He Makes All Things New

Whether I feel like it or not, the truth remains.

My Shepherd makes all things new.
My Savior restores broken things and people.
Ashes are ugly and remind us of pain. God creates beauty from those scars.
Freedom is certainly found in no other.

Praise be to God!

A Special 16th Birthday

Dear "Hoss",

Today is your 16th birthday. How I wish I could do more than just talk to you over some wires, but this is where we are. This is where God has us. This is the path, we say, "I trust Your plan, Father." My thoughts are going in many directions today. 

I think back on the day you were born. I hadn't seen you or held you, but I knew you had breathed air for the first time. You were being held by another. One who loved you and one who struggled in life. One who didn't have a Heavenly Father to guide her in dark paths. One who had no direction and felt hopeless. One who I am thankful to every day. One who I can guess is thinking of you today, too.

Five weeks later, you were place in my arms, a whopping 13 lbs. My first time at being a Mommy, without knowing the feelings of life giving birth, but knowing the feelings of a full and complete heart. My heart swelled at the love God placed in it for you, Little Bear. (I know you don't fit this description very well anymore, but you will always be my Little Bear.) You spoiled me rotten, sleeping the very first night for 12 hours, and every night after that. You talked and cooed at just 8 weeks, once so loud that while I was on the phone with Auntie Jen, she couldn't hear me. As you grew, and I mean grew, the bond we shared was like nothing I had every experienced. You were thoughtful, kind, generous and so loving from a very young age. Your prayers to God were so amazing. You thought through so much at such a young age.

 I remember well the night you asked us why you looked so different from us...a mere three years old. I, also, remember well your response as we told you about adoption. You became sad. I asked you why you were sad. You said, "I'm sad because I wasn't born in your tummy." I knew at that instant we were Mommy and Son. 

I still know this. You have grown into a handsome young man. You have so many talents and abilities that God has given you. The path we have tread for 3 years now is not the one I would have chosen for you, but I am confident of this: God has you on this path. He is turning ashes in beauty. He is turning pain into joy. He is molding your heart in areas I could never mold. He WILL use this uncomfortable season for His glory. 

Son, I love you. My heart still swells with pride and joy for you. You are my first-born from my heart. You have taught me so much as a mom that I could never learn otherwise. You are my cubby-bear, and will always be.

Beauty

Thought for the day:

He makes all things new. In His time. For His glory.

He is the ultimate Healer. Of hard hearts. Of hurting souls.

He brings beauty out of ashes. Dust becomes jewels. Trash becomes treasure.

Only through Him.

Underground Place of Beauty

While in Springfield visiting "Hoss", we took him to a beautiful underground place called Fantastic Caverns.

The cave was founded in the mid 1800s by a hunter and his dog. It was on Union land, but since the state of Missouri was split, he kept his new found secret from everyone not wanting it to come into the hands of the Confederates.


In the early 1900s, the cave was made known and actually used as a gathering place for up and coming country/blue grass bands. There is a stage amidst the beauty that many now well-known artists sang from and many hundreds flocked there to listen to.



This cavern is the only one in the United States that you are driven through on the tour. It is a 55 minute tour that literally takes you right through the cave. At times the ceiling is so low you have to duck your head down.

God's creation is amazing! It is breathtaking.

Psalm 104:24 - "O Lord, how many are your works! In wisdom You have made them all;

The earth is full of Your possessions."

My Beautifier

Psalm 51:5-12

"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which YOU have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take the Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit."

He IS my beautifier.

~making beauty from ashes

~taking a dirty, sinful heart and making it clean

~using the trials in my life to make me shine HIS reflection

~shining His light in my good works

~taking a scarred mind and making it new

~using a vessel not able to birth a new life and birthing 4 beautiful children from my heart

~changing my insubordinate attitude and giving me an attitude of submission to my man

~changing my will to be in line with His will

How has he beautified you today?