Sea Glass

I have never before this summer seen the picture of redemption more clearly. I also have a mind that loves to picture things. So come stroll with me.

You take broken things and make them beautiful. The story of redemption. As I stroll along the Alaskan coast, my eyes keep drifting to the water, but I keep glancing back near my feet. Because every once in a while I get to stoop down, pick it up, brush it off, and run my fingers over it. Every one is smooth, unique. Beautiful. Made so by the sea. Sea glass; made from broken, ordinary, ugly bottles. Some of the same bottles that have wiped away lives, the sea them comes and wipes away. The powerful waves wash, grind, crash over it, and form it. Then it washes up on shore -- a treasure. 

This summer I've talked to women, young ladies, those who have become dear to my heart. Ones who don't understand or can't believe that God could love them after all they've done, or that they've gone too far to ever come back. But that's the beauty of it. God calls you redeemed. He has bought you back, set you free, tells you that you have value. All those things that you've done? He has thrown them into the depths of the sea, and it's gone. As far as the east is from the west. He turns His face toward you. Calls you out of darkness into light. He picks you up, brushes you off, and makes you beautiful. 

You are Redeemed. 

For years I've known this to be true, I've heard the words, I read the Truth, and yet I'm just starting to see how grand a thing it is, how beautiful it is. That we have a Redeemer, and we are redeemed. 

Dear One, it's exciting to watch it sink into your heart too. Because of your story, both of us have been touched by redemption.