proof of redemption

The beauty of a worship circle that is totally lacking agenda is that the music/worship/song evolves as God paints the picture... he is in control and it is always so much fun... never about "what song are we gonna do now", but always about "what's God doing now" that is so beautiful. 

At the end of our journey last night, we ended with a beautiful and drawn out meditation centered on the Gungor tune "Beautiful Things"... 

you make beautiful things

you make beautiful things out of us

you make beautiful things

you make beautiful things out of the dust...

you make me new

you are making me new

you make me new

you are making me new

I want to share the following photos in the context of redemption. Because, they are proof of redemption. They are proof that God makes beautiful things out of dust. They are proof that God takes brokenness and makes it beautiful and useful and glorifies himself in it. They are proof that God brings oil of gladness for mourning, a garment of praise for a spirit of despair, beauty for ashes... 

The community (read: church) that we are a part of now is one that we were a part of many years ago. A series of circumstances covered heavily in brokenness, division, and pain resulted in our departure from this community. Our paths remained connected through relationships that at first were strained and thin, but grew through healing and well, God just bringing people back into our lives and causing relationships to remain and some to grow. In November, after being sort of wanderers, questioning church altogether as an institution, one morning, I just felt this release to return to our old church. So we went. And we haven't left. And to say that there has been healing and redemption and a sort of "full circle", well, none of that would actually capture what being a part of this community again has meant to us.

So, here are some photos from the recent month of outings with folks in our community. Enjoy. And know that these are miracles in and of themselves. 

photos from the recent picnic

Jason always does this in pictures. Sorry.

Our gourmet picnic - chicken and wild rice salad and my dirty foot (not in the food, of course)

Friends since age 2.

Shiloh and Bella

Bella

the twinsies :)

and a birthday party the other night.

could this photo be any more flattering of my husband?

so much love in this picture. 

and since I thought I looked pretty, I took a picture of myself in the bathroom. Good times.

 The end.