I was asked to provide the Keynote Presentation for a Women’s Retreat last September.  Anxious to share what God wanted for this group, I spent much time in prayer. Scripture seemed to come to mind almost immediately and I penned thoughts and past experiences.

The morning of the retreat arrived and I decided to polish my toenails as a last ritual of dressing. Leaning over the tub, I polished each toe with precision. However, the hand that was holding the red polish was also leaning and was pouring out onto my ceramic tile floor. In horror I began to wipe at the polish with tissue paper but it was too late. It seemed to be saturating into the grout. I ran to the kitchen to see what type of cleanser I might have to clean the mess that I had made. I immediately saw a new magic eraser, still in the box. In time-warped speed, I raced back to the bathroom, moistened the pad and began scrubbing the area. When I lifted the Magic Eraser©, the spot was totally clean. In fact, it was so clean that I realized that I would need to clean the rest of the floor in order for the spot not to stand out. In a whisper I said, it is white as snow and the verse of Scripture came to mind: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” {Isaiah 1:18}

What a picture I had witnessed! My sins were like this red nail polish on a clean surface – a mess that I had made. Now, I am white as snow because I had allowed Jesus to clean up my mess like this Magic Eraser©.  He gave me “beauty for ashes.” {Isaiah 61:3}

Yes, I did arrive on time to the Retreat and yes, I did share this experience with the ladies.

As you might imagine, I always think of Jesus when I see a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser©!

My Joy Whatnot For Tuesday, April 1, 2008:

5 Things That Are Good About Today:

1. April Fools' Day!
2. Discovering the joys of granola
3. Having Mary call me with another character for my children's novel...and having Mary name her!
4. Listening to old time radio shows once more...though I may have to cut back LOL
5. Reading Beauty For Ashes by Joyce Meyers

3 Things I Did Well Today:

1. Organized one side of my desk (the messiest side)
2. Spreading the word about NATIONAL FROG MONTH which is April
3. Walking and drinking water even though I'm tired and water-logged

2 Things That I Am Looking Forward To Tomorrow:

1. Church
2. Reloading my iPod

CHEERS!

The tide has been so high this morning the beach is literally littered with debris…hundreds of shells & fragments, seaweed in abundance, even an occasional piece of soggy driftwood strewn about.  It’s as if the ocean heaved to dump its garbage on the shore then receded to distance itself from the ensuing mess.  If an alien landed on this beach at this moment he might conclude that nothing good or useful comes out of the sea—only this refuse that once served a purpose but is now rendered useless.

How many times in my 40+ years of existence have I felt that life has relentlessly churned me & then spit me out, much like the ocean & these broken shells?  What once could have been beautiful & meaningful is now reduced to something of little or no value, mere remnants that only the most vivid imagination could picture as lovely.  Failed relationships, tensions in the workplace, ill-placed loyalties, wrong priorities, poor choices, missed opportunities…all waves in the ocean of life with tragic remains sprawled out on the shore, scattered about in pieces as painful reminders of my fallen state.  It is difficult to think that God could do anything with this mess.  Yet the Bible says he gives “beauty for ashes” {Isaiah 61:3}…He exchanges the rubble & ruin for temples of glory.  His glory.  In His time.  Just as we cannot change the timing of the tides, God’s purposes in our lives cannot be hurried. 

Eventually the tide will move in again to sweep the beach clean pulling all the debris out to sea…a forceful act of the Creator to wipe away all evidence of clutter on the beach leaving it once again pristine.  How powerful the picture, how precious the reality of what Christ accomplished on the Cross of Calvary.  In one unselfish act of obedience at the direction of the Creator, Jesus made a way for all life’s clutter and the ugliness of sin to be forever washed away.  And just as the waves ebb & flow a constant replenishment & removal of seaweed, our life’s redemption is an on-going exchange…our sin for his blood.

I avert my eyes from the garbage on the beach to follow waves far off in the distance as they merge with the horizon.  Indeed, the ocean is so much more than what is represented on the sand.  There is beauty and depth that will never be fully realized while standing on the shore. 

“…it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we will be like Him…” I John 3:2

So many of the struggles we go through in life end in beauty. In fact God has said that he would give us "beauty for ashes."

(Again, I am not referring to sickness or death, when I discuss suffering, because I believe sickness comes from Satan, not God. I am referring to trials, tribulations, struggles, and the painful challenges of life that often leave us wounded.)

It is very common to want to escape suffering. I can't think of anyone who truly embraces it. Usually, we want to get as far away from it as possible. But unfortunately, life is not like that. To live is to suffer...it cannot be denied.

As I was doing some research tonight, I read that the Chinese have two characters for the word "crisis." One means danger, and the other means opportunity. In every crisis, there is probably an opportunity. We need to ask ourselves, "What can I learn from this?", "Is God preparing me for something else?, and "How can this time of difficulty be transformed into something meaningful?"

