Rise From Ashes

Life can change, overnight. Devastating is a word used more than once in news reports. Flames. Ashes. Shock. A community is grieving. Businesses are suffering because of the flames that raged in the night in downtown Clarkesville Georgia on Wednesday night March 5th and the morning of March 6th, 2014. Families are affected. Finances are affected. Hearts are bowed low. Ashes have replaced flourishing businesses. Thankfully no one was injured!

Though I do not have deep roots in this community, I do have fresh, new roots that have worked their way into the soil of Habersham County. I feel the pain, the devastation. I grieve. 

I drove through Clarkesville a little over a week ago. The beautiful cottage garden at the Mauldin House was beginning to bloom. I wandered through the paths with my Nikon, capturing images of daffodils and crocuses heralding Spring. 

Once again, I drove slowly through Clarkesville this past Saturday. My eyes, my heart, were touched deeply by black wounds in historic buildings, ravaged by flames. I circled the square, once, twice. My heart heavy. I wasn't alone. Others drove slowly, their eyes taking in the destruction. The Mauldin House and gardens, though so incredibly close to the flames and devastation, were untouched. Bird song filled the air. Early Spring blubs continue to push through cold ground and bloom. A colorful beacon of hope.

For now, a community needs to grieve. Then there will be a time, soon, to push through the cold soil of the flames and devastation and bloom again! There will be a time to rebuild, a time to rise again from flames and ashes. It will be hard work. but it will be well worth it! 

Every time we push through what looks like an impossible situation, we will grow!

The community of Clarkesville Georgia is strong! 

I've been facing my own challenges and learning how to push through and rise from the ashes of "flames and devastation" in my life, as so many others are! I believe in new beginnings and rebuilding. I believe in beauty from ashes. I believe in a God who is big enough and strong enough to walk with us through every fire, every scary experience, every challenge.

"Whatever you do, hold onto hope.

The tiniest thread will twist into an unbreakable cord.

Let hope anchor you in the possibility that 

this is NOT the end of your story,

That change will bring you to peaceful shores." ~ Unknown

Aerial view of Clarkesville from a Taste of Clarkesville event 2013

 There is a hope to bloom again! 

Clarkesville Georgia will bloom again and rise from ashes!

© 2014 Marie Nease

“Whatever you do, hold on to hope! The tiniest thread will twist into an unbreakable cord. Let hope anchor you in the possibility that this is NOT the end of your story; that change will bring you to peaceful shores.”

See more at: http://www.idlehearts.com/?p=3174

“Whatever you do, hold on to hope! The tiniest thread will twist into an unbreakable cord. Let hope anchor you in the possibility that this is NOT the end of your story; that change will bring you to peaceful shores.”

See more at: http://www.idlehearts.com/?p=3174

Together

I don’t want someone who promises me the moon and stars. 

I want someone who promises to lay on the grass 

and watch them with me.

~ unknown 

Fig Trees Grapes and Puddles

Blessings received in the midst of 

desert dry seasons

drench us like refreshing rain,

and we dance

like children,

splashing in puddles of blessings!

© 2014 Marie Nease

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May the dry, cracked earth of you

be drenched as the Holy Spirit 

falls like rain, 

refreshing, restoring again.

May you lift empty hands 

high, in joyful praise,

thankful just for hands to raise!
May you honor God with all that you own
and the first fruits of your increase,

then find you're surprised by God

as He fills your "barns" until

they can hold no more

and your barrels will burst with new wine!

Yet, if your fig trees do not blossom

and there are no grapes on your vines,

will you still lift your voice in joyful songs of praise

to the God who gave you life and salvation?

You will be able to be joyful

if you remember and believe

that the Lord God is your strength 

and He'll make you surefooted, like a deer,

and swift to run.

 He will equip you to tread on mountain heights,

sure and stable, as you traverse

troublesome times and surmount with ease 

all difficulties and obstructions that lie in your way.

