Something Beautiful

Each of our lives are filled with many experiences, some of which have shattered us.  We weep as we gather the fragments of our brokenness and beg God, "Can anything good come of this, or is my usefulness finished?"

Over and over again, Jesus shows His love for us, reminding repeatedly that He came to save sinners.  Yet we doubt, and our doubts are mirrored in the eyes of others.

Then we remember to look into the eyes of Him who loves us best, and He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have made you, and you are mine."

He takes our broken lives and remakes then into something even more beautiful, like this Kintsukuroi (Japanese: golden repair) pot.  May our breakage and repair be a sign of hope to all who struggle to find hope in God.  May our Lord continue to make something beautiful in you and me with the gold of His all powerful love.

Worship the LORD!

These beautiful Diodor Pines line Highway 246 on the way to Solvang, California.  I've always admired this avenue of trees, but never considered the significance of their name until our visit out west this past January.  We were driving back to Buellton with my daughter Jill and grandson Calan after a Sunday afternoon hike.  A casual comment on the name of the trees led to a comment by Martin that the name must mean "Adore God".  I was stunned for a moment! Why had I never considered this before?  Then Mart said, "Look how the branches are like arms raised in adoration.  Wow!  These verses in Psalm 96 seem just right to express this feeling:

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it.  Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth.  He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth. (nrsv)