Bright, Shiny Objects

I was at a wedding about a week ago and I sat with the most adorable, older couple. He was in his late sixties and she her early. As we spoke, I couldn't help but to notice how the glittering sequins seemed to dance across the black background of this beautiful lady's blouse. It was quite captivating.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9; "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Paul spoke of a thorn in His flesh. It tormented him. No matter how many times; or how desperately he pleaded, God refused to remove this thorn. I don't know what this thorn was. Could it be the lust of the flesh? Cancer? Depression? A chemical imbalance? It doesn't matter. What matters is it caused Paul to recognize the beauty of the Grace of God.

Kind of like the black background makes me notice these beautiful sequins. Without it, the full brilliance may be lost to my eye. But thanks to it, my hearts sees it as beautiful to behold.

Oh God that I will always notice Your grace!