Beauty From Ashes - 01/03/2024

 

Beauty From Ashes

Jamie gave me a piece of never ending sand art for Christmas.  It makes something different each time your turn it over.  Each self created art form contains its own beauty.  We have often heard it said that, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.   It is indeed true because their perceived beauty is from their perspective.  This morning as we took pictures of the same piece of art form with different backgrounds, each time a new background was placed it changed the perceived perspective.   One statement I like to say is that God’s perspective is NOT our perspective. Always remember that He sees the beginning to the end.  He also knows what is best for you & all involved with your life.  Even when we don’t understand.  God tells us that He creates beauty from ashes in Isaiah 61:3.  “And provide those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise in stead of despair…”

In each of these photos  it is the same one piece of self-created sand art.  The only thing that changed was the background which when changed, transformed the perceived perspective of the sand art.   It reminded me of how true the statement is that “it’s all in your perspective”.  Each time I pray, I like to thank the Lord for three things, which encompasses such spiritual depth of our life’s  journey.  First to thank the Lord for everything He has done & it brings heartfelt tears of gratitude to my eyes, for all He has brought me through.  Next I thank Him for everything He is doing that we do not see.   And honestly I am overwhelmed with God’s mercy & grace in the gift of all He does not allow us to see because we could not cope or understand the capacity of His work on this earth…. We do not have God’s perspective because we have our own perspectives that are obtained from our individual life’s experiences.  Lastly  I thank Him for everything He will do.  Deuteronomy 31,  contains the promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.   “Be strong & courageous.  Do not fear… for it is the LORD your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you.” 

Did you notice how the same piece of self generated sand art changes in each photo, yet it is the same piece art. It is only the background that changed each time.  Sometimes we walk in the light; sometimes in the shadows; sometimes we are on the mountain top & sometimes we are in the valleys of life.  There are times we can feel like we are in a stark, total eclipse of blackness.  In those places, if we have the strength we just say His name Jesus & pray He will pierce the darkness.  In those times we can’t speak, God can hear our hearts.  BUT God is always in the background working even when we can’t see or feel Him.  Notice in last picture that you can see the reflection of my camera & hand.   This reminded me that those are the times that God allows us the privilege to have a glimpse and perhaps feel or hear that He is there.  From my life’s experiences, the one thing I know to be true is that God is the creator of all & He can create beauty from ashes of your life.  Each of us have our own
”God Stories” of this profound truth.   Who will you share a piece of your precious art work with, from your perspective, of what God has brought you through to encourage them?  After all the Bible tells us we go through our trials to help each other not to pretend we have a perfect life, which we know no one does in this fallen, broken world.  Pass it on, encourage someone today with God’s truth & light.  In 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 the Bible tells us that this is part of God plan for our lives.  “3Praise be to the God and Father of our order Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all the comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God.  5For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

 The art work of the trials of our lives demonstrates the examples of God’s beauty from ashes