"Looking for the beauty of Christ in the everyday isn’t some quaint exercise in poetry. It’s a critical exercise in staying alive." -Ann Voskamp

      I remember being on the World Race and my eyes began to be opened to the depths of darkness and brokenness that fills our world, but at the same time I begin to see the glory of the Lord coming and overpowering darkness in every area (Read more: The World as I See it). And soon my heart began to crave His beauty, the outpouring of His glory. You cannot be constantly surrounded by brokenness without also being surrounded by deep beauty.

    You cannot sit with an 8 year old rape victim and her family hearing about her night terrors, tears,

and fears and not have to find beauty of Christ surrounding the family in some way. There is no way to to sit in the midst of that hurt and not hold fast to the promise of a God who is a healer and restorer.

    I cannot pass the anniversary of sweet Jayson's death; to remember holding his hand, looking into his eyes, and knowing that he would soon die without allowing my heart to find its rest in the hope of eternity.

    I cannot see one of my sweet little loves leave for a home where I doubt that he will feel loved and treasured without believing that the Lord is with him wherever He goes and that His love can speak truth that overpowers the lies.

    Yes, there are deep hurts that permeate our community, that are breaking hearts and destroying lives of people that I love so deeply. There are days when it feels overwhelming, but then the glory of who the Lord is shines through in the darkness and restores hope.

 "In [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." -John 1:4-5

    We have a God who embodies love, hope, peace, restoration, and grace. He is reconciling us to Himself and is restoring places long devastated. He is light and His light will not be overcome by the darkness no matter how immense it seems. As Jesus was starting His ministry, He read these words: 

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

    because the Lord has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

    to proclaim freedom for the captives

    and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

    and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

    instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

    instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

    instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    a planting of the Lord

    for the display of his splendor.

4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins

    and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

    that have been devastated for generations." -Isaiah 61:1-4

    He is bringing forth healing and restoration. We are anointed with the same Spirit and called to live forth that same love. We need to immerse ourselves in the darkness and carry His light. We need to see His beauty in the midst of the brokenness and call it forth.