The Journey


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
March 04, 2009

For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. –Deuteronomy 30:16 NIV

There are so many paths, walkways and little bridges on the Outer Banks leading to the sea. Each one seems unique and constructed to accommodate the lay of the land. Some are straight and some are crooked. Some have stairs and some do not. Occasionally, benches are built as part of the walkways for those moments to sit a spell. Thankfully, some walkways are made for the handicapped to access so they too can enjoy the sea breeze and smell of salt air with a view from the top of the dunes. One day recently I set out to journey on as many walkways as I could. I had my camera and was looking for that perfect view to snap my photograph. I came to realize that every place I went was spectacular. Even though each walkway, path and bridge was different, they were similar in the fact that they all led to the ocean.

The dictionary says that journey is a process or course, a passage. It is the distance traveled or an act of traveling from one place to another. The journey that our own lives takes often resembles some of the walkways we see on the Outer Banks. Some times our lives will run along straight and all of a sudden, something happens and our lives take a turn in a different direction. There are twists and turns along the way which makes the journey a challenge sometimes and a joyful experience at other times. We have all experienced this. Sometimes the journey takes us high and sometimes it takes us down low. What lies before us can often seem overwhelming. But God wants to remind us that He leads us and He walks beside us. He is always there. With one step at a time, we will get to where we are going on our journey, while taking comfort that the course we are on leads to God.

Daffodils


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
February 25, 2009

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. -1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

The definition of encourage is to inspire with hope, courage, or confidence. Each year about this time when I see the daffodils begin to poke through the soil, I know that the season of spring is not far off. The anticipation of warmer weather and a new growing season wards off the winter chill. The seed catalogs are coming in the mail and many of us are mentally planning our gardens. I think of the daffodil and other early bulbs as encouragers. They are among the first to step out ahead of everything else that remains dormant. My spirit gets a lift when I see a daffodil or two. It gives me hope for new beginnings.

While we can be encouraged ourselves by things in nature, kind words from friends or praise, we are reminded that we are to encourage others too. Being patient with someone is a major encouragement to a person. It says we care and are willing to stand along side of them, as long as they need us to. Being joyful in all things and with each other is another way to encourage and be encouraged. It has been said that “each person has an ideal, a hope, a dream which represents the soul. We must give to it the warmth of love, the light of understanding and the essence of encouragement”. I believe that God would be so pleased if we took a moment to encourage someone who will cross our path today. Perhaps God will send someone to us today for that very purpose.

Coastal Erosion


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
February 18, 2009

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Romans 12:9-11 NIV

The dictionary says that erosion is the group of natural processes, including weathering, dissolution, abrasion, corrosion, and transportation, by which material is worn away from the earth's surface. There are many different things that can cause coastal erosion, such as water, wind, currents, waves and storms. Erosion is a real concern to those that have invested in coastal property. The sea seems to claim more of the sand and beachfront than it gives back. There is not much that can be done when the ocean currents and strong waves align to undermine the beaches. The damage is done. We dislike erosion and how it affects our ability to enjoy the shrinking coastline. However, our love of the shore goes deeper than any erosion and we are appreciative of our beaches, big or small.

Erosion is not limited to the shoreline. It can occur in relationships too. The flowers of Valentine’s Day have wilted, the candy has been enjoyed and the cards put neatly in a drawer for safekeeping. Hopefully though, the spirit of love still lingers on. Everyday can’t be Valentine’s Day but there can be time set aside on a regular basis for showing love to our loved ones. So many things can erode a good relationship. God can bring loving people together, but the outside world can do great damage to spoil and undermine a union. Habits that develop over time that foster an indifferent attitude towards one another can slowly erode what was once good. This applies to marriages, relationship between parents and children, siblings and friendships. It takes a joint effort to have a successful relationship. Important things like going the extra mile, giving thoughtful consideration and having a lot of patience can all make a positive difference towards living in harmony. A relationship that has its roots in God’s laws is what we should strive for. I believe God would have us use the loving spirit He placed inside of us and love others through Him. Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:7-9NIV

