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Sitting at the Captains Table

My wife and I received a pleasant surprise when we returned to our ship’s cabin on a recent cruise. It had been a long hot day on the beach and we were ready to return and rest and get ready for dinner that evening. When we arrived to our room, we both noticed that there was a small white envelope propped up on our dresser addressed to us. My wife and I looked at each other rather puzzled wondering why there was an envelope on our dresser and how did it get there? Of course, curiosity got the best of us and we had to open the envelope. Inside, there was a simple invitation for us to attend dinner the next day with the Captain of the ship and actually have the opportunity to sit at The Captains Table. The invitation went on to say that, after our dinner, we could actually visit the Captain’s Bridge and see how the ship is navigated and view what goes on behind the scenes—sights normally off-limits to the average tourist. We were totally shocked. We had no idea why we received the invitation and had no idea what we did to deserve it, if anything. The invitation told us the date, time, and dress code. We were quite excited but didn’t know what to expect.

On the day of the Captain’s dinner, my wife and I were dressed as nicely as possible in our formal wear. We followed the instructions in the invitation to meet in a specific place in the dining room where we would be met by our concierge. Upon arrival, our concierge led us to our particular table where we met other guests and nervously awaited the appearance of the Captain. The dining room was immaculate and sparkling clean. Our dinner table was adorned with a pure white linen tablecloth set with the finest china and silverware along with the most gorgeous centerpiece. It was obvious to my wife and me, along with the other guests, that no expense was spared to make the dinner as impressive as possible. Soon afterwards, we were joined by the Captain who was dressed impeccably in his white Captain’s Dress uniform. The dinner was great and we had a memory that will not soon be forgotten.

After our dinner, we were asked to meet in a certain part of the ship for our tour of the ship’s bridge and control areas. We followed what seemed to be a maze through the innermost parts of the ship and finally arrived at the entrance to the bridge. We were met by armed security guards who searched us thoroughly and advised us of the rules and protocol. We weren’t allowed to touch any equipment; only observe and ask questions. Upon entering the bridge, we met the Captain (again) who was closely accompanied by other security agents. While it was very interesting and the Captain was very polite and patient with our questions, it was apparent to us that we had to keep our distance and not make any appearance of getting too close to the captain or certainly not make any threatening gestures. Our true access to the Captain was very limited and controlled.

I was reminded today of what a special privilege we have as Christians—–the privilege of a personal relationship with Christ. We don’t need a special invitation from our heavenly Father to approach him. In fact, He is already waiting with open arms. We don’t need to go to special entrances or follow a maze of requirements to “qualify” as Christians. We simply go to our Father as the imperfect beings that we are. We don’t have to be wary of security guards that watch our every move or who allow only “certain” individuals to pass. We don’t need to worry about how we dress or how we look. As Christians, we have direct access to our Heavenly Father through prayer. The same Heavenly Father, who created each of us and our universe, is as close to you as a simple prayer. He accepts each of us just as we are; where we are.

It’s so easy to take this privilege for granted and to even believe it’s too good to be true or real. For some, it’s hard to believe something so good can be so easy to obtain. I can only tell you from personal experience that God has always been there for me, even when I didn’t realize it. When I finally did understand that I needed Christ in my life, it was as if God’s table was already decorated and adorned and HE was there waiting for me all the time. Perhaps you’re considering accepting Christ in your life or perhaps you accepted Christ sometime in your past but haven’t lived the life you know you should live. The good news is that our Heavenly Father’s table is never full. He has an empty chair ready and waiting for you. All you have to do is accept Him and take your rightful seat.

Is Your Faith Pointing Upward or Outward

Faith

I’m one of those individuals that likes to “fix everything.” I suppose it is simply part of my God-given DNA, but whenever there is a problem or situation, I want to try and bring order to the chaos. I want to try and right whatever is wrong. I want to take a certain situation and make every one live happily ever after. I like to think that I am fairly confident in my God-given abilities and that if I work hard enough and long enough, things will all be “right.”

