Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection,
not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time.  -Martin Luther

How was your Easter?  I hope it was wonderful!

 Around here we’re slowly, but surely,
coming out of our jelly bean induced sugar haze and thanking
God for the gift of Eternal life!!

Wishing you the happiest of Mondays!

 

This week I found God in her smile.

 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

It’s funny how you can be going about life and then all of a sudden, in the most unlikely
of places, you feel Him.  That’s precisely what happened to me last week.  We were at the zoo,
meandering around, taking our time looking for each and every animal we could possibly see.
I walked ahead with Piper, so I could lift her up to see the cheetah, and when I turned back to look
for Henry I found him right there.  Binoculars in hand, studying the big cats as Piper calls them.  He
was in his element and was relishing every minute that he stood there peering through his lenses
at those animals.  He wasn’t concerned with who was around him or what they might think.  He
was too busy being himself.  It was then that I felt God’s peace and I knew exactly why.
It was then that I heard God whispering to me,

“Now do you see?
Stop over-thinking your actions.
Stop seeking your worth.
I made you.  I know you. I love you.
I value you.
Now, go and BE free.”

Just like that I understood how much approval I was still seeking from this world, and the
struggle I had been putting myself through because of it.  I had naively thought that I had let
go of that part of myself after losing Samuel, but little pieces of it were still there.  In that
moment I could feel how much those little bits were holding me back and I knew that the
only way to end the struggle was to embrace the truth-  My value is found in Jesus.  Only.

This week I found God at the art museum.

Sunday, My husband and I had an afternoon date and our first stop was the 

Phoenix Art Museum.  As we turned the corner toward this installation my breath

was taken away.  You can view it from two sides and it’s stunningly beautiful in person.

I felt God all over this piece of art.  I seriously could have just sat there for our entire

visit and been perfectly happy.  It made me feel creative and peaceful at the same time.

 I finally made my way over to the placard to read about the piece and that’s when

I realized why I felt Him all over it.  You see, this piece of art was constructed from the

charred remains of a Baptist church in Lytle, Texas that had been struck by lightning.
Just like in my life, once again He had made beauty from ashes.

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD
has planted for his own glory.
Isaiah 61:3 

Come by Beautifully Rooted to see where others are finding God in their lives.

Thank you so much for all the lovely feedback on Beautifully Rooted.
It truly is a labor of love for Rachel and I.  Did you know that I’m not only the
Creative Director over there, but that I’ll also be contributing a weekly column?
Why, yes, I will!  And my first post is up today.  I’ll be hosting a weekly
series called Found, dedicated to finding God in our everyday lives.

Want to know the really fun part?
It’s going to include a linky party!
I’m explaining all about it in my post today,
 so I hope you’ll come over and check it out.


P.S.  I received so much kind feedback when I announced that I was
ending Life Made Lovely Mondays with our 74th post, but many people
expressed how much they were going to miss it and the community
that grew around it.  Because of that I wanted to pass along two newish
Monday linky parties that I think you would enjoy.  Ruth from Gracelaced
has begun hosting a Monday link up called Grace Laced Mondays,
dedicated to posts about finding grace in the everyday.  Also, Laura from
Bits of Splendor is getting ready to begin hosting a new Monday link
up called Bits of Splendor Mondays, dedicated to posts about the
bits of splendor you found in your life throughout the week.
 Both would be wonderful ways to share your heart.

Happy Wednesday friends!!
I hope it’s a lovely one!
xo-Heather