In one of the first loads, I found my sculpture. My Women of the Way sculpture. She's called Contrite. I'll never forget the day I got it... it was the time I realized I'd probably lose Freeman House. It just felt like too much, you know? I remember praying, "God, the Bible promises that a broken and contrite spirit You won't despise. You say that you're near to the brokenhearted. Remind me." And He did. He did! And this sculpture helped.
So, almost two years later, I unwrapped the sculpture, stood her up on the table, and looked at her. It choked me up to realize that she's more a symbol - a testimony of overcoming victory and God's faithfulness - than a reminder. That Contrite season is over.
You know, so many Christians are spouting health, wealth, and safety nowdays. It's crap. God isn't glorified by what we have, He's glorified by who we are. When we can go through struggles and loss proclaiming that God is enough, that God is our gift and our giver, that God will satisfy when nothing else does, then He is honored.
"Whom have I in heaven but You? and there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You." God, I'll lose it all for that testimony. ...
Now I guess I'd appreciate the sculpture Consumed.
Sitting here smiling about the place where you are now and with tears in my eyes that you have overcome the place where you were!
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
Such a beautiful sculpture... and I love the arrangement of all the lovely things around her as well. You have such a gift for visual poetry.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about the "crap," too. :) There are times in life where we experience suffering. I have been struggling with consuming health issues the past 6 months. Overly happy, optimistic people tend to make me angry. I hope to gain more of Christ's character through my suffering. I hope to gain a true compassion for those going through the difficult times. There are times to be happy and rejoice and times to really cry and comfort. I love that you embrace both sides of this journey we call life.
"God isn't glorified by what we have, He's glorified by who we are. When we can go through struggles and loss proclaiming that God is enough, that God is our gift and our giver, that God will satisfy when nothing else does, then He is honored."
ReplyDeleteBless your heart. I love your statue. To be contrite is better than being full of ones self, thinking we are great. Without God, we are nothing.
Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady
A beautiful testimony. Pain is truly the gift that nobody wants. You have been in the refiners fire. I am in the fire now. It amazes me that 2 years have gone by since you left the Freeman House and your darling bakery.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we think we are in the center of God's will and it all falls apart anyway. The challenge is to thank God for His faithfulness even in the pain. You did cling to Him and He did not let you go.
Beautiful! I LOVE the Women of the Way series. I bought the "Sweet Encouragement" for a dear, dear friend and kindred spirit. It is wonderful how God works - even in the dry season of life. Blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Brin, hard to believe it's been 2 years already, I miss Freeman House too but I always knew you'd be alright! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is something my head knows, but my heart needed a reminder. Thank you. As a friend's husband wrote while dying of cancer, God is good all the time and all the time God is good."
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, just beautiful. So happy to hear you are settling in. Looks so cozy! Hugs, Heather
ReplyDeleteIn my own life, I've discovered that no season ends; they cycle around just as spring follows winter. What a wonderful piece of art "Contrite" is. I understand how such treasures serve to remind us of God's goodness to us. You're nothing if not intense, Brin. Sometimes it takes the wind out of my sails...
ReplyDeleteamen...'whom have I but You'. I belong to Christ and thats all that matters. His love is all...I lack for nothing.
ReplyDeleteAmen. So very well said. May our lives be sacrifices of praise.
ReplyDeleteThere is a certain freedom that comes from losing your material stability. It has turned out to be a huge blessing in my life.
ReplyDeleteWell said Brin!!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you. Your journey continues to point me and others to Jesus.
Love your heart... and your lovely home.
if i could pick someone to know it would be the person i see and feel in your writing. i have read you blogs for some time now form freedom house ---i called you once waiting to order the plates with the bird nest on them then you closed it was sad then looked and found you again premitive love is now on my face page. They came to our church to speak after me reading it on you blog, You have touch my life. S
ReplyDeleteYou are hitting your stride, friend. I'm so grateful for what you share.
ReplyDeleteI look so forward to more of anything you might have to say.
God is so beautiful...
Kali
Brin, I love your blog...you write with such honesty.
ReplyDeleteAnd, thankyou for this:
"God isn't glorified by what we have, He's glorified by who we are. When we can go through struggles and loss proclaiming that God is enough, that God is our gift and our giver, that God will satisfy when nothing else does, then He is honored."
I really needed to hear it today.
Happy settling in! xxx
I agree about all the "crap". How tough is it to follow Christ when everything in your life is bliss? Life is not about how much happiness we can squeeze out of it and how good we can make things for ourselves, it's about glorifying God, pure and simple. He is more glorified in the life of someone who seems to have it all stacked against them and praises Him regardless. Somehow sinful man manages to package satisfying his greed as "blessings" and gets it all twisted.
ReplyDeleteiam so happy for you...May your new home bring you peace and joy..
ReplyDeleteYou've quoted one of my favorite scriptures -earth truly does have nothing to compare. Another favorite is when the disciples tell Jesus: 'where else would we go?'. Your blog encourages, reminds, challenges - thank you
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