.beauty from ashes.

Well I need to start off by thanking Libby.. As I was reading her blog this phrase caught my eye, and I realized that it would be what my blog would be based off of.. So thank you Libby, and also, today at the baby shower it was so funny to see you in your diaper!.. (Sorry if you didn't want people to know about that :))..

Anyways... beauty from ashes.. Today while I was praying I kept thinking about all of the places that I have been, all the people that I know, and all the things that I have seen.. I thought about the differences and the similarities that there have been between my old and new life.. A life that ended, and one that started when I accepted Christ.. Everything that happened prior to my salvation was leading up to that moment.. God had prepared a way and made a plan for my life.. There are things that have happened that I am not proud of, and there are things that have happened that I sometimes would like not to remember.. But in any case those are the things that made me who I am, the things that developed my character, and ultimately those are things that gave me eternal life.. Sometimes you get to such a low place that there is no where else to go.. There is nothing you can do to help yourself and you need a way out.. It is amazing to me to think that God took those situations and He took the person that I was and helped me to become someone beautiful in Him.. Recently a lot of the people surrounding me have come to me with problems and they seem so low.. and the reoccuring theme is

"Why is life this way?" or "Why are things so bad?"..

I was discussing this with a friend of mine and I asked why am I the only one who is trying to hold it together.. That in the middle of these hard times why am I the only one who cares whether or not it all falls apart.. I think very highly of myself right?.. Well I was reminded then, when my friend said.. God is holding your life together.. It is only by His grace and mercy that right now as I feel so broken I can still smile and love.. Not only this, but when I hear people say things like that.. When I hear them ask how long is it going to be like this I can only help but think.. You are broken for God.. Sometimes you are in exactly the place that God wants you to be.. You are right where He can hold you, and help you.. But also, if you are in this brokenness because you have made decisions that have led you there, how long do you keep running?.. How long do you put up the fight and live the way that you want live instead of how God has called you to live.. Because that is exactly how long things will stay this way..