Gazebo

Gazebo


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
January 25, 2011

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

I try to visit the gazebo in today’s photograph as often as I can. This gazebo is on the sound and there is a peace and serenity felt there making it a wonderful place to reflect on life. Whether it is a visit during an early morning walk or if I stop by with my camera to catch a magnificent sunset, it is so relaxing that I often feel like it is a spiritual place at times. With nothing more than the squawk of an occasional gull, or the drone of a boat motor in the distance, the view from this little gazebo offers a glimpse of God’s natural beauty. I like taking a mental picture of the scenery for later recall. Sitting on the gazebo at the end of the wooden walkway is a perfect place to take some time for thinking about things. Important things, like are we on the right track? Are we in God’s Will? Would He be pleased with the way we are living our lives?

January is a good time to look forward to another year ahead. But sometimes I believe it is necessary to look back, too. For instance, if any relationship needs special attention, or if a friendship has been neglected, I like to start there. If there has been unforgiveness in any area of my life, I know it has to be dealt with and disposed of, or it can harm me, both physically and spiritually. When I was much younger, I thought that in order to forgive, I had to “feel” like doing it first. That “feeling” never came. I learned that forgiving is a decision, not a feeling. Even though we may have a right to our emotions and no one would argue that we have been wronged, we must make that choice to forgive. It won’t happen naturally on it’s own. I believe time does not heal, instead, it only makes it harder and more difficult to forgive, as the bitterness grows out of control. So much of our wellness stems from whether or not we carry unforgiveness in our heart. It weighs us down and becomes heavy. It affects our outlook, health, our relationships and it destroys our faith. Unforgiveness is not from God and if we are carrying it, we must give it over to Him right away and ask His forgiveness. We can ask Him to change our heart and to give us the strength to forgive. We can ask Him to carry the pain of the situation and to give us His peace in its place. God never fails us

Peace

Peace Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Glass January 19, 2011

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. –Matthew 7:7 NIV  When I set out to take photographs, it is just me and my camera with a lot of expectant hope. I will do some things to ensure that I could have a bit of success by choosing the right time of day to take photos, scout out a special location with interest and then search for the best light for the subject. Then the focus shifts to composition. I then think about how can take a photograph of something ordinary and make it extraordinary. Many times it works out that I am able to capture a simple moment with my lens so that it can last a lifetime in my portfolio. I feel a wonderful peace when I walk with nature and my camera in tow. God’s Presence is ever present in the beautiful surroundings, but the beach is my favorite. It amazes me the amount of peace that can be found if we are willing to receive it. A simple walk on the beach can turn a dull day into one not to be forgotten. I love everything about it like the smell of the salt air, wet driftwood and sparkling shells that are being bleached by the sunlight. Then there is the sound of the gentle wash of the wave onshore or seeing the occasional shorebird skirting the waters’ edge with its leggy stance. There are treasures to stuff pockets with and people to nod hello to. And those moments of standing sill searching for objects far away on the horizon and of course, walking and talking aloud to God. I have many memories stored in my heart of days just like this. There is beauty in each day. We miss it sometimes. Carrying a camera reminds me to stop long enough to focus on my beautiful surroundings and get a photo or two when I could have missed it altogether. God’s Peace is like that. It is there if we seek it, but how often do we set it aside day after day? Within His Peace is His unfailing, abundant Love. No one can love us like God does. His Peace and Love will sustain us in all times. Through God’s lens, He loves us like a Father loves his child. He comforts us and teaches us to make choices guided by His Peace. We are not ordinary. God made us to be extraordinary. He put greatness down on the inside of each of us. When a photographer builds his portfolio, only the perfect, special photos are included and those are considered the masterpieces of one’s work. In God’s eyes, we are all masterpieces because He made us. He is perfect. He doesn’t make any mistakes. We can do great things when we seek and follow Him and by activating the gifts He placed inside of us by faith.

Sentinel

Sentinel


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
January 12, 2011

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. - Proverbs 4:23

There are many sentinels protecting the Outer Banks. I am speaking of the beautiful, historic lighthouses that have stood guard over the barrier islands for many years. The dictionary defines a sentinel as “a person or thing that stands and watches”. And the lighthouses certainly do just that. They watch the land and the sea. Each lighthouse is individual and unique yet they are similar in shape. I have enjoyed visiting them all and taking photographs from different angels. They are truly historic treasures and have become tourist attractions over the years. The sight of light from a lighthouse in the night sky still thrills me today like it did was I was a young child. A sentinel is thought of as a guiding light but that doesn’t just apply to a lighthouse.

God watches over us like a sentinel, too. He guides us all the time and He is there through trials and hardships, too. His light shines on us to light the way, both night and day. A sentinel guards and guides. We can look to God to be that for us. But we too have a responsibility to guard our lives. As we follow Him, we are to guard ourselves with our thoughts and actions, keeping them of pure motive and godly at all times. What lies deep within us is what springs forth and becomes how we are defined. If we are full of stress, it will show. If we give in to anger or strife, it will flow out of us to another. It is so amazing to realize our physical hearts are so sensitive to emotions. Doctors have long said it is not the situation we find ourselves in, but how we handle it that matters.

What will matter this week? Guarding our thoughts, binding stress, filtering what we let in to our hearts and keeping His guiding light before us with each step we take. A good way to shine the light on this New Year is to let Him be our sentinel, our guide, our light in everything.

Turning Tide

Turning Tide


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
January 05, 2011





I wait for your salvation, Lord, and I follow your commands. -Psalm 119:166 NIV

The turning tide is what comes to mind this time of year. The outgoing tide from last year takes with it the memories of the last 12 months and we await the incoming tide that brings new things. The last boxes from the Christmas decorations are packed up now and put away. The special cards and letters I have received throughout the year are tied with a pretty ribbon and put in a special floral box with other keepsakes. I have taken the time to look back and say thank you for the many blessings that helped to shape this last year. Gratefulness fills my heart as I think of all the good that came and even the difficult roads taken, which always had a lesson to learn. The tide turns, as a new year unfolds

What will the New Year bring? I think that whatever comes, we can handle it, and get through it if we are rooted and established in love. If love is at the heart of our decisions and motives, we will manage well. I think this year is the time to look forward with rising faith.

The incoming tide always brings with it some treasures and a few surprises. One time I saw a beach littered with small twigs of driftwood. Other times jelly fish would catch the tide to shore and rest at the waters edge. After storms, the ocean floor gets churned up to bring large shells to the beach. Our life is much like that incoming tide. Not sure what each day will bring but we remain hopeful that it will be more “treasure” than “trash”.

Do we have things that irritate us and cause us frustration? Oh yes, but remember that the oyster produces a beautiful pearl that was once a speck of sand that created irritation in the beginning. Rising faith is like a rising tide that can sweep over a multitude of things and with God, all things can be made new. The lyrics to a song we sang in church on Sunday were,”I will follow you forward”. In this New Year, let us follow Him forward with rising faith and hearts full of expectant hope to uncover the pearls waiting for us in 2011.