Category: recreation

The Waterfall Experience

Read Time 5 Minutes

“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,  and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest.  The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.” Revelation 1:12-15

My husband, Michael, is a pastor. Recently, he shared a message on this scripture in Revelation. The passage paints a picture of the majesty of our Savior, Jesus, as He was revealed to John on the island of Patmos in the Book of Revelation. In this description of our resplendent Savior, the part that sinks into my heart the most is “His voice was like the roar of many waters”. One Biblical translation describes His voice as “the sound of cascading waters”!

Have you ever sat beside a rushing roaring river before letting the loud and rhythmic sound drown out all your stress? Have you ever refreshed yourself by a gushing waterfall letting the spray rejuvenate your mind and body? Close your eyes for a minute and let your senses paint that picture in your head. There is just something about moving water that is both calming and invigorating! Now take that picture in your head…the power of the mighty flow of the water along with its tranquil and relaxing effects and picture it as Jesus’s voice speaking truth into your life! Picture His arms wrapped around you. He is speaking strength and peace into your life and will hold you up in His promises of perfect care!

While physically visiting a waterfall can be a wonderful refreshment and definitely a tangible reminder of God’s creation and love for us, you can experience that waterfall experience daily when you hear God’s voice!

I hear God’s voice in a variety of ways. It can be powerful and majestic like the waterfall when I am out in nature and enjoying His creation. His voice tells me He is mighty and in control! I have nothing to fear, and He wants to shower me with the riches of His beauty. I also hear Him when I am praying. Comforting thoughts and reminders of His goodness come to me as I talk quietly with Him. I hear His voice when I read His word. It reminds me of His promises and that He will never leave me! There are also times that He gives me clear answers by opening doors and making a path clear!

When you know Jesus as your Savior, you have the ability to hear His voice in different ways. When you know Him personally, that voice like the “roar of many waters” flows through you always and can provide rejuvenating refreshment daily. Sometimes, we just need to be reminded to listen and tap into all His goodness!

“The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” Psalm 29:3-4

“My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. ” John 10: 27-28

What do God, waterfalls, and exercise have in common?

Rejuvenation! Healing! And, when kept in the right perspective and truth, Wellness! Acknowledging that God is our ultimate Healer, we can then fully partake in waterfalls and exercise as resources He gives us that aid in achieving a state of wellness!

In keeping with the purpose of my blog to connect faith and fitness, I believe that God and our relationship with Him must come first. When we are connected to the “True Vine” and have peace and wellness in our soul, then we are much better equipped to successfully engage in activities that help our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

With that said, there is much scientific evidence to support that both waterfalls and exercise reduce stress, lower anxiety, and promote health. When talking health and science, it is important to realize and accept that God and science are not separate. Our Creator is the master scientist! It is not randomness that created the healing effects of waterfalls. It is not a coincidence that our bodies thrive on appropriate physical activity. God is the creator of the science behind all the functions of nature. He knew what He was doing when he designed natural resources and their usefulness to us including our health. He perfectly designed all the intricate workings of our bodies and has always known what parts of nature would offer health benefits and what physical activities would aid us in being fit.

“For it was You who created my inward parts;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You
because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.
Your works are wonderful,
and I know this very well.” Psalm 139: 13-14

Taken from the collective research of multiple sources, there is scientific evidence supporting that being near waterfalls and other frothing water sources produces positive health benefits. Some of these benefits mirror the benefits of exercise and its effects on the body.

When you are in the presence of a waterfall, by a rushing river, or watching ocean waves roll in, there is a reason you feel refreshment. When water molecules collide, they release negative ions into the air. When you are breathing in air that has a higher ratio of negative versus positive ions, your bloodstream receives some healthy benefits. High levels of negative ions boost energy and aid in positive mood, and have even been found to suppress serotonin levels. Thus being near splashing water can help ward off depression and reduce anxiety. These effects also support the general findings from research that people who spend time in nature are often happier than those who don’t. Therefore, there should be much motivation to make plans to spend time in His creation and bask near a beautiful waterfall, river, or ocean setting!

For some, it is not as easy to get out into nature frequently and enjoy the benefits regularly. Location and availability make a difference too. More thought and planning may have to go into making a trip. However, most individuals can partake in some form of exercise regularly. The benefits of exercise are widely known in our society. It has also become common knowledge that fitness activities help more than just the physical side of building strength and improving balance and flexibility.

Much like the waterfall effect, regular exercise helps you emotionally and mentally by boosting your energy and altering your chemical balance to give a positive mood and better outlook on life! Exercise is also known to reduce stress and anxiety and aid in helping to make improvements in depression. The benefits of exercise can grow when individuals take a break from “screen time”…much like when you are out in nature!

Both waterfall exposure and exercise can help people sleep better too! It is clear that the advantages of both being near water and taking part in fitness offer a multitude of healthy rewards towards being well!

