My friend Adam has moved to Miami, Florida. He had his devotional time on the beach at sunrise this morning. He grabbed his phone and shot a video of the sand and water and palms bending in the gentle breeze to send to his wife. It was a beautiful scene. He knew I loved nature and beauty and he knew I was praying for him as he tries to get a foothold in Florida and he sent me a copy of the video including a close up of his Bible and a promise underlined there from Proverbs 13:4 “A sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” I will follow his story with interest as he does what he has to do to make his vision for his family come to be. He will have some hard days ahead. I hope he also has time to walk the beach at sunrise and know that his Heavenly Father watches over him and he keeps his promises.
I walk out into an unusually cool May morning here in Michigan—the other Peninsula. As beautiful as his video is—from May to October, Michigan is my favorite peninsula. It’s refreshing and rarely so hot that by evening you cannot stroll out on the street with a glass of tea and chat with neighbors. I will have a few chances this summer to have my devotional time watching the sun come up over a northern lake. If all goes well I may even get to hear the call of the Loon on a summer evening or watch the stars appear in a darkening sky. I will knife through the clear waters in a kayak and in the evening I will aim all my stories at the great story of Christ and his plan to redeem and restore this earth and everything in it and all who believe in Him one day.
This morning, after many years of walking with the Lord and many years of trying to write a beautiful story for my family I especially need the assurance of his presence and a fresh reminder of his promises. I step out onto the porch. It’s a cool, green, refreshing May morning. I turn to the 19th Psalm and to the Proverbs. I drink in his promises. I trust Him to do what only He can do. He is the Author of Life (Acts 3:15) the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) and the faith of each of our children.
When I face hard challenges, when I am wrestling against dark powers that threaten to crush me and those I love, I get up early, I find a quiet spot, I search His word for his promises, and I trust Him to do what only He can do. And it doesn’t hurt if I’m doing all this with a cup of hot black coffee in hand.
Ken Pierpont
Granville Cottage
Riverview, Michigan
May 19, 2015
