Courage, Resilience, & Flourishing

Banksia's bloom from the ashes of the last bush fire season.

The banksia goes through many changes, but deep inside the interior of the flower's hard casing are the seeds that can only be released through the intense pressure of an Australian bush fire. The aftermath provides the perfect conditions for the seeds, which fall into a ground cover of nutrient dense ashes and so then when the first rains come the banksia is reborn and blooms again. This is beauty quite literally beauty from ashes..

Also spoken of in the prophetic words of Isaiah..

...To give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations...Isaiah 61:3-4

From an old prayer journal..

6/2/2015

Beauty for ashes is my promise to you. I will take the hurts, disappointments, betrayals and heartaches and make something beautiful from them. The story isn't finished yet - I am creating a masterpiece with your life and we are just beginning our many adventures together. There is more, there is more, keep coming to me. I have grace for you. I will see you through. Don't give up, don't hold back. Trust in me. I will be your helper and your friend. I've not given up on you so don't give up on me. I will lead you into fields of gold if you don't give up. Changes are coming. Keep worshipping me. I will set you free.

Beauty For Ashes

25/2/15

Beauty for ashes - a masterpiece is what I am creating from your life in me. As we walk hand in hand I weave together all the intricate details according to my design. The ingrafted word is life unto you. Take my word and build your hope. Soak in the abundance of my love for you, calling yourself loved and free in me.

I am the master builder crafting in exquisite detail every frame and beam, joining each part masterfully together. The structure - your life - is the temple in which I dwell with my power and my glory. Adorned with every precious jewel, patterned together in elegant beauty - you stand strong in who I made you. A holy temple unto the Lord your God.

So lift up holy hands and worship me in the presence of my glory and I will fill you with abundant joy. There is fullness of joy in my presence.

Can you sense the hope in this? The good news is, there's a plan to rebuild...

Here is a poem written about the banksia as a story of hope for those who have experienced displacement resulting from conditions of hardship. To accompany an exhibition of portraits and stories of refugee women.