Midgett Adventures~ #7 Refueled

January 24, 2010

I was blessed with the opportunity to attend divine services today. The same Coastie who led the Bible Study Wednesday also preached a good message today. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.

Today wasn’t quite as busy as passed days mess cooking since it was a Sunday. I was able to help out in the kitchen cooking! I prepared the lettuce for the salad bar with an aspiring FS (food service specialist), set frozen cookies on a cookie sheet to be cooked, and prepared the potatoes to be baked. I had lots of fun especially having as little break from dishes. This will be my last week as a mess cook for now at least. After this I’ll have to hit my quals hard and finish them up. It’s hard to believe I am almost there…God has been so faithful and good to me throughout this whole long process. He has been my strength and comfort as I have felt overwhelmed and worried.

We’ll be heading up to Victoria, Canada here pretty soon for a port call (only for a day though). After that who knows where we’ll be headed. We’ll be back onto the high seas, breathing in the beautiful salt air, and taking it all in! Such is life as a seaman.

I shall end this post with a note on what God has been teaching me so far on this patrol. I think the big thing He’s been challenging me is to not grow weary and lose heart in this race I am running as a Christian, but to fix my eyes and all that I am on Christ. I have been convicted and challenged to spend more time in the Scriptures, reading God’s Word but also studying it and memorizing it. Another thing that goes along with that, which God has been convicting me of is to not live today on yesterdays strength---in other words do not try to sustain my Christian life off the things I learned yesterday, but to continue learning new things. It’s easy to skip Bible reading and think that what I learned yesterday we’ll be good enough. You can do that for a while but soon you will starve yourself spiritually. So always live today finding strength from God’s Word.

Midgett Adventures~ #6 Flight Ops

January 22, 2010

We have left the calm waters of the Puget Sound and are headed into the straights. The waves are picking up and I definitely can feel the change as I sit here in my rack rocking back and forth. I hope I have secured all my things well enough so that they don’t roll around and break.

Today was another good day of mess cooking. Lots of dishes to be sure! I enjoyed doing flight ops on the afternoon again today. It was a nice break from the galley. The helicopter was doing touch and go’s so we just watched and we’re there in case they needed us. I got some good pics and video of the helicopter this time. I am really excited that I have this opportunity to become qualified as I tie down crewman. It is certainly is something I would never have seen myself doing.

Well tomorrow sounds like it is going to be a busy day of cleaning every nook and cranny. So I think I shall read some in my Bible and hit the hay. Right now I am reading through the Gospel of Mark, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. God’s word has become even more precious to me in the time I have been out to sea so far. What a great comfort it is for me to know that Jesus is with me right by my side. Fears bombard me at times, sin overwhelms me, but Christ sustains me through it all. He is my precious friend, my Lord and Savior, and the lover of my soul.

Midgett Adventures~ #5 Bible Study, Helo Ops & Green Chili

January 21, 2010

So here is my update for what has been going on the past couple days. Yesterday seemed like a very long day of mess cooking, but God sustained my heart and got me through the day. After mess cooking I went to a Bible study that one of the other, Christian Coasties led. Seven of us showed up all together---it was so wonderful being with Believers, praying and studying God’s Word. And to top things off for this patrol we’re going through the Pleasures of God by Piper! God truly blessed me with such a wonderful, refreshing end to my day.

Tonight I have mids again so I got off work early, which is a nice break. I am planning to get some extra rest, study for my quals, and just enjoy a little down time. Earlier after lunch, the Midgett conducted “helo ops” (Helicopter operations). I am breaking in as a Tie Down Crewman (one of the people who runs out after the helicopters have landed and ties them down or unties them when they are leaving) so I had a front row seat so to speak. It was amazing! One of the Coast Guard’s Dolphin helos did some touch down ops for training purposes. I was all decked out in a blue, flight-deck jersey, blue life preserver, and a cranial (helmet with safety goggles and ear protection attached). I am going to try to track down some pictures to post here soon.

Later tonight before mids, a couple of my fellow cooks and myself are going to have a green chili eating contest to see who can take the most fire! I am looking forward to our contest. I’ll keep you updated on the turn out.

So overall, though it has been a stretching and somewhat exhausting week, God has truly blessed me with so much to thank Him for. He has filled my heart with joy, filled my life with friends, and filled my days with work (Believe it or not, work is good! ). I am so glad He’s my Father and that He loves me unconditionally.

Oh, I almost forgot to write that I also got my page seven today for inport security (The paper that says I am qualified to be a security watch stander)! So exciting! Praise the Lord!

Midgett Adventures~ #4 Yes, I will Rejoice

January 19, 2010

Another day of mess cooking down and only a couple more weeks to go! I did have an amazing day though while I was mess cooking. I listened to a bunch of my Dad’s messages that I downloaded off the web before we set out. Oh, how good it was to be challenged and encouraged in the Word while working and doing what God has called me to do. I do complain a lot in my heart and wish I was enjoying the comforts of being close to home, but I have no right or reason. I am right where God wants me to be, doing exactly what He wants me to do. I may work long hours and do a whole lot of dishes, but God has so blessed me beyond what I deserve. He has given me some fun people to work with, messages to listen to, clothes to wear, food to eat, a bed to sleep in, a whole boat load of people to evangelize(!!!), and so much more.

