{"id":401,"date":"2010-02-21T12:17:21","date_gmt":"2010-02-21T19:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/?p=401"},"modified":"2011-06-29T06:45:07","modified_gmt":"2011-06-29T13:45:07","slug":"a-whales-tail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/?p=401","title":{"rendered":"“A Whale’s Tail”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n[Translate]<\/a>\"\"\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n

\"\"<\/a>For some reason, God has placed the ocean on my mind this morning\u2026 Probably
\nbecause I grew up by the ocean. As a young boy, I used to climb out on the rocky shore
\nand watch the ocean for hours on end. I never tired of this fascinating sight. I was
\nconstantly intrigued by the ocean\u2019s every changing nature, and the power it displayed as
\nthe waves crashed against the massive rocks. The tidal pools held a special treat as they
\nwere always teaming with some kind of sea life \u2013 the colorful sea urchins were my
\nfavorite\u2026 Long before I accepted Christ in my life, I knew I was witnessing something
\nvery profound.<\/p>\n

Forgive me for using some sea-going metaphors here in the middle of beautiful Las
\nCruces, but let\u2019s proceed to have some fun with the ocean, along with some serious
\nconsiderations about what God is doing in our life. Here goes\u2026<\/p>\n

Ahoy Mate! Your crusty ole\u2019 shipmate here! Such might be the greeting from the deck
\nthis morning as you roll out of the sack and prepare to hoist sails \u2013 getting your ship
\nready for the day\u2019s journey. This is no small task if you\u2019re are a crew of one!
\nFortunately, God realizes that we need help preparing for the day, as we get underway
\nand make ready our plans for navigating through the busy day. Where will your journey
\ntake you today?<\/p>\n

No matter where your travels take you, you can be sure of one thing — God will be there
\nwith you. God is omnipresent and all knowing, and His Spirit lives within those who
\nhave accepted His Son. Even through the most perilous times, He will help to guide you
\nthrough even the narrowest of straights in life. You can count on the fact that God\u2019s
\nWord reveals the Truth about the past, present, and the glory that is to come. God\u2019s
\nCreation speaks of His divine nature, and without excuse, we are all witnesses to His
\nglory and wonder \u2013 His laws written in our hearts. God has created all things in heaven
\nand on earth, and knows each star by name. As if this were not enough, He sent His Son
\nJesus as a living sacrifice for you and me, that through faith in Him, we as sinners might
\nbe saved and have eternal life. Let us all consider all what God has done for us, and give
\nHim praise this morning.<\/p>\n

What does God ask in return? Listen to what it says in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, \u201cAnd
\nnow, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your
\nGod, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your
\nheart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His
\nstatutes which I command you today for your good?\u201d<\/p>\n

To be clear, God doesn\u2019t force us do anything (although He could). Rather, in trust and
\nobedience, God desires us to do His will according to the free will He has given us. Just
\nas clear, if we go our own way, we must be prepared to accept the consequences. Do you
\nagree?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at this in a different light. If we were to board a cruise ship, we immediately
\nplace our blind trust in the ship\u2019s captain \u2013 trusting in him to keep the ship on course and
\nto keep us safe. How is it that we so easily put our trust in the captain piloting the ship?
\nThe truth is we exercise this worldly kind of trust every day in many of the things we do
\nin life.<\/p>\n

By contrast, when we willingly give our life to Christ, we place our trust in God and
\nplace Him at the helm of our lives \u2013 no longer carrying the burden of blind trust, for we
\nknow the Truth and why we are saved. This represents a Christ-centered life. When we
\ntrust in God, we are saying that we fear Him, that we desire to walk in His ways, that we
\nlove Him, that we will observe His commands. In all this, God wants us to be a humble
\nservant as we wisely exercise our worldly trust, in full accordance with our Godly trust.
\nIt\u2019s true that sometimes we desire to do things our own way, ignoring God in our life (a
\nself-centered life \u2013 piloting our own ship). This may work for a \u201cseason\u201d, but many
\ntimes it results in our being misguided into stormy weather \u2013 left with little hope except
\nto change our course, and turn back to God. Does this pattern sound familiar?
\n\u201cPiloting your own ship\u201d can be fun, and for a time, it can seem rewarding (although
\nsometimes deceiving). It sure feels great when we are in control and everything is going
\nwell. But life can change in a heartbeat, and without God in the forefront of our lives, we
\ncan easily sail off-course as we simply forgot about God!<\/p>\n

Since our free will allows us such freedom, staying on-course in life can be a major
\nchallenge. So ask yourself this question: \u201cWho do I want to be at the helm of my life \u2013
\nme or God?<\/p>\n

