beautiful things

a couple of months ago, i stepped into the role of women's events co-coordinator at the church. it has been a big learning curve for me, but i feel like it is and can be such a great fit for me. i'm not quite in a place where i feel like i can be directly leading other women at the church yet, so the administrative (my sp gift) side of this job is giving me life.

tomorrow evening the women's ministry at sandals is hosting a women's gathering titled, "beautiful things," themed after the song by gungor. i was first introduced to this song, half a year ago at my leader's meeting. this song has since given me so much hope as i came out of such a dark year.

here are the lyrics of the song:

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
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 beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

in march, my minister asked me to consider sharing at this event. though i declined the offer, i was so humbled and so moved that someone had recognized the beauty out of "my dust." God has really used my community to speak this truth to me, when i cannot recognize it myself. since then, each time i listen to the song, there is a knot of mixed emotions welled up inside me. i'm not quite sure what that "knot" all consists of, but i know that it is filled with gratefulness, thankfulness, and hope. i still struggle with thinking that God really can make something beautiful out of me. i constantly and intentionally have to throw off the shame, guilt, and lies that get thrown at me.

last night, we had rehearsals for the gathering tomorrow. as i sat and listened to the other women share, tears ran down my face....i was moved by their stories, but even more so, it was confirmation that i am not alone in my journey. i am truly in awe of the transformation that God takes us through. we are all broken......i am broken, but God's intention is to use that brokenness, if i would just allow him to.

for those that are reading, i would love it if you could join us tomorrow night. i know its last minute, but it will be such a powerful evening! there is more information on the Sandals Church Women's Ministry page.