Ride each wave to the shoreline but do not linger for the next wave could be a tsunami.


Mark 13:33


Growing up, I always loved The Beach Boys.

I suppose it was their aura of California Dreamin’, surfing, and ummm… let’s call ’em little tiny swimsuits. (Please forgive me – I was very young back then and little tiny swimsuits made quite an impression on me at the time. Come to think of it… they still do!) 🙂

Speaking of surfing in the ocean, we don’t do much of that in the Deep South. Our idea of hanging ten means we had a good day at the deer camp! And if we do anything that resembles surfing, it involves a Jeep with four-wheel drive and a lot of mud.

Without the sharks…

But let’s stay in the California Dreamin’ mindset.

And, I must warn you. The remainder of this post will use some surfing terms that might confuse you. And if you don’t understand them, then you’re totally gonna have a ragdoll wipeout.

See? I told you.

So, there you are at the beach… out in the lineup with your thruster, paddling around and waiting for that perfect set. Then, out in the distance, you see the wave you want and it’s headed your way. So, you wait and wait, until that perfect moment when you begin frantically paddling toward the beach and stand up on your board.

You did it and it’s awesome! You’re in the pocket of the curl and you do an aerial just before getting barreled. You’re totally stoked!

But, all too soon, you’re bummed out because the ride is over.

Then, as you walk up on the beach holding your Mal, you’d like to pause for a minute and experience the Pura Vida. But, you know you don’t have that much time because a shorey will come along and give you a pancake.

So what does all this mean?

Good question.

Even in the thrills and success that we experience in life, we must remain alert. We can’t let our guard down. There’s always a shorey coming in that’ll take you down.

Today’s Tiny Words. Big Life. Bible verse finds Jesus in a conversation with his disciples about that very thing.

While Jesus was leaving the Temple, the disciples marveled at its majesty. Jesus then went on to tell them that one day, there will be no stones in the Temple left standing – they will all be thrown down.

Being the inquisitive disciples they were, they asked Jesus to tell them when that would happen.

Jesus then told them that no one except the Father knows when that will happen and warned them to be on their guard – that they’ll be tested through persecution of all kinds.

In the end, Jesus uses a story to make His point. He tells them that His return will be like a master who leaves his house and places his servants in charge, each one with their own task. None of them, including the one who’s charged with watching the door, knows when the master will return. It could happen in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows at dawn. They must be ready at all times.

He then tells them, “What I say to you, I say to everyone. Watch.”

The Tiny Words. Big Life. takeaway is this: Pray for increased faith to maintain a vigilant watch for Jesus’ return. Pray for the knowledge of God and His will to be at the forefront of your thoughts. Pray to be aware of your surroundings and the opportunities He provides to share His word. Pray to enjoy the blessings of life but don’t be caught sleeping by living for the things of this world.

And the next time you try to surf in the Deep South, make sure the bathtub is long enough and showerhead is turned on full blast!


Mark 13:33

33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.