Posted in Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel

Truly Vast

Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31

It was amazing. The next chapter for us started on June 1st of 2024. After a slow start to the great adventure, we finally planned and went on a pretty big trip in September. We boarded a plane, climbed on a train, rented a car, and finally boarded a ferry to British Colombia. Our destination was one of our favorite places in these United States—the Pacific Northwest.  After arriving by train and renting a car we drove south to Oregon and stayed at a small hotel called “Sailor Jack’s.” This was our third time staying there and the main attraction was the view of the Pacific Ocean. The living room had a large window that filled the whole wall. Since we were right on the beach, all you could see was the ocean.

To me the Pacific Ocean is unlike any large body of water I have ever seen. In Uganda we rode in an open boat on a lake named Victoria that was so large from the middle you couldn’t see the shores. Of course, then there is the Gulf of Mexico. Stand on the west side of Florida and it seems large—and it is but not compared to the Atlantic Ocean. We have flown across the Atlantic more than a few times and it is certainly big enough, but then there is the Pacific. Strike out from the Oregon shore and for thousands and thousands of miles you will find nothing but open water and an occasional whale.  Eventually you will bump into Asia, but it is one long journey.

As I stood looking out the window from my third-floor condo, I was overcome with the wildness and vastness of this great body of water. There is a beauty in how the wind causes the water to roll onto the shore with sometimes larger than life waves. Then I realize that this huge vast body is but a “drop in the bucket” when compared to the great vastness of God. Whether you choose to think of the vastness of His love, the vastness of His grace and mercy, the vastness of His power or perhaps the vastness of His wisdom, the mighty Pacific simply seems almost insignificant. Remember that the vastness of the Creator will always vastly outweigh the things He creates.

The Bibles tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God and that is absolutely true. In fact, if you will just take a moment to look around, you will quickly see that all of nature shouts the validity of God. From the vast Pacific Ocean to the smallest yet most beautiful flower they all preach the same message: Nothing compares to our God. So, I am very grateful for all that God has created but I always remember that it is nothing compared to Him. One day all of this will be gone but He will still be there in all His magnificent splendor. So, take a moment and look and see the wonder and vastness of nature and then remember that the Creator is always so much greater than the creation. And remember that this wonderful Creator is more than capable of handling whatever comes our way.  Rest assured…He’s got this! Bro. Dewayne

Photo credit:  Judy Taylor at Sailor Jack’s, Lincoln City, Oregon

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, life, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, USA

Flag Day

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:36

It is tomorrow.  Tomorrow if the Lord is willing, some of us, most of us but perhaps not all of us, will open our eyes to a brand-new day.  The Bible says that every day is a day that the Lord makes and that…makes it special.  We should pause and rejoice over every single one. But the truth is some days are more special that others…and tomorrow is one of those.  So just about now you might be wondering, “So what is it?”  Is it a birthday? Perhaps a wedding anniversary? Is it marked by the passing of a loved one or a major life change? Well, the answer is, “None of those.” So, what makes tomorrow so special?  Tomorrow is Flag Day.

What is Flag Day? Well, as the name implies, it is a day that we honor the flag of our country, “Old Glory.” Now we might as well be clear because these days people are way unclear on too many things.  Because we have a day dedicated to honoring the flag of our country does not mean we are worshipping it.  You see you can honor something without worshipping it.  We honor the flag not because it is a piece of fabric made with a certain design and colors…no we honor it because it stands for so much.  You see, in the Bible, a name was more than a name.  It represented the character of a person.  As an example, the reason it is such a grievous sin to misuse God’s name is because His name represents Him…who He is. In the same way the flag represents our great country.

A man, a United States Marine, a citizen named Howard Schnauber once wrote a story about Old Glory.  Here’s how it goes. “I am the flag of the United States of America. My name is Old Glory. I fly atop some of the world’s tallest buildings. I stand watch in America’s halls of justice. I fly majestically over institutions of learning. I stand guard with power in the world. Look up and see me. I stand for peace, honor, truth, and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident. I am proud.


When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer. solI am recognized all over the world. I am saluted. I am loved – I am revered. I am respected – I am feared. I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years. I flew at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh, and Appomattox. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy. Guam, Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam know me. I was there. I led my troops.


I was dirty, battle worn and tired, but my soldiers cheered me on. I have been burned, torn, and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt for I am invincible. I have been soiled upon, burned, torn, and trampled in the streets of my country. And when it’s done by those whom I’ve served in battle – it hurts. But I shall overcome – for I am strong.


I have slipped the bonds of earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon. I have born silent witness to all of America’s finest hours, but many fine hours are yet to come. When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield, when I am flown at half-mast to honor a soldier, or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter, I am proud. I am the flag of the United States of America.

So, June 14th, this Flag Day, take a moment and thank God for the country that we live in…for our freedoms and all the sacrifices that were made so that we could be free.  Jesus said that knowing Him truly makes a man, woman, or child free and that is so true. But along those same tracks lie the truth that in America, even with all her warts and flaws, we can still worship the one true God and I am so grateful for that. I am grateful for the God who sovereignly choose to bless us and can sovereignly declare, “I’ve got that.” Bro. Dewayne