Years ago, during a very difficult time in my life, I came across the devotional Streams in the Desert compiled by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. As I mentioned not too long ago, I recently picked it up again to review, and while my life is not in the turmoil it was those many years ago, the words still spoke truth and encouragement into me.
This past week I came across a devotion that was then emphasized by my PBS Weekly Preview email. Here they are.
On April 17 a devotional by James Henry McConkey (1858-1937) was shared. He spoke of the most “magnificent diamond in the world’s history” being found in an African mine. The King of England then sent the diamond to Amsterdam to be cut by an expert lapidary, who “took the gem of priceless value, and cut a notch in it. Then he struck it a hard blow with his instrument, and lo! the superb jewel lay in his hand cleft in twain.” He then commented, “What recklessness! what wastefulness! what criminal carelessness!”
But McConkey went on to say that the lapidary had taken days and weeks to study the diamond and plan the cut. He had made drawings and models. “Its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been studied with minutest care.” So it was not a mistake but “the climax of the lapidary’s skill.”
Then in my PBS preview I saw a show entitled “Colors of California,” a reminder of the display of colors that begin debuting in January in the green of the Coastal Range then working its way up and across the state as various flowers and blossoms appear. What caught my attention was the section about the devastating wildfires. “Miracle flowers, not seen in decades return.” It is reported that one could go for entire generations and never see these flowers and then a wildfire occurs and now there are flowers no one ever knew existed.
So often, what looks to us like needless, wanton harm is actually a purposeful act.
As McConkey concludes: “So, sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The blood spurts. The nerves wince. The soul cries out in agony. The blow seems to you an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the mosts skilled lapidary in the universe."
If you would like to see God’s beautiful palette and a tour of California, please check out the 27 minute video “Colors of California” click the link. (PBS Colors of California)
This past week I came across a devotion that was then emphasized by my PBS Weekly Preview email. Here they are.
On April 17 a devotional by James Henry McConkey (1858-1937) was shared. He spoke of the most “magnificent diamond in the world’s history” being found in an African mine. The King of England then sent the diamond to Amsterdam to be cut by an expert lapidary, who “took the gem of priceless value, and cut a notch in it. Then he struck it a hard blow with his instrument, and lo! the superb jewel lay in his hand cleft in twain.” He then commented, “What recklessness! what wastefulness! what criminal carelessness!”
But McConkey went on to say that the lapidary had taken days and weeks to study the diamond and plan the cut. He had made drawings and models. “Its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been studied with minutest care.” So it was not a mistake but “the climax of the lapidary’s skill.”
Then in my PBS preview I saw a show entitled “Colors of California,” a reminder of the display of colors that begin debuting in January in the green of the Coastal Range then working its way up and across the state as various flowers and blossoms appear. What caught my attention was the section about the devastating wildfires. “Miracle flowers, not seen in decades return.” It is reported that one could go for entire generations and never see these flowers and then a wildfire occurs and now there are flowers no one ever knew existed.
So often, what looks to us like needless, wanton harm is actually a purposeful act.
As McConkey concludes: “So, sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The blood spurts. The nerves wince. The soul cries out in agony. The blow seems to you an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the mosts skilled lapidary in the universe."
If you would like to see God’s beautiful palette and a tour of California, please check out the 27 minute video “Colors of California” click the link. (PBS Colors of California)
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