after the storm

And the same day, when the evening was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Matthew 4:35-40

http://www.theberry.com/ (source)

http://www.moonburst23.deviantart.com/ (source)

Tonight, I lament. In this life, there are times when the thorns are all too evident. They hide behind the rose in mockery and lie in wait for blood.

My heart grieves for friends with brothers diagnosed with terminal cancer...
and I think about the thorns...

In the not too distant past, I went through my own storm. I hunkered down as the rains came falling..I trusted..I prayed..I waited for the rain to pass ..and it did.

Lately, I have been reeling in beauty, using the line and the net that God has given me, and pulling it in from the very ocean of Life..the water that flows from His very hand.

I once heard that one of the best times to fish is right after a storm.

I think of the disciples. They were a group of struggling fisherman..But Jesus stepped into thier boats and took control of thier oars..He led them into places that held an abundance of fish. Thier nets were so full that the boat could barely hold all of the fish.

Jesus knew where the fish were. If they hadn't trusted Him..they would probably still be hunkered down in thier boats..casting nets..that only came back empy. Thier bellies would rumble and their perplexed minds would wonder where on the good green earth all the fish are..

Ironically, I am allergic to fish..but as I learn to trust Jesus, I find that my boat is full of them. Fish of all shapes and sizes. Fish with rainbow scales. Glimmering fish.  Fish so numerous that they could feed five thousand.

If I hadn't faced the storm, could I have ever found the fish?

Why storms?

I don't think that God causes His children to suffer, but I know that He can still use it, in all of it's bloody madness, for His Glory.

The rose is no less because of it's thorns. It's beauty finds a way to prevail.  Beauty finds a way. Like the tree that pushes itself up through the crack in the sidewalk... spiritual beauty triumphs over  spiritual ugliness and Truth prevails over lies.

The other  day I began to read the book of Genesis. I am at a place where I have so much to learn. There are still unanswered questions..so many things yet to be discovered...but as I was reading I noticed something...and this may be little more than a musing , ...so bear with me..

I was reading about Creation. God created the heavens and the earth..I know that God is Light. Several verses say that God is Light..He is truth and "in Him, there is no darkness at all."
God is a living, breathing Light...

As I was reading about Creation, God separated the darkess from the light. I began to think..and this may sound stange..but if God is a Living, breathing, spirit of Light..(all this is biblical)..then what if the darkness is alive, as well. What if all of the demons and evil..sprang up from a darkness that was already here before the beginning of time..and God's entire plan was to save us from it... 
I know this musing may sound strange..But I don't think that God causes the storms..but He can use the winds to push into safer and more beautiful places..
where there are lots of fish..
and granted, I may be wrong. There is much that I don't know, and I'm not afraid to admit it..

Today, I simply want to give hope to those going through the storm.. the lighting rages..the winds are fierce..and you long for the eye..the peaceful calm...you long for the storm to pass....
But I am here to tell you  that the storm will pass..and when it does..if you let Him take a hold of your boat and guide the oars..
You will come to where the fish are...the fish that glimmer. I pray they are so abundant that you don't even need a net to pull them in..I pray they jump out at you and land next to where you are..

I want to tell you what awaits on the other side of the storm.......

After the storm.......

there is sweet, leftover scent of the rain...
the sunshine peeks through the clouds....and when the sun and the drizzle meet, there are rainbows...dazsling color that permeates the wind blown ground...casting color on the dead, broken branches.

after the storm,
the ground is fertile..the soil is wet, and what was planted..now has what it needs to grow.

the flowers bloom, the birds emerge to rebuild nests...

After the storm, is a time for rebuilding..

Want to hear an amusing story?  Our neighbor told me that after the Hurricane Rita, a parakeet landed on her brother in laws head..She went on to say that the bird must have escaped from it's cage..She now takes care of what was once a lost parakeet....

After the storm there is life, set free from it's cage....finding love in new places... after the storm, we sit on front porches..drinking teechino...amazed that the sound of laughter is somehow stronger in our ears..amazed at the sound of wings..

After the storm, there are wings..
I pray you find your rainbow at the end of the storm.....

Here are some lyrics from a song I wrote:

There are days when,
your hands are tied
when the knots pull
from the inside

and you think you have
no flag to raise
but you have two hands
made for praise..

Chorus

and I see a Man
on the horizon and
He's calling out to me..
He has in hand, a sort of
liferaft and..
he holds it out to me..


still working on it.. :)

From bluepueblo.tumblr.com (source)

I