Messes are typically thought of as a bad thing. They are meant to be cleaned and straightened back into the order that was previously held. Sometimes I am not sure that is always the best thing. I am sometimes a messy person especially with my clothes. I can never find what I need and so they typically go flying every which way until I find exactly what I was looking for. Isn't that kind of how life is sometimes? Currently my bible study is going through the Old Testament and I am seeing how insanely messy these people's lives were. There definitely wasn't anything cookie cutter and Sunday School friendly about most of these people. These people that God used in such a great way were going in all these crazy directions making a mess out of their lives until they finally listened to God's faithful promises which was exactly what they needed. I know in my life that God certainly has used my messes I have created with sin and disobedience to polish me and my faith to be so much more than I was before. As Chelsea, a precious girl in my bible study so eloquently said tonight, God has been transforming beauty from ashes since the beginning of time. Thank you Jesus. These lyrics really say what my inadequate words have been trying to say for the last paragraph. Enjoy.
"Beauty for ashes
A garment of praise for my heaviness
Beauty for ashes take this heart of stone
and make it Yours
I delight myself in the riches affair
trading all that I have
for all that is better
a garment of praise for my heaviness
You are the greatest taste
You're the riches of faith
You are better
So much better than all the world
Lord, You are better
You taste better
So much better"
-Shane Barnard