Right now I am enjoying a few moments of thinking, reading, and writing before hitting the hay. I have another early morning awaiting me, but I am so glad I do not face any day alone. The Lord is always with me; comforting and encouraging me heavenward. I am also enjoying some amazing Arizona iced tea. I ran down to the “ship store” a little after I got off work and splurged a little. (You see here on the Midgett they have certain times when they open the “ship store”, which has candy, drinks, toiletries, and Midgett sweatshirts and t-shirts.)

Earlier today as I was washing dishes in the Scullery, I was thinking---what would I do if I found out that I would be stuck on the Midgett for the rest of my life working as a mess cook? Would I still be able to smile and find my joy in Christ? Would my heart be satisfied with Him or would I give up in despair? It sure would be a test of my affections to see where my treasure truly lies. Would I be able to say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord,” if all I hold dear and precious here on this earth was taken away from me, if I had to keep working as a mess cook, and if I was faced with such great disappointments? I know it would be tough if that happened, but my hope in Christ that this life is not the end and that someday I will be with Him is a beacon that shines bright in my heart. I am only a pilgrim on my way HOME. I guess I do not know what I would really do if all these wild things happened to me, but my prayer and hope would be that I would press on each day, knowing and rejoicing that I am held by grace---God’s grace.

Every Believer should examine what they’re finding to be their greatest treasure in life. Sometimes we’d want to say Christ, but that is not always the case. I know I too often say Christ is my treasure and then go out and live contrary to that. I place my hope and confidence in the things of this earth, in family, and friends. Life is not worth living without Christ. Without Him my heart would be empty and completely lost. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I can not get through a day without the joy and strength He provides. He is the greatest treasure ever! So I want to press on today in His strength seeking Him above all things. And if everything in this life was stripped away, I would rejoice that I will always have Christ---my greatest treasure and pleasure!

Midgett Adventures~ #3 Purpose

January 17, 2010

As I sit in my rack right now, trying to get some sleep before Mids tonight I have been thinking about how my life lately seems to consist of eating, sleeping, and doing a whole lot of DISHES! It does not seem like much to me, but it does take up every moment I have right now. What gives me hope amidst piles of dirty dishes though, is that God is using the dirty dishes, the long days, the late nights, the homesick & lonely moments, and the weariness I feel to make me more like Christ. He is always at work and is using this time to mold and shape my character. Yes, at times I feel that the width of my life is very small---all I do is dishes---but perhaps it is because God is focusing on the depth of my life.

Another thing though that I must not forget is that I am a servant of Christ, and He has called me to be His light here on the Midgett. He is the one who has placed me in the Scullery doing dishes and it is for His glory and my joy. Just like He placed Joseph in Egypt after his brothers sold Him into slavery, and placed him as a slave in Potipher’s house---so God has placed me here on the Midgett. It is not an accident or mistake, but purposed by the Lord before time began. So I shall work with purpose for He has purpose. I may not see the big picture right now, but I know that He does all things for good to those who love Him.

Midgett Adventures~ #2 Grace that is Sufficient

January 17, 2010

My strength shall certainly fail and my joy fade if Christ does not sustain my heart. I cannot serve Him as I ought, but thanks be to the Lord that His grace is sufficient for me. I have been washing dishes and cleaning today. I was able to step outside for a few moments and take some pictures and video footage. The scenery is beautiful! The waves rolling and crashing with giant blue mountains in the background. A thick white mist hung over them for awhile until the sun warmed everything up.

I have Mid Rats (Midnight Rations) tonight so I am off early so I can get some rest for that. God is teaching me so much, perhaps so far the greatest thing He has been teaching and reminding me of is doing my best at everything even the things that do not seem important like washing dishes. I am to work unto Him and so I continue washing not for myself, or anyone else, but for the Lord.

Midgett Adventures~ #1 Pulling Out

January 16, 2010

Looking back today seems to have been a very long day, but it went by fast. We pulled out from the docks around noon Special Sea detail was set and we all hurriedly made our way to our assigned lines (ropes that hold us to the dock). I was on line two, which is at the very front of the Midgett on the focsle. Excitement filled the air as people scurried around here and there making sure everything was ready before setting out.

I stayed busy washing dishes most of the day. After we left Seattle most of our sinks were secured so we could not use them, which made it interesting trying to wash dishes without a sink to wash them in, but we made do. And all the dishes are washed---it took us to 19:45 to do it though! I also had to do a lot of trash digging today because we have to separate plastic from paper and the idea did not quite catch on. So I had to pick out all the plastic spoons and forks and it was very gross! God gave me the strength though to do it and sustained me with joy in Him. He is good and so gracious!

Today someone asked me why I am so happy all the time---do I really like washing dishes and work like that so much. My answer to Him was that it is not what I am doing but who I am doing it for and I am doing it for Christ---He is the one who makes me happy. His response was: “So you’re one of those kind of people.” I smiled. Yes I am one of those kind of people. I pray that God will continue to use me here on the Midgett not to make much of me but much of Him. Oh that I would point these people to Christ! I shall continue pressing on in the strength of the Lord.