They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8
The old Bail-o-Matic rests in the round pen adjacent to the barn—its faded yellow paint marred by rust and over thirty-five years of exposure to Sacramento’s hot dry summers and cool wet winters. This antique bailer has not been operated since its purchase and any attempt to relocate from its current site presents a unique challenge. Standing 25 feet tall and growing through the middle of the bailer, a valley oak tree secures the Bail-o-Matic to the landscape. The first time I saw this peculiar duo, I questioned why the tree had not been cut down. My husband related the following about the pair’s history:
The Bale-o-Matic was purchased back in 1973 I believe by either Dad or my grandfather. We had just gotten our first tractor, an old orange Allis-Chalmers, and we were in the process of trying to piece together all the farm implements that we needed to run our little ranch. All of the machinery that we had was bought at auctions or from private parties. One night Dad pulled that old baler home and left in the front of the barn. One thing was missing though, an engine to run the baler. Never got an engine to run that baler. We didn’t even have a rake to rake the hay into wind rows for the baler to pick up. We ended up having to put a small utility trailer on the back of a 1964 Plymouth Station Wagon and drove around the fields raking the grass up with our pitchforks and then driving the trailer in to the barn and unloading the “hay” into the barn. The Bale-o-Matic was never used and eventually about 1975 was pulled to its current resting place. The valley oak tree that has since grown through the frame of the baler and around the axle began growing shortly thereafter.
The tree was a small seedling at the time the bailer was parked, but that did not thwart the little oak’s determination. Valley oaks thrive in northern California’s climate with the largest-recorded tree reaching over 100 feet with a circumference of eight feet. The oak’s thick, ridged bark evokes visions of alligator hide and its strong desire for survival.
This oak has two distinctly evident curves: the first at the one-foot mark and the second approximately four feet from the ground, where the young sapling was twice forced to alter its vertical path to freedom. This strange machine/nature partnership presents two very different analogies:
1) If we are determined to grow in Christ, nothing will stop us, even though that path may not be as straight and clear as we anticipated or planned; and
2) How often do we live with a situation until it has so rooted itself into our souls that we feel permanently trapped and, like the bailer are pinioned to hopelessness or uselessness?
The oak’s strength and persistence are to be admired. In light of the overwhelming odds, the tree’s chances for success were limited. In this instance, nobody told the tree. Daily….yearly, the valley oak grew, seeking out the light and rooting deeper into the ground for nutrients. When faced with the bailer’s axle in its path, the little sprout grew around the axle until currently; the tree actually encases the axle. Years later when confronted with a second barrier, the oak, now both stronger and wiser, once more altered its course to find blue sky.
In Philippians 4:13, Paul states, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Not some things or most things, but all things. Our brother, Paul was experienced in achieving goals even through insurmountable odds. His growth as a Christian took an immediate detour to Arabia before joining the apostles in Jerusalem. Through shipwreck, snakebite, multiple imprisonments and stoning, Paul focused upward and growing closer to the Son, not despairing or obsessing on the barriers in his path.
Every Christian faces challenges in their lives. James 1:1-3 assures us these trials are to be expected, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Like the valley oak, I pray my resolve to grow closer to God is just as strong to push past life’s inevitable barriers.
Careful Considerations: What challenges are you facing that seem insurmountable, causing you to feel hopeless or useless? What challenges have you faced that have strengthened your faith in God?
Heavenly Father, too often I focus on the hindrances rather than the Helper. I allow myself to become discouraged seeing all the reason why I can’t rather that trusting the One who can! "For nothing will be impossible with God." (Luke 1:37) Just like Abraham did not focus on his advanced age, but trusted God’s promise for a son, please clear my sight to see the possibilities that exist if I will only keep my eyes focused on You. In Jesus name, Amen.
Love, Hugs and Prayers,
Gwenda
“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible,” Matthew 19:26.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3
Monday, November 22, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
The Other Side of Glass Beach aka Walking on Broken Glass 05-15-10
Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
There were so beautiful, my hand itched to touch them. Like jewels in the sand, the broken fragments that litter Glass Beach reflected the light and caused my heart to smile. Roaming the beach, I relished the variety of colors colors: milky white, amber, ocher and emerald…and look--a rare piece of blue! The white, probably windshield glass, was most prevalent followed by the brown, which is attributed to beer bottles; the green, old medicine bottles and the blues, reds, yellow and pinks from assorted other sources. As I carefully gathered up selected remnants of the past, I envisioned using the pieces to decorate something beautiful with which to remember my trip.
