Shipwrecked

Painting is my new fix :) All these images and ideas are filling my mind that i cannot wait to paint! The one i finished tonight reflects a place of turmoil and darkness amidst the crashing waves of a brutal storm. It's a mixture of Matt 8:23-27, Psalm 107:28-30 and other scripture. I've found myself in this volatile ocean time and time again in the past few months. And, though God calms the seas and brings comfort and relief, He still allows the waves to crash against my vessel and is leading me through the roughest waters.
As i sketched the piece and Googled pictures, i "stumbled" across this page of poems. The first one was SO dead on - to the image i had envisioned myself painting, and to the place the Lord is calling me through. I could not believe it. Truly, this was no coincidence. It was definitely a blessing and God used it to speak to my heart in this very place.



"The Blessing of a Storm"
by Wendy Greiner Lefko

I did not know His love before,
the way i know it now.
I could not see my need for Him,
my pride would not allow.

I had it all, without a care,
the "self-sufficient" lie.
My path was smooth, my sea was still,
not a cloud was in my sky.

I thought i knew His love for me,
I thought I'd seen His grace,
I thought i did not need to grow,
I thought I'd found my place.

But then the way grew rough and dark,
the storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship,
I found I had no hold.

The ship that i had built myself
was made of foolish pride,
It fell apart and left me bare,
with nowhere else to hide.

I had no strength or faith to face
the trials that lay ahead,
And so i simply spoke His name
and bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me,
and then He helped me stand,
He said, "You still must face this storm,
but i will hold your hand."

So through the dark and lonely night
He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day
or when I'd smile again.

Yet through the pain and endless tears,
my faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time,
but my light began to glow.

I saw God's love in brand new light,
His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone could Jesus'
love shine through.

It was not easy in the storm,
I sometimes wondered why.
At times I thought, "I can't go on."
I'd hurt, and doubt, and cry.

But Jesus never left my side,
He guided me each day,
Through pain and strife, through fire and flood,
He helped me all the way.

And now i see as ne'er before
how great His love can be,
How in my weakness He is strong,
how Jesus cares for me!

He worked it all out for my good,
although the way was rough,
He only sent me what i could bear,
and then He said, "Enough!"

He raised His hand and said, "Be still!"
He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy
and flooded me with peace.

I saw His face now clearer still,
I felt His presence strong,
I found anew His faithfulness,
He never did me wrong.

And now i know more storms will come,
but only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow
as nothing ever could.

I still have so much more to learn
as Jesus works in me;
If in the storm I'll love Him more,
that's where i want to be!