Joshua 24:15 gives some perspective with regard to this question: \u201cAnd if it seems evil to
\nyou to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the
\ngods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the
\nAmorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the
\nLORD.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joshua had it right, for the Israelites had a massive challenge ahead of them. So we too
\nhave a challenge in our life, but the difference is that we have a Redeemer, He lives —
\nand His name is Jesus! Hallelujah! \u201cI can do all things through Christ who strengthens
\nme.\u201d Philippians 4: 13<\/p>\n

Despite our knowledge of the Truth, many times we find ourselves in situations (usually
\nof our own making) that test our ability to discern which way to turn — to either \u201ctrust in
\nGod\u201d or \u201cturn to our instincts\u201d. Just as in Joshua\u2019s time, we must decide whom we will
\nserve. The choices we make reflect our trust in God.<\/p>\n

Since we have a Redeemer, we as Christians know that the Holy Spirit is alive and
\nworking in our lives, helping to guide us through the \u201ctrials of life\u201d. But the question is,
\n\u201cDo we listen to the Holy Spirit?\u201d How about you, does your heart listen to what the
\nHoly Spirit is telling you? Does the Holy Spirit help you to stay on-course as you
\nnavigate the oceans of your life?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s interesting that much of our life is made up of events and experiences \u2013 our \u201csea
\nstories\u201d as it were — our personal testimony. Equally interesting and unbeknown to us,
\nare the times in our life when we were guided out of harms way and made it safely back
\nto port by the shear Grace of God. Did you realize that God was there with you in those
\ncircumstances? Contrast that with the times when you acknowledged that \u201cGod was
\nthere with you\u201d? Such is the gathering of events that make up our life\u2019s story \u2013 our
\ntestimony.<\/p>\n

In reality, every life experience \u2013 past and present \u2013 has meaning and importance. Did
\nyou know that who you are, and what you have done are important to God? It\u2019s easy for
\nus to think that our testimony is just an ongoing current of life\u2019s events \u2013 not much
\ndifferent than anyone else\u2019s. How wrong it is to think this way, for God created you
\nuniquely special \u2013 part of His perfect plan. Your life experiences are more than a
\ncollection of \u201dsea stories or a whale\u2019s tale\u201d \u2013 they are a genuine reflection of who you
\nare, representing where you have been, what you have done, where you have arrived, and
\nthe difference that God has made in your life. For all of us, our testimony is a powerful
\nstory indeed\u2026 \u201cI once was lost, but now am found.\u201d God\u2019s Amazing Grace!<\/p>\n

Your personal story of salvation is a tale truly worth telling. Never underestimate the
\npower of your testimony, and the \u201clife saving\u201d influence it can have for others! Pray that
\nGod will place you in the path of someone that needs to hear your story, so you may have
\nthe opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus.<\/p>\n

In any case, there will come a judgment, and like it or not, we all must \u201ceach give our
\ntestimony\u201d someday before the Lord \u2013 everyone who ever lived! Romans 14:12, \u201cSo
\nthen each of you shall give an account of himself to God.\u201d Paul states this more strongly
\nin 2 Timothy 4:1, \u201cI charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will
\njudge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom\u2026 \u201d It\u2019s not too bold to
\nsay to you, that these are the last days, and these are serious times we are living in. Walk
\na straight path and prepare yourself for the coming of the Lord.<\/p>\n

I recall a short testimony that was given at a Willow Creek Conference by Wayne
\nCordeiro, Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship Church in Hawaii. He tells of a time
\nwhen he went out surfing by himself, near the area called Diamond Head. As he put it,
\nhe needed some quiet time alone.<\/p>\n

He paddled out a few hundred yards beyond the breakers to wait for the \u201cBig Surf\u201d to
\ndevelop. As he was straddling his surfboard, soaking up the beautiful view looking back
\ntoward Diamond Head, he suddenly became aware of something grazing his leg, and then
\nhe saw it — a fin, breaking the surface of the water — circling around him. The glare off
\nthe ocean was too bright to make out the shape of this \u201cunwelcome guest\u201d. All he could
\nthink of was Shark! The reality started to sink in, and his mind was consumed by the
\ndanger he was in.<\/p>\n

As he tells it, immediate fright overtook him as he realized he was too far out to escape
\nwhat was sure to be a violent shark attack. All alone, he found himself face-to-face with
\nwhat he believed to be a Great White Shark \u2013 not uncommon in these waters. His heart
\npounded as thoughts raced through his mind. How can I defend myself? What if I don\u2019t
\nmake it? What about my Family, my church? Anxiety and fear engulfed him as he
\nbraced for the worse that was about to happen\u2026<\/p>\n

As the seconds passed, gripping fear began to overtake him, and he started to panic\u2026 At
\nthe height of that very moment, as being caught by a snare, out of the water surfaced a
\nfamiliar looking sight, and he realized immediately that it was a porpoise \u2013 a friendly
\nmammal. He also knew from experience, that where there were porpoises, there were
\ntypically no sharks. His senses still peaked\u2026 Slowly he began to calm down and collect
\nhis thoughts\u2026<\/p>\n

