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.
JULY 20 - 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
JULY 4 - Lake
Deuteronomy 33:23, Isaiah 41:17–20, Mark 6:30–44, Psalm 23:1–3, John 21:1–19
There is nothing quite like a summer day at the lake. Whether it is a morning coffee while sitting on the dock, canoeing in the morning mist, waterskiing on a the glass-like surface, fishing a favorite spot, a hot afternoon swim to cool off, wading at the water's edge, or an evening boat ride to catch a view of the sunset, the lake is a wonderful place to spend time. What lake are you enjoying today? Let's think together about what God has communicated through his creation of lakes?
JULY 29 - 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.