Waves

Waves

Reflections by the Sea ©
Betsy Ore Glass

April 30, 2012

For I am the Lord your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves roar – The Lord Almighty is his name. -Isaiah 51:15
Waves are formed across the surface of the ocean by winds. The stronger the wind, the larger the wave. Isn’t it amazing that an ocean can roar like a lion with waves crashing onto shore one day and then the next day, not even a ripple is present on the surface of the water? I love to scurry to the beach to see what the waves are doing. It is a fact that the sea cannot be controlled. However, it is within our control to build a house on pilings to allow waves to go under it rather than through it in rough weather. It is also in our control to construct walls of sand to protect a dwelling that is too near the ocean’s edge. But it is not in our control to hold back the wind that powers the waves of the sea. That’s God’s business. Surfers flock to where the waves are big enough to enjoy the ride on their surfboards. But on the other hand, an oceanfront resident may helplessly standby as the same crashing waves and pounding surf possibly threatens his property. Each person’s joy is reflected upon the choices they make.
Do we experience joy in our days? Is it long- lasting or just for the moment? Do we seek the way of the Lord? Choosing to live with Him at the helm or do we choose the other way, by living to please ourselves and gain pleasure at the expense of our spirituality and walk with God? Our parents may have christened or baptized us with hopes we would walk a godly life, but it is truly a personal decision that each of us must make at some point. If we make that choice to accept Him, it’s then that we can count on His joy, goodness, mercy and protection all the rest of our days

Faith

Faith Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass April 27, 2012

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.-Matthew 21:21 NIV Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. I once heard it said that it is faith that is the light that guides us through the darkness. A boat captain understands the importance of light to guide his vessel back to safety at night. Equally, a small child tucked in to his bed at night depends on the glow of a nightlight to comfort him if he wakes. Then sometimes we just feel the light fading in our life and our faith slipping away at the same time. It has happened to many of us. We want so hard to believe in God’s power and provision but our natural eyes can’t see anything supernatural in front of us, so our faith wanes and our unbelief builds. Thoughts and words come in like waves in a storm like “God will never heal me”; “my circumstances will never improve; “my child is never going to amount to anything” and so on. We can chase away our thoughts, but when we give our own voice to these thoughts by speaking them out loud or telling others, we are feeding the unbelief in our hearts and spirit so that it can take root on the inside of us.   So many times I have prayed to God to give me more faith, when actually I should have asked Him to bind the unbelief. The unbelief is not from Him. By not agreeing with those thoughts that come in our heads that rob of us our hope, we can be overcomers. There is always hope. This week a friend called to say they were going to close their business after a long struggle. It was taking its toll. They didn’t believe that it could work anymore. God has the answer but my advice was for them to seek God’s light. That He would shine light on the path they should take, to either stay the course or move on. How do we know it is God and not just us exercising our own will? God confirms it by the words spoken by a friend, the way circumstances are shaping up, or most of all, He uses His Word to speak to us. While we are waiting for God’s confirmation we can do what a wise man once said…“As you practice counting your blessings, you will find your faith is being suddenly revitalized.” This is the first step in being positive towards getting out of unbelief and back into faith living.

Ship's Wheel

Ship's Wheel Reflections by the Sea   Betsy Ore Glass April 19, 2012

The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. -.Acts 27:15 NIV The wheel of a ship actually turns the rudder, which then changes the direction of the vessel. Over the years, the steering mechanism has changed somewhat, but the concept remains the same: a ship simply needs a wheel to direct it on its proper course. A ship’s wheel is quite a nautical find in an antique store. To see a ship’s wheel that has been restored and transformed into a table is a real conversational piece Recently, I was walking along some docks and could peer into the boats that were tied up. I was surprised and delighted to see the ships’ wheel in today’s photograph was still functional and relied upon. If our life is thought of as a ship, then who is steering us in our journey across the sea? I find myself taking the wheel out of God’s hands and I often try to steer my life alone. It isn’t anything conscious that I do…it just seems to be an old habit. When I lose my direction and seem to go in circles, God who has patiently stood by, steps in and gets me back on course. It is silly really that we often think we can go our own way. The tendency is to go to God only when there is a crisis. We are all probably guilty of that at some time in our life. We should really go to God for everything; our health, our relationships, our families, the finances, work, school and more. I know that some might think that they shouldn’t bother God with the little things. That He has enough to do already. But God can handle it and He delights to be in daily, constant fellowship with us over the big things and the little things. If we are on the move with our life, learning, growing and doing, then we need direction. We are not as wise as we think we are sometimes. Best to leave the steering up to Him. That way we know our steps are anointed and we are never alone when we turn the wheel over to Him.

Daily Walk

Daily Walk Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass April 12, 2012

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. -James 4:7 NIV A daily walk is a good thing to do. It exercises our bodies and it promotes good health. A walk can be taken early in the morning, during a lunch break or at the end of the day. It doesn’t matter when. What does matter is that it is not forgotten. There is another daily walk that is important too and that is our daily time with God. But, somehow it is often the first thing that is shelved when a day becomes busy and overbooked. Everything else becomes a priority and God is left to wait for us to show up later. A daily dialogue with God is not only the most important time we will spend each day, we should try to make that time first before anything else. But, what happens if we become lazy and put God off day after day? No longer seeking God’s help and protection, we unknowingly open the door to the enemy. Fear, bitterness, anxiety, resentment and anger are just a few of the things that can come upon us and they are all destructive and harmful to our minds, bodies and souls. Our attitude and outlook turns sour and negative. Our vision is clouded. We become oppressed and find it hard to shake things off.   So, what is the benefit of this daily walk with God? One of the benefits of spending daily time with God is that it keeps us in dialogue with Him. We will begin to discern His Voice inside of us giving us guidance and direction. He is our protection and our shield. In our daily time with God we should repent of our mistakes and failings and be sincere and genuine. It means that we start off each day forgiven with a new heart and a new start. We learn that we can live in a place of blessing. While a daily walk exercises the body, a daily walk with God engages our faith. Why not do both? Each day can be a new beginning, knowing God is on our side in all we do.

Easter

Happy Easter to All!

The same Resurrections power that rose Christ from the dead is alive in each of us. On this highest of all Holy Days of the year, it is a time of celebration. Christ Has Risen!!

Hope Lives Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass April 05, 2012

I am the Resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. John 11:25 What does the cross mean to you? For many of us it is a symbol of our faith. Jesus died on the cross and while it brings to mind Jesus’ suffering, the Resurrection three days later gives us hope eternal. Because Jesus rose again, which shines the light on God’s Promise for Eternal Life we know there is more than this earthly life that awaits us. I am counting on God’s Promise that as believers we shall never die, but live with Him in eternity. A favorite old Easter hymn is called “He Lives” and part of the chorus says this: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and He talks with me Along life's narrow way. He lives, He live, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart. Martin Luther is quoted as saying that “Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring time.” How true. Each budding tree or bush we see now in our surroundings is showing us new life. It gives hope and meaning to new beginnings. Let’s go forward with renewed faith this Easter and seek God in a higher way. God doesn’t want us to just be satisfied with just our Salvation. There is so much more He can do through us if we are willing to let Him. It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday. We can have a new beginning today. A fresh start. A new life. We have everything within us, on the inside of us, to start anew. God believes in us and wants the very best for us. Educator Alice Freeman Palmer said that “For I remember it is Easter morn, and life and love and peace are all new born”. Today is a new day. Lord, we believe in you and we ask for a fresh new anointing of love and peace to fill us and surround us, to see our life and circumstances in a new light through you