Vacation

Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
June 02, 2010

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much Luke 16:10a NIV

The time is nearing when many families will begin coming to the beaches for their summer vacations. The beach will appear festive from the vivid colors of the umbrellas that take their place in the sand. Bright colored beach towels and plastic beach balls will also be a part of the landscape at the beach. It reminds me of travelling to the Outer Banks when we were children for our week of vacation each year. There was such anticipation and excitement that surrounded that time. We learned to find enjoyment in every day. It was a good lesson to learn at a young age. We cherished the sunny days and played hard in the surf and sand. On the rainy days, we caught rainwater with our newly purchased pails and shovels and built sandcastles, under our cottage, held high on stilts. When we had too much sun on our tender skin, the family would take a day trip in the car to see the sights. At night there were card games, skating at the roller rink or family tournaments of putt-putt. No time was wasted, yet we returned home from vacation very rested and content.

Taking what we had and making the most of it, is a philosophy that has stayed with me through the years. I have observed some people that have very little, yet they live so rich. They use their talents and skills to create a contented, charming lifestyle and God seems to bless them with more. And then there are those folks that seem to have everything, yet they are disgruntled and greedy for more. I think God would have us enjoy each and every day that He gives us. There are hidden treasures in each day and it is our job to find them. Making the most of what we are given is showing our grateful appreciation to God for the many gifts and opportunities He has given us, and continues to give us daily. The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3 NIV

Lifejacket


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
May 26, 2010

I will lift my eyes to the hills – From where comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1- 2

This Memorial Day weekend will be a busy time on the waters. Boaters will take extra care and special precautions to ready their boat to be sure it is seaworthy and equipped with everything needed to ensure a great experience. Lifejackets are required to be on board. No ifs, ands or buts. It is a must. It is the ultimate backup plan to protect those on the boat if there is trouble aboard or on the water. I like the idea of a lifejacket. It makes me feel secure, safe and gives me confidence to venture to places I’ve never been. It is nice knowing there is something to help me if I need it.

Spiritually, this is a good question to ask, “Where do you turn to for help when you need it?” I know for certain that we can find help in the Bible. The Bible is filled with love, direction, wisdom and guidance. We can ask for help and it will be revealed on the pages. While God may send help we don’t have to be powerless while we wait for it though. We can seek it and find it. It is the greatest source. I bought a little book recently and it contains all of God’s Promises. For anyone needing help and wisdom in what to do, how to react, what to believe, we can find His Promises in His Word. It is like clothing ourselves in a spiritual lifejacket!

This week I have heard of several people that are hurting whether emotionally, physically or spiritually. Life isn’t easy. Things happen. Each circumstance has been an occasion for calling out to God for help. And He hasn’t failed. Whatever your need is, whatever your concern, take it to God. Is there anyone that can go it alone? No. Would you walk by yourself in an unfamiliar place, in the dark not telling anyone where you going? Of course not. It is too risky, it is unsafe. But there are so many that will travel the roads of life without anyone to help them, guide them or light the path. They try to do it by themselves. Our help comes from Him. So does our strength and our ability to keep going. Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. -1 Peter 5:7

Reach out to someone that has crossed your path that needs to lean on you a little bit. Help to make their time of trouble a little easier. Share a prayer, a scripture or just a simple smile. Offer them a lifejacket of hope and help. Let God show through you to them. God will finish what you have started. And when you shift your focus from your own problems over to helping someone else through their trials, you may find that your own burdens and worries don’t seem quite as heavy anymore. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3- 4.

Broken Fences

Broken Fences

Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
May 19, 2010

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. I Timothy 2:1-2

There are people that hurt our feelings with their unkind remarks, gossip and tales. Sometimes it is not even a word that is spoken, but a roll of the eyes, a smirk or a gesture. It only takes a moment, but the effects can be lasting. Perhaps a long-time friendship isn’t strong enough to overcome repeated assaults on individual taste, character and personal opinion. Some people feel it is their obligation to “speak the truth” no matter how hurtful it may be, particularly when imposing their beliefs or views. Some things should be left unsaid and only a wise person knows that. In everyday living, don’t you know people who tear down the self-esteem of others without remorse? Often we can adjust our lives to avoid folks like this because of the destructive impact they have on us. Then there are occasions when we have to endure being in their company. Being a Christian does not shield us from being in situations that are uncomfortable. But, what to do about it!

