It’s not what you do once in a while, it’s what you do day in and day out that makes the difference.
— Jenny Craig
On one of our trips to Exuma, we were on the beach building sandcastles and moats. Hunter went to fill her bucket with water, but she wouldn’t go in. She was standing there for what seemed like forever … waiting for the water to magically jump into her pail.
I sat there watching her, thinking it had to be a metaphor for something … and quickly jumped to grab my camera and get a few shots of her.
As I was taking the photos and continued to ponder … it came to me. She needed to go deep. Go deeper. Get wet. To get her bucket filled.
Just as Hunter’s standing on the shore waiting for the water to come to her … we can sometimes do the same with God. We stand on our own shore waiting for God to fill our bucket … but it doesn’t work like that.
Think of your best relationships. How much time and effort do you put into them? Don’t you try to know all you can about your friend? Don’t you care when their hurting? Don’t you try to be a good friend? Don’t you want to talk to them often? Don’t you think of them constantly? Only when you’re putting into your friendship, can you get something out of it.
A relationship with God is much the same way. We need to talk to Him everyday. We need to read His Word. We need to learn all we can about Him. Hurt when He’s hurting. Love how He loves.
It’s only when we step off our comfortable shoreline and go deeper that we are filled.
Are you in a place where you’re wondering “does God even care?” I promise you He does. He cares very much. You may not have the answer the way you want it, or see things in the light you want to see with.
But as you press deep into God, you’ll begin to see things with His light. You’ll begin to understand that it’s His answer. And the amazing thing that happens is that you’ll find peace in those things. You’ll begin to realize your Heavenly Father is waiting for you in the deep end. He created you to meet Him there.
Dive in. Get wet. And watch your bucket overflow.
This post is linked up with Emily at Chatting at the Sky
:: subscribe to {tsj} photography ::
i am impressed with how you listen. there are many lessons to be learned in the smallest, most ordinary circumstances. waiting, listening, understanding… (if only a tiny fraction)
I love the way you explain how your relationship with God should be…like a good friend you care about and want to continue to grow the friendship. I know how important my friendships are and really need to work on the most important one. Thank you for being such a good friend!
Relationships are hard work, but so worth the effort. Thank you for that wonderful analogy. God is waiting for me in the deep end today.
So beautifully said! Thank you for the reminder.
Our message was on this exact topic this Sunday. Sometimes, when I’m honest with myself – I have a better relationship with my computer than I do with the Lord. ‘Diving In’ means that you have to be willing to invest time and give up other things. This is where I struggle because when I’m tired and do not have energy, I take rest in front of mindless activities rather than settling down and listening to Him. Thank you for yet another sweet reminder!
So true…… going deeper….. getting my feet wet….. but that would take me giving up control!
Beautiful, beautiful post. A great reminder!
i love this post–both the photos and the thoughts expressed. beautifully and honestly rendered.
love this tracie :) thanks for the reminder to take another step closer…
Beautiful, thanks for sharing.
i love your blog design. and your photography-your photos are so crisp-something that really appeals to me. love these photos of your sweet child-and your post is great! :)
I just want to mention I am beginner to weblog and certainly loved you’re web site. Probably I’m planning to bookmark your blog . You amazingly have perfect articles and reviews. With thanks for revealing your web page.
Well done – It really takes a lot of time to have blog posts. While I don’t agree on your blog I will concede that your are entitled to have your own perspective. The site ended up having some cool perspectives. Cool work job–
wonderful points altogether, you simply received a new reader. What would you recommend in regards to your submit that you just made some days ago? Any positive?
You made some decent points there. I looked on the internet for the subject and found most guys will approve with your site.
What i don’t realize is actually how you are no longer really a lot more neatly-preferred than you might be now. You’re very intelligent. You understand thus significantly with regards to this subject, produced me for my part consider it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like women and men are not involved except it is something to do with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs great. Always maintain it up!
I truly wanted to write a brief note in order to thank you for these lovely pointers you are placing at this website. My particularly long internet lookup has finally been honored with incredibly good content to exchange with my co-workers. I would assume that many of us visitors actually are very lucky to exist in a wonderful website with very many marvellous people with very helpful secrets. I feel rather privileged to have encountered your entire web site and look forward to tons of more brilliant times reading here. Thanks a lot once again for a lot of things.
Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.
Good ¡V I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related info ended up being truly simple to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or something, web site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Excellent task..
Great tremendous issues here. I¡¦m very happy to look your article. Thank you so much and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a mail?
I simply wanted to write a small message in order to say thanks to you for some of the magnificent solutions you are writing on this website. My time-consuming internet look up has at the end been compensated with really good content to talk about with my company. I ‘d assert that most of us readers are undeniably lucky to exist in a perfect site with so many perfect individuals with very beneficial principles. I feel rather fortunate to have discovered your entire webpage and look forward to many more cool minutes reading here. Thank you once again for a lot of things.
I¡¦ve recently started a web site, the info you offer on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our area library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such magnificent information being shared freely out there.
fantastic issues altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What might you recommend about your post that you made a few days in the past? Any positive?
You can certainly see your skills within the paintings you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe. All the time go after your heart.
Wonderful goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just too wonderful. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you are stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a great site.
I will right away clutch your rss as I can not to find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly allow me know so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Wow! This can be one particular of the most helpful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Fantastic. I am also an expert in this topic so I can understand your hard work.
I haven¡¦t checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend :)
Of course, what a great blog and educative posts, I surely will bookmark your site.Best Regards!
Someone essentially lend a hand to make seriously articles I would state. That is the first time I frequented your web page and up to now? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular post amazing. Wonderful task!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!
My brother suggested I might like this web site. He was entirely right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
As I website possessor I believe the content matter here is rattling fantastic , appreciate it for your efforts. You should keep it up forever! Best of luck.
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue with your web site in internet explorer, would check this¡K IE still is the market leader and a big component to people will leave out your magnificent writing because of this problem.
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
You are a very capable individual!
I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!
As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can be of assistance to me. Thank you
hello!,I really like your writing very much! proportion we communicate extra about your post on AOL? I require an expert on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Taking a look ahead to see you.
Very good written post. It will be useful to anybody who usess it, as well as me. Keep doing what you are doing – i will definitely read more posts.
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I have shared your web site in my social networks!
Good ¡V I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and related info ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, web site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Nice task..
obviously like your website but you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very troublesome to tell the reality nevertheless I¡¦ll definitely come back again.
Terrific paintings! That is the type of info that are supposed to be shared across the internet. Disgrace on the search engines for no longer positioning this submit upper! Come on over and talk over with my site . Thank you =)
Thank you for all of the labor on this web page. Debby really likes carrying out investigation and it’s really simple to grasp why. A lot of people learn all of the compelling mode you render vital strategies through the web blog and as well as inspire participation from website visitors on the concern while our own simple princess is certainly becoming educated a lot. Have fun with the remaining portion of the year. You’re the one doing a pretty cool job.
I would like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this web site. I’m hoping the same high-grade website post from you in the upcoming as well. Actually your creative writing skills has inspired me to get my own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a great example of it.