I used to dream of living by the sea on a high cliff.
I would look down, and there it would be….
The ocean spread out before me,
waves crashing upon the shore.
When the water rushes back and forth
across a pebble beach…
there is music.
The sound of the sea plays again and again;
it has no end.
There beside the sea, the pebbles give rise
to a symphony all their own.
The tiny stones play as if for eternity…
The rush of life, passes over them, in the
moving, living water.
I wonder, might there be a pebble beach
in heaven?
Imagine the pebbles at your feet, jewels
that sparkle in an everlasting sea of life.
When I was in high school, I went on a Christian retreat for an extended weekend. While we were away, others at home were asked to pray for us. As a reminder to pray, it was requested that these people place a tiny stone in one of their shoes. I did feel the weight of prayer on my behalf, and for all of us on the retreat. It was a very special weekend, and one I will always remember.
We know how it feels to have a tiny stone in one of our shoes. It is very uncomfortable! It is amazing that one little stone suddenly becomes the focus of our attention.
It is a wondrous thing to look upon a beach made up of stones; you cannot help but to feel small in the masterpiece that God has created along the shoreline.
And yet, in truth, every one of us matters deeply to God. We are not just random stones thrown out there on a beach. In fact, there is nothing random at all in our placement; we are each part of God’s eternal plan. God desires to have a close relationship with His children. (We may feel very small when we contemplate the universe…as if our comings and goings were of little consequence.) The contrary is true; God wants us to reach out to Him at all times. Our Heavenly Father is always available for ‘small talk’.
In 1 Peter 2:4 we learn about ‘living stones’: “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.”
Jesus, the Son of God, is the foundation of this spiritual house. God is the master builder, and He has very specific plans for His building. Nothing is haphazardly built. There is purpose and structure behind everything that God does. (He has a specific purpose for our lives. When we reach out to God, He helps to direct our paths, and shows us the way forward.)
In 1 Corinthians 12:18, we learn that we are placed exactly where we should be placed on this foundation: “But as it is, God has arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose.”
There is always order in God’s house, and there is remembrance. God longs for us to tell the world about His goodness and mercy. After the twelve tribes of Israel had safely crossed the river Jordan on dry land, God wanted a memorial built. In this memorial, there are twelve stones, one from each tribe. In this way, future generations would know of God’s miraculous help on their behalf. (Joshua 4: 1-8)
Just as God was with Moses and with Joshua, He is with us today. God never changes, and He always keeps His promises.
What exactly is our purpose and calling as ‘living stones’? The Bible is very specific on this. 1 Peter 2:9:”But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
We are called to bring the gospel of peace to all whom we encounter. We are called to reflect the light of Christ wherever we go, and whatever we do. We are to be bearers of God’s Holy Light. In Corinthians 10:31, we read, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Yes, I believe there will be a pebble beach in Heaven, with jewels that sparkle in the light of Christ, our Lord and Savior. May we reflect that light of Christ, which is within us, one to another, here and now. May we show kindness and compassion to others in a world full of shadows. The light of the world has come and will be forevermore: John 10:10: “I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” The Bible tells us in 1 john 4:8: “Anyone who does not love, does not know God, because God is love.” It sounds so simple, and yet, it is so very profound. God loves each and every one of His children. In Matthew 25:40, we read, “And the King will answer them. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me.”
As I wrote this post, I watched a number of videos of ocean waves crashing onto a pebble beach. It is most enchanting to watch the water and listen to that marvelous sound! The pebbles themselves are so very beautiful…shimmering in the light. God has placed so much wonder in our lives! We cannot count the number of those pebbles…but God knows the count. We do not have to have all the answers; we do have to take God’s hand as we walk along the shore of life. He will open our eyes to a sparkling sea, and He will guide our every footstep.
(When we were on a trip to Nova Scotia, I took a picture of a man playing his bagpipe at Peggy’s cove. What a lovely sound to hear beside the sea.)
Thank you for bringing back the sound of pebbles being pushed and pulled by the waves. It’s forgotten all about it, one of life’s little pleasures.
It is one of life’s little pleasures! 🙂 It seems a simple thing, but it is amazing. (We can’t always be close to the ocean…those videos of ‘beach music’ are worth listening to now and again.) When we are down in Hatteras, North Carolina, at my sister’s Mother in law’s beach house, we fall asleep to the sound of waves breaking on the shore. We have been there for many holidays and family celebrations over the years… Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Eve. Even in winter, it is so lovely…so peaceful. There is nothing like a walk beside the ocean on New Year’s Day…family gathered round, and the endless sea. It is a sandy beach in North Carolina…but I have walked some pebbly beaches, and rocky ones too! They all have their own beauty!
