Hope Lives


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

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

Easter represents Hope and it shines the light on God’s Promise for Eternal Life. Eternal Life means even more to me this year as we recently said goodbye to my dad in January. I am counting on God’s Promise that as believers we shall never die, but live 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 is showing us new life. My mother tells me that my dad’s prized climbing roses are budding already. Yes, new life. It gives hope and meaning to new beginnings.

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.

Blossoms


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
April 01, 2009

I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. –John 25:24 NIV

In preparation for Easter, flowers are blooming everywhere. It seems that Mother Nature does her part to herald spring by putting forth blossoms everywhere to celebrate new life. Garden centers are well-stocked with flowers in all colors for the home gardener that decorates their landscape with blooms, here and there. Florists will work overtime to deliver bouquets for the Easter dinner centerpiece. In my family, I have always tried to have something pretty blooming by my front door on Easter Sunday. Over the years that little tradition has meant different things. When my children were young, they thought we were sweeping up and planting flowers to get ready for the Easter Bunny! That was one way of getting the kids to help with gardening! Now, it is a spring ritual to put on our best face to the outside world with a flower or two and maybe even a fresh doormat.

When I see the life of my children evolve into adulthood, I think of watching a flower develop from a little sprout and then grow into a full fledged blossom in all its brilliance. No two flowers are alike and my children are similar, yet different. That is God’s Hand in each of their lives, shaping and molding them to be unique individuals. I have seen them struggle with things and questions about which path to take in life. I view them with a mother’s prideful heart. Wanting to step in and help them at times, but realizing if I did so, it could hurt them in the long run. But we know that God has a Plan for each of them, including falling back on the love given by parents that are there to support and love them through it all.

I think that God views us much the same way. He is our Heavenly Father and we, His Children. He loves us no matter what. He proved that when He sent His Son, Jesus to die for us on the cross and give us Eternal Life. For years, I think I didn’t understand Easter. I couldn’t see past the crown of thorns and the pain that Jesus suffered. There was such a sadness over Easter and as a child I knew it wasn’t equal to the happy time I felt at Christmas. It was years later that I understood that Easter not only stood for Resurrection but also for Restoration. A time for Promise and Joy! Now, I look to Easter as an anniversary to renew myself and to be grateful for this wonderful Eternal Gift. Like a blossom that unfolds in stages, old thoughts have given way to new wisdom, vision and new ways of understanding. Maybe Christmas and Easter are more alike that we realize where we could proclaim, “Joy to the World” on both occasions.

Gardens


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
March 26, 2009

A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. -Galatians 6:7-9

We are fortunate to have the Elizabethan Gardens to visit and enjoy These gardens provide a beautiful setting with azaleas, bulbs, crape myrtle, roses and more. The sunken gardens have been the spot for many weddings and it is no surprise why! It’s also a great place to sit on the steps and reflect for a moment or two, while enjoying all the beauty that nature and caring groundskeepers and volunteers have provided. A simple backyard garden can also give us the serenity we seek. Birdsong is a welcome addition to any garden and statuary and birdbaths provide a great perch for feathered friends passing by. Whether you are growing a vegetable, herb or flower garden, the feeling of accomplishment at harvest time is a great reward. Garden books are plentiful in telling us how, what and when to plant. But, I think the most special gardens are those where the birds have helped to sow some seed, along with last year’s annual flowers that spring up for an unexpected showing. The surprises in the garden are what make the time spent tending to it so much fun.

What goes around, comes around. There’s a phrase that is used often. Largely, I think it is true. You get out of it what you put in to it. We’ve heard that expression too. It’s a well-known fact that what we do today will affect our tomorrows, whether it is financial planning, raising children, relationships or climbing the career ladder. If we thought of our life as a garden, we’d want to have nutrient rich soil, a solid foundation. That is God. Rooting all hopes and dreams in Him will make the reward richer. Planting those hopes and dreams in a row, one after the other in succession with a plan and goal is next. Then after pulling the weeds, watering regularly, adding doses of daily sunlight, then the harvest comes. And if we did everything we were supposed to do and kept on course, we should not be surprised at the wonderful harvest in store for us. We should expect it. Of course there are obstacles….storms, wind and critters that may pass through. But God is faithful and he has promised a harvest if we sow seed. It’s only when we don’t sow seed or when we rely on others to do it for us that we don’t get the harvest we had hoped for.

Walk


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

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. -Hebrews 11:6 NIV

The foggy mornings are turning in to beautiful summer afternoons. With the shadow of winter slowly fading, I am longing for spring to emerge in its fullness. The break in the weather also is an invitation to spend more time outdoors. It seems natural to dust off the walking shoes after a winter’s nap and take it all in, one step at a time. Armed with my new pedometer, I have heard that we must strive to walk at least 10,000 steps a day. After the first day, I realize I am way short, but I will keep trying!

I think that our faith can be compared to a walk. If we have the goal to live a peaceful life, live in harmony and obedience in all of God’s commands, to posses a pure heart, to be used by Him, it takes more than a few steps. It takes commitment of time and effort. So how can we build faith? It is by reading God’s Word. Really reading it and listening for the words that are spoken to our hearts. Applying what we learn and remaining faithful in our relationship with God. Even when we feel like it is a one-way relationship where we are doing all of the talking, we are to remain faithful in our spiritual walk. But what happens when we are faithful and things are not working out? When life gets tough and we mistakenly feel that maybe God has even abandoned us, we are to keep believing. Have you ever prayed and your prayer was not answered. In fact, the opposite happened. Where was God? Isn’t He always there? Then the doubting begins. That is when faith is even more important. We can’t see God. We can’t touch Him. Yet, we must believe in Him. That is faith. Hebrews 11:1 explains that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Our daily walk and our spiritual walk are both measured the same, in steps. Believing in God will cause our faith to grow as we step into a deeper relationship with Him.

Reflections


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
March 10, 2009

As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. –Proverbs 27:19 NIV

Everywhere on the Outer Banks one can find reflections. Like sand fences casting shadows in the sand, or seagulls looking down at their mirror image in the water. Boats docked at marina’s that reflect their bright colors and tall masts or even a window that holds the image of a lighthouse.

I find myself looking back to last year and reflecting on all the changes that have taken place in my own life. Followed then, by looking forward to a new season with hope and expectancy of good things. Perhaps you find yourself doing that, too. Charles Dickens once said that we should reflect on our present blessings of which every one has many, and not on our past misfortunes, of which everyone has some. That’s good advice and wise to focus on the present while being grateful for our blessings. If we put the past behind us and not be so anxious to live in the future, how can we reflect on where we are today, this very moment? Probably the most important thing that shapes our day is our daily interactions with people we live with, work with and come into contact with. It has been said that how we treat others is a reflection on us. Actually, to be more specific, it is a reflection on how we FEEL about ourselves. That is very revealing.

Do we dare to find out what others would say about how we treat them? Would we be brave enough to ask? Would we be surprised? Would we try to justify our behavior and make excuses? It takes an exceptionally wise person to discern that when they are treated poorly, it is not a reflection on them, but on the other person. In other words, what is on the inside of each of us is what spills out to others, like a bucket full of water being tossed back and forth. Our words, actions and attitudes reflect our heart. Psalm 51:10 talks about creating a pure heart. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 tells us to live in peace with one another. Do these scriptures reflect what is going in at the core of us? Hopefully our words, actions and attitudes are pleasing God and that we are a reflection of His Love to others and in all that we do.

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