Seaweed

Seaweed


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
August 25, 2010

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

-Psalm 30:11-12 NIV

Seaweed is found in the oceans of the world. Even though seaweed has the appearance of being plant-like, it is a marine algae and not a plant at all. There are thousands of species of seaweed that are known. They are basically red, brown or green in coloration. Seaweed is very beneficial to us with many uses ranging from food to fertilizer. But they are primarily a food source for marine animals and even provide shelter for many fish. There are underwater forests dense with seaweed that are called kelp forests. Seaweed does not have roots but instead has a special anchor called a “holdfast” that keeps it in place. Sometimes heavy wave currents can break the anchor and send the seaweed to shore. I must admit that when I walk over the sand dune to find a shoreline full of seaweed, I am not overjoyed. Mounds of drying seaweed that litters the beach is an unexpected sight and it spoils the landscape. It means we have to step over it, walk around it or try to ignore it until it rolls out to sea in the next tide.

Things happen that attempt to spoil our joy on a daily basis. Little things and big things. It is inevitable. Disappointments seem to roll in to our life at times with the swiftness of an incoming tide. Sometimes we can ignore them but sometimes not. Before long we feel overwhelmed. Don’t let the enemy win! Focusing on our problems and circumstances can cloud our vision and rob us of our joy. God gives us a choice of how to approach these ‘twists and turns’ on the journey of life. We can choose to override the problems and face each day with a positive attitude and a heart full of gratitude. Or, we can complain and murmur and sink deeper into the problem at hand, taking loved ones with us in a downward spiral. Expecting a life free from challenges and problems means living unrealistically. But what we can expect is that God will show us ways to deal with and conquer the challenges we face today and those of the future. Our God is a God that helps, encourages, teaches, guides and comforts us in all times.

School

School


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
August 18, 2010

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways –Psalm 91:11 NIV

It is that time again. Summer is coming to a close and it is time to buckle down for a new school year. The children will cross another bridge into a new adventure of learning and growing. I remember fondly the days of trying to understand my kids’ bus schedule, shopping for their back to school clothes, getting them fresh haircuts and packing their new backpacks with all the essentials.

It won’t be long and fall pumpkins will appear on doorsteps, the weather will chill and first report cards will be issued. Soon, refrigerators will be plastered with artwork from the little ones; and older students will start science projects with boiling lava that will dominate the dining room table for weeks. Chorus concerts and school plays will be added to the calendar, too. It goes by fast. W. B. Yeats said, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire”. How true! We want our children to be on fire to learn. To press forward with enthusiasm at their new discoveries and to spark an interest that develops into a lifelong passion. We as parents must instill in our children the knowledge that school is a place of opportunity and adventure. A place to learn, discover and try new things on for size. Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. –Proverbs 23:12 NIV

But it is sometimes hard to let our children leave the nest for the big world. I wish I knew then what I know now. We can pray for God’s Protection over our children all day and all night. Now not a day goes by that I don’t ask God to watch over my children and their families. Psalm 91 is a Psalm of Protection and sometimes that is what I will read as my prayer for them. It is just as important as a good breakfast, getting to school on time and doing homework….in fact, it is vital that God hears our prayers for them asking that no weapon formed against our children will prosper. There will be bumps on the knees, visits to the clinic, hurt feelings and the occasional brush with the class bully, but it is our children’s hearts and minds that we are praying for, as well as their physical protection. And we might add to our prayers a blessing for the teachers. They are truly special people with a heart for our children and education. They deserve our appreciation, gratitude and support for all they do as teachers and important role-models.

Sea Shells

Sea Shells


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
August 11, 2010

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. - Hebrews 13:16 NIV

Seashells come in a great range of size, color, texture and patterns. Some shells have features such as grooves, ribs and spines. They are made up of calcium deposits. The diet of the shell’s inhabitant also determines the color of the shell. Some shells are very rare while others are abundant. Depending on the type of water, wave action, current and water temperature available, these factors will determine what a shell collector will likely find during an early morning stroll by the sea. To find a perfectly shaped shell to tuck into my pocket for safe keeping is a joyful reward. Whelks, banded tulips, scallops and sand dollars top my list of favorites. Shells are a token of a visit to the beach. Rarely can anyone resist stooping down to collect a pocketful for the trip home. I think that shells are nature’s gifts, which are blessings from God!

Just like the many different kinds of shells that we collect on the beaches, we are very unique, too. He made us to be “one-of-a-kind” and there is something special and original about each of us. Each of us has been blessed with God-given gifts, talents and skills. But those blessings also come with a responsibility to use them and share them. Each day we can use what he has given us to make a positive impact around us. He has entrusted us with many things that we can pass down, and by doing so, our gifts can become someone else’s inheritance. And we are never too old to learn and experience new things ourselves. Maybe there is someone who is ready to share their gifts with us! God blessings are visible everywhere.

Limits

Limits


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
August 04, 2010

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." -Matthew 19:26 NIV

When our children were small we definitely had to set limits for them. At the beach, they wanted to wander off and take walks. We either had to go with them or when they got older we would say, “You can walk to the pier and then turn around and come back.” We would set limits based on what we knew and what we could see. Later, they understood limits were used to define what they could and could not do. As parents, there is no limit to our love for our children and because of that, we want to steer them in a good direction and down right path that will help them and not hurt them.

Limits and boundaries are great tools in raising children, establishing order in our lives and in the world, but not in our spiritual life. Have you ever set limits on what God can do in your prayers only to find out that He blesses you more abundantly that you could imagine? Faith is allowing God to do it His Way without the limits and obstacles we place in front of Him. It is simple really. We want to always be the one behind the wheel, steering by ourselves when we should defer to Him. Sometimes I think we actually hinder ourselves with our limited thoughts when we should surrender to Him, the one who knows no limits. Each time I have done that, I have realized that God delights in surprising me and giving me so much more than I ever expected. God’s love for us is limitless and so is His grace and mercy. He wants to bless us beyond and above all our expectations.