Love


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
February 11, 2009

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. – Psalm 136:1 NLT

There are so many things that I love about the Outer Banks. This season of winter is actually a beautiful time of year. There is a quiet solitude that envelopes the beach and its surroundings. Great peace and a time of reflection can be captured by a pier, a bench by the sound or from a seaside beach access. If there is a need to warm the soul, to be close to God, to feel His Peace and see the beauty He created, this is the place and the time of year to do it. The sky is so blue and often cloudless. The stars and moon at night sparkle with such clarity. Where else can one go and see dolphins feeding in the distance, seagulls flying overhead, waves rushing through a pier’s pilings and feel peace at the same time! God’s Love is present everywhere here. What a gift it is!

The Bible has much to say about love, but the two most important instructions are these from Mark 12:28-31 NIV which are “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself”.

Perhaps today is the time to put the past aside and begin anew with Jesus’ instructions as our guide, to make each day one where love is given and love is received. I heard it said once that the beauty of life is while we cannot undo the past, we can learn from it and change. So that every new moment is spent not in regret or guilt, but in wisdom, understanding and love. The lyrics from an old hymn dated back to 1912 have been drifting in and out of my thoughts today. “Love lifted me…Love lifted me…When nothing else could help…Love lifted me.” God’s Love for us will lift us up and over our own problems and circumstances so that in turn we can be a blessing to others.

Morning Sunshine


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
February 04, 2009

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. –Isaiah 40:31 NIV

Isn’t it wonderful to wake up to sun streaming in through the windows? There is nothing like a sunny morning to get the day started off right. Even when the weather seems too cold to venture out or the winds too brisk, if there is morning sunshine available, I try to enjoy it. This past week my Mother and I headed out to the pier to watch the waves and see the seagulls up close. The seagulls basked in the morning sun, the wind rippling their feathers. When a cold blast would come, they would burrow their heads in their chest or huddle together for warmth. The gulls depend on the heat from the sun to keep them warm and I realize that we do to. The cheery brightness of day often seems to add hope and encouragement to an ordinary day. I came across a little poem this week when I was going through my Dad’s desk. It was in his handwriting. Since my Dad was not a poet that I know of, he perhaps got this poem from a greeting card or an inspirational calendar. It left an impression on him, though. He liked it well enough to write it down on paper to save for perhaps someone like me to find it. When I first read it, I thought that it was a great way to greet each day. Maybe you will agree. It reads:

"Come, O Lord, like morning sunshine

Making all life new and fresh

For the daily tasks and challenges

May we rise renewed in Thee "

Each day is a new beginning. Like morning sunshine that turns darkness into light, God can pour out his blessings, refreshment and strength over us in a daily renewal of our mind, body and spirit. And we can renew our relationship with Him by inviting Him to be a part of each new day He blesses us with.

Today
Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
January 29, 2009

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
–Psalm 118:24 NIV

More than once, I have found myself leaning against a sand fence and thoughtfully staring at the ocean into the distance. I wonder if there was someone on the other side staring back at me with a heart full of hopes and dreams, too! It is a great past time to wonder what lies beyond what our natural eye can see. At times I wish I could see supernaturally for what is coming next week, next month or next year. But, God knows best when He limits our vision to the “here and now”. When I was a child, my friends and I wished our life away, as though we were in an anxious race to mark time quickly, so we can become adults. Only to become adults, and long for the carefree days of our youth again! How foolish we were!

