It’s Friday!!! I’m joining Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. Many of us writing on that same word.
Today’s prompt is … Haven.
I quickly looked for the definition … “a harbor or port; any place of shelter or safety”.
As I read the definition, a smile came across my face as I remembered the cruise.
A week away at sea, stopping at several ports, is our idea of rest and relaxation. We don’t get to do it often, but the times we have were wonderful.
There was the one time, we went to breakfast and sat listening to conversations all around us. Everyone was talking of the turbulence, the rocking of the ship, the nausea they experienced, and the trips to the toilet. We sat looking at each other as we had no idea – like NONE – of what they were all discussing.
Our waiter stopped by our table to ask us how we were and so we asked, “What is everyone talking about?”
He shared of the rough waters which were experienced overnight. He was dumbstruck at how we had slept through it all.
As I think back on it this morning, the definition comes back to me … any place of shelter or safety. Any place at all.
“He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.
What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.”
(Psalm 107: 29-31, NLT)
The Lord God has surely been a haven many times in my life. During the times of stress or difficulties or wounding or illness, He was there to keep me. There may have been hard experiences, but He brought me through them all. In looking back over those days, I only see His protection, His grace, and His mercy. He has been a haven, my haven, my place of shelter and safety.
And He has been faithful!
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith Filled Friday and Grace & Truth and Dance With Jesus and Fresh Market Friday .
Joanne, love this truth about our Haven in the Lord. He calms the stormy seas of our lives indeed!
I’m your neighbor at FMF today. May I invite you to share these lovely words at the DanceWithJesus linkup today to bless someone there too? SusanBMead.com/between/.
Hugs! Susan
Susan, thank you for the visit and the invitation. Both are surely appreciated.
I love this! Hubs and I are contemplating a New England/Canada cruise in October. We are not the couple who do the touristy thing – we usually find obscure places to go and avoid the froo-froo! But this is a ministry cruise “Bible Prophecy Conference” with Marv Rosenthal of Zion’s Hope and I could get real excited!!! #19 at Kate’s today.
Joanne, I don’t remember that verse, but you’ve described how He has taken care of me! He is my haven. Blessings!
I love your story…I would be so grateful the Lord let me sleep through all of that!! What a miracle and a blessing. I used the same scripture, so comforting! Blessings for a great weekend, Joanne.
I love how God is our haven in the midst of the storm and that he journeys with us. Thanks for sharing the song too- I haven’t heard it in a while and it’s good to be reminded of it.
Joanne – I have ALWAYS wanted to take a cruise, but still have yet to do so. Maybe one day soon, I keep dropping hints in my husbands direction 🙂 I love how you were able to sleep through the rough stormy seas because God had created a haven around safe shelter around you as you rested in Him. Your neighbor at #FreshMarketFriday
Hi Joanne visiting you from FMF today. Love the picture and the song. Love your truths today about haven. We took a cruise to Alaska on our 25th wedding anniversary and we did well. It was the plane that got us on the way.
Love your thoughts on the Lord being our Haven! He is definitely where I run when life overwhelms.
Joanne, I have never been on a cruise but so want to one day! Hoping when I do, it is an experience like yours:) I think this is also testimony to the ability to focus on the good instead of the bad…to see God as our Haven of grace, love, forgiveness and so much more! So glad you shared this message on #FreshMarketFriday!
Our God is an ever-present help in times of trouble, isn’t He? Praise His name! Thank you for pointing us toward this Haven, and for linking up with us at Grace & Truth.