live.

live.

We look at life through a lens.

We either see the good and are angry about the bad, or we see the bad and are thankful for the good.

forest

 

With destruction, there is always hope.

after-the-ashes_l

 

The earth reveals who God is.

Why doesn’t he stop evil and tragedy?

I don’t know.

But I do know he brings something good from it.

It doesn’t make the pain go away, but it makes you live again.

~~~

Photo Courtesy:

Eggs&Beer / Foter.com / CC BY

 

deliver us from evil.

deliver us from evil.

Evil exists in a broken world.

Accidents happen.

People get sick.

Tires go flat.

Houses catch on fire.

We relish in the good – and so we should.

But sometimes, evil can shadow the good and we forget the good is there.

There is only one who can redeem the atrocities in our lives. God.      hopehely-snowflake_l

The Bible tells us he is compassionate and merciful. His love is so great that he died for the world because evil kept him at a distance.

Does his love stop there? No. It continues on and on and on.

And often, God shows he is with us when he surprises us with comfort when snowflakes fall gently upon the earth.

All around us is God’s presence.

Be comforted.

~~~

Photo Courtesy: bkaree1 / Foter / CC BY

redeem.

redeem.

I love working outside in the flower gardens. Every spring I am always amazed to see the tender shoots breaking through the soil once again. If we’re paying attention, the cycles in nature teach us so much. Do you think this is exactly what God had in mind?

The earth is capable of replenishing after catastrophic events – wildfires, floods, ice storms, fierce winds, and even oil spills. It speaks of God’s redeeming ability. Pain can be likened to such things. Yet, the deepest sorrow can be redeemed.

redeemed: to buy back; to free from what distresses or harms; to offset the bad effect of.

It doesn’t mean life will be the same. It does mean life will go on.  And there is  joy in finding the pleasures and treasures along the way that are given by a good God who cares that you are hurting.

Not only that, but you don’t know what tomorrow will bring.  When something bad happens suddenly – something good can happen just as suddenly!