we make the track down to the beach to sit oceanside, we take our beach umbrellas. And I have taken many pictures with the ones that match lined up on the beach like students in the line to go to the cafeteria. And I especially love to see all the different colored ones splattered against that shoreline.

But more times than I care to count…the beach umbrella gets caught by a gust of wind….and there is goes, tumbling over itself like it was a tumbleweed in the desert! My husband thought he had turned it far enough in the sand to stay, but alas….it is never enough! Even the pros have trouble with the right gust!

It is like living the Christian life. It is never enough! You can press in, work harder, lead VBS, feed the hungry, have daily Bible studies, sing in the choir…and it would never be “enough.” Continue reading ~The Ocean Series~ Beach Umbrellas →