Arriving home with my coastal treasures, I carefully washed off the sand and even used a toothbrush and dish soap to assist in cleaning and removing any salt particles and grime from the pieces. Afterwards, I left the bits of glass in a bowl to dry. Several days later, checking on my cache, I found instead ordinary, dull pieces of broken glass. Where were my prizes? These “things” in the bowl were not luxurious jewels which had dazzled on the beach, but…well… just junk! What had happened?
I had removed the jewels from the very environment that had made them shine. The light of the sun adding to the work of the waves and the sand had created beautiful unique jewel-like pieces. Removing the jewels from their home and the distinctive conditions which brought them luster and life had reverted my mementos to just broken bits of old glass.
Just as the sun, waves and sand made the broken glass beautiful, God’s love is what makes our lives truly beautiful. 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
Nothing in this world will cause our lives to shine more than living in God’s truth with the constant presence of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s touch on our hearts and lives that brings beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3) This illustration reminds me how important it is to stay in the Light of the Son, covered in the Holy Spirit and be sanded/polished with God’s Word. A new Christian glows with the beauty of all three aspects of the Trinity. Through His salvation, we become crown jewels to God, but take us out of His presence and put us back into the world, and we revert to what we were before we came to Him, broken bits of hopeless humanity.
Careful Considerations:
How does you walk with God “shine” when you are consistent in prayer, worship and bible study? How has your life “dulled’ when you out of God’s presence and love? Discuss
Heavenly Father, “if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin” (I John 1:7). bringing matchless beauty to our lives. God, You “make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun (Psalm 37:6) May we always stay in a close relationship to You that we may be the shining jewels that draw others to You. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.
Love, Hugs and Prayers,
Gwenda
Psalm 50:2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
Psalm 4:6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
Psalm 80:7 Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
III John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Information on the sea glass from Glass Beach:
Less common colors include jade, amber (from bottles for whiskey, medicine, spirits, and early bleach bottles), golden amber or "amberina" (mostly used for spirit bottles), lime green (from soda bottles during the 1960s), forest green, and ice- or soft blue (from soda bottles, medicine bottles, ink bottles, and fruit jars from the late 1800s and early 1900s, windows, and windshields). These colors are found about once for every 25 to 100 pieces of sea glass found.[4]
Uncommon colors of sea glass include green, which comes primarily from early to mid-1900s Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, and RC Cola bottles, as well as beer bottles. Soft green colors could come from bottles that were used for ink, fruit, and baking soda. These colors are found once in every 50 to 100 pieces.[4]
Purple sea glass is very uncommon, as is citron, opaque white (from milk glass), cobalt and cornflower blue (from early Milk of Magnesia bottles, poison bottles, artwork, and Bromo-Seltzer and Vicks VapoRub containers), and aqua (from Ball Mason jars and 19th century glass bottles). These colors are found once for every 200 to 1,000 pieces found.[4]
Rare and extremely rare colors include gray, pink (often from Great Depression era plates), teal (often from Mateus wine bottles), black (older, very dark olive green glass), yellow (often from 1930s Vaseline containers), turquoise (from tableware and art glass), red (often from car tail lights, dinnerware or from nautical lights, it is found once in about every 5,000 pieces), and orange (the least common type of sea glass, found once in about 10,000 pieces). These colors are found once for every 1,000 to 10,000 pieces collected. Some shards of black glass are quite old, originating from thick eighteenth-century gin, beer and wine bottles.[4]
There were so beautiful, my hand itched to touch them. Like jewels in the sand, the broken fragments that litter Glass Beach reflected the light and caused my heart to smile. Roaming the beach, I relished the variety of colors colors: milky white, amber, ocher and emerald…and look--a rare piece of blue! The white, probably windshield glass, was most prevalent followed by the brown, which is attributed to beer bottles; the green, old medicine bottles and the blues, reds, yellow and pinks from assorted other sources. As I carefully gathered up selected remnants of the past, I envisioned using the pieces to decorate something beautiful with which to remember my trip.
Arriving home with my coastal treasures, I carefully washed off the sand and even used a toothbrush and dish soap to assist in cleaning and removing any salt particles and grime from the pieces. Afterwards, I left the bits of glass in a bowl to dry. Several days later, checking on my cache, I found instead ordinary, dull pieces of broken glass. Where were my prizes? These “things” in the bowl were not luxurious jewels which had dazzled on the beach, but…well… just junk! What had happened?
I had removed the jewels from the very environment that had made them shine. The light of the sun adding to the work of the waves and the sand had created beautiful unique jewel-like pieces. Removing the jewels from their home and the distinctive conditions which brought them luster and life had reverted my mementos to just broken bits of old glass.
