Great Egret

Great Egret Reflections by the Sea ©  Betsy Glass August 19, 2012

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. -1 Peter 2:17 NIV The Great Egret is the largest of the white, wading birds found in this area in the wetlands. Moving about on their long black legs gives them the appearance of doing everything in slow motion. Their pointed bills are yellow and that is what they use to spear small fish, which is a main part of their diet. The Great Egret can either nest in trees or in low shrubs where they live in colonies of up to 100 birds. The word egret is French and it means “ornamental tufts of plumes”. When the Great Egret is in breeding season they will grow a plume. It was the plume that hunters sought after that nearly put the Great Egret into extinction in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Fortunately, they are now protected and can be seen enjoying the Outer Banks in large numbers. When I see a Great Egret, there are certain words that come to mind like graceful, elegant, polite and poised. They behave as though they have impeccable manners to go with their majestic appearance! The Great Egret is in complete contrast to the noisy gull that shows his greed without remorse. I prefer the elegance of the Great Egret! Is our behavior more like the Great Egret or the noisy Gull? How would the people we live and work with describe us? Should we be afraid of the answer! The formality that our grandparents once lived by that promoted respect, kindness, manners and courtesy seems to be fading away in favor of an unrestricted casualness. Gone are the Sunday hats and gloves our grandmothers wore to church. And that may be a welcomed change for some. But more importantly, also gone are some of the basic values we once lived by of being polite, putting others first and showing respect. Is the way we behave and the way we treat others something that would please God? The lady at the grocery checkout counter would appreciate a kind word. So would all of the many people that we come in contact with each day, but don’t think to speak kindly to….if we speak at all! Sometimes there is a tendency to be less than courteous to someone we know we may never see again. God says that everyone deserves our respect, whether it is earned or not. Our actions say a lot about our character. Our children and grandchildren are learning from our example and they will follow our lead. One smile, one random act of kindness, a show of respect can make someone’s day. It can make our day, too.

The Sky's the Limit

The Sky's the Limit Reflections by the Sea ©  Betsy Ore Glass August 16, 2012

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. -2 Cor. 13: 11 NIV “The sky’s the limit”…..that’s a saying that has been around a long time; probably since before WWI. It was a phrase that was a symbol of optimism and progress. It is used to describe abundance; no limits as to what one can achieve or strive for and no upper boundaries. Haven’t we encouraged one another from time to time and said these very words, “The sky’s the limit”? I know I have.  The other evening at dusk when these beautiful clouds in today’s photo were forming, we had to pull our car over to the side of the road so we wouldn’t miss the moment. It was a spectacular sky. The colors were rich and they reflected over the water and cast a beautiful orange glow in the atmosphere. But in all the beauty, a storm was taking shape. The lightning was sharp and it burst from the center of the clouds in a way that it surprised us. We didn’t expect it. Sometimes the beauty of something is lost because of something bad that comes along and that is exactly what happened to us. We forgot for a moment all the glory in the sky and instead waited for the next bolt of lightening. It is just our nature sometimes to veer off into the negative when all we need is a nudge, an encouragement, a reminder to stay positive. I have come to realize that everyone needs a lift at times. So often, the rigors of coping with each day are overwhelming. Students are starting another school year with anticipation mixed with fear of new beginnings. New parents are trying to cope with so many “firsts” on precious little sleep. Families are trying to balance work schedules to maximize communication with each other. And seniors seek a life that keeps purpose and usefulness in the forefront. We are all simply doing the best we can. And how wonderful it is when someone comes along side of us and notices our efforts, or notices that the struggle is getting the best of us? All we need some days is a hug, a kind word, a telephone call, acknowledgement in a card or letter, or a bit of time for someone to listen over a cup of coffee. Often times that is all it takes to feel “normal” again. Encouragement means something different to each of us. Most often we try to encourage others the same way we wish to be encouraged and that doesn’t always work. When we rely on the Holy Spirit to direct us, we will be given the right words at the right time to help when the need reveals itself divinely. Remind yourself that “the sky’s the limit” for your own hopes and dreams. If you are thinking them, it is a good chance that God has given them to you to hold on to until they manifest. And be an encourager to others. It is a gift and an honor if someone considers you an “encourager”. When given the chance, do it to give someone a much needed bit of hope for their day. We can ask God to give us eyes like His so we can see when someone needs a lift. The “sky’s the limit” to what we can do in His Name.

