For March 19th:

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made”  Psalm 139:14a

Read: Psalm 139: 1-24

My heaven on earth is the beach! Just give me a beach chair, my sunscreen, a good book – and I’ll see you when the sun goes down!  But more than just the vacation aspect of the beach, I love the evidence of God that is all around in the vastness of the ocean, the infinity of the sand, and the mystery of the tides. I can do some heavy duty praying when I’m walking on the beach.  As a frequent beach goer, I have quite a shell collection; they are a gift of the sea. Recently, on a trip to Tybee Island, I was walking on the beach with the intent to add to my collection when   it occurred to me how similar my life is to those shells scattered along the sand.   There have been times when storms have left me broken on the shore. I’ve had times when I’ve been caught in the undertow and gotten buried in the sand. Other times, the ebb and flow of the tide seems like smooth sailing; nothing can break my shell.  When I go shell seeking, I typically pick up the perfect ones and skip over the broken ones; but, fortunately God picks them all! Broken, buried, or all in one piece – He takes us just as we are.  He made us – wonderfully, intricately, and he can put us back together.  I’m so thankful that the God of the Universe loves me just the way I am! He puts me back together when my shell breaks, rescues me when I’m drowning, and allows me times to just flow with the tide and simply be. 

Prayer: Thank you Father that I can look back at the footprints in the sand and see where you carried me!

Lori Kelley