Beauty from Ashes - A Continual Process

A little encouragement for those in the dark places, feeling isolated, boxed in, and hopeless.  I have been in that dark place.  The causes may be different or the same, it doesn't matter.  What matters is that you need hope.  Proverbs 13:2 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." I write about what is most near to my heart at any given time.  If you've noticed a theme, it is because it is where I have been living and wrestling.  And for now, my greatest joy in writing is to give an answer for my hope.  1 Peter 3:15 says, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,..." So gently, I share my experience, not as an expert, but as a sojourner.  If darkness resonates with you, know that we are at different places on the journey of darkness, grief, dismay... I'm not one to point to hope u...

I recently posted a new profile pic that is pretty ridiculous, but I wanted to show some enthusiasm for the Cleveland Cavaliers LOL!  I told my friend I always wanted a pic of me jumping but that I couldn't jump.  She said lets go outside and goof off, and the first time I jumped she got that silly picture!  Thanks Casey!  I put a Cavs frame on it and made it my profile pic. But before I added the Cavs frame to it my sweet friend Pammy commented, "They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. " That's from Isaiah 51:11 That is the truth! Thank you Pammy for calling the truth out of that pic! Because honestly, I have not goofed around much until recently. That is the story God has been writing on my heart for a long time. Everlasting joy will come, " sorrow and sighing will flee away ." I was out running today and it felt so good!  I've wai...

Things often seem dark in January through March - The middle!  The fall crisp colors are gone, and there is typically no pretty snow here in Kentucky.  Spring feels so far away!  Honestly I'm not a fan!  It can make all that's already hard seem even more so.   If you're fighting your way through I'm just sayin', yeah me too.  We all have stories, and we all know people with hard stories, and we all know the news.  But I won't stop there, not today. Yeah. Life. Hurts. But! Recently,  my spirit has been reminded in the most gentle ways, that God, the Creator of the Universe humbled himself as a man ( Philippians 2).  He suffered to the point of death, so that even in our suffering, we can have LIFE!  So He too says, yeah me too!  "He sees, He knows, He is making a way." He did this so you and I would know there will be an end to suffering. Jesus is the reason we can fight FROM VICTORY not FOR VICTORY!  Easter...

Beauty from Ashes - A Continual Process: (Re-post) There is no "silver lining" It. Is. Red.... : I wrote this post 2 years ago, on December 23rd, 2015, 3 months before I lost my brother, and we all lost a wonderful man as he went ahead ...

I wrote this post 2 years ago, on December 23rd, 2015, 3 months before I lost my brother, and we all lost a wonderful man as he went ahead to heaven. These words mean even more to me this Christmas. My (our) pain is deep...but also so many friends that I have are in the midst of deep pain this Christmas season. May you find hope here...Jesus. As I was out running this morning, I was so aware of God really tuning my heart this Advent season.  This will not be an organization of thoughts, but a download of disorganization and how that is OK. I'm more aware this year than ever, that Christmas in all it's beauty is also pain.  We rejoice in the precious baby, God incarnate being born.  We set out lights, candles, cards, cookies, gifts, traditions rich and meaningful to our families and friends.   But they are meaningless if they don't point to the Cross . One year we were given a nail ornament, to represent the nails that went into Jesus.  I always hid ...

The loss of my brother will always take my breath away - that's true for all who miss Joel.  As my heart constricts and my breath leaves, and I feel the deep ache in my chest and throat - even then,  I feel God again.  People said I would, but the despair made it impossible to imagine.  I also know that every day, season, event will bring new filters... I'm sure that in life, we will always be aware of someone suffering.  The ones who can get closest to our heart are those who have suffered in the same way.  In time our inward suffering calls us to outward action. A lot is going on in the world.  Where can God use your pain?  If not yet, some day He will, if you offer it up to Him.  Take your time...I'm taking mine.  But when you're His child, He is close, whether you sense it or not.  God. Is. My. Anchor. I have hope and a taste of His presence again.  Psalm 34 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is g...

I write my heart.  I write of pain and beauty.  My Blog title, Beauty from Ashes, is not about my beauty at all!  It is taken from Isaiah 61 where the Isaiah was telling of a God-man to come.  Jesus.   Jesus was going to come,  now Jesus has come, and the full healing of Jesus is to come.  But God wanted Isaiah to give us hope... The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, ... to proclaim good news to the poor. ... to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. Today at church we read Psalm 130.  David writes of pain, mercy, and waiting, and hope. A year and 5 months after my brother's death, I have grown and healed, and at the same ti...