Tyndall - Pearls from the Sea: 180 Days Sailing the High Seas with Jesus at the Helm

Hoist all sails, weigh anchor, and come aboard the tall ship, Pilgrimage, for the voyage of a lifetime! Spend 180 days with Jesus at the helm while you navigate dangerous shoals, climb the rigging to the top yards, enjoy breathtaking horizons, suffer through the doldrums, battle fierce pirates, and endure violent storms! All the while, getting to know the captain of your ship (and your soul) and learning to lean on Him.

Who is the captain of the Pilgrimage? He is the Son of God, and He wants to take you on a journey that will change your life, your heart, and your outlook. He wants to teach you how to navigate your ship in the dark, how to keep your sails full of Holy Spirit wind, how to endure the storms of life by His side, how to battle the enemy, and finally how to reach those glorious eternal shores where you will find rest for your soul.

Debbie Mitchell has taught Sunday school for over 20 years. She is a firm believer in reading through the Bible each year and is working on her 13th time through. Keeping in the Word and teaching Sunday School has helped her to recognize and face the enemy. She lives in California with her husband Jack and their two dogs. She has one son, two daughters, two sons-in-law and has been blessed with grandchildren that truly make her days.

MaryLu Tyndall is a Christy Award Nominee and author of eleven Inspirational Historical Romance Novels. Her books are not only known for their romance and adventure but for their strong spiritual themes. MaryLu has been walking with God for fifteen years, but prior to that, her experience as an agnostic has given her a unique perspective on all things both spiritual and carnal. Her life mission is to encourage believers to not take for granted the love and power of God and to live their lives fully for Him! MaryLu lives in California with her husband, six children, and three cats.

What is eternal life?

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23 NIV).

And this is the promise that He has promised useternal life (1 John 2:25 AKJ).

Sure, weve all read these verses a million times. We believe, weve repented... were going to heaven. Its all good! But what do you think of when you hear the words eternal life? I always pictured myself in a glorious new body (thin and in shape and gorgeous, of course!) strutting down Heavens golden streets, hanging out with friends and family, talking with God and doing His work for ever and ever and ever. Amen! Most of us have some picture of our heavenly future in our mind, though Im sure it will be far better than any of us can imagine.

But did you realize Jesus Himself defined eternal life to us?

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3 NIV).

The You here is Father God. So, eternal life is having a relationship with God. Pure and simple.

In 1 John 1, the apostle John even calls Jesus by the name Eternal Life.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (1 John 5:20 NAS).

I dont know about you, but this really struck me. Eternal life isnt a thing or a place or a span of time. It isnt achieved by saying a prayer or offering a sacrifice. Eternal life is knowing God. Like the natural sun, God is the source of all life and power, and the more time we spend with Him, the more we fully inhabit eternity.

In times past, before modern technology, ships at sea had more difficulty navigating at night than in the daytime. If the skies were cloudy and they couldnt see the stars, they had no way to set their course. Even during the day, they needed the sun to be able to use their instruments to determine which way to go. Without the sun, they were dead in the water.

Arent we very much like those ships? Without a relationship with the Son, we cant find our way to eternal life. He is eternal life. Talking with Him, hanging out with Him, reading His Word, knowing Him like we know a close friend or family memberthis is eternal life! We must plug into the source of life and love and power and follow His brightness to that eternal horizon.

So what are you waiting for? Climb aboard!

MaryLu Tyndall

Just before a ship departs, one of the ships officers bellows a warning that all who are not sailing on the ship need to get off immediately. If they do not heed the warning, they are stuck on board. And if they do not pay the fare, they are put off at the first port. So, if they truly do not want to be on that voyage, theyd better get off in time.

Our walk with God can be compared to traveling on a ship. Once we board His ship, wed better make sure its where we want to be. Otherwise, we had better get off before it sails. It would be devastating to be put out at the first port. Those who chose not to board His ship and those who are put out at first port have a rude awakening coming to them.

Then the king will say to those on his left, Get away from me! God has cursed you! Go into everlasting fire that was prepared for the devil and his angels! (Matthew 25:41 GODS WORD Translation).

In life, the waters can get choppy. Being on Gods ship helps us to weather the storms. His ship has high railings to keep us from falling into the seas of despair. His sails carry us on the right path, and His rudder keeps us from veering in the wrong direction.

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling (Exodus 15:13 NIV).

For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end (Psalm 48:14NIV).

So, do you want to sail on Gods ship, or do you want to have a rude awakening?

Your choice.

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.... as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD (Joshua 24:15 NIV).

Debbie Mitchell

Did you know God is a God of the I wills? When you find one of His I wills in the Bible, you can bank on it. He never goes back on His Word. He never changes His mind. I ran across these seven I wills in Exodus 6. Moses is complaining to God about his task of freeing the Israelites from Egypt. The first thing God says to Moses is I am the Lord. Then He goes through a series of seven promises.

I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

I will free you from slavery.

I will rescue you with an outstretched arm.

I will take you to Me for a people.

I will be to you a God.

I will bring you into the land concerning which I lifted up My hand and swore that I would give to Abraham.

I will give it to you for a heritage.

Then He ends this list with another emphatic I am the Lord.

As I read this, I realized that though none of these things were simple or easymost actually impossibleGod accomplished all of them.