Dark Water?

Well, here is McKenna and her two cousins - Katelyn and Aaron. Can I tell you about them?

Katelyn was on my boat the other day, and someone noticed her toe was bleeding. Upon closer inspection, it was because THE GIANT BLOODSUCKER had basically filled himself up and was overflowing! He was still stuck on her toe.

Her mother and I casually mentioned that she had a bloodsucker on her toe, but not to worry, we'll take care of it. (Inside, we were gagging and screaming and running away! But externally, we knew she would be alright, eventually).

Now, all the cousins have to look (and scream!) but her older brother - Aaron - he takes care of business. He jumps into the water, and swims back to shore. He finds the salt and puts it in a ziploc baggy, and then swims back out to the boat, one handed, while he holds the salt up in the air, keeping it dry. The boy is a hero!

We salt the little sucker and eventually it curls up and falls off.

Next morning, in fact all day - where is little Katelyn? She's ankle deep in the muck, catching frogs. Her mother makes it clear that she could get another bloodsucker - but she's not afraid.

SPIRITUAL POINT: This is what God does. When you get into dark water (ever been there? are you there now?) he brings people into your life to have faith for you, even when you don't have it for yourself ("It's going to be alright - I'm here with you!") and he provides a hero. Sometimes God sends an angel of mercy - someone to literally carry you, and sometimes God himself becomes the hero and saves you. Sometimes he is the one who brings the salt and rescues you from harm.

The point? No fear. You do not fear the future - because just as God has been present in the past and just as he is with you today, God is present in the future! You can count on it! So, sure, dark waters will come - but they are not the end of the story - God will save the day!

Joshua 1:9 (NIV) "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."