Pressing Through

Pressing Through

Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
August 09, 2012

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? -Roman 8:31 NIV When I was a little girl playing at the ocean’s edge during our many vacations to the Outer Banks, the big waves would knock me down and I would get back up in time for the next wave to tumble me once more. I wasn’t out far, maybe just up to my knees but the swiftness and force of the water knocked my legs out from under me each time. Many times I’d repeat this over and over until exhaustion set in and I would come ashore and rest before going back out again. Life is like that at times, one wave after another can come against us. We can hardly stand up straight before we get knocked down again with trials, problems, conflicts and demands that won’t go away. If this has happened in your life, you know that the only way to get past these times is to press through. Giving up, “washing our hands of it” or running away won’t give us the victory we seek. Pressing through means to stay with it and never give up. Find another way around the situation. Patience, persistence and determination are all we need to press through to our destiny. God is for us and He is greater than any obstacle or problem we face. Possess a “never give up” attitude. We can reach up to take hold of God’s hand and strength during these times. Having an “overcomer” mentality will keep us on the road to our destiny instead of getting sidetracked by the difficulties we stumble upon on our journey. When the waves of life rise up against us, we must rise up even higher.

Sailing

Sailing Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Glass August 02, 2012

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. –Proverbs 1:7 NIV Sailing… maybe I have gone once or twice in my life. But I do appreciate the sleekness of the vessel and the fact that the wind is the power that pushes the sails. What I liked most about sailing was the sound of the wind and the flapping of the sails. Yes, it is hard work and I do admit that others were doing that. I was a spectator because I had no knowledge of what to do. So I appreciated the wisdom of those surrounding me that did the work and was appreciative and confidant in their understanding. That allowed me to enjoy the beauty of the moment. The wise sailors on board mapped the navigation which helped us to chart our course. They observed the weather and changing winds while staying clear of any obstacles that could harm us. It was amazing to witness the magnificent power of the wind over the water. Isn’t that how life is? If we choose to live a Christian life, we have our Bible as our guide. It is our navigation system and scriptures keep us from hitting the obstacles that life throws at us occasionally. The Holy Spirit is the breath that powers us through the fog, storms and high waves. Oh but if everyone chose to live this way… We were at a little marina last evening. It is specifically for sailboats and a few small ski boats are moored there. Some folks bring their boats in on trailers and drop them in the water. We marveled at the inexperience of one group of people trying to get their boat out of water onto their trailer. They tried and tried and tried. Other people came by to help guide and steer them, but they were not listening. They would do it their way. They blocked traffic and finally someone had to jump in to help and tow the boat, trailer and vehicle off the ramp. A lack of knowledge was their biggest obstacle. Some people get experience the hard way while others listen, look and learn before getting into deep water. The mistakes are often costly. If the tools are readily available to us, why not use them. If wise people seek friendship with us and want to mentor us on our journey, say yes! Seek the better way. We can weather anything if we know we are anchored in God’s love, protection and wisdom.

Days' End

Days’ End

 

Reflections by the Sea

Betsy Ore Glass

July 26, 2012

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. - Psalm 27:14 NIV

I was fortunate enough to witness a brilliant, fiery sunset a few days ago. The bright orange, yellow, pink and purples dominated the sky through the last remains of a rain storm. It was worth waiting for….the reward of a stunning sunset after the storm at days’ end. 

