Thursday's Thoughts

All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way?
I wonder if my life could really change at all?

All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come up from this ground at all?

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

Oh, you make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
Making me new

You make beautiful things
(You make me new)
You make beautiful things out of the dust
(You are making me new, making me new)

You make beautiful things
(You make me new)
You make beautiful things out of us
(You are making me new, making me new)
Oh, you make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

Gungor-beautiful things.

"From this side of glory we see the tapestry from underneath, and it is full of knots and twisted threads and frayed ends that lack meaning and beauty. From God's perspective , it is all under control." -Charles Swindoll
Another death , another cancer victim. Thoughts swirl through my head and I wonder why? Another day I shouldn't have said that, I wish I would have done something more. Why is it so easy for me to sin and so hard for me to find freedom? And I'm learning that the adventure to follow Jesus does not mean I am in the back seat of a limousine, waving to others like royalty. God is leading me through rough waters. The storms of life don't pass and then never show up again.
"Just cling to the knowledge that you could be in no safer place than the storm of His making. You are safer and more secure in the tempest with Jesus than you could ever be in the calmest place without Him."-David Jeremiah
As the song says you make beautiful things out of the dust, you are making me new. Painful at times , beautiful at other times. It is not for me to understand but to rest in the loving arms of Jesus.
May you walk encouraged today.

Thankful For:
The rain to water the garden
The sun to grow flowers
Longer days of daylight
Rudy and I are still cancer free
Grandchildren who remind me boogers are a fact of life.

Mother's Day Memories-Thursday's Thoughts

The grandchildren were over for dinner the other day. I made all their favourite things. Rice with roast chicken, cut fresh veggies, and their favourite desert, chocolate chip cookies. A few veggies were eaten , the rest Nada. Instead of taking this personally I thought back to my kid's and when they went to visit their Oma (step Oma). They were much too excited to eat, more than food was their desire to have the attention of Oma and Opa. Forget the well balanced meal, love me Oma. So out came some treats...gotta feed them something and memories were made.

And as I started to focus on Mother's Day this Sunday and memories of childhood, my focus kept coming back to my dad and the gentle man he was. And I knew I needed to change my focus.And I picked up this book and words so aptly written spoke volumes to my heart.
"We cling to the present out of wariness of the past. We cling to the surface of fear of what lies beneath the surface"Frederick Buechner.But what if we did not have to be afraid? What if we met our memories , when they arrived , with the confidence of one who is held-not haunted -by Providence? What if we took the hand of Jesus and lingered long enough with each memory to be comforted , or taught, or forgiven, or released, grateful for where the stories have brought us, for what our past has made of us, for the way our memories connect us to one another and to the larger story God is still writing even now.?
Whatever the old address of my memory may be, they were given as a means of life , not death. My times are in his hands, and nothing he has brought or allowed was meant to destroy, even those things that wounded deeply.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn , for they shall be comforted...Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:3-4, 6

Wounds take time to heal. There is no magic formula, no pixie dust to spread and make all things wonderful. Our stories are all unique, no two the same. Our memories vast like the ocean.
I search my memory to remember my past to move on to the future. And each day like the click of my camera, I process , I delete and I print . Each day I am learning that memories of childhood have made me the person I am. My memories a rags to riches story, written through the sacrifice of the cross. A unique void only God can fill.

May God erase all your bad memories of childhood that leave you in bondage. May he grant you a child if you are childless. May he bring back your lost child into His kingdom. May he give you power to overcome addictions and bad habits. May he comfort your heart in mourning. May he give sleep to the weary. And peace of mind to the confused. May he erase all unforgiveness from your heart. May he give you joy overflowing. May he protect and guide you. May his peace rest in your mind and heart. Amen.