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Unlikely SuspectsFall 2012

The

BeautyHeart-WrenchingThe

We all have seasons in our lives where we experience heavypain, disappointment, doubt, and fear. Darkness closes in, and in the depths of our soul, we ask the question “Why?”

But something we can’t see is that God is

creating & orchestrating

reconciliation and love in a situation that is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. It’s what He does: He brings light to the darkness, warmth to melt the coldest of hearts, beauty to the most marred of souls. He is in the business of redemption and healing, neither of which can exist without captivity and sickness.

All Things New

by Elevation Worship

Available online at

http://vimeo.com/315731

97CCLI #136322

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From the Inside Outby Hillsong Chapel Available online athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxAaiyIaUokCCLI #1363221

Aftermathby Hillsong United

Available online at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm_wWYXJEok

CCLI #1363221

Hopeless Planetfrom Josh Watkins

Available online athttp://vimeo.com/38447795

CCLI #1363221

Heart-Wrenchingly Beautiful (adjective)

/härt/ /renCHing-lee/ /byootefel/

When there’s so much painSo much depth

So much cold darkness & pressure pushing in from all sides

until just the right moment

When a single strand of pure white light cuts through the dense black with warmth

that emanates from its source

During my teen years, before I had turned eighteen, I had lost all four grandparents. I know the despair of death. I know the look of deep sadness on my parents’ faces. I know the quiet fear under the surface.

Lamentations 3:19-20 (MSG)I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes...I remember it all - oh how well I remember - the feeling of hitting the bottom.

But I also know the beauty of rising from the ashes,the smiles and laughter that eventually show themselves once again,and the quiet fear turned to confident hope in the future.

It’s only through God’s transforming power.It’s only through His love.

Lamentations 3:21-27 (MSG)But there’s one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope: God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great Your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left. God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God. It’s a good thing when you’re young to stick it out through the hard times.

It’s always darkest before the dawn.When it’s dark enough, you can see the stars.

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.

We’ve all heard these sayings before, sometimes with frustration.

It gets old real quick.

But there’s actually a ton of truth in these phrases. Sometimes we just can’t see it in the thick of what we’re going through.

During the last semester of my senior year of college, I realized that I hadn’t taken the time to watch the sunrise in Florida. I was graduating in four months; I needed to take advantage of the location before I left.But I found so much more than just a sunrise.

AnticipationI would drive out to a secluded beach and arrive about ten or fifteen minutes before the sun was due to rise. I would just sit in darkness, waiting, hoping...knowing that the sun would rise. Christ is the same way. He is as faithful as the morning.

“Things don’t always work out the way we want them to, or the way we think they will. Sometimes we don’t even see it coming. We get hit with some form of pain out of nowhere leaving us feeling desperate and helpless. That’s the way life is. Still, it makes us wonder how God can let these things happen to us. How God can just stand by and watch us suffer. Where is God when it really hurts? Maybe God is actually closer to us than we think. Maybe it’s when we’re in these situations, where everything seems to be falling apart, that God gets an opportunity to remind us of how much he really loves us.”

RainNooma: 001| Rob BellAvailable online at http://nooma.com/nooma-rain-001-rob-bell.php

NOOMA films are created and produced by Flannel, a nonprofit organization. We are a group of people committed to giving everyone a fresh and compelling look at the teachings of Jesus.

A ten minute thought-provoking video

So we’re NOT giving up.

How could we?

Even though on the outside, if often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.

There’s far more here than meets the eye.

The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow.But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

BeautyHeart-WrenchingThe

This is

The death and life of Christ is heart-wrenchingly beautiful.He was brutally beaten and nailed to a tree. The earth shook.But three days later, he would rise and give us new life.

So in the midst of our darkness, when we’re waiting, anticipating, know that God is

creating & orchestrating

something that is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. It’s what He does: He is the light, the warmth, and the beauty in our lives and the lives of those around us. His love is neverending and never failing.This is truth.

MondayWhat’s the most difficult part of waiting for God to act? What keeps you hopeful?

TuesdayWatch the sunrise or sunset today. What are you anticipating?

WednesdayWhen have you been caught in the rain?Is it raining now?

ThursdayWhat is the heart-wrenching situation in your life today? Is the beauty hidden?

FridayAs the week draws to a close, look back.Where have you seen love? Peace? Warmth?

SaturdayTake five minutes to sit in silence today.What do you hear in the stillness?

SundayWhat role does community play in being able to see the heart-wrenching beauty?