Ahh, your response paints such a lovely picture.
🙂 🙂 🙂
Linda – you must give voice to your poetry – it is simply wonderful to consider the pebbles being pushed and pulled by the waves. It is the seemingly little things in life that we remember and celebrate!
It is the serenity of the moving water that is so mesmerizing. It is such a calming thing to stand beside the sea. There is a sound that I always love when sleeping overnight on a boat…it is the very sound of the water against the boat. I always fall asleep right away, no worries. (Of course, the sea air is good for falling asleep also.)
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters…”
This is one of my favorite Psalms! At one time, I knew it all by heart…I think I still do! I learned it as a child, and it has brought me great comfort many times.
lovely shots and really really captured that magnificent motion of sea and pebbles so it’s no wonder they are worn so smooth. This one would be a great sermon Linda, do you preach?
I had to smile when I read your comment. Now and then, my mother would raise an eyebrow, and simply say, “You should have been a preacher.” I do not like speaking in front of a large crowd, so that would not have worked out. When I was younger, I blushed a lot, and I would have been a very pink-cheeked preacher. However, I do feel very strongly that we must be witnesses for what we believe in. In life, we meet a great many people and they don’t always think that they are worthy of being loved, or that they are very special people. They are very special to God, and He loves them. It is a message to shout out to the world, and it is a message to remind ourselves of day in and day out. We are God’s children, and we belong to Him!
Your strong faith is always evident, one would never have any doubt reading your posts … you and Richard!
I am sure people’s hearts would lighten knowing that they are loved by you and I as well 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you, Linda, for this winsome interlude.
The summer is fading…The beach however, is beautiful in every season. 🙂 The sounds of nature are always inspiring… birdsong, the wind blowing in the trees, and the music of beach pebbles! (Very soon, it will be the sound of leaves blowing across our yard…we have a great many trees, and lots of raking to do each and every fall.)
Again you’ve awakened in me a longing for the sea. To be able to sit on smoothened rocks and to watch the sea come and go. To gaze at the clouds which seem to grow from the horizon. To greet sunrises and farewell sunsets. Through it all, the sea will come and go, come and go.
It is a beautiful thing to sit beside the sea! Thank you for your wonderful comment…it says it all! There are so many beaches, and no two are really exactly the same. Like a small town with a charm all its own, or a city lit up at night, each beach has its own character. I do not have a favorite beach, although many people do. It is fair to say that I have loved a great many, and I look forward to visiting more! It is intriguing to discover yet another favorite place…It is as if those ocean waves keep calling me to venture out yet again. (It sounds like those waves are calling to you as well!) 🙂
Lovely post Linda. I visualize beaches a lot when I’m meditating and doing conscious breathing, it’s so relaxing.
Thank you! Yes! Just thinking about the beach is relaxing! 🙂
I love how you related the beach pebbles to the teaching of stones in scripture. We as Christ followers truly are to be those “living stones.” Great blog, Linda!
Thank you! Have you noticed when reading passages in the Bible that they speak to you ‘anew’ at times? Sometimes, it is a passage that you have read many times before, but suddenly, it really resonates. In life, we are often the hardest on ourselves, but show grace to others. When we ponder the meaning of a ‘living stone’, we understand that God loves us for who we are, and that He has a unique purpose for our lives. We were created for this purpose. It changes the way we look at ourselves, and it underscores that our ‘callings’ really matter.
I loved this analogy, Linda!
There are many verses in scripture that refer to stones. It is something to contemplate!!! 🙂
This is wonderful, Linda. Thank you very much. Blessings
Thank you! I wish you blessings also! 🙂
Beautiful pictures Linda, and so many well-placed pebbles of truth in this post! Two of my favorites are “Our Heavenly Father is always available for ‘small talk’” and “There is always order in God’s house, and there is remembrance.” Our annual beach trip is to a Victorian town in southern Jersey. On the bay side of the peninsula is a pebble beach. As a child (than later as a mother with small children) one of my favorite activities was going to that beach and gathering an assortment of different colored pebbles. The one thing that always struck me is how the pebbles were always more beautiful when in the water and surrounded by the other pebbles. How much we as pebbles need the Living Water to smooth our edges and make us more reflective of the Lord’s Light.
