In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. ~Genesis 1:1-2 (NIV)
The earth was a place of chaos and confusion, an empty and dark wasteland.
But the Spirit, moved by love, was moving–hovering and brooding like a bird protecting its young. Incubating, if you will. Going before and behind and all around to gather and create beauty from and through the blackness, to bring all the mess and misery together into a great masterpiece.
And there was light.
God hovers over our darkness and unhappiness to make pure beginnings. He moves in our miseries to turn them into miracles, and through our messes to create beautiful music, to make jazz from all our junk. He finds a wealth of worth in our wastelands–and wastes nothing.
And there is light.
Marlon Hall said:
“Pure beginnings can start with unhappy endings.”
“If I wait for a happy ending to be happy, then I will never be happy.”
“I will not wait for unhappiness to end where I am before I start a new beginning. Because God is moving over my context.”
Thank you, Marlon, for shedding some new light on this passage and making me think deep in the canyon.
The Awakenings Movement with podcasts
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Still wading in the river,
Sandy
Welcome to Still Saturday where we pause after a busy week, move in quiet pilgrimage, maybe linger a while in some still place, and soak in the beauty of images and words. We’d love for you to join us. Get the details on the left, grab your favorite button, and link up below. We all love to hear if something especially speaks to your heart, but please don’t feel pressured to comment. Simply take some time to gaze long and drink deep.
Dear Sandra
Today I am at one of those longing-for-all-over beginnings with the Fm/CFS, but after reading Marlon’s good advice, I have new hope and trust in the Light hovering always in my heart!
Blessings XX
Mia
Love to you, my friend.
..where nothing is wasted. Lord, let it be so. Thank you for posting this today.
Yes, let it be so.
“The Spirit of God hovers over…” “God hovers over our darkness…”
This is such fine weaving of words and thoughts, Sandra. I have always loved that verse in Genesis and with these thoughts woven into it, the clarity of God’s love grows closer rather than further from me in the darkness that I can feel sometimes. I feel blessed for coming here and taking the time to read and absorb.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
So blessed to have you in my life, Linda. You are a bright light! Next year. Praying for next year.
Oops! I wanted to tell you that I love the photo. I enlarged it and could see the many butterflies and their colorful array.
They were right there by the side of the walk between the main lodge and fountain! 🙂
Thanks, Sandy, for sharing. You’ve captured the essence.
Again.
xoxo
I miss you.
I miss you too, dear one.
Hi Sandra,
this…”God hovers over our darkness and unhappiness to make pure beginnings.”
He encompasses it all in the beauty of redemption.
Thanks for the quotes on happiness and the link to the podcasts…good stuff. Happy Sunday!
Amen, Lisha. Bless your Sunday.
Jazz from our junk–I really like that. And I’m so glad He is well able to do it and faithful and good to us. Thanks Sandra.
Marlon shared that in its early days, jazz was considered junk. And I just read that Congress passed a resolution in 1987 declaring jazz a “rare and valuable national treasure.” Makes me think that how we choose to look at our junk can make a world of difference.
Thanks for your always encouraging words, here, Jason.
Holding on to this sentence tonight: “He moves in our miseries to turn into them into miracles….”
Yes! 🙂
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am thankful for you. 🙂
Indeed. Yes.
I’m so grateful for you as well, Lyli.
Sandra – There are no words to express what this post has meant to me this morning. Tears are rolling as today will mark an ending for me. I needed to read this to do what needs to be done today & anticipate all that He has in a pure beginning. So glad that He wastes nothing.
With much gratitude!
Joanne
Oh, friend. I am praying for you right now. Much love to you.
Sandra…loved your thoughts today. “He finds a wealth of worth in our wastelands–and wastes nothing.” What encouragement in that one line. Thank you for that and for the link up. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Wealth in the wasteland. . . . that is so true, Sandy. No life is wasted. Thank you for your reflections today.
Praise God for His transforming power! Thanks for the great post & for hosting & God bless!
“God hovers over our darkness and unhappiness to make pure beginnings. He moves in our miseries to turn them into miracles, and through our messes to create beautiful music, to make jazz from all our junk. He finds a wealth of worth in our wastelands–and wastes nothing.
And there is light.” Thank You, Lord, for redeeming my waste to create a pure beginning.
Sandra,
Your words are so poetical. I love listening to the flow.
Many blessings and thanks for hosting.
Blessings,
Janis http://www.janiscox.com