Just as the sun, waves and sand made the broken glass beautiful, God’s love is what makes our lives truly beautiful. 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
Nothing in this world will cause our lives to shine more than living in God’s truth with the constant presence of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s touch on our hearts and lives that brings beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3) This illustration reminds me how important it is to stay in the Light of the Son, covered in the Holy Spirit and be sanded/polished with God’s Word. A new Christian glows with the beauty of all three aspects of the Trinity. Through His salvation, we become crown jewels to God, but take us out of His presence and put us back into the world, and we revert to what we were before we came to Him, broken bits of hopeless humanity.
Careful Considerations:
How does you walk with God “shine” when you are consistent in prayer, worship and bible study? How has your life “dulled’ when you out of God’s presence and love? Discuss
Heavenly Father, “if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin” (I John 1:7). bringing matchless beauty to our lives. God, You “make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun (Psalm 37:6) May we always stay in a close relationship to You that we may be the shining jewels that draw others to You. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.
Love, Hugs and Prayers,
Gwenda
Psalm 50:2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
Psalm 4:6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
Psalm 80:7 Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
III John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Information on the sea glass from Glass Beach:
Less common colors include jade, amber (from bottles for whiskey, medicine, spirits, and early bleach bottles), golden amber or "amberina" (mostly used for spirit bottles), lime green (from soda bottles during the 1960s), forest green, and ice- or soft blue (from soda bottles, medicine bottles, ink bottles, and fruit jars from the late 1800s and early 1900s, windows, and windshields). These colors are found about once for every 25 to 100 pieces of sea glass found.[4]
Uncommon colors of sea glass include green, which comes primarily from early to mid-1900s Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper, and RC Cola bottles, as well as beer bottles. Soft green colors could come from bottles that were used for ink, fruit, and baking soda. These colors are found once in every 50 to 100 pieces.[4]
Purple sea glass is very uncommon, as is citron, opaque white (from milk glass), cobalt and cornflower blue (from early Milk of Magnesia bottles, poison bottles, artwork, and Bromo-Seltzer and Vicks VapoRub containers), and aqua (from Ball Mason jars and 19th century glass bottles). These colors are found once for every 200 to 1,000 pieces found.[4]
Rare and extremely rare colors include gray, pink (often from Great Depression era plates), teal (often from Mateus wine bottles), black (older, very dark olive green glass), yellow (often from 1930s Vaseline containers), turquoise (from tableware and art glass), red (often from car tail lights, dinnerware or from nautical lights, it is found once in about every 5,000 pieces), and orange (the least common type of sea glass, found once in about 10,000 pieces). These colors are found once for every 1,000 to 10,000 pieces collected. Some shards of black glass are quite old, originating from thick eighteenth-century gin, beer and wine bottles.[4]
Glass Beach 03-30-10
Luke 3:5-6 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation.'
In the early 20th century, the residents of Fort Bragg , California threw their household trash over the cliffs west of town at the very edge of the Pacific Ocean . They discarded glass, appliances, and even cars. The land was owned at that time by the Union Lumber Company and locals referred to it as "The Dumps." Occasionally fires would be lit to reduce the size of the trash pile.
In 1967, the North Coast Water Quality Board and city leaders closed the area and various cleanup programs were undertaken through the years to correct the damage. Over the next several decades the pounding waves cleansed the beach, wearing down the discarded glass into the small, smooth, colored trinkets that cover the beach today so that the area is now referred to as “ Glass Beach ”.
Today, Glass Beach is abundant in sea glass. Sea glass (also known as beach glass, mermaid's tears, lucky tears, and many other names) is glass found on beaches along ocean or large lakes has been tumbled and smoothed by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth, frosted glass.[1]Sea glass is one of the very few cases of a valuable item being created from the actions of the environment on man-made litter.
After spending a couple of hours delightful hours there, I decided they needed to rename it “ Jewel Beach ”. The thousands of pieces of colored glass resembled sparkling jewels. Isn’t it amazing what time and tides can do; continually working the dangerously sharp and broken pieces of glass until they are smoothed into to jewel-like treasures?
The bible provides us with several examples of individuals who could have spent the rest of their lives walking on the broken glass of their heartaches and loss:
• Naomi mourned the loss not only of her husband but both of her sons and therefore any grandchildren she might have: "Don't call me Naomi, "she told them.”Call me Mara, because the Almighty [d] has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." Ruth 1:20-21
• Job was devastated by the loss of all his children and holdings while suffering from painful boils; "My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me. Job 17:1
• Sarai’s very name meant “bitter.” Her husband lied about being married to her, causing her to be pursued by a lovesick king. She was desperate for a child of her own while seeing her husband’s reflection in the face of her servant’s child. Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me." Genesis 16:5
Instead, by God’s power, each story is one of healing and jewels resulting from former places of great pain and suffering. Saria’s jewel was her son Isaac-born of her old age, along with God renaming her “Sarah (“princess”). Naomi’s jewel was Ruth who was considered” better to … than seven sons” and Ruth’s son, Obed, whom Naomi raised. Job’s many jewels include his sons, beautiful daughters and replenishment of his assets.
