In the Thick and Thin : Seeing Goodness

We are in the thick of things (the thin of things). Adam is currently re-sheet rocking the kitchen ceiling. And yes things have already come crashing through and there is dust everywhere.

Have I mentioned that I am allergic to dust? .

Thanks Si. Now I have realized that on top my normal sneezing, I am also brain sneezing.

Y'all my head hurts. And not just from breathing dust. In the thick of this move, the Marshes are wearing thin. So thin we are almost see-through. As in, Adam can see right through my comments shrouded in sarcasm and annoyance. We are stressed with all the ins and outs of moving.... and unfortunately we are spewing out some frustrations on each other. We are both guilty.

I'm reading The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp (http://www.aholyexperience.com/) for Advent. And of course God is using this book in simple, every-day ways. Today she writes about the tattered edges of Josephs beautiful robe as a picture of his life. There is a tattered thinness to his life, the sold into slavery by brothers and sent to prison. But even Joseph sees through the thin into the goodness of God. He says to his brothers, "You intended to harm me but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people." Genesis 50: 17-20

I'm praying today that God helps me see through the tattered thin pieces of my life and into what is good. What God intended. He always intends good. I forget that sometimes...

Sometimes I feel like He is punishing me, but all punishment happened at the cross. I receive the payment for my sins no longer (consequences, yes, but not punishment). If I still think my sins need punishing today, then I am telling Jesus that His death wasn't enough.

But that is the lie and I remind myself of the truth. God intends all things for my good. Even in the blood-stained, torn-up robe of Joseph. So what are my tattered edges? My estranged brother whom I love and for whom I hurt so deeply. The upcoming loss of all my beloved friends through this move. The painful moving logistics that are slicing into friendships and dividing hearts. The ceiling is literally crashing down.

Where is the good? Honest : I'm not sure I see it yet. But that's the faith bit right? I trust that God intends good and His character is forever good and the goodness is the depth of the ocean and truly truly truly... His is grace is sufficient. His grace is sufficient enough for my tattered heart to honestly whisper, "He is good to me." Even when the world says my life is a torn-up mess. He is good to me. He gave me His son. He gave me Jesus. And Jesus claims me as His own.

"Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot." Isaiah 11:1

And out of the stump of my tattered-thin life, will grow hope.