Lifejacket


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
May 26, 2010

I will lift my eyes to the hills – From where comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1- 2

This Memorial Day weekend will be a busy time on the waters. Boaters will take extra care and special precautions to ready their boat to be sure it is seaworthy and equipped with everything needed to ensure a great experience. Lifejackets are required to be on board. No ifs, ands or buts. It is a must. It is the ultimate backup plan to protect those on the boat if there is trouble aboard or on the water. I like the idea of a lifejacket. It makes me feel secure, safe and gives me confidence to venture to places I’ve never been. It is nice knowing there is something to help me if I need it.

Spiritually, this is a good question to ask, “Where do you turn to for help when you need it?” I know for certain that we can find help in the Bible. The Bible is filled with love, direction, wisdom and guidance. We can ask for help and it will be revealed on the pages. While God may send help we don’t have to be powerless while we wait for it though. We can seek it and find it. It is the greatest source. I bought a little book recently and it contains all of God’s Promises. For anyone needing help and wisdom in what to do, how to react, what to believe, we can find His Promises in His Word. It is like clothing ourselves in a spiritual lifejacket!

This week I have heard of several people that are hurting whether emotionally, physically or spiritually. Life isn’t easy. Things happen. Each circumstance has been an occasion for calling out to God for help. And He hasn’t failed. Whatever your need is, whatever your concern, take it to God. Is there anyone that can go it alone? No. Would you walk by yourself in an unfamiliar place, in the dark not telling anyone where you going? Of course not. It is too risky, it is unsafe. But there are so many that will travel the roads of life without anyone to help them, guide them or light the path. They try to do it by themselves. Our help comes from Him. So does our strength and our ability to keep going. Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. -1 Peter 5:7

Reach out to someone that has crossed your path that needs to lean on you a little bit. Help to make their time of trouble a little easier. Share a prayer, a scripture or just a simple smile. Offer them a lifejacket of hope and help. Let God show through you to them. God will finish what you have started. And when you shift your focus from your own problems over to helping someone else through their trials, you may find that your own burdens and worries don’t seem quite as heavy anymore. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3- 4.

Broken Fences

Broken Fences

Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
May 19, 2010

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. I Timothy 2:1-2

There are people that hurt our feelings with their unkind remarks, gossip and tales. Sometimes it is not even a word that is spoken, but a roll of the eyes, a smirk or a gesture. It only takes a moment, but the effects can be lasting. Perhaps a long-time friendship isn’t strong enough to overcome repeated assaults on individual taste, character and personal opinion. Some people feel it is their obligation to “speak the truth” no matter how hurtful it may be, particularly when imposing their beliefs or views. Some things should be left unsaid and only a wise person knows that. In everyday living, don’t you know people who tear down the self-esteem of others without remorse? Often we can adjust our lives to avoid folks like this because of the destructive impact they have on us. Then there are occasions when we have to endure being in their company. Being a Christian does not shield us from being in situations that are uncomfortable. But, what to do about it!

The picture today of the fence shows that it is twisted and broken. The people that stir up the commotion and leave behind them a trail of hurt reminds me of that broken fence. There is something missing in their life that they can inflict such hurt on others. Rather than scorn them, I believe God wants us to pray for them. It’s still okay not to want to be in their company very much, but we should double up the prayers asking God to do a work in them, starting with the way they treat us. Our understanding of his power to make changes in anyone’s life is limited, but we must have faith. I know this works. God hears us. God can rebuild a fence better than it was to begin with. He is the mender, the fixer. Have patience as God is doing His work. Hand God all of the broken fences in your life and then wait….and pray. The reward is peace, godly peace.

Taking Care


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
May 12, 2010


Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. -Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Although I was not able to spend time in the company of my children for Mother’s Day due to distance, we did the next best thing. We spent our day sending pictures back and forth on the computer, opening cards, unwrapping gifts and chatting on the phone. It was a beautiful day to be remembered and to remember my own Mother as well.

I started thinking about the role of the mother in the family. While all families are different one thing remains the same: the mother is truly the heartbeat of the family. She is the center and provides the nourishment, order, structure, discipline, love and care on an everyday basis. This doesn’t diminish fathers at all, as we couldn’t do without them, but just for today, we are going to focus on the mothers. If she is the heartbeat of the family, she basically sets the tone in the household, as well. If she is happy, everyone is happy and if she is not, nobody is! My adult children love to tell the story now, but years ago when they were young teens, if I had to discipline them, they were quick to call their Dad at work. They would tell him I was all stressed out and attempted to warn him, failing to mention they hadn’t done their chores or homework, which was the justification for the discipline in the first place! My husband and I laugh now at how crafty they thought they were. When those phone calls came in about “Mom being hard on them” he knew it was rightly deserved and he never let on until years later. I find it quite humorous that my adult daughter is now dealing with the same issues with her daughter! Yes, I guess history repeats itself!

Mothers can handle a lot of things but they are not immune to stress. If the mother is taking care of everyone, who is taking care of her? Mothers can give so much at times that they become depleted, overworked and stressed. It can take a toll and then the whole family is affected. This past week, little stresses started to multiply within me, until all of a sudden my heart rate was high and it wouldn’t slow down. Doctors can prescribe medications and that is the easy part. The hard part is to control the emotions and stresses that can overtake us at times. Being overwhelmed can happen to anyone, even those with a mild temperament. It turns out I need to do a better job of “sweating the small stuff”. I have heard it said that stress isn’t something that happens to us; rather it is our response to what happens. We just have to be aware that we have a choice what we let in to our spirit and what we reject. I’m working on it, and I can tell you that prayer helps a great deal and I couldn’t live without it. Specifically asking God to pour out His Peace is a great start. Staying positive, in faith, with hope, expectation of good health and having a grateful attitude is the only place I want to be. God will help us to filter out the unimportant and negative things than take up unnecessary space in our heart and instead, He can keep us in joy and peace with gladness. He is always there, taking care of us.

Remembering Mother's Day


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
May 08, 2010


I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. –Proverbs 4:11 NIV

I learned of a tradition associated with Mother’s Day when I was just a little girl. If you wore a white flower on your dress, in your hair or on your lapel on Mother’s Day, it meant that your Mother had passed on; and if you wore a red flower that meant that your Mother was living. As little kids we mostly wore the red roses we tore off the rose bushes that were on the church grounds on our way to Sunday school. Lots of the grownups did the same thing, but many of them gathered around the white rose bush. That memory is so vivid, yet so long ago. I remember being glad then that I could wear a red rose, and I am still glad of it today.

God gave each of us a Mother. Our relationship with our Mother changes and evolves over time. The first smile we saw was our Mother’s. Then spending years of nurturing us through childhood, she equally dispensed kool-aid and band-aids. Teaching us and learning from us all at the same time. Molding and shaping our teenage thoughts with a healthy dose of discipline and love to smooth over the hurts we encountered along the way. Cheering us on with each milestone and letting us go when it was time to start our own life. Then, being available anytime, just in case, and offering advice tenderly when she sees us making a wrong turn. A Mother knows to choose her words carefully because they are being stored up on the inside of her children. Whether your Mother is here today or in heaven, know that God blesses us with the sound of her voice in our ears and hearts to continually guide us along our path. That is a gift from God to have our Mother’s wisdom to hold on to forever