Rolinger Reflections

We are having a wonderful snow fall today. I haven’t taken a picture yet out my window, but I will soon. It’s so beautiful!

It reminds me of what the Bible says about our sin. Our sin is like the color crimson,  a deep dye that can’t be removed. People try to remove it by being good and so many other ways, but that sin is dyed into our souls and nothing we do can remove it. Worse than that,  it is horrible. It is offensive to God. BUT God stepped in and says…

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.” Isa 1:18

How can God remove our sin and make us as white as snow? It’s through the death of His Son, Jesus. The hymn writer put it this way:

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

“For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy.”

God’s kindness appeared in the body of the Lord Jesus as He came to die for mankind! What a kindness! I hope this season as you give and receive gifts, that you will think about God’s kindness toward you, and you will receive the greatest gift of all, the gift of His Son, and with Him, eternal life!

I’m enjoying the waves this morning, and even though it’s a calm day here, I’m thankful that I have an anchor in the Lord Jesus.

Though the angry surges roll
On my tempest driven soul,
I am peaceful, for I know,
Wildly though the winds may blow,
I’ve an anchor safe and sure,
That can evermore endure.

And it holds, my anchor holds:
Blow your wildest, then, O gale,
On my bark so small and frail;
By His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.

Mighty tides about me sweep,
Perils lurk within the deep,
Angry clouds o’ershade the sky,
And the tempest rises high;
Still I stand the tempest’s shock,
For my anchor grips the rock.

I can feel the anchor fast
As I meet each sudden blast,
And the cable, though unseen,
Bears the heavy strain between;
Through the storm I safely ride,
Till the turning of the tide.

Troubles almost ’whelm the soul;
Griefs like billows o’er me roll;
Tempters seek to lure astray;
Storms obscure the light of day:
But in Christ I can be bold,
I’ve an anchor that shall hold.

We are enjoying our last few days here. Again, each picture is a link to a day of adventures. Craig’s adventure today was spear fishing, which is snorkeling on steroids. (In my humble opinion!) One snorkels to depths beyond my understanding to spear fish to eat.

All this beauty pales in comparison to Him! I hope that you have a personal relationship with Him!

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,
O Thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,
Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;
None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,
Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine.

Yesterday we spent the day hiking the beaches on the east side of the island. They are much wilder! The picture is a link to my facebook pictures.  Craig really wanted to swim there but the reef, coral and huge waves don’t allow it unless you want to be banged up. We met a guy who found the reef “by accident.”

“Oh, set your sail to the heavenly gale,
And then, no matter what winds prevail,
No reef can wreck you, no calm delay;
No mist shall hinder, no storm shall stay;
Though far you wander and long you roam
Through salt sea sprays and o’er white sea foam,
No wind that can blow but shall speed you Home.”
–Annie Johnson Flint

Well, who has time to write a blog on vacation? But, I have been faithfully posting pictures on facebook so I’m putting the links to the last couple days for your enjoyment. The pictures represent the last three days. Click on the picture to see the album. Enjoy! We are!

Getting ready for adventures today so I’ll post a link to yesterday in the picture.

Today’s verses, God speaking to Job:

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? "On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone,  When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy? "Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb; When I made a cloud its garment And thick  darkness its swaddling band, And I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors, And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther; And here shall your proud waves stop’? Job 38

There were some strikingly unusual things today:

Walking through the mercado on a really warm and humid day to the song, “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.”

Women at the beach preening. (old women! I could go on.)

Realizing our dreams of walking under the moon at night dashed because the jungle mosquitoes are horrible. Even with spray we were eaten alive.

There were other things, but I’m so tired I must go to bed.

Tonight’s picture was taken snorkeling off the beach of our motel. Notice the sea urchin behind the beautiful coral. Click on the picture to see the album and read comments. Nitey nite!

"For the LORD is a great God And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker." Ps 95