The picture today of the fence shows that it is twisted and broken. The people that stir up the commotion and leave behind them a trail of hurt reminds me of that broken fence. There is something missing in their life that they can inflict such hurt on others. Rather than scorn them, I believe God wants us to pray for them. It’s still okay not to want to be in their company very much, but we should double up the prayers asking God to do a work in them, starting with the way they treat us. Our understanding of his power to make changes in anyone’s life is limited, but we must have faith. I know this works. God hears us. God can rebuild a fence better than it was to begin with. He is the mender, the fixer. Have patience as God is doing His work. Hand God all of the broken fences in your life and then wait….and pray. The reward is peace, godly peace.

Taking Care


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
May 12, 2010


Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. -Proverbs 4:23 NIV

Although I was not able to spend time in the company of my children for Mother’s Day due to distance, we did the next best thing. We spent our day sending pictures back and forth on the computer, opening cards, unwrapping gifts and chatting on the phone. It was a beautiful day to be remembered and to remember my own Mother as well.

I started thinking about the role of the mother in the family. While all families are different one thing remains the same: the mother is truly the heartbeat of the family. She is the center and provides the nourishment, order, structure, discipline, love and care on an everyday basis. This doesn’t diminish fathers at all, as we couldn’t do without them, but just for today, we are going to focus on the mothers. If she is the heartbeat of the family, she basically sets the tone in the household, as well. If she is happy, everyone is happy and if she is not, nobody is! My adult children love to tell the story now, but years ago when they were young teens, if I had to discipline them, they were quick to call their Dad at work. They would tell him I was all stressed out and attempted to warn him, failing to mention they hadn’t done their chores or homework, which was the justification for the discipline in the first place! My husband and I laugh now at how crafty they thought they were. When those phone calls came in about “Mom being hard on them” he knew it was rightly deserved and he never let on until years later. I find it quite humorous that my adult daughter is now dealing with the same issues with her daughter! Yes, I guess history repeats itself!

Mothers can handle a lot of things but they are not immune to stress. If the mother is taking care of everyone, who is taking care of her? Mothers can give so much at times that they become depleted, overworked and stressed. It can take a toll and then the whole family is affected. This past week, little stresses started to multiply within me, until all of a sudden my heart rate was high and it wouldn’t slow down. Doctors can prescribe medications and that is the easy part. The hard part is to control the emotions and stresses that can overtake us at times. Being overwhelmed can happen to anyone, even those with a mild temperament. It turns out I need to do a better job of “sweating the small stuff”. I have heard it said that stress isn’t something that happens to us; rather it is our response to what happens. We just have to be aware that we have a choice what we let in to our spirit and what we reject. I’m working on it, and I can tell you that prayer helps a great deal and I couldn’t live without it. Specifically asking God to pour out His Peace is a great start. Staying positive, in faith, with hope, expectation of good health and having a grateful attitude is the only place I want to be. God will help us to filter out the unimportant and negative things than take up unnecessary space in our heart and instead, He can keep us in joy and peace with gladness. He is always there, taking care of us.

Remembering Mother's Day


Reflections by the Sea © Betsy Ore Glass
May 08, 2010


I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. –Proverbs 4:11 NIV

I learned of a tradition associated with Mother’s Day when I was just a little girl. If you wore a white flower on your dress, in your hair or on your lapel on Mother’s Day, it meant that your Mother had passed on; and if you wore a red flower that meant that your Mother was living. As little kids we mostly wore the red roses we tore off the rose bushes that were on the church grounds on our way to Sunday school. Lots of the grownups did the same thing, but many of them gathered around the white rose bush. That memory is so vivid, yet so long ago. I remember being glad then that I could wear a red rose, and I am still glad of it today.

