Issue 1596 Sea Glass November 8, 2024

Sea/Beach glass

A passion that has been around for a while is gaining popularity. I’m speaking of collecting sea glass. People gather sea glass and beach glass, then either display it as is or use it in various arts and crafts. The vibrant colors make for some eye-catching displays and beautiful jewelry.

Sea glass is a shard of discarded broken glass or ceramic that the ocean has tumbled smooth and gathered on the shore. It comes in a seemingly infinite variety of colors and patterns. Beach glass is glass picked up on freshwater beaches. The terms are often used interchangeably.

Some people collect only glass pieces; others save only ceramic, and those only gather a particular color. Most people gather whatever shiny shard catches their eye, regardless of color or material. I have a couple of pieces tucked away in my boxes of shiny rocks and other treasures.

As the discarded glass gets washed about on the sea bottom, the rough edges are ground off, and the shards take on a frosted, polished look. It’s an ecologically sound way to clean up some old debris. Someone’s waste has been transformed into someone else’s treasure.

It’s a beautiful metaphor for Christianity. Broken waste transformed into exquisite jewels.

Every person is a sinner by both nature and choice. We are all broken by life and have rejected our savior. Some people have the blessing of trusting in Christ by faith, and we are transformed into children of God, precious stones in His temple.

We still have rough edges to be ground off and final polishing. God will use life to transform us, guided by the Word and the Holy Spirit.

Just as it is hard to imagine a truckload of waste or an empty bottle tossed from a boat becoming something beautiful, it is hard to imagine what God has planned for us.

 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ  1 Peter 2:4-5

It is a challenging journey at times. Like the sea glass, we are tumbled and rubbed. Sharp edges are knocked off over and over until they become smooth. Sometimes, it seems smooth sailing, and then another area needs to be worked on or more refining done, and we are knocked about again.

I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ Philippians 1:6

God will discipline and shape us until we are everything He created us to be. The master artist sees the inner beauty he made us with and removes anything else.

While we are in process, he keeps us covered with the blood of His Son. In the interim, we are polished, shaped, and made more beautiful than we can imagine. I can hardly wait for the grand unveiling in glory.

The most stunning beauty will be the Lord himself, with unique glory given to the Son. We are being shaped into individual representations of the image of the Son. We will have Christlike natures, but we will all be different.

The finished product will make every knock, rub, and abrasion worthwhile. When we see the Lord in glory, we will praise Him forever. We will be awed when we see the dazzling array of the beach glass saints. I can hardly wait to see what we will look like.

In the interim, trust Him and give Him all the glory in good times and bad.

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

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