Cast Out

The other day, my husband and I pruned branches off of our spruce trees.  Before each limb was cut, we diligently searched for bird nests, making sure each one that we found was free of eggs and babies.  We came across an empty nest that was so beautiful, I couldn't help but be amazed at our Creator God.  He instilled such handiwork and creativity into the minds of birds.  The mama bird knows when it is time to build her nest.  She knows where she will build it, sheltered from the wind and Spring storms, and God gives her those things which were cast out to build her home.  I marveled at the nest in my hand and as I studied it, I praised God for His infinite wisdom and beauty.  This nest was constructed of broken twigs, straw, ribbon, shredded paper, grass and even a discarded dryer sheet.  Each piece was used, incorporated, and meticulously pieced together to make a secure home for her future babies.  This mama bird used what was broken and cast out to make something beautiful.

God does that too.

I couldn't help but think of some 'cast-out's:

Joseph was cast out from his brothers in Genesis 37:24. The blessing? 

Joseph was in the place of God.  Genesis 50:19

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were cast into the fiery furnace.  Daniel 3:21

The blessing?  The Son of God was with them in the fiery furnace.  Daniel 3:25

Daniel was cast into the lion's den.  Daniel 6:16

The Blessing?  The lion's slept, and the True God was made known.  Daniel 6:22

What about the woman at the well that had been cast out by five husbands, and living with a man who did not even want to commit to her?  John 4:4-30

The blessing?  God used her to witness to an entire City.  John 4:28

Stephen was cast out of the city and stoned.  Acts 7:58

The blessing?  The heaven's opened and the Son of Man stood!  Acts 7:56

And the witnesses there laid aside their clothes at a young man's feet.  Whose feet?  The feet of Saul.

Acts 7:58

The blessing?  Saul's salvation.  His new name!  Acts 9

Paul and Silas were beaten and cast into prison.  Acts 16:23

The blessing?  Salvation came to the Jailer and his whole house!  Acts 16:31

Christian-do you feel cast out?  

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

Words of Jesus, John 6:37

You may feel cast out, but you are not.  Just like Joseph you are in the place of God.  He can still use you and bring glory to His Name.

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."  Philippians 1:6

Just like the nest I found nestled in the branches of our tree.

God can use what is cast aside...

    to create a beautiful masterpiece...

        to bring others to salvation...

            but that's just me!

"In everything both great and small, we see the Hand of God in all."

Helen Steiner Rice