If you’ve been reading along, you already know these next chapters are awe-inspiring. And if you’re not reading along … you may want to start. Just sayin’.

This week I’m sharing my thoughts on chapters 17-19.

Teacups:

“There was a forty-five second time period every few minutes where they just got lost in the blur of joy.” Oh how I pine for moments to get lost in the blur of joy in my own life.

Life hurts right now. It’s painful. And I yearn for those seconds — just mere seconds — of joy.

In just a few days I’ll arrive at my “heaven on earth.” And time will stand still for a week. I’ll be lost in the moments of paradise. I’ll have my own forty-five seconds to get lost in the blur of joy.

And then.

I’ll board my plane back to reality. And when reality hits me, Angie’s words will ring true, “This life is never going to fill us, is never going to satisfy our need for goodness. And it doesn’t need to.

He is enough.”

I have days in this life where I want to be numb. I don’t want to feel the pain. I don’t want to feel the hurt. This life can be downright painful!

But joy? Real joy? Great joy? It’s found in the “One who works through our hurts.” Join me in clinging to that promise today?

The Reeds:

The story of Moses. I love the story of Moses. And I love the way Angie brings it to life for me again.

Moses lived a life of faith. From the time his mother faithfully put him in the river. To the parting of the Red Sea. To the commandments etched in stone. To the last breath he breathed.

Did you know God buried Moses? I never knew that part of his story. I was filled with awe when I read it, and I’m brought to literal tears as I type it. Can you imagine? The Holy of Holies ushering you out of this world and into the next?

This chapter so beautifully flowed from the previous. This chapter reminds me of God’s sovereignty. It reminds me of what I so desperately believe in … God is a God of hope. He brings hope into any hopeless situation.

Exodus 14:14 reminds me, “The LORD will fight for you; and you only have to be silent.”

None of us knows how long we have or how many trials we will face. We do not know whether we will see victory on this earth or in eternity. You can know the God who knows all of this, though. The God whose hand was on Moses’ in the basket has His hand on you. Be still and let Him fight for you. Trust not in your circumstances, but in His power to overcome. Page 102 {emphasis mine}

Sketched:

This chapter has me a bit undone! How guilty am I for “sketching” my life away? Only to be disappointed when God’s vision apparently isn’t the same as my own.

Oh the time and energy I waste when I forget God is the Master Artist … the “all-knowing, all-consuming, all-loving and mighty God” whose sketches are far more beautiful than anything I could ever imagine for myself.

Are you in a situation seemingly out of your control? How can I pray for you today?

Here’s the reading schedule …

February 21 – Introduction :: Jacque

February 28 – Chapters 1-4 :: Denise

March 7 – Chapters 5-8 :: Tracie

March 14 – Chapters 9-12 :: Denise

March 21 – Chapters 13-16 :: Jacque

March 28 – Chapters 17-19 :: Tracie

April 4 – Chapters 20-22 :: Jacque

April 11 – Chapters 23-25 :: Denise

April 18 – Chapters 26-28 :: Tracie

April 25 – Chapters 29-31 :: Concluding Thoughts

In case you missed the news about the second session of the (in)couragers community starting, you can read all about it by clicking here. This session we’re walking through Angie Smith’s crazy, wonderful book, Mended: pieces of a life made whole and I’m loving it!