The Bible teaches us to not worry or have fear about His Provision. We aren’t to worry about tomorrow, just live in today. Worry can’t accomplish anything. In fact, worry is actually a sin. It cancels out our prayers. We are to trust God for His blessings and favor. It is a blessing to just being able to live and enjoy each day in contentment without fear or anxiety. He provides for us in all ways, each day. God brought this message to me another way this week. As I was going about the house, I was humming a hymn. Finally I paid attention to the song He put in my heart. It was “Great Is Thy Faitfulness”. The refrain says it all:

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Peace 


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
January 21, 2009

(Photograph by Elizabeth Brown)

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 NLT

I was so delighted to be a part of the sudden snowfall on the Outer Banks earlier this week. I had lamented to my husband a few weeks ago that since moving to Texas, I really missed the snow. It was beautiful to me. It quickly covered over the grass, bushes and the wet flakes stuck to the bare winter branches like a glove. The Outer Banks was flocked in snow and it transformed the bare scenes of winter into a snowy wonderland. There was a stillness about it all. As the snow fell, I felt a calming peace that fell over me, snowflake by snowflake. I got a call to travel from Texas to come to my Daddy’s side on the Outer Banks last week. It appeared that God was calling my Daddy home to Heaven and I just had hours to make it. God is good and I was able to arrive in time to pray and talk to him. Soon after, my Daddy left us for the arms of Jesus. My earthly sadness about losing him was replaced with a supernatural peace that still remains with me. While I wish I had more time with my Daddy, I understand that I don’t understand. Does that make sense? As much as I think I know, I know nothing at all. I don’t know why things have to happen as they do, but what I do know and what my Daddy always said was that God has the Plan. Things change, circumstances come and go, people are born and people die. We have a beginning, middle and an end to our life. We go through seasons. My Dad was in the sunset of his life. God had given us many graces and had mercy on our family during this past week At his service, we showed photos of sunsets that my daughter, his granddaughter took just recently. One of the photos we have used today. But is there anything beyond that sunset, that last breath, or is that all there is…just an end to a life? I believe that John 3:16 tells us that there is eternal life. That Jesus paid the price for us so we could live eternally. My Dad had a dream in his last hours that he was sitting in a chair on the “sunny side”…..I believe Daddy saw heaven in his dream. It seemed to comfort him and it comfirms in my heart that there is something that lies beyond the sunset for us when our time comes to leave this earth. This week when the snow fell, I know that my Daddy knew how much I loved snow and perhaps he placed a “special order” for me when he got to Heaven. It humors me to think of it that way. I do know that without God’s Peace covering us like snow covers the earth; we couldn’t get through this time. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as the Comforter in all things. I believe that when any of us feels sadness and despair, when we are thrown a curve or our plans are redirected, I believe we can ask for God’s Peace. We don’t have to go through difficult times alone. Our Heavenly Father provides His Peace that only we can find in Him.

Morning Walk


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
January 08, 2009

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. –John 14-25 NIV

Many of us are trying to keep our New Year resolution about fitness. To take a morning walk on the beach or through the neighborhood is a great start and it can bring some real joy. I think what I like best about walking in the morning is that my mind has not had time yet to be overloaded with chores on my ‘to do’ list. When we allow ourselves to have an empty mind, that is when creativity flows in. If there are no distractions other than the sound of our own steps and the rhythm of our heartbeat, we are free to just enjoy the moment. So often, we are thinking of what to do next, where we must be later in the day and so on. In our homes, the television and radio and chatter of people around us, keeps us in a busy mode. The reflective time that we all need to experience quiet moments and to recharge ourselves can be done during a simple morning walk.

The Holy Spirit surrounds us and is in us. The Holy Spirit can give us the nudge to move forward or to patiently wait for better timing about something in our life. The Holy Spirit is there with answers and wisdom and guidance, too. God sent the Holy Spirit to be our Counselor when Jesus left the earth. But how can we know about this? I have found that it is when I am quiet, after meditating on the Word, the Holy Spirit often gives me a “knowing” about what to do. It is a “leading”. I have learned to trust the “leading” of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit may cause me to feel strongly enough to stop what I am doing and pray for someone. Or, maybe I’ll feel the nudge to telephone someone at that very moment for reasons unknown to me. Some call it intuition but I know it is the Holy Spirit that guides me through the paths of life. God will use us in many ways to serve Him, but we need to learn to listen for Him. In the busy world we live in, a morning walk can be our regular daily time with God and a place where we can also be quiet and listen.