“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18)
Myrtle beach differs from the Gulf beaches: No Sandpipers, Rock Doves, Sanderlings, Laughing Gulls seen putting on morality plays at Myrtle Beach. . . .
No unbroken Sailor’s Ears, Heart Cockles, Spiny Jewel Boxes, Jingles and Butterfly Wings, Slippers and Scallops, Turkey or Sea Wings with which to decorate sand castles or fill jars.
However, Myrtle Beach this holiday was filled other things (34 of us this year), umbrella tents, grandparents, great-grandchildren and everyone in-between. The Gulf Beach is usually quieter, more intimate – with just the immediate family, those living in the nest – and that has dwindled from 5 to 3.
A Holiday for me, for me – whether it is a week, a day – or even a Holiminute – involves reading – reading a book over a sandwich at lunch, reading in-between conversation lines – or reading the love letters God leaves all around me – in the trees at home lifting their limbs up in praise, a cardinal darting out reminding me God’s with me, a pop-up rainstorm creating rivulets from tree roots to sidewalks outside my work window. I have learned to anticipate God’s messages in the daily, to expect them. God’s messages might not contain the answer to a prayer. It might not “fix” a challenge. God’s messages are often fellowship, part of an ongoing dialog, relationship-growing, a hug, encouragement – it is becoming what defines my day.
He is a faithful messenger – in the big and little messages.
I looked for shells – but there were few whole ones to find. I looked for birds – but they had no interest in our beach with our umbrella city. I paddled in the ocean, watched it’s surface morning and night – trying to find His message.
The ocean clammed up – I couldn’t seem to pierce its cover to read its depths – yet, it called me – with its ever-changing shades from brilliant azure blue to blue cotton to white grey-sky-reflections all.
I’d sit at night on the porch, listening to the unrelenting wave crashes, watching white clouds in a black sky march silently like armies marching in-land under the cover of darkness, feet wrapped in clothe to silence their movement. When I woke, they’d slipped away.
Was this letter, the message in the sea too deep for me? Did it contain too big a message? It’s as though He wanted me to really want this message, like a child asking over and over to do the dishes the first time – because it was a task with responsibility and sacrifice.
I kept asking, waiting with expectation. The last day on the beach, He revealed the message. It wasn’t a cheer-leading message full of encouragement and, “You go, girl.”
The message about brought me to my knees.
The waves kept pushing shell pieces to the water’s edge– big and little shell pieces. Nobody wanted them. Most beachcombers had ceased to even search for there was so little hope of collecting whole shells. They only wanted the easy to find whole-shells. The waves, though, kept pulling and hurling them into the beach – some shells recognizable, most not.
and there were so many pieces. . . .
Each piece represented a broken soul
a broken soul desperate to be saved
though the soul didn’t know
it needed saving
didn’t know it could be made whole
The water, that Holy Spirit water,
kept tossing them on the beach
and when they’d slide back,
the water nudged them forward again,
sometimes gently, sometimes forcefully,
as if saying to those on the beach,
Hurry! Hurry! Come help save them”
as would cry the Captain of the Titanic
if he could have pulled his passengers ashore
one hand pushing shoreward, the other hand reaching
to save more
counting on the beachcombers
to revive and breathe life
into those which he strives
to save
Yet how does the broken fragments
of a soul
who doesn’t recognize
the force of the Holy Spirit
how do they know
this pushing to save is
a good thing, a better thing
because they don’t know, they slide back
because there’s no one to pick them up
because the beachcombers only see
Brokenness
Unredeemable brokenness
And God was saying, these broken pieces and parts of shells – all these represent the broken in the world, the broken a step away from you, in your community, in the world. I keep bringing them up for you to see, He says, for the world to see but my children just walk right by them, judging them beyond redemption, beyond wholeness – on your own shores.
I am overwhelmed
millions of shell slivers
shards, chips and chunks
how can I ever find all the right pieces
for them
if I cannot even find all the right pieces
for me
Unredeemable broken mess
if the fixing were left to me
that’s what it looks like
feels like
so many. . . so many broken to pieces
My soul-combing child, He said,
you just need to reach out
to pick them up
let your story be a letter
of introduction
show-casing my credentials
my credentials as
God Elohim, mighty and strong, who created you, is able to save you
Almighty God El Shaddai who wants to be all-sufficient to ALL your needs
Adonai, a worthy master over your destiny
who as Jehovah-Jireh foresees every challenge you will face, every choice, whether good or bad, and provides a way back home
where as Jehovah-Rophe welcomes you,
wraps you in both his arms and heals your wounds,
both self-inflicted and inflicted by others
and as you heal in the shadow of His presence
Jehovah-M’Kaddesh will sanctify you, make you pure and whole in His sight
until, finally, you find peace in the presence of Jehovah-Shalom
the answer to a prayer fulfilled, made whole,
perfected with the mighty strength He put within you
just let the Holy Spirit push them to you
pick them up
all my soulcombers
pick them up
introduce them to me,
even if you think they ought to already
know me,
even if you think they don’t deserve
to know me
introduce me – that’s all I need you to do
introduce me-
so that I can make them whole
I’m praying, friends, for God to show me how to live this message. I just know that the need to continue reaching in our communities is so important. So many don’t know God as a dear friend, a loving father, a knight in shining armor. So many want to save the easy to save – but God is calling me – to save the hard to save, the rebels, the ones that seems so broken and worthless – like the broken chips and shell shards on the beach. Won’t you pray with me, for our communities to make real connections, one-one-one story sharing connections where God-filled relationships are established, not fly-by relationships? Where introductions are made that build lasting relationships – because I think these youth and young adults want real relationship, need real relationship.