Then it hit him\u2026 The fact that he didn\u2019t do what he preached so well and effectively
\nevery Sunday to the thousands of people that attended his mega-church: \u201cIn all
\nsituations \u2013 no matter what – turn to God and put your trust in the Lord!\u201d His head
\ndropped — he thought how quickly he had fallen back on his worldly instincts.
\nIn those moments of panic and self-preservation, he realized he had failed to put his trust
\nin God. As he quickly paddled back to shore, calling it a day, he thought deeply about
\nhow in his time of need, he withdrew into the world, and totally forgot about seeking
\nGod. Safely on shore he said, \u201cNext time I\u2019ll turn to the Lord.\u201d What an experience,
\nwhat a self-revelation \u2013 what a testimony!<\/p>\n

Has anything that dramatic ever happened in your life? Have you ever displaced God
\nwith your worldly instincts for survival? Although it may not have been a \u201cshark\u201d
\nencounter, I\u2019m sure that for some of you, the answer is yes \u2013 I know that I have. Some
\nmight say, \u201cThat\u2019s part of the way God has wired us — for survival.\u201d To some extent, but
\nthe fact is, in everything we do, we are under God\u2019s Grace and Mercy, and according to
\nHis will, He will protect us and lift us out of the depths of the deepest despair in our
\nmoment of our need. This applies to everyone that calls on the name of the Lord. \u201cAh
\nLord GOD! behold, you have made the heaven and the earth by your great power and
\nstretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for you:\u201d Jeremiah 32:17<\/p>\n

What do you think we can all learn from Wayne\u2019s experience, and his testimony?
\nAlthough it goes against our worldly grain, Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us some answers, \u201cTrust
\nin the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your
\nways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back to our sea stories\u2026 Remember the story of Jonah and the whale, and how he came
\nto realize a need to turn to God. Jonah 2:7-9, \u201cWhen my soul fainted within me, I
\nremembered the LORD; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. \u2018Those
\nwho regard worthless idols forsake their own Mercy. But I will sacrifice to You with the
\nvoice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.\u2019 \u201c
\nThis is not just a \u201cwhale\u2019s tale\u201d, but a pertinent example of how turning to God, trusting
\nin God, seeking God, relying on God, and how being obedient to God can impact the
\noutcome of events and lives. Have you ever wondered how you may have impacted the
\nlives of those you encountered?<\/p>\n

Without a doubt, your life has certainly impacted others! If you have the chance, I
\nencourage you to take the time to write your testimony (your story) down on paper. This
\nis a good way to organize your thoughts. When you do, not only will it be an inspiration
\nfor others, but it will be an inspiration for you when you realize how far you have come.
\nNeed some reinforcement? Be strengthened by what it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17,
\n\u201cTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has
\ncome.\u201d Indeed, your testimony is story for all to hear.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nBefore I close, can I tell you \u201cA Whale\u2019s Tale\u201d? A \u201cCosmic Whale\u201d that is\u2026 Take a
\nlook at the close-up of this \u201csea-going creature\u201d in the image below.<\/p>\n

This image above shows what we might call an unusual galaxy in the vast depths of the
\nuniverse. In fact, astronomers have given this object the name \u201cThe Whale Galaxy\u201d. This
\ndiffused edge-on galaxy is technically named M108 and resides some 45 million light
\nyears distant from our earth., in the Constellation of Ursa Major \u2013 better known as the
\nBig Dipper. I took this image a few weeks ago from our remote robotic JMSM
\nObservatory near Mayhill, NM.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nCan you see the myriad of other galaxies in the background \u2013 look at the wide-field
\nimage below. The prominent feature of this galaxy is the unique dust structure extending
\nacross the galaxy formation.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t expect this cosmic whale to surface anytime soon, as God has it placed exactly
\nwhere He wants it to be! It\u2019s a joy to behold such wonder in God\u2019s Creation \u2013 His Glory
\non display for all to see. If you are interested, further below is a wide-field image of this
\nregion.<\/p>\n

Psalm 19:1, \u201cThe heavens declare the glory of the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the week comes to a close, be safe, stay close to God, and have a great weekend!<\/p>\n

Your brother in Christ,
\nMike Sherick<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[Translate] <\/p>\n

For some reason, God has placed the ocean on my mind this morning\u2026 Probably because I grew up by the ocean. As a young boy, I used to climb out on the rocky shore and watch the ocean for hours on end. I never tired of this fascinating sight. I was constantly intrigued […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=401"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1331,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/401\/revisions\/1331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.imagingtheheavens.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}