The End of a Season

Hey guys!

I’m going to try to keep this short and sweet, but I have a couple of things to share with you today …

First of all, it is April 15th! Can I get an AMEN?! Technically the tax filing deadline is April 18th this year, because of the Emancipation Day holiday in Washington DC. The holiday marks the anniversary of the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act, which president Abraham Lincoln signed on April 16, 1862, and celebrates the freedom of slaves. It is being observed on April 15th this year. We are just going to keep that little secret between you and me though and pretend like tax season is O.V.E.R. Deal?

Secondly, my devotion was so on point yesterday that I really wanted to share it with you in case someone else needed to hear it to. The scripture is Leviticus 24:1-2 (NIV): The LORD said to Moses, ‘Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.’

I don’t know about you, but I likely would have read that verse and not really even given it too much thought, but after reading the following passages, which were written by Lysa TerKeurst, I was kind of blown away.

Where light is needed, oil is needed. But getting the oil from the olive requires a pressing and crushing I’m sure the olive would rather avoid. However, this hardship of the olive is what allows the most valuable part of the olive to emerge … the oil. The oil then can be turned into glorious light.

Think about what a miraculous process this is! The olive’s greatest hardship turns into it’s greatest purpose. And I think the same can be true for us.

I know some of these deep hurts personally. I’ve been right where you are. But I’ve also seen God do something miraculous and holy with my deepest hurts and most devastating heartbreaks. He’s turned them into light that I can shine into other people’s hurts to give them hope.

And when my hurt turns to hope? My soul is ignited with a fresh sense of purpose and deep assurance!

God truly does everything with purpose and a passionate love for His people. I wonder if He had them touch the olives, hand crush the olives, feel the oil, and then watch it turn to light so they could witness what could be true for them as well.

Broken, hard pressed olives becoming the most beautiful, bright-burning lights for a high and holy calling! And like today’s Scripture says, not only do we bring our light but we keep it “burning regularly.” Yes, this is my prayer for you and for me.

Isn’t that so awesome?! The timing of this devotion was so perfect too (I love it when The Lord does that), because I have really been praying and thinking about some pretty big things along the lines of using my “toughest hardship” for (what I hope to me) my “greatest purpose.” With tax season behind me, I am excited to pursue some new paths!

More to come on that, so stay tuned!