<
Beautiful words here, so a purpose we are called to
Every day is a purpose – every footstep crossing our path an opportunity! So glad you came by – and left such sweet encouragement!
[…] Source: Like Broken Shells on a Beach […]
Good Morning, Friend … I’m at the beach, too, and so I am resonating with your words this morning. I glean so much of His beauty as I encounter His creation in this place.
But tell me … did you find any of the elusive sea glass in your shoreline travels?
Blessings this week on you, on yours … so good to see you again!
Linda, I’ve never seen sea glass – and just googled it. I would LOVE to find some – but there’s only broken shells on Myrtle Beach. The beach was wonderful – but it was even more wonderful to come home! Did you find sea glass?
Hi! I’m visiting from M, M, and M. Thank you for this. I needed it. I’m feeling a little broken today, and spent my morning time crying out to the Lord. Your post was a beautiful reminder that He not only sees, but is in it loving, caring, working. I would love for you to link this at my CMB link-up. I believe it will bless my readers too.
I don’t know why there are days when I feel more broken than others – sometimes I think it’s a call to prayer and other times it is just the frailty of the human spirit – and, like you, I cry out to God. Praying that you feel the love of Shaddai wrapped around you like a warm hug, that His Holy Spirit run like water over your hurts, seep down deep inside you and give you peace and strength to stand and overcome! Thank you for coming by and inviting me over to your place!
This is so moving! I am learning how to live this out as well…shall we walk along the beach together?
Yes, kd – like those on the emmaus road, let us walk this beach together – and lift each other up when we fall down! Blessings!
Living the message. That’s what God asks of all of us. The beauty is that God took you on a journey of the heart, preparing you for this call. Your writing is so beautiful but what was heart-stopping for me was the breath of God I could feel as I read. ~Pamela
Pamela, I don’t know what this call is – whether it is to more intentionally reach in the daily or something more – but it was a cry I heard – a cry to be saved. I don’t know how to do this – but He does. You bless me with your encouragement! Thank you – more than you know!
~Maryleigh
34 of you? Awesome! I love the Gulf beaches too–so white and clean. But the Atlantic beaches are so wonderfully flat and seem like they stretch for miles when the tide goes out.
That’s a heavy message you received. Praying for you–for all of us–to keep taking the broken pieces to the Lord, one by one.
Not all of mine could make it – the married and engaged sons couldn’t this year. Thank you for praying with me – and seeing it is a one by one – really touching, really making connection to make lasting introduction to Yahweh!
[…] « Like Broken Shells on a Beach […]
This is so precious – your tenacity to hear His heart and grab hold of it. “Just pick them up.” Yes. Thank you for this, and for your comment over in my space too. You bless my heart.
It makes me want to know where they are around me – in the daily – so I can reach out to pick them up. I keep thinking, “Do I need to be somewhere else? Am I missing something – show me so I can see the broken shells around me.” Thank you Dana for your encouragement to follow what I hear and for coming by!!
Such a beautiful message here. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Ronja – for your kind words and visit! Wishing you blessing and joy this week!
~Maryleigh
“God’s messages are often fellowship . . . ” Yes! you put that so well. I am looking this holiday weekend for crumbs of fellowship. Thank you for linking your words with Unforced Rhythms.
Kelly – wishing you not just crumbs of fellowship – but meat and drink and feasting! Thank you so much for coming by!
As one who loves the beach and who goes each year knowing He will speak to me in the waves and the sand, my whole soul resonates with you in this. It makes my heartache and rejoice at the same time…ache because of the overwhelm and the joy because with Him we can do all things…like love. Fiercely and without fail. Amen.
His love – fiercely and without fail – I love the conviction in that! Thank you, Jen – for your warm encouragement in these things God puts on our hearts!
We really were on the same page with these broken shells, weren’t we?! Love the message here.
Yes – we were on the same page – and with such a heart-cry we both heard. Praying that God show us both how we can best minister to what He has shown us!
Beautifully written! I absolutely love the beach and next time we go, I’m definitely going to be looking at all the broken shells in a different way- thank you for such a good reminder!
Agape,
S.L. Payne
uncommongrace.net
[…] “Each piece represented a broken soul a broken soul desperate to be saved though the soul didn’t know it needed saving didn’t know it could be made whole” (Like Broken Shells on a Beach) […]