God gave each of us a Mother. Our relationship with our Mother changes and evolves over time. The first smile we saw was our Mother’s. Then spending years of nurturing us through childhood, she equally dispensed kool-aid and band-aids. Teaching us and learning from us all at the same time. Molding and shaping our teenage thoughts with a healthy dose of discipline and love to smooth over the hurts we encountered along the way. Cheering us on with each milestone and letting us go when it was time to start our own life. Then, being available anytime, just in case, and offering advice tenderly when she sees us making a wrong turn. A Mother knows to choose her words carefully because they are being stored up on the inside of her children. Whether your Mother is here today or in heaven, know that God blesses us with the sound of her voice in our ears and hearts to continually guide us along our path. That is a gift from God to have our Mother’s wisdom to hold on to forever

Trust


Reflections by the Sea by Betsy Ore Glass
April 28,2010

He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.
- Psalm 22:8

A boat ride can be fun, and in order to really enjoy the experience I think that having trust in the captain is all important. I want the captain to know the boat, know the water, understand the weather and be familiar with the navigation charts. It makes for an easier ride if there are no worries and the captain is fully experienced and capable. I would hesitate to take a boat ride with a captain that showed inexperience. The depth finder and radar are so helpful, but ultimately it is his skills that come with experience that will help the captain guide the boat because of his knowledge and ability to handle the vessel.

At the start of each day lies before us are all the choices and decisions we must make. We may not have the great skill and knowledge of a professional boat captain to apply to our life. We may be navigating uncharted waters as we deal with choices before us. Some days can seem a bit overwhelming at times with so much facing us and many people depending on us. We wonder what is the right thing to do. Often we will poll our family and friends for their advice, only to come away more confused than ever, even though they love us and mean well. Those decisions that simmer day after day on the back burner eventually have to be handled. They can’t be put off another day. But what if you don’t know what to do? God says we are to trust Him. God has a way of directing our paths and we are not aware of it. If we go down the wrong path we will surely know it because nothing about it will work out. We will come across too many obstacles which sometimes is God’s way of telling us we have veered into the wrong direction. Just as soon as we make the correction, we get a “knowing” on the inside of us that we are where we need to be. When we are in God’s Will everything seems to fall into place. It is by His design because He has been working behind the scenes to line up the right people, right circumstances for our situation. Basically, He has made a way. And what if you want something so bad and have prayed so hard for it and it isn’t happening? Don’t despair. Perhaps God’s Timing and our timing are not in sync. It doesn’t mean it won’t happen, it will only happen when God anoints it to happen.

Decisions face each of us. Big ones and little ones. Life-changing decisions and the simple ones that are easily forgotten by the end of the day. To keep from wasting steps and time, consult God before each decision. His wisdom is ever abundant and He always has our best interest at heart. And if you feel like you haven’t heard from God about what to do, start moving in the best direction and make the best decision you can. God likes to see us use the wisdom He has given us. And if it is to be, God makes a way. And if it isn’t, God will stop us with delays, cancellations, and a whole string of situations will stand in front of us that will prevent us from moving forward. He has the plan. He knows what is best. We don’t have to explore uncharted waters alone. God is at the helm and He says we can trust Him.

Celebrate Life



Reflections by the Sea by Betsy Ore Glass
April 21, 2010

The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!

 -Lamentations 3:22-24 (NASB)

It is so much fun to sit on the dunes with my long zoom camera lens and watch the birds walking along the water’s edge. Watching the pelicans in the distance as they dive into the sea. Noticing the clouds overhead that take the shape of things as they move slowly by. I love being a spectator from my perch nearby. Seeing everything up close, yet not being an active part of it.

The opposite of spectator is being a participant. It is equally fun to play with kids in the water, build sandcastles, collect shells and enjoy a picnic together. Being in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest with someone is truly the act of participating.