Doesn’t life mimic nature at times? The path of life may seem wobbly at times, the worries we carry weigh us down like storm clouds, sorrows may outnumber joys, but more often than not, we get the reward at the end, like a beautiful sunset after a stormy day. Things work out, our worries were for naught, joy finds us again. But not every season is easy. Not every day is challenge free. And because we decide to carry these worries and burdens ourselves instead of surrendering them to God, it is amazing that any of us can walk the journey at all!

Spiritually, we may often tend to ebb and flow like the tide depending on what is going on in our life at the time. Whether it is a tough decision that has to be made, or a troublesome situation that we can’t escape and must walk through, God knows our needs and we are never alone. Oh yes, we often times feel alone, actually isolated in our indecisiveness as we seek godly wisdom for guidance….and it feels like we are in a storm with rain clouds surrounding us. But if that is all we can see, then we have lost sight of God’s Light. When the storms of everyday life are insurmountable, we have to shift our focus back to God. We walk through hard times to learn about our strength and weaknesses. We are given opportunities to either do it “our way” or to seek “Gods way”. It is always wise to seek “His way”. But what if you can’t see the light for the clouds?  Today’s scripture says to “Be strong”.  Read the Bible, seek wise counsel, talk to someone who has walked before you and can shed wisdom and information. But most of all seek the Lord and wait on Him. He will reveal the answers we need in His Perfect Timing. When the clouds drift off and we are left in the brilliant light of God at the end of our day, we realize that He always had the plan and following Him is the only way!

A Special Delivery

A Special Delivery Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass July 17, 2012

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22 A month ago our family reached the highest level of joy we have ever experienced which was a very special delivery with the birth of our first grandson. There is a saying that suggests, “A grandchild can fill a space in your heart that you never knew was empty”. I think that says it all! We were eagerly anticipating his arrival and had planned for it, but the day he was born, to touch him and see his face, and to know that he was ‘wonderfully and fearfully made’ by our Father in Heaven, was overwhelming. This child is wanted completely, and loved fully. God has allowed this little wonder to be a part of our family and what a huge responsibility it is. As I looked into his eyes when I held him close for many days, I spoke to him about God and Jesus. I sang the children’s song, “Jesus Loves Me” and personalized it with his name. His parents have named him after his two grandfathers, but they have chosen to call him by a nickname, Jack and so we will too. “Jesus Loves Jack” was our theme song. Jack likes the piano and music and his countenance is especially sweet when he is serenaded or sung to. This responsibility of being a grandparent is not taken lightly. The Bible doesn’t mention our role as grandparents specifically but it does talk a great deal about parenting. Billy Graham has said that as grandparents we should, “Thank God for the privilege of being grandparents, and ask Him to help us be the best grandparents we can be. May our grandchildren remember not only the good times we’ll give them, but especially our example of faith and love in Christ.” I look back and I first learned of Jesus from my dear grandmother. We put together a scrapbook about Jesus from old church bulletins stuck in the back of her Bible. I still have that scrapbook and it is a treasure. Would there be “Reflections by the Sea” if she has not sown seeds of faith in me as a child? She was my teacher and my friend. It is said that “A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher and a little bit best friend”. How true. I can be that! I know our little Jack was brought to us on the wings of angels and by the love of his precious parents. But I choose to hope that before his arrival from Heaven, the angels stopped off to see my father who gave him a few pointers about baseball that he can use on his journey. So this little boy that has stolen my heart will know about God and Jesus and baseball. Others will have to fill in the blanks about other things. But I’ve got those three things covered (with my husband’s help on the baseball!!). The miracle of life gets me choked up every time I think about it: the little nose, the pursed lips, the tiny fingers and toes; the tender eyes that give and receive love. To be blessed with a new child to love puts all of life’s priorities in right order and puts everything in proper perspective. The little things don’t matter. We get these moments where as grandparents we are being looked to for wisdom and guidance from the parents and then we are looked up to by the little grandchildren for how to behave, what to say and do. That is the inheritance that we can give…being wise and godly in our leadership over our family. It is a blessing to be chosen for this role and one to cherish and use well. And if I have spoken too much about grandmothers, let me not close until I have paid tribute to the wonderful grandfathers, of whom it is said, “May have silver in their hair, but have gold in their hearts”. I know that to be true!! If you are a grandparent, you understand what all the fuss is about. No matter who we are, or what age we are, there is a good chance that whether past or present, we were prayed for, loved, thought of and cherished in only the way our grandparents could do it. Whether it was a biological grandparent or someone special that was placed in our life and acted like a grandparent, I believe we are to be grateful for that and pass it on. The lesson is to love. What we give will be returned to us in abundance.

