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Thursday,
March 12,
2020
Cliff
Walk tunnel view, Newport, RI
"God
is Mightier"
Message summary: A view of the ocean reminds us of God’s mighty power when we see the vast body of water and watch the great breakers crash into the shore. God is mightier than any problem we face, personally, in our nation and in the world. God is mightier!
Listen
to this
message on your audio player."The seas have lifted up, O LORD, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-- the LORD on high is mighty" (Psalm 93:3,4). "For I am the LORD your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD Almighty is His name" (Isaiah 51:15).
Several times a year we enjoy seeing the mighty ocean. This last weekend we visited Newport RI which is on Aquidneck Island where ocean views can be seen to the east, south and west. The Cliff Walk runs parallel to a cliff leading down to the ocean on one side and the spacious back yards and views of the Newport mansions on your other side. It's certainly unlike any of our country walks here in Lancaster County, though we very much enjoy them as well!
Many will have a first-time memory of seeing the mighty ocean. Our favorite memory of a first ocean sighting took place about 11 years ago when we took our friends Jesse and Anna Ruth, to the ocean in Ocean City, NJ. They had four children at the time who had not yet seen the ocean. As we approached the ocean we began to pass larger bodies of inland water and the older kids would excitedly say, "Is that it?!" Finally we had that first view of the vast ocean and of course the kids were impressed.
We spent some time on the beach and the three older children sure liked playing in the water. After awhile Anna Ruth wanted their younger son, Eli James, who was about two at the time, to rest for a few minutes but he could hardly hold still saying, "I wanna go back in the big pond". In his perspective from living on a farm the only body of water he was familiar with was his farm pond. We teased one another for the rest of the trip and ever since at him referring to the mighty ocean as "the big pond".
Do you have a first ocean sighting memory?
Now that we live inland we find it a blessing to only be about 3 hours from a shore point where several times a year we can view the mighty ocean, walk along the sandy shoreline or boardwalk, and hear the crashing waves all the while experiencing other nautical sights, sounds, smells and fresh tasty seafood!
As we watch the pounding waves hit the shoreline the words to an old gospel hymn, "Like a Mighty Sea" comes to mind:
Like
a mighty sea, like a mighty sea,
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping over me;
The waves of glory roll, the Savior to extol;
Comes the love Jesus sweeping o’er my soul.
Comes the love of Jesus sweeping over me;
The waves of glory roll, the Savior to extol;
Comes the love Jesus sweeping o’er my soul.
The mighty ocean has inspired quite a number of Scripture verses, hymns, and settings for writings; both fiction and nonfiction throughout the ages. The above Psalm portion extols the might of God. The sea referred to by the Psalmist was likely the Mediterranean Sea. Israel is small geographically and Jerusalem is not far from the Mediterranean Sea.
A view of the ocean reminds us of God’s mighty power when we see the vast body of water and watch the great breakers crash into the shore. The mysteries that lie below the sea only underscore the awesomeness and depth of God's great power. Truly the waves are a fitting analogy of God’s ceaseless mighty power but the Lord on high is even mightier! How mighty is God? "He's big enough to rule the great universe, yet small enough to live within our heart." *
Today let us consider the word "mightier". God is mightier than any problem we face, personally, in our nation and in the world. God is mightier!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer: Father, any words we speak
or analogies we use cannot adequately
describe Your infinite mighty power. It
miraculously reaches beyond the heavens,
is visible throughout all the earth, and
is resident within our own hearts. It is
only in experiencing a personal
relationship with you that we begin to
tap into the inexhaustible power and
might that flows from You, Almighty God.
Even as the waves of the ocean are
powerful and wash up on shore may You
fill our lives to overflowing so that
Your mighty presence is visible in our
lives and spills out to those around us.
In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources
"What a Mighty God We Serve" Video
Integrity's Hosanna! Music
"Greater Than All My Regrets"
Video
Tenth Avenue North
"Bigger Than Any Mountain" Video
Homecoming Singers
The
Cliff Walk
(Brooksyne
describes her 3½ mile walk last Sunday afternoon on the
Cliff Walk.)
My first
experience on the Cliff Walk was in 1992 when my parents
invited me to join them for their vacation to New
England. My mom had read a lot about the Newport
mansions so that was a major stop for us. We walked on
the Cliff Walk for probably a mile at the time. I walked
it many times when we lived in Taunton, Massachusetts
but never for the entire 3½ miles. So I decided to walk
it all on Sunday afternoon as the weather got warmer.
Stephen and Ester flew a kite and explored a lighthouse
while I was doing the walk. Ester does not have the
physical endurance for such a long walk due to her heart
problems and still recovering from
his knee injury Stephen wasn't
comfortable with a long walk yet.
The north
end of the Cliff Walk begins at the western end of
Easton's Beach and ends 3½ miles later at Bailey's
Beach, though there are several entrance points along
the way for those who want to take a brief walk or to
see a particular spot on the trail.
Click to
enlarge this map to see the various roads that intersect
with the trail. Also note the portions in red that were
a bit treacherous!
The first
part of the walk is essentially a sidewalk with views on
both sides, though my eyes were drawn to the water.
A view off
the cliffs. People who ignore signs of danger get off
the trail and walk on the cliffs. (In my younger years I
was among such people, till I married Stephen who finds
these settings more alarming than I.)
Down the 40
steps to the ocean. Restored in the 1990's these 40
steps bear the names of the donors who gave $3,000.00
toward their step. Originally built in the 1880's the 40
steps was a gathering place for the servants during
their spare time who worked at the mansions during the
gilded age. They fished, danced, and socialized at this
spot.
Toward the
end of the walk it was rather challenging with no
obvious trail and lots of rocks. Further up the trail it
got even more hazardous and a bit tricky when you were
near the cliffs and on unstable rocks. The Lord sent an
older gentleman, along with his Irish Setter, Grace, who
helped me navigate the hazardous part of the trail. He
told me he first walked on the Cliff Walk in 1955 and
for the next 40 years he walked it 5 to 6 times a week
before he moved away, and only recently moved back. I
was glad that the Lord sent him my way!
The
mansions - a few of them anyway. Not only are the old
mansions visible, but if the homeowners are willing, you
can view their back yards while walking the trail.
However, some of the chain link fencing separating the
mansions from the walk have colored screen inserts that
block the view, though people have torn holes in various
places to take a peek or a photo.
A view of
one of the newer and not so famous mansions.
The walk
included two tunnels, the least pleasant view along the
entire trail but it brought a little variety to the
setting. Our lead photo today is the ocean view from one
of the tunnels.
The Cliff
Walk ends at the end of Bellevue Avenue The beach seen
in the distance is known as Bailey's Beach, the most exclusive
beach club in Newport. In the foreground is a beach for
the rest of us known as "Reject's Beach". That's
where those who are not members of the exclusive beach
club can come!
It took me 2.5 hours to complete the walk which included several stops to take photos and check out some beautiful sights. The Cliff Walk said to allow for 2.5 to 3.0 hours to walk the entire length so I guess my pace was right on target. It was such a beautiful, invigorating walk and I can't wait to do it again on my next visit to Newport.
It took me 2.5 hours to complete the walk which included several stops to take photos and check out some beautiful sights. The Cliff Walk said to allow for 2.5 to 3.0 hours to walk the entire length so I guess my pace was right on target. It was such a beautiful, invigorating walk and I can't wait to do it again on my next visit to Newport.
Send a message to
Stephen & Brooksyne
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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Weber - All Rights Reserved
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