DAY 1 - Beach Sunrise - Thinking Outdoors

Thinking Outdoors

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DAY 1 - Beach Sunrise

Recreation - Walking, Running, Fishing

Job 38:12–13, Psalm 57:7–11, Psalm 65:5–8, Psalm 19:1–5, Psalm 50:1–2

Give

Many families take a beach vacation over the summer months. Some might disagree, but I would propose that there is no better way to begin a beach vacation than waking up the first morning to see the sunrise. Resist the urge to sleep in and get out there before the sun rises so you can catch the glory of the day dawning over the ocean. Trust me, as long as its a clear enough morning, its so worth it! On our family trip to the beach my daughter Susie woke me up on four of the seven mornings to see the sunrise. I never regretted it. Each of these four mornings we took lots of pictures . . . let me rephrase that . . . she took lots of pictures. We also jogged together, explored nature together, and did a creation meditation together. Later in the day we shared our meditations with the rest of the family. Go catch the first sunrise friends, you'll be thankful you did. Be sure to take your Bible, a pen, and your journal. The devotional below is based upon Susie and my first meditation together. We encourage you to do your own before reading ours.

Introduction to 7 Beach Meditations

Beach vacations with family and/or friends are wonderful. The beauty of the beach is always stunning. Many families spend a week (or just a weekend too) of the year enjoying a vacation on the coast. Our family often rents a house for a week and spends the time enjoying the beach, resort pools, and other amenities in the tiny resort town on the island that we visit in South Carolina. A week at the beach ought to be not only restful but rejuvenating. Engaging God's created elements on the beach in biblical meditation is an excellent exercise for refreshing the soul. Connecting with your Creator through his creation via meditation will deepen your appreciation of the all the wonders of the natural world at the beach. Additionally, meditation will draw your heart to worship the God who made all the beach elements you are enjoying. Doing some biblical meditations at the beach is also a great way to connect with your spouse, your kids, and your friends. Our family loved the rich conversations that happened at the beach and around the meal table about God and his creation. There is so much nature to explore at the beach. Here are just seven meditations to get you started. *I also want to recommend a resource that made our beach meditations so much richer. A friend of mine, who is a naturalist, produced the following book called "Virginia Beach Naturally: A guide to enjoying the wildlife of Virginia Beach, VA." The book is specifically about Virginia Beach but is relevant to most all east coast beaches. It is a treasure trove of information and insights to educate, enlighten, and entertain. The author, Scott Bastian, approaches his understanding of the elements at the beach from a Christian worldview, which makes the book even more precious. The book is available through Amazon. *The above picture was taken by my daughter, Susie, on our last trip to the beach.

DAY 2 - Beach Sand

1 Kings 4:20–29, Psalm 139:17–18, Matthew 7:24–27, Genesis 22:17, Genesis 32:12

Whether sunbathing, sandcastle building, or just strolling down the beach, there is sand everywhere! And when you return home after your day at the beach, there is sand everywhere too, in the car, in swimsuit pockets, in the kids hair, and every other place imaginable. The grains of sand everywhere are a small annoyance compared to the great blessing of being at the beach and enjoying the sand at the seashore or the sand at the lakeshore. Whether it is my family's favorite ocean beach in South Carolina or our favorite lake beach in the Adirondack Mountains, we love walking on beach sand. So, whatever sand you are walking on, laying on, or playing with, take some time to meditate upon sand this summer.

DAY 3 - Ocean

Psalm 46:2–10, Psalm 65:5–8, Psalm 89:8–10, Revelation 19:6, Isaiah 57:20–21

Early May has typically been when our family has escaped to the beach. As a summer camp director, June, July, and August are not options. Does your family go on a summer beach trip? Take some time to engage this meditation on the ocean while you are at the beach this summer. You might consider doing other beach related meditations that are posted in other months on this app - like sand, palm trees, and a beach sunrise. I hope you have a truly restful vacation.