Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts

Saturday, January 30, 2010

I Will Wait

I have a dear friend Stacey that looks at nature the way I do...I asked her permission to share this.  I know from living life with lots of people how depression can consume life, draining it of any meaning.  I pray that this is an encouragement that our HOPE that satisfies and will sustain us is Jesus Christ and Him alone.



I took this picture today. Daffodils’ are close to my heart. They are symbolic of restoration and a new beginning. I look for them daily in expectation during the last stretch of each winter. When I was consumed by bondage and depression, there were many years that they were my only hope – a hope of what was to come. “If I can just make it until the daffodils bloom…” I would repeat over and over.


Today my hope lies in the glory of our LORD! I still wait daily in expectation – in expectation of God. “He is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:25-26) My soul rejoices in its restoration! I am thankful that the earth is full of God’s glory – like the newness of a daffodil as it pierces thru the pure white fresh fallen snow.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Beauty from Ashes

" to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3 It is amazing to me that my God can take something that I never thought could be redeemed, and use it for His perfect Glory. What I never thought could be "made right", has been made right by the blood of Jesus Christ. These flowers represent 14 innocent lives, but more than that, the flowers represent the "new lives" in complete grace that their mothers feel...and that grace only comes from the the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ. His word promises that "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 I see the good every day when I am reassured by my Savior that His blood is enough to cover my sin... I see the good when my mistakes can be used to guide someone in truth...I see the good when I can finally be at peace and know that my child rests in the Father's Hand and that I will see him one day in Glory....I see the good when shame is replaced with joy...guilt is replaced with peace...condemnation is replaced with acceptance.
"My biggest nightmare has become the child of my dreams".
(excerpt from Surrendering the Secret)
Beauty from ashes...there's no greater feeling of joy than to be "you" and still be used by God. All praise to His Holy Name!!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Obstructed View

Sometimes the trees get in the way...other times it's clouds, but whatever the obstruction, I always know that the sun is behind it all. Some days there is nothing to get in the way of the sun's brillance, other days the clouds are so thick that although you know the sun is resting behind them, I am missing it's warmth.

Jesus is like that. He says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness." (John 8:12) Life may obstruct our view and problems may get in our way, but we can always rest in the eternal hope that the "Son" is always resting behind them.