Beauty shines through Pain

The fire. It started on Saturday and quickly consumed thousands of acres. It quickly consumed my heart. I can hardly eat, breathe, or sleep without the thought of it looming over my head. Food doesn't settle. The air is tainted with smoke. My dreams are filled with flames. I haven't accomplished anything in the last few days. I feel like a deer in headlights; too transfixed by the danger coming my way to move.

Yesterday afternoon I stood looking out a window watching the flames slowly consume Queen's Canyon. What started as a single flame at the top of the ridge consumed the entire hillside within 10 minutes. Later my dad called and said that the flames had jumped across the scar, further down the mountain.

Yesterday evening came the news that for the first since Saturday, houses had been ignited. I sat and watched the footage of houses turned bonfires and felt my heart sink.

Yesterday night about 30 of us went up to the top of a hill to watch the fire. In the dark the flames seem a great deal scarier. I stood there feeling helpless, desperate, and fearful.

 However, despite all the pain, there is beautiful joy and peace. We stood there at the top of the hill, looking over the fire and prayed. Prayed for rain. For a miracle. For the firefighters and their families. For the evacuees. For the leaders of our city. Most of all, we prayed that God would make beautiful things out of this pain and that He would receive all the glory

As I stood and watched the flames consume my city, my pain was eased by the knowledge that I serve a good God. A great God. A big God. A HUGE God. An all powerful God. An indescribable God. A God with a plan. A God that could put this fire out in an instant. A God who can do so much more than I could ever ask or imagine. I am thankful that this trial had not made me doubt or question my great God, but instead had provided me with an opportunity to trust in His great power.

This last picture shows the sun shining through the smoke that consumed our city yesterday. I love the symbolism of this image. It represents the fact that there are good things in the midst of the bad. It proves that beauty shines through the pain.

Become like children

 

 

 

 

Two of the reasons I love taking pictures of this little darling are her beaming smile and sparkling eyes that are so evident, even in photos.

She simply exudes joy and her smile is contagious.

Matthew 18:3 says "And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"

"Become like children" Jesus said. Being around Emily certainly reminds me why.

He's Always Teaching...I'm Always Learning

God is so good! He is always revealing new things to me and He has a way of doing it just at the right time. The past few months have been a season of great growth and learning, and He is teaching me amazing things!

He is teaching me...

I need to have faith! I often forget or take for granted that He really does listen to my prayers. He has been teaching me in every day life, that when I talk to Him, He answers. I have been seeing answers to even the smallest prayers in my life... He hears me!!!

It really does not matter what others think of me! I just need to love Jesus and the people around me with all I am, and in the end, the only opinion that matters is His!

When I stress too much over doing everything right (loving others, being humble, being patient, having a gentle spirit, praying continually, casting my cares upon Him, etc etc etc) all I gain is a higher stress level and a lack of joy. Instead of trying to do everything right on my own, I just need to fall more in love with Him and draw near to Him. When I do this, the rest follows naturally.

Time with Him and in the word is so sweet, and I need to have more of it! My quiet time often gets pushed off for other things on my schedule when really I should make Him my number one priority. He has been showing me that as I draw near to Him and spend time with Him, He will draw near to me in amazing ways! Jesus is addicting! When I am consistent in my time with Him, I don't want to stop!

Secure

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me." ~ Psalm 23:4.

I have always loved this verse! Such a wonderful proclamation...no, not necessarily the happiest one, but I love how it promises that God will be with us no matter what!  

The sermon in church Sunday was titled "He secures me" and words can not express how wonderful it was. I could just feel my Abba giving me a great big hug and saying "I love you...I will protect you". In this post I will share with you my notes from the sermon, but further still, how God worked in my heart through this message

Psalm 23:4 shows that....I don't have an "exemption card" from hardship because I'm a Christian, therefore, there will be difficulty in my walk. There will be difficulty in my walk, but God will be with me through it all. There will be difficulty in my walk, but I am called to praise Him in the midst of it.

John 16:33 ~ "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."

He  Secures Me With His~

1. Courage- "I will fear no evil"

This isn't an absence of fear, but the ability to keep moving through the valley, even in the hardest times.

1 Corinthians 16:13~ "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong."

Wow... listening to this, I just felt myself becoming more and more aware of God's incredible power. He will lead me, guide me, and protect me... is there any reason not to be courageous? He can do anything!!!

It then becomes a matter of trust... will I trust Him to be my guide? Will I put enough trust in Him to keep walking on through the valley? Will I put enough trust in Him to "fear no evil" and have courage? It's a choice. I  pray that I will continue grow in my trust in him to the point that  everything my life is completely His!

Why be courageous?-

Joshua 1:9~ "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." 

2. Companionship- "for I am with you" 

Isaiah 43: 1-2~ "But now, this is what the LORD says— 

he who created you, Jacob, 

he who formed you, Israel: 

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; 

I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 

When you pass through the waters, 

I will be with you; 

and when you pass through the rivers, 

they will not sweep over you. 

When you walk through the fire, 

you will not be burned; 

the flames will not set you ablaze."

I love this! I just want to leap for joy with the comfort that this gives... He will always be with me!!! Praise God! What an amazing Father and friend!!!!

3. Compassion- "your rod and your staff the comfort me"

Isaiah 40:1~ "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God."

This just brings to the surface God's incredible love. He doesn't just sit up there waiting for something to scold me for... He comforts and holds me... He has compassion.

Two aspects of His compassion~

   1. His rod- protection

This is a defensive weapon that a shepherd would use to protect his sheep... therefore the rod is a symbol of protection. 

1 John 4:4~ "...the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world"

This promise isn't a promise that I will be exempt from struggles, but the promise that He will get me home!!

   2. His staff- restoration 

The staff helps guide the sheep and hold them up when they stumble....therefore the staff is a symbol of restoration. He will uphold me and keep me strong!

Psalm 37: 23-24~ The LORD makes firm the steps 

of the one who delights in him; 

though he may stumble, he will not fall, 

for the LORD upholds him with his hand

Thank you Lord that you provide me with courage, companionship and compassion when I am facing "the valley of the shadow of death". You are such an amazing father!!! I love, and help me to trust you more and more! ~ Amen