We all drive by those houses with piles of junk in the yard.
There’s always a few 2x4s,
scrap lumber,
maybe some old windows and doors,
metal scraps or discarded items.
It might be stacked up against a garage, behind the house,
or under a tarp,
but it’s still an eyesore.
People always have good ideas, earth-saving intent
and probably a vision for creation so they hoard.
Until vision becomes a visual,
it’s just a heap of good intentions.
But what about the guy who actually takes that pile
and makes art?
Instead of turning the other way,
you drive by and stop the car.
You wanna’ see more.
You wanna’ hear the story.
Or at least that’s what happened to hubby and me while driving through Index, WA.
We saw the owner and I asked if I could take pics.
He actually invited us into the yard and began showing us
all the clever “used-to-be” items he turned into useful items.
I thought this was a delightful playhouse.
I
It was, for chickens.
Those old kitchen cupboards are filled with straw for roosting….
or is it nesting? or egging?
See the chicken wire?
It doesn’t look horrible in town when it’s surrounded by
yard art, blooming plants and river rock.
A cute little shed that was more like an outdoor office was also
created from scrap and salvage.
Does this just say,
“C’mon in?”
The other side of the shed
with various salvaged windows.
Even old clothes find new purpose.
We all have some garbage piled up.
I’m not talking about 2×4’s and old windows.
I’m talking about broken hearts,shattered dreams,
crushed hopes and sickly bodies.
Having garbage isn’t the problem.
The problem is what we do with it.
From the beginning, our God in Heaven
has proved He has the ability to make
something out of nothing.
Look what He did as the
Author of Creation;
He created light out of darkness.
But, His work didn’t stop there.
(click on links to read the complete verses)
He became the Author of Salvation
when he turned sinners into saints
by bringing them out of death into life.
He didn’t stop there.
As the Author of Sanctification,
he continues to care for His people by turning their
ashes to beauty,
their trials into gold.
So what do we do with the garbage pile?
See if the way the Lord does.
He wants to use those things
for His glory and honor.
He wants you to know He always has
a plan and a purpose for you.
Offer up that broken heart,
let Him draw near to heal and bind the wounds.
Throw away the jagged pieces of shattered dreams
and accept the dreams the Lord has for you.
Take the crushed hopes of this world,
and hope in the Lord.
We might be weakened by sickly bodies
but His strength is made perfect in weakness.
The Lord wants to create
an eye-catching, traffic-stopping display,
of what a mighty God can do
when we offer up our trash,
and let Him turn it into a treasure.
*****
(Follow the links to read more inspirational blog posts.)
I read this post earlier this week on my phone (impossible to comment on because it doesn’t have enough G’s) I loved this post!! Thanks for sharing it over at WholeHearted Home. I look forward to reading your next post 🙂
Lynda, thanks so much for coming over from the “Edge” and the “Ledge” to visit. I appreciate your valuable time. Your comment about teenagers was SO perfect. I hadn’t thought about it that way, but it is so true. We had four teenagers at one time and lived to tell about it, and I can honestly say there was some trash turned into treasure during those years. Of course, there are still a few little piles we’re waiting to see what will become of them… But, keep your seat belt fastened for the ride…
It’s all such a matter of perspective, isn’t it? The whole… “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” thing? It’s like raising toddlers or teenagers, who think your “No” is the end of the world. The parent (who has lived longer and seen more) looks at the situation and says to themselves “they’ll get over it, and in the end they’ll thank me – maybe – but even if they don’t, It still really ISN’T the end of the world, just a bump in the road…And come to think of it, those bumps make for a fairly interesting ride!
What a clever man he is! How neat. I’d love to live next door to him. Maybe he’d teach me how to think creative? Maybe my yard might look like I’d like it to?
It was so cool, Tandis, especially his friendliness in inviting Scott and I to poke around his yard and take pictures. Scott is always up for an adventure!
Every house in Eastern KY has those junk yards. . . to bad they don’t all know what to do with the stuff. 😛
So now we know why the Lord called you down there, girlfriend! Teach those people how to make SOMETHING outta’ NOTHING! Your Grandma Mary always said, “You might be poor, but you don’t have to look poor. Soap and water are almost free.” Then she’d add comments about throwing garbage away, too. Maybe she shouldn’t come visit you down there, it might be too much for her heart. 🙂
This is such a beautiful post, thank you for sharing. I just stumbled upon your blog today, and I am so excited to read more.
Kristle, thank you so much for stopping by today and becoming a follower. I always appreciate having new friends along on the journey. Blessings to you!
Talk about turning trash into treasure! Thanks for the reminder.
You’re welcome! This post came to me at 5am after a few hours of insomnia, so I was thankful the Lord “used” that time. Always appreciate your presence here!
What a beautiful, inspiring post Mindy!
Thanks, Linda. I appreciate you taking the time to encourage me with a comment.
Beautiful post! I enjoyed looking at the pictures too. I especially love the reminder part about our sickly bodies and that when we are weak He is strong. I need that reminder right now as hubby’s fever has jumped back up to 102 AGAIN after being down to a little above 100 for the last two days. And I thought I was getting better, too, but now my nose is all congested AGAIN and I’m coughing AGAIN and I know I’m in it for it tonight, lol! Plus my 89 year old mom is coming down with either the cold or the flu,
Physically hubby and I are tired and weak and I hate having to breathe at night with my mouth open, lol! (But hey, at least I can breathe!)
But my God is enough for me! (Thanks for letting me whine on your blog….)
You can always whine on my blog, especially when you’re sick. Especially when you’re far away and your germs can’t touch me through the Internet!
Seriously, am sad you and hubbster have been struggling for so long. May this time apart from responsibilities be one of REST though, maybe you wouldn’t have taken time off if the Lord didn’t make you? You serve so wonderfully and so faithfully. Relax. Restore. Renew. Blessing and healing to your home!