My life has had it’s share of difficulties and problems; too many to speak about here. But, as I think back on some of those challenges, I can always remember trying to take control of each situation and trying to resolve everything myself. After a few weeks or months of floundering around with my own futile efforts, I would come to the stark conclusion that I couldn’t fix this particular issue. Talk about a blow to my ego and pride!! How in the world could there be anything that I couldn’t make right, or at least know someone that could help me make it right? Maybe you’ve had some of these revelations yourself? Maybe you’re in one of those situations right now? You’ve done everything you know to do and have no where else to turn. Trust me; I’ve been there.

I learned that when I reached my darkest point, when I had no other place to turn, it was then that I gained my greatest strength. I discovered that all this time, I was looking outwardly for worldly solutions to problems that the world couldn’t resolve. It was at that moment, that I changed my Outward view to an Upward View. And, oh, what a difference the View makes!!

As I began looking upward to Him, I was reminded of a Heavenly Father who created this Universe. I was reminded of a Heavenly Father who sent his Son to Die for my sins. I was reminded of a Heavenly Father who knows the number of hairs on my head. I was reminded of a Heavenly Father who always was and always will be. Suddenly, my problem doesn’t seem as over-whelming any longer. Now, I have tapped into the everlasting Upward strength of my Lord, and not the temporary outward “strength” of the World.

If you’re in one of those life moments at this time, I would encourage you to change the View. Look Upward and not Outward and you’ll be amazed at the renewed strength you will receive.

In God’s Hands

Strength

I can still remember vividly the days that both of our children were born. I was a typical young father. I didn’t really think I knew what I was doing. I certainly wasn’t prepared. I would imagine that no new parent is ever really prepared. We all do the best we can do and with a lot of on-the-job training, we somehow manage.

The day my daughter was born was especially scary since she was our first. My wife and I showed up at the hospital early in the morning. Off we went with the admission nurses on to get settled in our new “home” for the next several hours, our birthing room. There was nothing special about the room and I was so nervous that it really wouldn’t have mattered anyway. We could have been in the nicest Hotel and I would have still been just as nervous and anxious.

The birth was joyous and overwhelming with emotion. Mom and baby did fine. I was a proud, new Father, even though I didn’t have a clue what to do. The nurses would bring our daughter to our room for feedings and show us all the important things we would need to know when we got home. We would see her a few moments and off she would go back to the nursery. We spent a couple of uneventful days in the hospital and then it was time to check out and go home.

It was the day that we left the hospital that always has stood out in my mind.

As the Nurse helped my wife into a wheelchair, with our daughter, to roll them out to the emergency room exit of the hospital, I went ahead to the parking lot so I could drive our car to the emergency room entrance to meet them.

We helped my wife into the car and then the nurse handed our daughter to me so that I could place her in the car seat. As she handed our daughter to me, I’ll never forget that she said “she’s all in your hands now. Take good care of her.” It was at that moment that the awesome responsibility of parenthood hit me between the eyes. There weren’t going to be any nurses to help with feedings and diaper changes, or to simply ask questions when we weren’t sure. It was something about the way she said those words to me that made me realize that a new, young life was totally dependent upon me and my wife.

My daughter is an adult now raising her own family. I think back on the many, many mistakes I’ve made as a parent, but somehow we survived. I realize that she was in my hands for many years and now she has her own children that are in her hands.

As a Christian, it has always been a source of security for me to realize that I am always in God’s hands. I sometimes jokingly wonder if He sometimes thinks that he may have bitten off more than he could chew when I became one of His Children. But, then, I realize that my life is no surprise to him. There is nothing in my life that catches God unprepared. Our Heavenly Father is a confident Father and I often need to remember to remain confident in Him and that he never fails me, despite how I may have failed Him.

Are you in His Hands?

Sitting at the Captains Table

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Is Your Faith Pointing Upward or Outward

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