Christ

Season’s Purpose

/ Gail Johnson / 4 Comments

Changes Revealed

Phot~pixabay

Pixabay

This time of the year brings a breath-taking transition to our surroundings as emerald-green leaves turn a myriad of gold, orange, and crimson for all to behold.

Not so in my neck of the woods. This year, the oak trees have decided to skip that particular process and turn a sickly greenish-brown just before falling to the ground. Sigh.

I felt robbed of the autumnal experience until I remembered the purpose of the transition is growth. Still, that didn’t help the way I felt as I frantically searched for a little color each day.

But then, while wading through leaves to water the flowers yesterday, the Spirit of the Lord gently reminded me that even when we understand the reason, we often lose sight of the beauty.

Beauty Revealed

Photo~pixabay

Photo~pixabay

Ahh. There are seasons our colors shine for all to see as we demonstrate strength, long-suffering, humbleness, love, or even joy in the midst of excruciating pain. But then, there are seasons when our ugly greenish-brown comes out as God strips away the old.

Our secrets are exposed. Our faults and failures revealed. We feel naked to the world. We become vulnerable. We question ourselves and everything around us. We search for someone to blame. Angry, we storm the gates of Heaven for answers. Nothing. We wait. Winter sets in. There’s no solace as we face the icy winds and rains. Our foundation is shaken.

Photo~Wikipedia Public Domain

Photo~Wikipedia Public Domain

We try to regain some normalcy in our lives as we stubbornly continue to forge ahead. We watch as the days turn into months, and months into years. And when it seems, we have reached our limit and feel we cannot go on, the sod beneath us begins to warm. Our roots stretch to take new ground. Our branches stand taller bursting with new growth. And once again, we are arrayed in His purpose, beautiful in His sight.

Purpose Revealed

Are you in a season of glorious color or sickly greenish-brown? Both have their purpose, Beloved. Both have their beauty.

It’s easy to focus on the surroundings when God wants us to open our eyes to the miraculous process taking place within us. In Second Kings, the servant of the man of God awoke to an army surrounding the city with horses and chariots. When he asked the man of God what they were going to do, Elisha told him to “fear not” and then he prayed.

And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha (2 Kings 6:17 KJV).

A Seasonal Prayer

Cherry Blossoms in Vancouver~wikicommons

Cherry Blossoms in Vancouver~wikicommons

Lord, during this season of transition, I pray that You would open our eyes to the beauty of Your purpose in us. Help us to not focus on the situation, but the outcome. Strengthen us for the journey. Instill in us a determination to make it, no matter the obstacles we must face. May we be reminded, Your grace is enough for every season and Your power is made perfect in our weakness. May we grow in grace and shine forth as a beautiful, fruitful testimony of Your incredible faithfulness in the lives of Your children. And for all of this, I offer You thanks. In Christ’s name, I pray, Amen.

Trust His Heart

/ Gail Johnson / 2 Comments

Rainbow TreeThis weekend I was reminded of God’s faithfulness to His children as I watched my friend smiling and laughing with a friend he hadn’t seen since his surgery. It was a happy reunion as the two—like schoolboys—caught up on old news.

Both are walking testimonies. Both have had open heart surgery. The elder—in his eighties—has been in and out of the hospital this past year. Twice, we’ve feared for his life. Yet God decided his journey wasn’t over. The younger, not feeling well, was diagnosed with a 100% blockage of the widowmaker earlier this year. Needless to say, God was indeed the strength of his heart. He is doing well. Thank you for your prayers.

On the other hand, I’ve watched several family members grieve the loss of a loved one who unexpectedly slipped from this world. Yet, through their struggles, God is still faithful in the midst of their heartache.

Why does He choose to leave some, while others are taken? I don’t know. But, I do know one thing. He has my best interest at heart. He loves me and wants the very best for me. So, with each heartache comes a choice. Do I trust Him when I can’t see His purpose?

Easy? Sometimes. Other times, not so easy. At times, trusting Him has been the hardest thing to do. But through my heartaches, I’ve held on to His promises like a drowning man clinging to a life-preserver.

His ways are higher

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

I am not alone

“for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5b

I will find comfort in Him

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:18

I will see my loved one again

Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection, and the life:” John 11:25

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” 1 Thessalonians 4:16

I have hope

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

 

Yes, I have hope in Him. I may not always see His hands or know His thoughts. But I can always trust His heart.

 

 

 

Refining Fire ~ Tracie Peterson

/ Gail Johnson

Book Blurb

Purchase Link

Twenty-two-year-old Militine Scott is in training at the Madison Bridal School in Seattle, yet she has no intention of pursuing marriage. What respectable man would have her? But she has found the school provides the perfect opportunity to keep her unsavory past hidden.

Thane Patton, though fun-loving and fiercely loyal to his friends, hides a dark secret, as well. He finds himself drawn to Militine, sensing that she harbors a haunting pain similar to his own.

Will they allow God to make something new and beautiful from the debris of their past?

My Review

This book reads like a mini-series. The second in the series, Refining Fire, is Militine Scott’s story or so you think when reading the first chapter. However, Abrianna Cunningham is the engine that moves the story along. Nothing wrong with that, if you are aware of it at the beginning of the series. Personally, I like the fact there are multiple POVs. I enjoyed learning about everyone at once. And the conversations? Wow. True to the character and filled with scripture. Often, I laughed out loud as I envisioned the actions of the character.

The heart of Refining Fire is the residents of the Madison Bridal School in Seattle Washington during the late 1800s. The owners, Miss Selma, Miss Miriam, and Miss Poisie instruct young ladies in the art of homemaking. Unfortunately, Militine Scott has no desire to become a wife. A runaway, Militine is hiding from an abusive father. She doesn’t trust anyone, including God. Then, Thane Patton asks to court her. A flame of hope kindles and Militine must choose between her past and Thane. Can she find the courage to trust God with her future?

Militine’s friend, Abrianna Cunningham has no time for romance either. Her days are spent taking care of the homeless. If she had a mantra it would be, faith without works is dead. The problem? Her idea of “works” usually gets everyone in trouble!

As Militine, Thane, Abrianna, and Wade go about their daily lives helping others, we watch relationships change as they discover their love for each other.

Ms. Peterson packs her story with historical facts of the Seattle fire. She addresses the subjects of feeding the hungry, women in leadership, human trafficking, abusive authority within the church, forgiveness, healing from past wounds, and finding the will of God for one’s life.

Although I would have liked a little more from Thane and Militine, I loved this book.

If you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables, Cranford, or Lark Rise to Candleford, you will enjoy reading this series.

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.