I woke up this morning singing ‘Beautiful Things‘ by Gungor.
We sang it for the first time in church yesterday and I remember asking God to use me to help people who are in chaos and pain, to rescue people who are lost, to speak truth to those who are broken.
Little did I know.
And now this–bombs, death, panic and this urgent cry and I want to ignore the news that is everywhere and just keep listening to the singing over and over again,
declaring,
proclaiming,
“You make beautiful thingsYou make beautiful things out of the dustYou make beautiful thingsYou make beautiful things out of us”
I want to sit here and eat a bowl of Pop Secret Kettle Corn and pretend nothing has happened. And ignore this news that won’t go away.
And I think about rescuing people from the fire.
How does God make beautiful things out of dust and ashes?
But I know He does.
He’s rescued you. He’s rescued me. And He is making us new. We have the good news.
Even when you’re world explodes and there’s no way out and I know people like that and I want to, oh I want to share that good news.
You make beautiful thingsYou make beautiful things out of the dustYou make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us
All aroundHope is springing up from this old groundOut of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful thingsYou make beautiful things out of the dustYou make beautiful thingsYou make beautiful things out of us
You make me new, You are making me newYou make me new, You are making me newMaking me new
You make beautiful things(You make me new)You make beautiful things out of the dust(You are making me new, making me new)
You make me new, You are making me newYou make me new, You are making me new Michael Gungor

(who wrote about running the race to win, completely unknowing)
and Jennifer for Tell the Story
Powerful post, Jody. Once again you've expressed my feelings on a topic. I love the way you used Michael's song to speak hope into the Boston tragedy. And your reminder to BE the Good News is always appropriate, but especially when people are hurting. P.S. Just so you know, I've been sick again, this time with a secondary bacterial infection after the flu bug of ten days ago. It was all I could do to post, much less comment on other blogs. Hopefully, this will be the end of the siege!
Love that song Jody! We sang it at the Beautiful Life retreat that I spoke at a couple weeks ago! I was so moved.
Beautiful things, beautiful words, beautiful pictures. This post is a real breath of fresh air, Jody!
Dear Jody Lee
My heart goes out to you all in the USA! Our world is totally lost in darkness and chaos. Like an orphan it suffers the void of parents. Yet, we have the assurance that our Lord Jesus already overcame this world and is making a new beautiful world and new heavens for us for all eternity! Visiting via Jennifer's. I truly pray that you will be comforted by the Great Comforter.
Much love
Brilliant. I have loved this song since first hearing and thank you for reminding me of it just now, when I need it, when we all need it!
In all the tragedy, it is so wonderful to read your faith-filled post! He does bring beauty from ashes, doesn't he, friend!! I am so like you…I just want to ignore the news…and just keep singing. Instead, I will do a mixture of both. Along with praying, for all those involved in the tragedy.