a couple of days away

I escaped with a few friends early in the week. We traveled over to the southern coast of Texas, to Port Aransas on the northern tip of Mustang Island, one of those barrier islands separating mainland Texas from the Gulf of Mexico. We purposed to be there to study, discuss, and reflect on From Fear to Freedom by Rose Marie Miller. It is a challenging and convicting read. We were reminded of the power of God's grace. We were encouraged not to live as orphans, but to fully recognize our status as daughters of the Most High King. We reflected on sin patterns and religious moralism and forgiveness and submission and the spiritual battle being waged around us.

Some gems from Mrs. Miller-

As a rebellious victim I was blinded by the fact that bitterness in human relationships is also bitterness toward God. You cannot be bitter toward the creature without becoming bitter toward the Creator.

The stormy orphan saw a glimmer of light- hope for possibly a better way to live, and a first calmness entered my soul. The worst pain was yet ahead, but now it was healing pain. I was learning that no imperfect human being can ultimately meet another person's deeper needs.

Think of the human state of one of stubborn blindness. We will rely on everything but God. He in turn will prepare us for grace by closing our favorite escape exits until there in only one way left.

One of the most serious of human faults is relying on ourselves instead of relying on God. There is nothing we give up more reluctantly than the feeling that "I can do it." When that doesn't work, our natural impulse is simply to despair.

You keep toughing it out; you keep trying; you keep pressing on. These are good qualities to have if the underlying basis is faith. But if it is done simply out of self-effort, then you are bound to fail.

This is indeed the deepeest comfort- to be accepted by God, totally forgiven, and then by grace to forgive the deepest wounds and hurts.

I have an anchor in my soul. I know that grace is always for sons and daughters who know and admit that they are not self-sufficient. As part of the family of God, I am still hungry for God and his grace, and strangely enough, a beggar needing all that Christ has to give. Grace always surprises me by the wonder of God's infinite compassion, but his infinite compassion means little if I do not have infinite need.

- Rose Marie Miller

We ate well and laughed heartily. We prayed and we even sang. We explored Port Aransas a bit, and wandered on the beach, and marvelled at the clouds. We caught Downton Abbey just one day late. I was excited to be able to leave, and I was glad to come home, exactly what a get-away should be.
I am extraordinarily blessed.

(and aren't those birds amazing?)