You are so right! We do need that living water! I agree…the pebbles are the most beautiful glistening in the water…all the pebbles together, where God has placed them in the sea.
What a wonderful and soothing sound, Linda. A beautiful poem that brings back memories of years at the beach. <3
There is nothing like beach memories…toes in the sand on a hot summer day! 🙂
We are near Peggy’s Cove . This guy is using the Bagpipes. I love your favorite Psalms. Thank you Linda
Anita
Peggy’s Cove is a magical place…so beautiful! 🙂 I hope to return there again for another visit!
Thanks
Such lovely poetry, as always Linda. The peaceful rhythm of your words mirrors the peace available to us through our Father–who is “available for small talk!” How amazing is that?! I love this expression of yours, indicating the level of intimacy he invites us to enjoy with him. Perhaps some of the videos you watched showed pebbles flowing in and out with the waves? Brings to mind the desire to flow with the Spirit, allowing him to move us as he directs.
That is such a beautiful thought…flowing with the Holy Spirit, to move as He directs. I did watch the videos of the water moving in and out with the waves…it is such a timeless wonder! Thank you for sharing your wonderful comment!
You’re very welcome, Linda!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Linda, I love your poem and the capture of the pebble’s symphony – it is easy to become entranced by the melody of nature’s powerful music!😀
Yes! Nature is so amazing! Each little bird that sings, and even each little frog that croaks his heart out. We have a lot of frogs and they can make quite a concert! I like to listen to them at night, and especially before it rains. We have some very cute little tree frogs and sometimes they cling to my glass back doors. They are quite adorable in their own way! 🙂
Another beautiful post, Linda. Agreed, shining the light of lovingkindness is the cosmic purpose for each of us. And I love pebbles, too. Especially if they are different colors! Enjoyed your pics as well. ☀️
Thank you! I have a small collection of glass marbles that I keep in a crystal bowl in the living room. One of my granddaughters loves to hold the marbles up to the light, and she holds them up one by one. Each one is different, but when the light shines through them, they are amazing. It is like that with each one of us…when we let God’s light shine through us, we are forever changed. The pebbles are a wondrous thing…together, they form an incredible beach. You know the game where you have to guess how many jelly beans, or whatever, are in a jar? I think of the tides and the sea, and all those thousands and thousands of pebbles. And yet, God knows the exact count. I know that I worry about a great many things, but then, I think to myself. what a waste of time. I should bring my worries to the sea, and let the tide carry them out. God knows the number of stars in the sky, all the little stones upon the beach, and surely, I can bring my worries to Him!
Lovely, lovely poem. Oh, how I’d also like to live on a cliff overlooking the ocean. But not TOO high up, since I’d want to walk on that beach and find colorful pebbles (sea glass?) every day. Here is to compassion and praying and thinking of everyone around us. Prayers make a difference.
Yes! Prayers do make a difference! I love sea glass, as well as all those pebbles! I have a collection of sea glass…and a great many shells as well. Somehow, they are never as beautiful as they are at the beach. Still, it is lovely to have them! 🙂
Ahhh, an interesting comment and perspective. I suppose anything taken out of its natural environment is not as beautiful. 💜
It is true…also, a photograph of something in nature can never fully capture the beauty of ‘being there’. I have taken underwater pictures on some of our trips…nothing is ever quite like what I see snorkeling. (Of course, I am an amateur photographer.) 🙂 Photography is definitely an art!
Linda, what a wonderful post in every way. You have such a talent for making us stop and feel what is important. xo
Thank you! Happy first day of September…beautiful month! Change is in the air! 🙂
Not too much yet in Arizona, but we have October to look forward to. My favorite month in AZ. That and March and April.
I know October will be here before we know it! 🙂 🙂 🙂
It will be! Look how fast we are moving along in September!
So picturesque, Linda. I was thinking, as I read your post, of the passage which says how the waves coming ashore obey His command of, “Here and no further”. If they go further, it’s because He commanded it. All in God’s grip. – Alan
Thank you so much for sharing that verse! God has ordered everything in His time, and His works are perfect. Your comment reminded me of the verse from Psalms 95:5: “The sea is His, and He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.”
Linda, I feel strengthened from reading this encouraging testament. Your sharing of God’s grace is found throughout . . . photos, Scripture, and your own words. Thank you for lifting up my walk with the Lord.
Wishing you blessings! God’s Holy word does give light to our path, day by day. (Psalm 119:105) I hope that the month of September is going well for you! 🙂