Saturday, July 26, 2008

Beautiful Things

When I was in high school there was an advertisement that often ran in magazines that really left an image stamped on me. It was a picture of a blue violet blooming through a crack in sidewalk. Beneath the picture was the caption, "Beautiful things are seldom easy". 
Isn't that the truth! That is why it is so important to persevere......We are pressing toward   something beautiful. 

The things we must endure to arrive at our beautiful destination are worth the struggle. There should be  joy in the endurance period.  We should always be looking forward to what lies ahead for us!  James 1:12 NLT "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."
Can you imagine with me what that will be like? We have never seen anything like it! Think of the most beautiful thing you have ever seen! It will be more glorious than that!

Another truth is that the Lord will bring beauty from .............Well...........Everything! Yes, everything.  The Lord loves to take a void and make a masterpiece! He is not intimidated by a flawed canvas either. No, I believe He is thinking, "Just wait and see what I can do with this one!"

Nothing is impossible with Him.  And He doesn't feel obligated to make it all look beautiful in the end,  it is His delight. His name is Redeemer. He loves to restore all things.  Renew all things.  "He makes all things beautiful in it's time." Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV

He is believing beautiful things for our lives. We cannot even imagine the wonders that will soon be unveiled for us. When looking back upon our past, the beauty we were blinded to while traveling through will be delightfully obvious.

It is not always easy! Neither is winning an Olympic medal. Or running a marathon. Or raising a child.  How about nurturing a marriage or being a Christian in a fallen world. Not easy! Not at all!

Beautiful things are seldom easy!

But don't you love beautiful things?

I pray you will have a glimpse of His beauty today and it will empower you to keep on running toward the prize!

Blessings,
Cheri

5 comments:

Joyful said...

Oh Cheri, I do love beautiful things, and I love my beautiful God! He is a God of resurrection and He delights in bringing dead things back to life!

Thanks for this hope,
Love & prayers,
Joy

Cheri Bunch said...

Yes, yes He does!
I love you,
Cheri

Paula V said...

I read this yesterday but really had nothing to add. It was profound and left my mind just soaking it up. I pray that I am patiently enduring my testing. I think I'm patiently enduring but maybe not graciously as I feel I want to kick my feet and whine like a baby.

I too know this, He will bring beauty from anything...
Flawed canvas...I like that Cheri.
I agree with Joy's comment that God delights in bringing dead things back to life! I believe it and I'm waiting for it!
Paula

Cheri Bunch said...

We are all flawed canvasses. I love Jude 24 which says,
" Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into His glorious presence without a single fault." (flawless)

He is able to take our flawed canvas and make a masterpiece and present it to the Father as a flawless piece of art. It is a beautiful thing?

Thank you for sharing. I am so happy that this blessed you!

Love and blessings,
Cheri

Corrie said...

I am realizing these truths in "real time"! I desire so much to already be what God wants me to be. I am learning to appreciate the journey. It is becoming a joy that He allows us to choose to allow Him to work this out in our hearts. Not that He needs my help in anything, but He asks that I work at these beautiful, hard things.
Thanks for the wisdom, Cheri