by Nan Jones @NanJonesAuthor
The sun broke through the canopy of oak and maple trees, sending glorious sunbeams into my heavy thoughts. Blue and I rounded the curve. To my right grew a thick underbrush of tangled honeysuckle and wild Virginia Rose. Fuschia colored sweet peas mingled and cavorted with pops of bright color in and out of the lush greenery.
Blue slowed down to sniff out a rabbit. That’s when the color blue caught my attention. It was velvety and deep – almost a cobalt with undertones of purple. One of the arches of the wild rose had broken. The branch wasn’t snapped completely off, but bent at a ninety degree angle, its strong structure shredded at the point of the break.
That’s where the velvety blue was. Right at the breaking point.
Through my studies I’ve learned that the color blue is very important to the Lord. He specifically instructed the children of Israel to use blue in the construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Blue was to remind the Israelites of the heavens and that there is only One True God. Blue was to turn their eyes and focus on Him.
The One True God. At the breaking point. Don’t you love that?
I thought of the lessons learned over the past few years. Tumultuous, difficult circumstances surrounded us through three years of unemployment. But in the tumult, the Angel of the Lord stood guard. In our broken places He showed Himself strong for us, His children. Just like the Apostle Paul we came to say, “We have lost everything to gain Christ.” Yes, everything. But we gained a deeper understanding of the mercies and faithfulness of our God. We found our way to the Secret Place beneath His wing – His sanctuary. His pavilion. The refuge near to His heart.
I dare say the color blue bathed our shredded, broken places revealing the Lord’s Presence to us in a mighty way.
I smiled as I remembered the goodness of the Lord.
Guess what else I noticed? At the base of this broken plant new shoots were coming forth, surging through the soil, reaching for the sun.
SELAH. Pause and consider.
“Yet indeed I also count all things loss
for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whom I have suffered
the loss of all things,
and count them as rubbish,
that I may gain Christ and be found in Him,
not having my own righteousness, which is from the law,
but that which is through faith in Christ,
the righteousness which is from God by faith;
that I may know Him
and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings…”
~ Philipians 3:8-10
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Tweetables to Encourage Others
Are you at your breaking point? @NanJonesAuthor will help you find God there. (Click to Tweet)
The One True God. At the breaking point. Don’t you love that? (Click to Tweet)
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please visit the Morning Glory page to be encouraged with the song, “In Christ Alone” by Travis Cottrel. What an affirmation of faith in the One True God!
Hi Nan! I was not aware that the Lord loves blue so much. That's a new insight. And it's always comforting to think of God being with me in the tough times. My husband has been unemployed for two years now. It's hard, and I know you understand that. I pray that I can see that blue in the snapped off piece of our lives…and know that his angel is watching over us too.
I am so comforted by your message today. Thank you!
Ceil
Sweet Ceil, Yes! I fully understand. We survived three years of unemployment and, as I shared, we literally lost everything material, but we gained all things eternal. During that time is when I learned to find the Lord all about me as well as experience His rich dwelling within. Always remember that God is able and He is faithful and when you think He isn't doing anything, that's when He's doing the most – that's when He's putting it all together. Love you!
"Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word." May the God of all peace wrap His everlasting arms around you today and bring peace to you. Love you!
I LOVE that song. It's a perfect illustration for this message. Thank you and thank you for your blessing. Love you too!