A New Sun Rises

Confession: I've seen Les Misérables twice now since it came out just under two weeks ago.  I had seen it live two times as well several, several years ago.  The lyrics of this musical are intoxicating.  The story is heart-gripping.  The theme is inspiring. 

I think what captured my attention the most and why I had to see it again is the idea we all want more out of the life we are living, yet our past entangles us.  We all search for who we are because we were are is not where we dreamed we would be.  I believe we all have bigger dreams.  We all want to be better off than what we are.  We all need a savior.

I know I desire a new beginning, a second chance.  I wake up with the hope of the sunrise.  It is there, but it doesn't take long for the dark clouds to cover and for me to fall back into old habits.  Surrender and calling out to my Savior are the only ways the light returns.  New hope reignites. 

I know I may never cross off everything on my "To-Do" list, I may never organize that one catch-all area, I may never wake up at 5:00 a.m. to exercise, I may never drink 8 glasses of water a day, I may never publish a book, I may never fly to Greece, I may never fully give to others as I'd like, I may never get out of debt, I may never be able to correct the wrongs I've done, and I know I may never marry.  Yet, the sun rises and brings with it a new day. 

Like Fantine, I, too, have dreamed a dream; and even though I'm not living every dream and I seem to tangle myself back up in my past, in my failures, in my sin, I know that my God has bigger, brighter and more beautiful plans than I have dreams.  I look forward to the rising sun and the new day to begin.

"The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises."

Ecclesiastes 1:5

His Holy Vessel

His Holy Vessel

 

 

I am a holy vessel

 

Ambitiously glued together
my nicks and holes
mark the toasts to imperfections
and the “not good enoughs”

 

I am a holy vessel

 

Alone, I sit distinctively on the shelf
cracked and faded
pushed to the back corners
where the hands of light cannot reach

 

I am a holy vessel

 

Wonderfully and fearfully made
by the one Creator
Whose Light can stretch
to the darkest of forgotten corners

 

I am a holy vessel

 

Viewed by the world
as just another cup
but seen by the Divine God
as a Chalice of Gold

I am a holy vessel

 

Captured from the shelf
by the Majestic King
Who holds me up to the heavens
delicately with His fingertips

 

I am a holy vessel

 

A worthy and precious one
topped with a crown a beauty
and opened to gather the Living Water
Who fills and overflows

I am a holy vessel.

RePURPOSEd

Tonight, I needed something to store my rolls of contact paper that I use on craft projects.  It was late.  I was too tired to even think of going out to search for something; so, I, instead, scrounged around my house to find something that I could repurpose.  I came upon, ironically in my craft room, this wire basket that was being used as a wastebasket. Perfect!  I thought.  I didn't have to spend any money, I didn't have to try to make something work because this just worked, and I didn't have to look any further than my own home.  I bet I have a ton of stuff that I could repurpose into items that I need.

So this got me thinking about how my life is with God.  He sees me--my talents, abilities, personality, intelligence--and He knows my purpose.  I like to think God repurposes me.  My work isn't complete just because I fulfilled a calling.  I believe God continues to call us according to His good purpose.  It's not a one time deal.  Just because I was called to be a "wastebasket" once, doesn't mean I won't be called to be used as a "storage unit" for another time.  I feel very much God is repurposing me at the present; perhaps, He is doing the same for you.  Let's allow Him to repurpose us for He can make beauty instead of ashes if we would just trust Him with our lives.

"...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."

Isaiah 61:3

Hope in the New Year

I love a new year.  I love the feeling of new beginnings and the idea of looking forward into bright horizons.  I think, though, what I love most is that many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, experience the inspiration of hope.  Hope seems alive and vibrant and refreshed when a new year begins.  Hope is the feeling of a second chance, of wanting change and feeling the motivation to do it, and hope is seeing the future like a shiny package waiting to be opened. Hope in Christ, though, is the most spectacular gift we have and should ever desire for the new year.  Living without Him isn't really living at all.  May you discover the everlasting Light of Hope in Christ Jesus our Lord this new year and truly live a blessed inspiring life. 


³¹ 

"...but those who hope in the Lord 
 will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

    they will walk and not be faint."

-Isaiah 40:31

Sacrificial Gift

Sacrifice.  It began at birth.  When Jesus came, He sacrificed the luxuries of heaven, the highest place, to come to this earth in the form of man, a baby, the lowliest place.  Jesus' sacrifice for us began at His birth and was completed at His death on the cross. "It is finished," He declared as He stretched out His arms of love on earth to the heavens, offering Himself up for us.  May Jesus' sacrifice of love inspire us all to offer up ourselves as gifts of love.

Broken Offerings

¹⁵ 

"Open my lips, Lord,

    and my mouth will declare your praise.

¹⁶ 

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

¹⁷ 

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart

    you, God, will not despise."  

Psalm 51:15-17

A place to begin.  Offering God my best isn't enough.  Offering Him my brokenness is.  When I am honest with my brokenness, then I know I can begin to receive healing and grace.  Honesty, though, is different than awareness.  Awareness is knowing I'm broken (my sinfulness reminds me of that every day).  Honesty with my brokenness is recognizing up-close how broken I am.  Today, Lord, I begin handing you each broken piece because I know, like a mosaic, You will make something beautiful out of them. 

New Hope

New life
because of a Living Hope
the reward
of genuine faith.
Hurt no longer weighs on me
like a metal-plated vest,
I can swim freely
towards the bright horizon
filled with brilliant colors of the rainbow
and touched by glittery gold.
God has thrown me
a new life vest
one that lifts me above the waters
as if I'm being carried by His wings.
The wind caresses my face with its warmth
and the Spirit fills me with a fresh breath
"Keep going. Keep going."
I hear His encouraging whisper
and look to see felled trees around me,
courage and humility strengthens my flight.
Off in the distant I see the LORD with an axe
sharpened and ready to cut down more trees-
"Take heart! I have great power,"
He calls to me
and I move forward with more determination
than ever before.

.AMY.. 2010