The Wonder of Amber


Since I got this long strand at a thrift store or garage sale, 
I'm quite sure these are NOT real amber beads.   
(Then again, who knows???)
Amber is actually a "glob" of fossilized tree resin or sap that flowed down  ancient coniferous tree trunks in ancient forests.  The sticky sap caught organic materials like drops of water, bits of moss, dirt, bark, seeds or insects. As it grew older, it hardened into a sort of nature-made plastic, and mellowed into a golden, light brown-orange color known as amber. The clearer the resin, the more perfect the color, the more full of organic materials the amber is, the more it's worth.

Amber is considered an organic gemstone--like a pearl--generated from biological processes.  It  perfectly preserves insects from decomposition.  Even their soft tissues are preserved!  In the movie, Jurassic Park, mosquitoes still had the blood of their victims inside them, sealed and kept intact forever. It's no wonder amber is a symbol of eternity--and eternal divinity.

While doing laundry at a laundromat as a young married couple, we often ran into a young woman named Amber Suzanne.  We liked the name so much that we named our youngest daughter Amber!  

The preservation of the original material within the resin is a picture to me of the eternal "preservation" God offers His children in Jesus Christ.  We are encased in Him!  Eternally preserved!  Each in our unique and personal "shape" and personality--seen by God THROUGH the Eternal Divinity of His own Son, Jesus Christ!  It's not a perfect illustration, but it's enough for me to be filled with wonder and thanksgiving for the amazing plan of God...

He chose us IN HIM  (Jesus) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless in his sight.  (Ephesians 1:4)

17 comments:

  1. i love the name amber and knowing the stone is
    considered organic? it makes me wonder what
    stones are NOT organic.

    many blessings on your amber!

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  2. Hello Rebecca! I hope this summer day finds you happy and healthy! Loved the info about amber, it is a beautiful gem and a beautiful name! I thought your illustration at the end was very apt and as always, love dropping by here for a good read!:)
    Colleen

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  3. I love amber, not only the brown or green, but I have a beautiful yellow amber ring and I love it.
    ........:-) Hugs

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  4. Did you do this post so that I would have an additional illustration for my class Sunday? We already discussed what my topic is. I thought I had the lesson all figured out, but this is really good!

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  5. Donna - NO! I didn't think about it until I read your comment. If I'd had more time, I think I could have found even more appropriate verses to use.

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  6. Love your thoughts here on the amber
    and our preservation through our
    salvation in Him. I was recently
    gifted with a beautiful amber cross
    necklace from the Baltic Sea by a
    missionary friend. It has become a
    favorite jewelry piece.

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  7. I'm thankful for His preserving grace! Psalm 121(KJV) has always been one of my favorites because it speaks of His preservation of His children.

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  8. Sandy, what a beautiful jewel that must be!

    Glenda, that is one of my favorites, too (I say that about many, many Psalms)!

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  9. Real amber might resemble plastic but it doesn't feel like plastic, and when you clink the beads together they don't click like plastic but have a heavier, more substantial sound. (Yeah, I know that's helpful.)

    Jesus died to save us and preserve us forever and his blood has covered our sins for all eternity, but unlike being encased in amber, we are not in stasis. Our lives have been preserved rather than our bodies.

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  10. I love Amber.It really is amazing! I never got to purchase any but we saw a lot of it in Mexico. I don't know why I didn't pick up a piece. Your necklace is beautiful Rebecca as was your message.
    Love Di ♥

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  11. Di, It's time for another trip!

    Quilly, THAT'S an important distinction. Thanks for pointing it out. (I was operating on that assumption - should have stated it -- especially after placing it right beside the picture of the insect's "body"!)

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  12. I enjoyed this post. It would be interesting to find out if your necklace is the real thing or not.

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  13. Cindy - It sure WOULD! Vix (commenting on amber in my thrifty style blog) suggested a procedure to check, but I don't want to ruin this necklace even if it ISN'T amber...

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  14. I so enjoyed this....thanks so much for sharing. I wanted a pearl for our 30th anniversary because it is produced through an irritation in the clam...a precious jewel from an irritation...I think marriage is like that at different times, the jewel is when we let the irritations produce a jewel....so this story is just as special...what an awesome creator we have!!!

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  15. Janette! That is a post you need to write. I shall look forward to it.

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  16. Love your amber Rebecca! I am always drawn to it, and I have lots of amber colored glass around my home. Love the spiritual analogy, too! The knowledge of being perfectly encased and preserved in Him is too wonderful for words!!
    Thank you for sharing this, gal!
    Have a great Friday!
    HUGS,
    Becky

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  17. Beautiful message Rebecca!

    I've never owned or wore amber but it is beautiful. I love the analogy in your last paragraph. So thankful to our GOD!

    Love the Scripture you shared as well.

    Blessings to you!

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)