It occurs to me that we have a choice in life. We can choose to be a spectator or a participator of life. We can become fully engaged in our life and the lives of those around us or stand back, in the shadows, living life through other people, watching their celebrations and milestones. My husband and I made the choice years ago to be a family that celebrates. We make the birthdays, anniversaries and holidays special. Even the dogs get birthday presents! Carrying around a camera for most of my life, I have been able to catch big moments and little ones too, so the memories of our celebrations have not been lost or forgotten.

Today is our 37th wedding anniversary. We feel so blessed to have weathered the ups and downs of our journey and come out on top together. As we have done for 36 years before, we will talk of gratitude for what we have been given in this life. We will talk of going forward and will pick a new goal for the upcoming year. It will be something we can do or dream about together. It keeps us connected. It is one of the threads that bind us.

Occasionally, I hear folks describe their days with the words, “didn’t do much today” or “we’re not planning anything special”. I used to be one of those people long ago. We stood at the front door many times and watched a neighbor family pile in their old car and drive off to enjoy life by going to ballgames, the beach, picnics and camping. Even backyard barbecues were special to them. I learned an important lesson from that family. Seize the moment. When the day is over, it is lost. The young mother of this family passed in a car accident when her children were small. No time for goodbyes, one more picnic or one last moment. But I can say that family had far more memories to carry forward than some people have in a lifetime. And it wasn’t because they had unlimited resources or an abundance of time. No, they simply made an effort and chose to celebrate their life. To make something of each day. They learned that ever important balance of working, playing and praying. They made time for it all.

Part of being a participator in life is a way to honor oneself and the family and friends that surround. It honors God showing Him we treasure the life He breathed in us and the gifts He surrounds us with. It is true that health, finances and obstacles can keep us from doing the things we want to do sometimes or it can limit us greatly, but we can choose our attitude about our life and what we do with it. For example, a budget meal of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich can be presented like a feast. Celebrating the first cucumber from the garden can bring a big smile. The dog bringing back the ball in a game of fetch can be cause for praise, kisses and hugs. Everyday things can be a series of small celebrations and before long we begin to realize that joy resides within. It is taking hold on the inside. It starts with having an attitude that promotes joy and happiness combined with the act of “doing” instead of “watching” that keeps many people celebrating daily life to a ripe old age.

Letting Go

Reflections by the Sea ©
Betsy Ore Glass
April 14, 2010


Photo by Grahame Brown


Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. -Isaiah 55:7 NIV

Last week my granddaughter went fishing with her Dad on their new fishing boat. Equipped with her pink rod and reel for girls she was ready for the excitement the day would bring. Surprised, she caught the first fish of the day! It was too big for her dainty rod and reel as the rod bent over and almost broke. But when the fish was reeled in, it was too small to keep so they released it. This was repeated though out the day until she gave her little rod and reel such as workout that the handle eventually broke. No doubt this little fishing pro is ready for a “big girl” rod and reel! If you fish at all, you are aware of the”catch and release” program. If a fish is too small, it gently gets unhooked and is tossed back into the water which is the right thing to do.

A definition of releasing something is a form of surrender by giving something up, throwing it back, walking away or choosing not to be affected by it anymore. There are those times when we have all felt offended and carried offenses too long, Gods way is for us to let these offenders off the hook with merciful forgiveness. This is called to pardon someone or something. If we are doing the pardoning, we are called to be merciful and loving while forgiving. Isn’t that the way our Lord has treated us. We offend Him daily with our words, thoughts and actions but we know that He will show mercy and He pardons our sins when we come to Him in humble surrender.

St, Francis of Assisi, a patron saint in the Catholic Church from many years ago speaks of pardoning and living this way: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred ... let me sow love. Where there is injury ... pardon. Where there is doubt ... faith. Where there is despair ... hope. Where there is darkness ... light. Where there is sadness ... joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled ... as to console, to be understood ... as to understand; to be loved ... as to love, for It is in giving ... that we receive. It is in pardoning ... that we are pardoned, it is in dying ... that we are born to eternal life.”

These are good words to live by. In prayer, ask if there is someone you can “let off the hook” today with forgiveness and if there is someone that needs to let you off the hook. Then we can truly say that we are instruments of peace.