Could there possibly be a purpose to our suffering? Romans 5: 3-5  says, "...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us."

In recent months when I have suffered persecution, of course I grieved over the situation. But I did not allow myself to be destroyed by it, unlike other times in my life. (Which doesn't mean I didn't cry or have sleepless nights.  I did, as I was truly hurt.) But this time, I tried to find something positive in it.

The first thing I noticed that gave me so much comfort, was how many friends came to my defense. So often, in our time of trouble, others let us down or abandon us at the time when we need their support most. I was (and am) thankful for the loyalty of my friends, and for their assurances that God had used me to make a difference in their lives. Therefore, I knew that all my previous effort was not in vain.

Secondly, I began to wonder if God allowed this persecution to happen, in order to move me in another direction. (I am a firm believer that there are seasons in our lives devoted to certain areas of ministry, and sometimes it is difficult for me to know when that season is over.) I often have to be dynamited out of places, because I have grown comfortable and settled. It's funny because when I told my counselor what happened, she was amazed at the cruelty shown toward me and the lady I defended, and also at the failure of the owner of the board to protect and defend me. But the thing that really got me was when she said, "There may have been some Divine intervention in it also." I smiled, agreeing, because I had also had that same thought. I was very invested in the people there, and wouldn't have left on my own. In addition, it allowed me to see who I was dealing with, and the character (or lack of) that the owner demonstrated. For one week and a little more, I experienced a lot of hurt, and even chest pains as they attacked me in writing, for days on end. But after that, I received a peace about it all, and that grief and pain was lifted off of me.

When Joseph was mistreated so badly by his own brothers, he was able to say later, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

The word "evil" in the Hebrew means to give pain, unhappiness and misery. Joseph said the things they did were intended to harm and to hurt him.

But then he added, "God meant it for good." It means welfare, prosperity, happiness, and benefit.

That should encourage us, to understand that even though some situations in this world are designed to bring us evil and harm, God can take those things, and bring good out of them. They can have redemptive value in our lives. So, if you are going through a difficult time right now, (whatever the source), trust God, and know that He will turn it around, and bring something good from the suffering. And when you begin to doubt, just keep trusting. Job was able to say with confidence, after all he suffered, "I know my Redeemer Lives..."

Please view other articles that I have written at:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/109497/lonnette_harrell.html

Sources:  http://www.actsweb.org/articles/article.php?i=60&d=1&c=5&p=1

http://www.probe.org/content/view/889/77/

http://www.surfinthespirit.com/healthy-living/value.html

When sorrow seems to surround you
When suffering hangs heavy oer your head
Know that tomorrow brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fearGladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When what youve done keeps you from moving on
When fear wants to make itself at home in your heart
Know that forgiveness brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fearGladness for mourning
Peace for despair

I once was lost but God has found me
Though I was bound Ive been set free
Ive been made righteous in His sight
A display of His splendor all can see

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fearGladness for mourning
Peace for despair

What is external and temporary beauty compared to the everlasting loveliness of a soul surrendered to God that is being used for His glory? What is earthly praise and attention compared to the satisfaction and fulfillment of pleasing God? When you peel away the make-up, the hair dye, the car and the clothes from Urban Outfitters you will see that we are all the same. Underneath all those layers of decoration you will find a heart. If I wear my beautiful new satin Christmas dress but I am ugly on the inside than people will see past the satin dress to the ugliness of my heart.

Physical beauty is a wonderful thing. It is pleasing to us and to the Lord. But what do you typically do with it? We flaunt it around, show some skin, and act as though we were made better than others. One of the ugliest character flaws is pride and pride is no stranger to physical beauty. We have cheapened beauty, I suppose, whereas external beauty is reserved for an idealistic kind of beautiful. Their pictures are on the cover of magazines and we starve ourselves to look like them. Then there is internal beauty. That is the kind of beauty that is reserved for those who exhibit little or no outward beauty. They are the ones who have “rich character” but “poor looks.”

I am not opposed to beauty. I enjoy beautiful things. I don’t think it’s wrong to buy new clothes or new jewelry. I don’t think it’s wrong to exercise or follow a low-fat lifestyle. I just think that if we closed our eyes and listened we would hear the most beautiful things. If we took a moment to see someone for who they are not what they look like or what they wear, we would find the most beautiful hidden treasures of all. And we can help people to really see who we are by being real and honest.

With all this being said, I suppose that I just want to be more transparent. Life is so short and it's too exhausting to live it pretending to be someone or something that you're not. I just want to be me because the truth is that people appreciate transparency, they appreciate people who are real in the sense that they admit their faults and push forward through them. No one likes a pretender. So let’s all stop pretending.

I appreciate beauty so very much. But I appreciate humility and frankness moreso.