Living in Freedom

Living in Freedom Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass July 10, 2012

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. – Galations 5:13 NIV Meandering through the downtown streets of Manteo recently made me smile. The streets were lined with so many beautiful and different picket fences. Blue hydrangeas and orange day- lilies bursting through the white pickets. Climbing roses, too. These fences surrounded Victorians homes, cottages, bungalows and more. Everything appeared to have a fresh coat of paint. Front porches were decorated with wicker chairs and steps were lined with pots of flowers. Loving touches here and there like birdbaths, baskets of flowers, window boxes and garden art showed individuality and expression. One house had a starfish in each window. It was a charming afternoon to observe neighbors visiting over the fence, children riding on bikes to the water, vacationers supporting the local economy, restaurants bustling with patrons. But one thing stood out. So many American flags…everywhere! Homes, businesses and the waterfront. Such pride was apparent in the community and for our country! Independence Day has passed, but the spirit lives on. We are fortunate to have the chance to celebrate our country and the freedom we enjoy. We should always be grateful and never take our freedom for granted. It is a blessing and a gift. We live in a free country where we can express ourselves without fear. There are so many opportunities for learning and doing for those that wish to pursue them. We have freedom to live, work, play and worship wherever we want to. Many people in other countries would give anything to have the choices we have. Our leaders need our prayers more today than at any time in my history. We can’t lose sight of the importance of God in our country. Our leaders need our prayers for godly wisdom as they make decisions that affect each of us and the places we live. Thank you God for the tireless efforts of those that work so hard to help maintain the freedom that we continue to enjoy.

A Day At The Beach

A Day At The Beach Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Glass July 05, 2012

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. –1 Peter 3:8 NIV Recently, I dedicated one entire day just to sit by the sea and observe my surroundings. Amazing! The sky was clear blue with lots of cottony clouds. Sea gulls were riding the air currents and many Pelicans traveled south in V- formations. The ocean was deep blue in the distance. The wind blew waves onshore with a pounding crash every few seconds. The sea oats that have turned a rich golden-color, swayed back and forth in the breeze. Some sea oats hung down to the ground, evidence of prior storms that had beaten them low. Children squealed with excitement and surprise when the cold ocean water touched their tender feet. Grownups clustered under umbrellas and tents to keep the hot summer sun at bay. Surf casters kept a curious eye on the angler’s at the nearby pier. The smell of salt air was heavy, as I sat in the shade in my chair, watching the day unfold around me. I lost track of time, as I watched this scene play over and over, all day long.   Spending time at the beach, you can’t help but observe the harmonious way that nature exists together. While it is true that storms come and turn the peaceful shore and its habitants upside down for a short time, nature has a resilient way of getting back on its feet. It is reflective of a wonderful, natural balance. It’s God’s Greatness in action. Harmony is defined as ‘compatibility in opinion and action’. It’s the result of a happy agreement. Things are tranquil and calm. Sometimes living in harmony outside of nature doesn’t seem to come as easy for some of us, as it does for the birds and other critters that live by the sea. Families and friends that live in harmony listen to one another. There is no un- godly talk that exists. They don’t assume the worst in each other. Where there is harmony, there is no room for accusing spirits. Wisdom and knowledge are shared with affection and received with appreciation. We can look around us at the beach and see His Greatness everywhere. Let us invite His Greatness into our hearts and homes and specifically ask for the godly gift of harmony