© 2014 Marie Nease

Habakkuk 3: 17-19

Proverbs 3:9-10

Snow

Reveling in this verity

as white covers the ground,

my heart knows with certainty

that though our sins abound,

Jesus' blood that flowed

freely from His heart

brought forgiveness and showed

us His desire to impart

His likeness in mere man

to embrace us as His bride

 is the Trinity's plan.

Though our sins are red like crimson

His blood makes them white as snow.

Jesus sacrificed, His life given

so we would fully know

Him.

 © 2014 Marie Nease

 

 

 

 

Forever...

Is anything forever any more in this life? 

Relationships form, they flourish, 

all smiles and ablush, then, in agony, 

sometimes they die. 

Why? 

An uncoupling occurs, 

yet what we long for is relationship. 

It isn't good for man to be alone. 

Hours and years of dedication to a job or career result in a moment that hits us hard, 

intense as a head-on collision, 

"we have to let you go today." 

A couple's longing fulfilled in sweet baby, cradled warm, yet tender life is snuffed out, before a year is gone. Unimaginable pain, hearts cry out, just to understand...

Gentle heavenly Daddy holds you, 

though it doesn't make sense. 

He feels every ache, 

He carries every burden and offense.

A deer runs into headlights on a country road,

 a blue eyed, blond haired beauty enters paradise before her story had time to fully unfold.

Flowers fade from bright yellow to brown every Fall,

Through the season's lessons he reaches and calls.

A chill in the air, the flowers brilliant colors fade.

Can our lives be a prayer, even though we're dismayed?

 

Tragedies, loss and misfortune fill this world we live in.

Remedies are discovered if we are desperate for Him...

though all else fade, 

His Word stands forever.

Jesus is our protective shade 

and is with us in every endeavor.

Oh, don't give up hope though your nights are so dark, 

a raging fire can grow from a little spark. 

Just look up into the expanse that is God, 

gaze into His majestic eyes and be awed. 

 

  © Marie Nease 2014

Resolve - 2014

He knows...

One of my sons said this earlier. "Life is hard at times." 

He lives in Costa Rica! In paradise! 

The gut truth is that life isn't perfect, even in a "paradise." We get stressed no matter where we live, right? Growing a business or making a living, working on relationships or living alone, letting go of earthly things, paying bills, learning to be still...

The past several days have been a time of stretching for me as I've been learning new things in post processing of images, in order to deliver what a client desired. My brain hurt in the learning. Good news is that the work is complete and will be in the clients hands tomorrow. 

Will they be happy? 

I sure hope/pray so...

So, today, I was at a saturation point. I needed an escape from my computer, more than I knew. I needed to escape from being up until 3:00 a.m. trying to finish this project. 

A FaceBook status for The Cottage Vineyard & Winery spoke tome, as if it knew... "Looking for that wintertime escape? The Cottage offers breathtaking mountain views, wines that will take your mind to your own personal oasis, and hospitality only found in the south! " I typed, "YES!" then pushed away from the computer and headed in their direction.  

I needed to feel the mountain breezes playing with my hair. My soul needed expansive views. I longed to feel the heat of the sun, low in the sky.  Sunshine did more than physically warm me. My soul warmed. The sun does our body, soul and spirit good. (The Son, Jesus, does our body, soul and spirit good!) 

Pink sky silhouetted against bare trees and fences brought me to "life" again. Just what HE ordered to refresh me, body, soul and spirit.

Was my afternoon perfect? No. Was I able to experience the total peace I hungered for? No. There were other guests who had no idea of the quiet I sought there. They were laughing loudly, their sense of humor not in sync with mine at all... Sounds like life right? Yep. Am I glad I went? Yes! The wide-screen views, sweet wine to sip, the breeze, 

the warm autumn sun were medicine. 

The sunset itself was worth the drive.  

 Sweet dreams are made of "this"... Our Father God knows what we need. I can rest in this.
Signing off for the night...

Wingdreamer

  

 Your Father knows what you need before you ask.” Matthew 6:8