For a real supercharge, plan hikes to involve ocean, river, and waterfall experiences. Make sure to linger by the water and soak up the positive effects! Spend time praising God, the Master creator and scientist, who has made it all perfectly possible!

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains,
The world, and those who live in it.
 For He has founded it upon the seas
And established it upon the rivers.”
Psalm 24: 1-2

The Fun Side of God

“Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Read Time 5 Minutes

Ready, Set, Go, And STOP! At the beginning of this year, I wrote a blog post called, “2021…Ready, Set, Go”. Shortly after, I stopped writing. I started off the year inspired to live a victorious 2021 through Christ who strengthens me no matter what the year held. Now it is September. How am I doing?

At times I feel fatigued with life and the world around me. I stopped writing for a variety of reasons including the drain of everything surrounding the pandemic, our country, and the world. I really began to feel that I wasn’t living the victorious way that I had hoped. Recently, I realized that victories can be small and can be daily! Just overcoming obstacles on a given day by grabbing God’s hand and ending the day at peace is a victory. Waking in the morning after a hard day before and feeling God’s new mercies available to me is a victory!

Then, just a couple of weeks ago, right in the middle of a continuing pandemic, I had the opportunity to visit Juneau, Alaska. Yes, I had a chance for recreation and refreshment in the form of a visit to “The Last Frontier” State! In the midst of chaotic times and a very weary country (Covid-19 issues, divisiveness through media and politics, controversies, and confusion), I played! And, God reminded me that in addition to Him being All-powerful, Almighty, and many other perfect characteristics, He has a fun side! This is the multifaceted side of God that creates, that wants to delight us, and that wants to shower gifts on us! He certainly did all of that for me in Alaska!

He is a fun Father! As a parent, I wanted to create delightful experiences for my daughter as she grew up. It was a joy to watch her have fun in every new adventure or every new activity that I provided for her pleasure and growth. Just think how much more God wants to shower us with amusement and happy experiences as our Heavenly Father. He loves us and loves to give us good gifts! He is the ultimate Creator. Creating is fun, and God wants us to enjoy his majestic creations. It was evident to me that God must have been having great gratification being the Creator when I saw the amazing environment of Alaska. When I spied for the first time a sparkling blue glacier calving, I thought to myself, God must have had fun creating the scene that I was viewing! I also felt that He must be feeling great joy that I was happily immersed in His beautiful creation, for I am His daughter, a daughter of the one true King!

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

My experience went beyond just being awakened to God’s fun side. It also reminded me of what a personal God He is to each one of us. He showed me that the fun He was allowing me to experience was a very personal gift from Him to me. Each daily adventure seemed to be perfectly timed. I encountered sunshine, rain, misty low clouds, and mild temperatures…all which seemed unmistakably to work well with each activity. Also, as cruise ships disembarked many tourists to flood the area, I somehow began or ended my excursions around the cruise ship crowds without any awareness of their schedule. Thus, I had a very quiet and peaceful time as well as private moments in Alaska.

On top of all of that, I received answered prayer! My favorite part of God’s creation is His animals. I prayed that I would have animal encounters and I especially wanted to see a bear. Oh!!! He must have been having such a wonderful time watching me play! God provided multiple humpback whale sightings. One such sighting was in a very secluded moment when I had just stepped out of the car to take in the views of Auke Bay. I first heard the distinctive sound of blow and then turned to look. There were 2 humpbacks feeding very near the shore…I believe, a mother and her calf! He also allowed me to see four mountain goats feeding and resting on the steep mountainside while on a boat tour. On that boat ride while I was taking a picture of the mountain goats, a Pacific white-sided Dolphin leaped 2 times right by the side of the boat! The glistening two-toned creature is still vivid in my mind. Seals were added to my list of animal sightings as I witnessed them lounging on the sea ice.

And finally, on the last morning in Alaska, I saw my bear! Not in the wild on a hike, but very boldly strolling down the sidewalk in front of gift shops! He seemed to be doing his own souvenir shopping and then turned a corner and climbed over a fence before disappearing. Once again, there were very few people around. I know God was delighting in my delight in that moment as he answered my prayer!

My reflection on this Alaskan adventure includes more than the reminder that God is fun. More importantly than that is the fact that the same God who created mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and amazing animals is not only personal, He lives in me! My heart is His home. In that reality, I can face everyday in victory…in confidence, and even in joyful playfulness!

Also, as I watched the antics of the animals, it struck me that they were so relaxed in a potentially dangerous and harsh environment around them. They were not worried about what the next day would bring. The seals were totally at ease as the glacier calved giving them a ride on the sea ice. Their behavior seemed to amplify the fun of life as they bobbed in the wavy water as though they were in the lazy river at a water park.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:25-26

So… Ready, Set, Go! Take some time to recreate! Have some fun! God is in control!

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17