I am like a pearl, concealed by a clam. No one knows I am here except my Master Maker. Infact, He placed me here. I once was a grain of sand, wondering in the dark ocean. One day the Master picked me up, called me by name, and held me in His hand. He told me that He had a plan for me. I said I would do whatever it would take.

     I watched as He gently opened a clam. He then placed me inside. For that moment I felt safe, secure, and happy to know that I was in the Master's care.

     After a while my surroundings didn't seem to satisfy me any more. I began to wonder if I should go back to the ocean, after all, I could at least be with my friends. I was becoming aggravated. I seemed to be alone, not to mention I was getting very squooshed. I would complain to the Master. He would always reply, "Trust Me. I have a plan." I wasn't too sure how this "plan" could involve me being uncomfortable.

     What I didn't realize is that the more uncomfortable I felt, the closer I was to fullfilling His plan. You see, when a clam is irritated it produces a substance called nacre. This is the stuff that creates pearls.

     Time would go on, and I would be content for a while, but some how I always would come back around to a place of grummbling and complaining. Could this really be His plan? I would pleed with Him to get me out. Surely this was just an attack of the enemy. The Master didn't really want me here. Did He?

     After I realized that my grumbling and complaining didn't really get me any where... except into more grumbling and complaining, I decided to agree with the Master. He could see from all the angles. Mabey I was uncomfertable, but my Master loved me. Did He not save me from the ocean? Couldn't I trust that He could see more than I?

                         "Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to    trust and obey."

     It didn't happen over night nor the night after that, infact, it didn't even happen that month. But there came a day when my Master cracked that clam shell open. No longer was there a grain of sand, but a pearl of great price. He did have a plan!!! Not just any plan, but a plan for, and concerning me.

     When he picked me up as a grain of sand, He did not see sand, but a pearl. He saw the end in the beginning.

     So, mabey right now seems a little (or really) uncomfortable, but remeber He has a PLAN!!! He sees what you do not see. He understands what you do not. He sees the pearl rather than the sand. He has a plan.

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP) "For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."

     When you go into a jewlry store you are likely to see gold, silver, diamonds, rubbies, and many other beautiful things. You may even see some pearls. You are not likely to see a clam. You know, the thing that produces the pearl!!!

     A clam is made up of shell and flesh. The shell is to protect the flesh, so that it doesn't get hurt. Can you see where I am going with this? There are so many times that we build "shells" or walls around us so that WE won't get hurt. We keep ourselves locked up tight so that  no one will know what is on the inside. Infact, sometimes we keep ourselves shut in such a way that all anyone sees is a hard shell, rather than something of great value.

     Now, let's get down to the flesh.  It is the part that feels, eats, and moves.  If it feels something it doesn't like it quickly retreats back into its shell. Need I say more? It searches for food. Our hearts are always looking for something to "eat". Are you feeding your flesh? Do not be moved by your flesh! It will take you to places you didn't want to go and keep you longer than you wanted to stay. If your flesh is driving, prepare because a collision is in the future.

     Sometimes a grain of sand gets past the impenetrable clam, and makes its home. This does not pleas the flesh of the clam. Nothing was suppose to get passed it! The shell was suppose to be too thick; to hard!

     Well, now that this grain of sand is in there, the clam produces something called nacre, to help protect itself. It fights it. The grain of sand actually becomes imbeded into the flesh, making itself like a splinter. Now, the flesh is really irritated!!! The deeper the sand, the more the flesh fights.

     What it doesn't know is that this fight will be to the death. You see, as it became irritated and produced the nacre it makes a pearl. It was holding to the fact that if it fought, the sand would leave. The sand did not! In this fight a pearl was made. Can you believe that? A pearl made out of stess. 

     One day the clam will be cracked open, revealing a beautiful pearl. At this time the flesh dies. the hard shell no more. all that is praised is the pearl. When a pearl is bought in a store no one asks about the fight for its exsistance, all they see is something of great worth.

     Mabey you feel as if you have been holding your heart hostage by a hard shell or mabey your flesh has been making all the choices... mabey you feel as if you are in the fight of your life. Let God be that grain of sand. Let Him in. When you do, the product is always worth putting on display.

     Pray this prayer: Dear Lord Jesus,

                           Please come and consume me now. I know you see the outcome even though I may not. I trust You now. I lay my wants and fleshly desires down, so that You may live. Live in me, Lord.

In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.