(Week 25) The Best is Yet to Come

*Thinking about a new format for my weekly painting/post.  I will start with the story behind the painting and conclude with a “take-away” treasure that will hopefully leave a beauty mark on your day!

Story behind the painting:

Do you know people who truly live like they believe “the best is yet to come?”

I do and they were the inspiration for this painting.

In 2013 a young pastor and his precious new bride moved to Huntsville.  I did not know them then, but I can only imagine the conversations they had with the Lord concerning their move.   I have no doubt there were hair-raising moments, some fear, doubts, extreme joy, obedient resolve and deep water diving.

The campus opened in February of 2014 and Church of the Highlands Huntsville has been our church home ever since.  We have watched as this humble Jesus lover and his wife have embraced their new land and loved it to life.  They are the definition of servant-leadership.  They have brought a breath of fresh air, moved by the Holy Spirit, and they speak life over our city with their laid down lives.

Allen and Katy are expecting their first child in the Rocket City.  Their family is being light, bringing out the God-colors in this town. God has put them on a light stand in this city on a hill and they most definitely SHINE! The Pedrams keep open house and are most generous with their lives. By opening up to others, they have prompted people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (see Matthew 5:14-16 MSG)

Below is a verse that captured my heart and a word I believe God is speaking over Huntsville.  I believe it is also a word for Allen and Katy and their new addition, Isaac.

“Old men and old women will come back to Jerusalem (Huntsville), sit on benches on the streets and spin tales, move around safely with their canes—a good city to grow old in. And boys and girls will fill the public parks, laughing and playing—a good city to grow up in.”

Zech. 8:4-5 MSG

God has a hope and a future for our city, the city God drew the Pedrams to.  Isaac means laughter and he will fill up the world around him with just that.  They were compelled by God to set out into the unknown and God brought them into a good city to grow old in and a good city to have and raise their children in!

The painting is of Katy and baby Isaac.  It is the gift God laid on my heart to create in order to celebrate their family and this precious new life.

Their verse for him is :

“Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea…” is God’s love for Isaac. (Psalm 93:4);

therefore the ocean was the perfect backdrop.

Take-away Treasure:

The optimistic cliché –The best is yet to come– causes some to negatively roll their eyes, some to joyfully cheer, some to sarcastically laugh, some to defiantly get angry, and some to hopefully gaze. This one statement can invoke a mixed bag of emotions.

Stop and ponder here.

What is your knee jerk response when you hear – the best is yet to come?

Our honest answer to that question will flavor our future.  If we bring children into this world, we will flavor theirs as well.

Being pregnant is one of the most exciting, scary, weird, emotionally charged seasons of life.  A small beginning takes root and your body is the soil where the new life starts to grow.  You become a walking, talking science experiment.  You become a 4D felt board on the miracle of life. The extended family is usually fired up and firing away with advice, names, books and plans. Your hormones are fired up and firing away with exaggerated giggles, nausea, tears, and fears.

We want to believe the best is yet to come, but do we?  We watch the news and the forecast for our tomorrows is pretty much terrifying.  We look out the window and the horizon is bleak.

We can not cope without hope, and God knew that.

So, GOD promised a “more” that is your

“take-away treasure” …

No eye has ever seen and no ear has ever heard
and it has never occurred to the human heart
All the things God prepared for those who love Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (Voice)

We may not know exactly what to expect but we know

HE is good;

therefore HIS promises are good,

and HE always keeps HIS promises!

i.e.,

THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

**A little side God note for this post: when God says something two or three times in one day, he’s trying to get our attention. I went back and forth with the title for this post early yesterday morning. On my run, I listened to a podcast I’ve never heard before and it ended with -the best is yet to come. Last night, Jay and I watched a special about Dr. J. (Yes the basketball star) and his interview ended with -the best is yet to come! I think God is trying to tell us: THE BEST REALLY IS YET TO COME!!! 😘🙏🤗❤️ Be encouraged! HE’s got this, regardless of what our human eye can see!