We had a fun beach trip in September. My daughter-in-law had the genius idea to make a wonderful memory by picking up shells and making a wreath out of them. She wrote 2026 on the back of her wreath, and I did the same. She mentioned that later our kids would probably find them in our stuff when we are old and throw them out, ha ha. But we can enjoy their beauty for now.

Here is a picture of my daughter-in-law’s wreath.

So beautiful! She found a whole sand dollar on our shell excursions. The wreath turned out amazing. Later the sand dollar accidentally got broken and was unrepairable. I felt so sorry for her, but she took it well!

Below is a picture of my wreath.

It was so amazing to work on. Many of my shells were broken, but I picked them up anyway because I liked a color, or texture, or unusual design on them. I was able to disguise the broken ones by putting other shells over them in the broken areas. When I began, I didn’t think I would ever get it to turn out right, but as I matched complimentary colors it began to take shape.

Working on it gave me a vivid image of “The Church”!

The Church where broken people come and are made beautiful in soul and spirit, the way God intended them to be. All the shells, broken or whole, had to be joined together to make each individual shell shine out its beauty. And all the individuals, broken or whole, have to be joined together, all over the world, to make THE CHURCH.

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST!

The Bible explains what the Bride of Christ looks like “in all her glory”.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27 (NASB)

The scriptures below truly sum up the CHURCH.

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” Ephesians 4:1-8 (NASB)

All Creation shows God’s glory! The broken shells combined with the whole shells, makes one body of beauty, just like the church. And broken people combined with whole people can be made to look beautiful by the Hand of God. And eventually the broken people become whole, through grace.

Romans 1:18-20 shows how creation (like even the shells) are used to lead people to Christ and God’s plan for all of us.

“¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

Who but God could have made all the GAZILLION little individual animals with shells, and placed them in the sea. They definitely declare His Glory!

I pray that you take a second look at God’s creation, this week, and find evidence that points to Him and His glory!

And, have a great week!

My daughter-in-law is a great photographer and took this picture of the moon over the ocean. One more picture of God’s beauty in creation.