You Make Beautiful Things"

Well, try to imagine this picture.....Rodney Jogging. :) Yeah I know, kind of a pardigm shift for sure isn't it? But seriously, I wasn't only jogging, but jogging with my daughter Taylor. We took off thru the neighborhood on a beautiful spring-like day. A nice break from the hot days we have been seeing around here in Arkansas. Taylor had her ipod playing some Mandissa music and just singing with great animation as we moved thru the neighborhood. I had my own ipod and was listening to a new song I had just been introduced to a few week prior.

Have you ever been in a situation where you don't expect a worship moment to happen and then, out of the blue, comes the blindsided blessing? Well, that moment happened to me in this very situation. As I looked over at my daughter, I was watching her and listening to the words to this new song I was learning for an upcoming worship service I was to lead for CR. The name of the song was "Beautiful things" by Gungor (look on youtube)

Here are the lyrics I was listening to as I watched my 14 year old precious daughter run along side me thru our neighborhood.

"All this pain, I wonder if I'll ever find my way

I wonder if my life could really change at all

All this earth, could all that is lost ever be found

Could a garden come up from this ground at all"

I began to think about what God had pulled me thru as a messed up young man that was chasing happiness in "things" or "people" rather than God Himself. I remember what it felt like early in my life and how I truly believed that God could not and would not restore anything in my life and that I would always be in a dysfunctinal mud puddle. As I listened to those lyrics I remembered how I once believed those words, "I wonder if I'll ever find my way" was my destiny.

Could God really sprout a garden of hope and fruit from this old hardened heart, that was full of hate, resentment, defeat and brokenness?

I continued thru my jog when, I heard the chorus and second verse to this song continue....

"You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things, You make beautiful things out of us"

"All around, hope is springing up from this old ground

Out of chaos life is being found, in You"

Wow! Wow! Wow! This is where the worship moment thru the neighborhoods of Springdale, Arkansas happened. As I looked at my daughter, I was struck with incredible gratitude for what God had done in my life. For the new life He first gave in me in my heart and my life. For restoring this broken, old hardened heart young man into a heart full of Christ. I found myself grateful that He did not ever give up on me but, instead truly desired to have a relationship with me. He rescued me becasue He delighted in me! (2 Sam 22:20)

As I watched my daughter sing her song to her own ipod, I was struck with incredible gratitude for God giving me a second chance with my marriage. For bringing my wife and I back together so that we could start a new day together. I found myself grateful for the growth He has done in me and for giving me a daughter that would not have been here had my heart not changed. I am grateful that I have the gift of running this race of life with a great family and as the Psalm 37 reads, "God is my refuge, and strength and ever present help in time of need."

I realized in that very moment that had surrender not happened in my life some 18 years ago, I would not be able to stand next to this young lady, Ms Taylor, my daughter. I would not be able to have an influence over her or my son, Jason. I would not be able to hold my wife at the end of the day and lead her and my kids as the spiritual leader called me to be in our home.

What an awesome gift. What an awesome priviledge and responsibility. Not easy, but rewarding! He truly does make beautiful things out of the dust. He never wastes a hurt and can use me from my weaknesses!

He took this broken man, from the ashes and made a beautiful thing out of my life. I am amazed that He chose to give me a second chance and to give me a brand new day in life.

Father thank You that "You make me new, You are making me new!!" Thank you that you are not looking for perfection but for growth. Thank You for renewing my mind and for giving me a new beautiful family. I know without my surrender to You, I cannot enjoy those beautiful blessings You desire to give me. Thank You!

Please know that no matter who you are or what you may have done in your past, nothing good or bad done by you can affect or change the way He feels about you. He is a God of second, third, fourth, fifth....etc.,chances and wants to meet you at the door as you return home to Him.

We would love to have you come visit us at CR this Friday Night. Or find one in your area. This is a safe place and all are welcome as we point you to Christ the Healer, Comforter, Refuge and Strength in your time of need. He has a better way for you in your life.

See you at CR friend!
For more information about Celebrate Recovery, contact Rodney at 479-659-3679 or roholmstrom@fellowhsipnwa.org