II Corinthians 4:7, The Message
I dig my fingers into dark chocolate earth, scoop out a hole for the pungent leafy basil, cover roots and press stems firmly in its new place in the garden. And remember I am made of this earth, fired by the unforseen circumstances of life, shaped by the hands of God to hold the beauty He breathes for such a time as this.
Remembering that adorned pots of fired life -along sidewalks, pushing carts down aisles, seated in pews, behind the counter – they hold treasure within. The promise of eternal life. Happy Sunday!
Also linking with Scripture & Snapshot and Fresh Brewed Sunday
Yes..for this time—-beautifully cracked in the Hands of the Holy.
(got the email feed through WP manager, not sure what happened)
So glad it’s working. I think there are some kinks lately. I am having all kinds of trouble uploading photos too. So glad you let me know. Love you friend . . .hope you have a great Sunday.
Nice to meet you too, Shelly! Thankful for our common ground! I love the thoughts you shared. Thanks also for “introducing” me to some other great places to link up! Have a blessed Sunday! ~Sally
Love the way these link ups introduce us to new places Sally. Glad you found some new ones.
Yes, and I’m definitely a “cracked pot”… and couldn’t make or do anything positive without Him. He blesses me, unimaginably.
Thankful for the cracks that let the light in Joanne. Thanks for visiting.
Lovely photos and great reminders about our Wonderful Lord!
Oh my goodness, Shelly. Beautiful images. Beautiful. Exquisitely paired. Love, love, love this. Have a perfect Lord’s Day tomorrow.
thanks for stopping by Dawn, hope you are holding down the fort and not too lonely without the hubs.
oh the ordinary lives we live… as we share the Love of Jesus to all around us… through our words, our actions and our behavior.
For such a time as this — yes, formed by Him to live for Him and bring Him glory! Amen!!
For such a time as this…. Yes, I’ve been hanging out in His kiln lately, feeling the heat, living the slow transformation…. He is so good to love us enough to mold and shape us, to allow us to carry His message, His story to others. Beautiful words, Shelly. Thank you.
We are companions at the kiln Krissie. Glad to be there with you.
One of my most favorite verses.
Oh, this verse fits the title of your blog so well. Divine Light shining through our cracks… redemption’s beauty indeed! 🙂
I didn’t even think about that Lyli, thanks for pointing it out friend. Hope you have a great day.
Such meaningful words and pictures. You’ve weaved them beautifuly together.
Truly a redemptions beauty, Shelley.
Beautiful images…beautiful – inspiring words….thank you!
All good things,
Charina
You remind me daily to walk in beauty. Thank you.
You’ve previously posted the quote about the bells and cracks as being Philip Yancey. Did you find that he was quoting someone else?
I did. Can’t believe you remembered that but appreciate you keeping me accountable. I caught it last night when that quote came back to me. Philip Yancey actually quoted Leonard Cohen in Brennan Mannings book All is Grace. I changed it in the original post. Sorry about that.
No problem. It’s happened to me before. Either way a great quote!
Awesome photos and great verses to go with them!
What blessing, to receive His light! And those cracks: that’s how the light gets out for others to see!
Yes, I am learning to love my cracks as well as those in others. We are all but dust and do well to remember that. And to see the treasure within? That is a gift. You are a treasure. I appreciate your beautiful pictures as well as your beautiful words.
Tereasa, the feeling is mutual.
Oh, that was beautiful!!! Talking about cracks — isn’t it interesting that our cracks allow the Light to shine through us? He uses the broken pieces for His purposes. God bless you and thank you for visiting me today.
“Fired by the unforeseen circumstances of life…” You’ve got me pondering. Sometimes the ugliness life paints on us can create a beautiful, vibrant glaze. Don’t you think?
Heather, I like your pondering. Yes, a vibrant glaze from the ugliness. I like that imagery.
Shelly, what a wonderful idea to take a picture of the soil and plant. I may have to copy you!
Oh Sherri, I take pictures of just about everything you can imagine. Those are the flower pots in the cemetary at All Saints. Aren’t they awesome?!
Yes. I love taking pics as well. I got a camera for Christmas and it is small, easy and fun.
I just shared that verse (also the MSG translation) with my Bible study last week. I wish I’d had your picture then, too.
I really love that translation, makes me experience it differently. Thanks Sandy. I don’t know how old those pots are in the picture, but pretty ancient. They stand on columns around the cemetary of our church and the way they have weathered is beautiful in my opinion.
Oh friend. You make me want to pick up gardening. I feel like I need to appreciate the earth I came from. Wonderful post. I’m behind, but am so glad I didn’t miss it!
I come by my love of gardening honestly Nikki. Both my parents, even though divorced when I was three, are avid gardeners. The kind that remove grass to create strolling gardens. When we were poor missionaries, I started with herbs and then bought some books at a yard sale and taught myself more. I ended up helping neighbors landscape their yards and often enjoy helping friends do seasonal planters. Maybe its all that English blood pulsing through my veins. When my kids were little, I gardened when they took naps. It was an outlet for creativity, excercise and getting perspective all at the same time!
Shelly, this is an absolutely beautiful post!!
Thanks Katie, that means a lot coming from someone whose opinion I value when it come to photography.