Beauty and the Beast

 "We must never limit God's ability to turn even the worst, most vile experience in our lives into something productive, beneficial and positive."

Charles Stanley, 1932-

I had the joy of snapping some pictures in a friend’s garden many years ago. After snapping a few shots, she took me to a master gardener’s home where I also snapped some lovely pictures. Of all the pictures I took, this snap, above, beauty and beast, is my favorite.

The tiny blossom on the unwanted weed, beside the lovely, large blossom, caught my eye, and reminded me that there is beauty and beast in our lives. As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven . . .” God has a plan.

And there lies life. Beauty and beast, good and bad, joy and sorrow. We are not capable of understanding the why in each situation. It is our part to be faithful, believing as a child. And I do.

"Just as the faith of salvation comes through hearing a message of the gospel. so the faith to trust God in adversity comes through the Word of God alone."

Jerry Bridges, 1929-2016

The beauty in the blossom above is so much bigger than the tiny flowers of the beast. But they go together. You can’t have one without the other in this life. This one thing I know. God cares. He Cares. God CARES! I’ll shout it again! GOD CARES!

"God uses every cloud which comes in our physical life, in our moral or spiritual life, or in our circumstances, to bring us nearer to Him, until we come to the place where our Lord Jesus Christ lived, and we do not allow our hearts to be troubled."

Oswald Chambers, 1874-1917

This post isn't diminishing the heartbreaking moments in our life. They take their toll. Knowing He's working during these times can help us live through them. 

The other morning, I read the words of the hymn, "Afflicted Saint, to Christ Draw Near." Following isverse one and three:

"Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near --

Thy Savior's gracious promise hear,

His faithful Word declares to thee,

That as thy days thy strength shall be.

"1739-1817When called to bear thy weighty cross,

Or sore affliction, pain, or less,

Or deep distress or poverty,

Still as thy days thy strength shall be."

John Fawcett

1739-1817

Also, the author of "Blest Be the Tie That Binds"

What is your beauty and beast. Family. Friends. Work. Health. Emotions. We all have them. But God has a plan, and it is for good in our lives. Pick that little beast and put it in a tiny pitcher and smile at its color and form. Maybe that beast isn't so bad after all. God has allowed it.  

"There is in every heart a spark of heavenly fire which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity."

Washington Irving, 1783-1859

By His Grace . . .