The birth of a pearl is truly a miraculous event...

Philippians 1:6 

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The Oyster Pearl

A natural pearl begins its life as a parasite, an irritant that accidentally lodges itself in an oyster's soft inner body where it cannot be expelled. To ease this irritant, the oyster takes defensive action, and begins to secrete substances around the irritant in order to protect itself. Over time, the irritant will be completely encased by the silky crystalline coatings, and the result, ultimately, is the lovely and lustrous gem called a pearl.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

All the trials and tribulations, the losses and the heartaches, the traumas and the sadness, the persecutions, the irritants and the parasites. They all have their important part to play in the new creation, which just like the pearl in the Oyster, the Lord wants to create an amazing work within us. 

The Oyster, was given the power, and the strength, the knowledge, and the tools, to turn its irritant into a pearl. We too can have, within us, through Christ, our Lord and Saviour, the Word of God, The Holy Bible, and His Holy Spirit, that same power to turn our negatives into positives. 

Psalm 25:5

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Oyster shells….Loads of them!!

I wondered why these shells were being left behind

Why were they not a favoured find?

Could it be that they are bulky and tough?

Or rather than feeling smooth to the touch, they feel rough?

What I saw was amazing

I saw layers upon layers of hard protective shell

I saw rough rugged hardened shell on the outside,

Smooth, pearly hard, silky smooth on the inside.

They were very different from the other shells

From the amount still lying on the beach that day

They didn't seem to be the favoured kind.

But My God.....My God….

What an amazing design.

© Celia Porter 2014

(Inspired from her walk with God along the Skegness Beach)

The World

This world has a way of judging us by the way we look, the way we dress, our past history, our jobs, our cars, and who we associate with. We get judged by the way we talk, the way we act, for being, Christian, disabled, or black. The world hasn't got time to find out exactly who we are, where we have come from in life, or the trials we have been through  so far.

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus, is able to turn us, with all our burdens, trials and tribulations, into a new creation, one of strength, endurance, and self-control, that which no man/woman can ever take away. 

Revelation 3:10-11

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

No one knows which oyster shell holds a pearl until it is forced open, or in its own time reveals itself.

When the Lord starts to create a good work in us, that pearly, Heavenly glow, from within, will be seen by all who come into contact with us. Amen

Matthew 17:1-2

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 

1 Corinthians 3:18 

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the spirit of the Lord.”

Just think. Something made perfect, a pearl, from an invasive irritant, a parasite, is seen to hold such value in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 13:45-46

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Revelation 21:21

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

If you haven't already. Why not allow Jesus into your heart, into your life, to start a new creation in you. You will never regret it. I certainly don't. Christ is my life now, it is on His feet I stand.

I’m in His Hands

My path is not my choice

It is now out of my hands

It is Jesus who carries me

It is on His feet that I stand

I am just a child you see

Learning to walk for the first time

I guess when I'm strong enough

The whole world will be mine

© Celia Porter 2013

A Prayer for Salvation

Dear Heavenly Father

I come to you in the name of your son Jesus.

Your Word says:

John 6:37

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

So I know that regardless of my situation right now, and the fact that I have sinned, You will not cast me out, for that I am grateful and I thank You Jesus.

Dear Jesus, I believe in my heart that You are the Son of God. That You were sent to save us from our sins, with the promise for me to have new life, now and forever.

Dear Jesus I ask that You restore my soul now, and deliver me from all evil. Change my heart into a loving and forgiving heart. Change my mind into an understanding mind.

Have Mercy and forgive me Dear Jesus. For I believe with my heart that You Died on the Cross, for me, to save my soul from sin. And I believe with my heart that You rose from the Grave, and that You are alive forever.

I believe in You Dear Jesus, and I give to You my heart, my soul, and my life.

I desire You to Come into my Heart and live in me Dear Jesus, so that I can have life, and not death.

Your word says:

Romans 10:9-10

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the 

mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I do believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord and I confess with my mouth. I believe that I am now saved, and that I have now become the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ Our Lord and Saviour. Thank you Lord Jesus.

Dear God, I ask to be filled with Your living water of life, I open my heart to the Holy Ghost and I ask that You fill and strengthen me with Your gift of the Holy Spirit.

All this I ask in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Amen

What next…

If you have said the above prayer and truly desire to become a follower of Christ...Welcome...

If you haven’t already got one, get a bible, and start reading it, asking the Lord to give you knowledge and understanding of its contents, and to reveal through His word the messages He has for you.

It is a good idea to socialise with others who have given their lives to Christ, find a Church maybe.

As often as possible, find a quiet place and talk to God. It does not matter where it is, literally, as long as you are alone. Ask Him to reveal His plans for you. Ask Him for Guidance. Tell Him that you desire His will to be done in your life, on a daily basis. Tell Him how much you love and appreciate Him for all He has done for you so far. Take time to be still, to wait for an answer, don’t worry if you don’t receive an answer straight away, everything is done in His time, His way.

I would like to wish you all the best on your Journey to eternity. 

Don't be a stranger now...Celia...x

All Bible Scripture taken from King James Version