Beloved, how many times have you been in a difficult, even painful situation only to look back to realize that God brought glory from your experience? I Peter 5:4 states: “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” I believe that God will take all of the broken parts of our life that we’ve allowed Him to smooth and create jewels for our crown.
Careful Considerations: Does God view our brokenness as sharp pieces of glory that just need smoothing? What are the jewels that were created from your loss, trial of trial or heartache?
Heavenly Father, You are near to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).Your road stretches straight and smooth. Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward him makes it. (Psalm 18:30). You “bring good news to the afflicted; bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners (Isaiah 61:1). Lord, take the broken sharp edges of our pain and trials and smooth them into jewels for a crown of glory. In Jesus name, Amen.
Hugs and prayers,
Gwenda
Isaiah 26:7 The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?
Psalm 128:1 All you who fear God, how blessed you are! how happily you walk on his smooth straight road! You worked hard and deserve all you've got coming. Enjoy the blessing! Revel in the goodness!
(1) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bragg,_California
In the early 20th century, the residents of Fort Bragg , California threw their household trash over the cliffs west of town at the very edge of the Pacific Ocean . They discarded glass, appliances, and even cars. The land was owned at that time by the Union Lumber Company and locals referred to it as "The Dumps." Occasionally fires would be lit to reduce the size of the trash pile.
In 1967, the North Coast Water Quality Board and city leaders closed the area and various cleanup programs were undertaken through the years to correct the damage. Over the next several decades the pounding waves cleansed the beach, wearing down the discarded glass into the small, smooth, colored trinkets that cover the beach today so that the area is now referred to as “ Glass Beach ”.
Today, Glass Beach is abundant in sea glass. Sea glass (also known as beach glass, mermaid's tears, lucky tears, and many other names) is glass found on beaches along ocean or large lakes has been tumbled and smoothed by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth, frosted glass.[1]Sea glass is one of the very few cases of a valuable item being created from the actions of the environment on man-made litter.
After spending a couple of hours delightful hours there, I decided they needed to rename it “ Jewel Beach ”. The thousands of pieces of colored glass resembled sparkling jewels. Isn’t it amazing what time and tides can do; continually working the dangerously sharp and broken pieces of glass until they are smoothed into to jewel-like treasures?
The bible provides us with several examples of individuals who could have spent the rest of their lives walking on the broken glass of their heartaches and loss:
• Naomi mourned the loss not only of her husband but both of her sons and therefore any grandchildren she might have: "Don't call me Naomi, "she told them.”Call me Mara, because the Almighty [d] has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." Ruth 1:20-21
• Job was devastated by the loss of all his children and holdings while suffering from painful boils; "My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me. Job 17:1
• Sarai’s very name meant “bitter.” Her husband lied about being married to her, causing her to be pursued by a lovesick king. She was desperate for a child of her own while seeing her husband’s reflection in the face of her servant’s child. Then Sarai said to Abram, "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me." Genesis 16:5
Instead, by God’s power, each story is one of healing and jewels resulting from former places of great pain and suffering. Saria’s jewel was her son Isaac-born of her old age, along with God renaming her “Sarah (“princess”). Naomi’s jewel was Ruth who was considered” better to … than seven sons” and Ruth’s son, Obed, whom Naomi raised. Job’s many jewels include his sons, beautiful daughters and replenishment of his assets.
Beloved, how many times have you been in a difficult, even painful situation only to look back to realize that God brought glory from your experience? I Peter 5:4 states: “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” I believe that God will take all of the broken parts of our life that we’ve allowed Him to smooth and create jewels for our crown.
Careful Considerations: Does God view our brokenness as sharp pieces of glory that just need smoothing? What are the jewels that were created from your loss, trial of trial or heartache?
Heavenly Father, You are near to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).Your road stretches straight and smooth. Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward him makes it. (Psalm 18:30). You “bring good news to the afflicted; bind up the brokenhearted and proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners (Isaiah 61:1). Lord, take the broken sharp edges of our pain and trials and smooth them into jewels for a crown of glory. In Jesus name, Amen.
Hugs and prayers,
Gwenda
Isaiah 26:7 The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?
Psalm 128:1 All you who fear God, how blessed you are! how happily you walk on his smooth straight road! You worked hard and deserve all you've got coming. Enjoy the blessing! Revel in the goodness!
(1) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bragg,_California
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)