SAND IN THE CRAW!

‘Beach Clam Pearl’ from Free Great Picture.

Did you know that sand in the craw can make a pearl out of you? Make you something beautiful, honorable, and successful. Take a lesson from the oyster….

An oyster forms a beautiful pearl when a foreign object, an irritant, like a grain of sand slips into the oyster between the mantle and the shell. The oyster’s natural reaction is to cover the irritant with layers of nacre, the substance that is used to create the shell. Over time, this layering creates a beautiful pearl!

What is irritating you? Whatever it is, are you letting it make you beautiful, or is it destroying you. Think about the Genesis account of Joseph. Genesis chapters 37-50.

Joseph was hated by his brothers.

He was thrown into a cistern and sold as a slave to Egypt.
Joseph trusted God.
The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did.

Pearl layer (The pearl is forming!)

He was falsely accused and thrown in prison.
Joseph trusted God.

But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and ‘showed him his faithful love. The Lord was with him and caused everything He did to succeed’.

Pearl layers!

He interpreted Pharaoh’s dream.

Pharaoh made Joseph in charge of the entire land of Egypt, second in command only to Pharaoh himself!
He forgave his brothers and saved his family (70 strong) and the entire land of Egypt from starvation. Joseph’s family was given the ‘best land in Egypt’ as their home.

The beautiful pearl is fully formed!

To his brothers he said, “you intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20 NLT.

As the scripture says, ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.’ Romans 8:28.

Let him form a beautiful pearl in you despite your ‘sand in the craw’.

Published by Stu Branston

ABOUT ME! MRB is my professorial nickname. My for real name is Stu Branston, Professor Emeritus, Oral Roberts University. Received a Bachelor and Master of Fine Art in Sculpture from the University of Washington, Seattle. Was a member of the Foster White, the most prestigious gallery in Seattle at the time. One of my sculptures was included in the Collection of Northwest Artists. Won a competition to create and install a sculpture for the Bellevue College, Bellevue, Washington. The sculpture, ‘Psalm 61’, is painted, welded steel. It weighs 5 tons and is 20 feet tall. Was a youth pastor for 5 years. Taught art at Seattle Pacific University for 5 years. Taught art at Oral Roberts University for 26 years and served as Art Department Chairman for 20 years. Retired as Professor Emeritus, 2013. Love to write poetry and photograph this amazing world we live in! View more posts