Changed.

I recently moved next to a beautiful garden. There are all sorts of flowers and trees including a place called a sensory garden that you can go explore. I have been walking here many times. But even still I manage to notice something new. About 3 weeks ago I took Junior with me to explore all the surroundings and of course we found something new. Just outside of all the flowers looks like an abandoned group of trees. Water flows into this place where there is broken up concrete and street. As we are climbing over these oddly shaped trees and streets I ask Junior what could have happened that this place would look so jumbled? Junior then explained to me how the tornado that hit Lubbock started right in the place we are standing.

I looked around and this strange feeling came over me. It was wonder, and amazement, but also horror. To know this was the start of something scary, something that affected so many people, and also nature. But then I saw how these trees were thriving, growing into the middle of the broken street. The trees were all twisted but still providing homes for the creatures around them. If something so horrible can create something so beautiful then there is hope.

We have a promise that is even better than just nature, we can put our trust in Jesus and give him our brokenness, so that years later when people see us they see beauty. That is how good our God is. That is how testimony works though, right? When we share with people our journey these people are thinking, how is this person still standing here? And at the end of our story they see the beauty of Jesus. And in that moment someone has been changed. This is how beautiful an encounter with our savior is.

So this is for you, You who have weathered the storm, Jesus has made you beautiful. This is for you, You who have just begun the ride, put your trust in Jesus. I promise you, You will come out of this on the other side.

Something else the trees did for nature is provide homes for all the creatures. And that is similar to what we are called to do. Lead people to Jesus. And we do that with our stories. Our testimonies. So. Share your story. Post it on facebook, facetime someone. Do not let any circumstance affect our main job on this earth!

It is time.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19