Sand Dollar Testimonial ~ Hebrews 11:1

Cynthia Bremmer, Saint Helens, Oregon - © 2003

My husband Scott and I were staying at a Bed and Breakfast on Puget Sound to celebrate our togetherness after nearly 25 years of marriage. On February 28, 2003 the owners loaned us their canoe, so we pushed off into the sound. The tide was in, so we followed an inlet quite a ways up what seemed to be a river bed. On the bottom of the river bed I spotted what looked like a sand dollar. After working hard to retrieve it from the sandy depths with the two paddles, Scott brought the whole, beautiful sand dollar into the canoe.

I immediately said, "It represents a covenant promise from our LORD," and gratefully and joyfully declared Scott’s and my unity with God and each other, expressing our desire to grow ever closer to HIM and receive the fulfillment of God’s purposes for and blessings on our marriage.

The next day (March 1) we were amazed to see huge colonies of living sand dollars as we peered down through the clear water from our vantage point in the canoe. This time we were in the sound directly off the beach where we were staying. That night after dark I went down to the beach at very low tide. Many of these colonies were exposed. The alive sand dollars appeared to be a very deep purple, almost black. With my flashlight I could see the tiny cilia covering them as my cold fingers felt their life. Being careful to leave the live sand dollars, I began collecting the empty shells that lay alongside them. Thanking God for HIS covenant and HIS promises, I made declaration after declaration.

I returned to our beach the following morning before going home. As I walked along in the daylight, even though the tide wasn’t quite as low, the sand dollars were abundant. I was humbled and overwhelmed by HIS extravagant generosity. The sand dollars were a symbol. Our God is the real thing. HE gives us all that HE is and all that HE has. As I collected sand dollars I praised, thanked and loved HIM for HIS extravagant love. HE is and does more than I can think or imagine. There is no lack in HIM.

After cleaning the sand dollars at home I had 111 whole ones, one from the first day, 42 from the second day, and 68 from the third. One signifies unity and 42 represents the second coming of Christ. My friend Jennifer felt that since 6 is the number for man and 8 means new beginnings, 68 meant God’s new beginnings for me. Hebrews 11:1 came to her mind immediately with regard to the 111 total sand dollars. (At the same time I was collecting sand dollars Jennifer was making a prophetic glory ring named "The KING's Bride" which included Hebrews 11:1 in the prophetic word. She had also been drawn to a license plate with 111 on it.) Numbers are simply one of the infinite ways the Holy Spirit can communicate with us.

After sharing the sand dollars with some sisters in the LORD I wondered what to do with the rest of them. God answered that question when one of my wonderful sons sent me a special gift for Mother’s Day. Inside a large, square wicker basket was a note that read, "To me gifts say, ‘I’m trying to show you that I care and will take effort to show that caring by trying to find something you’ll like.’ So I tried to find you some crafty thing that would incorporate all of those sand dollars. I thought maybe you could glue them to the sides, or make an arrangement using them." The basket is a perfect container for the sand dollars and soon will have sand dollars and scriptures glued to the sides. The number of sides and corners (four) signify creation and encourages me to keep trusting God for creative miracles

Since "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1), my faith is the only proof that I have what I am believing God for. God is so wonderful to build my faith in HIS love and faithfulness. Glory to HIM for all good things!

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