Böcker av Peg Stormy Bradley

Pride was the first sin.  It occurred when Satan said “I will ascend to the heavens…..I will make myself like the most high God.” Pride can keep us from discovering God’s purpose for us.  In The Tree one tree, so proud and admired by other trees in the forest, finds itself cut down, carted off and stripped of its branches.  It’s only then that it is reborn and discovers its purpose—to hold in its arms God’s most prized possession.

Sometimes we can feel like we’re on a journey, moving down a road toward an unknown destination.  We may find ourselves questioning where that journey will lead and whether the destination will be worth the trip.  Some journeys are easy and some more difficult.  Sometimes they can be very lonely.  Though it would be nice to have others with us, many times God has us traveling those roads without anyone but Him.  We learn to trust Him. We learn our purpose.  We build our faith. When we finally reach our destination, we may find there were others also on a journey.  Perhaps they were sharing the same road or traveling down a different road, but we soon discover that each of us was searching for the same God-inspired destiny.Maybe you’re on a lonely journey. Perhaps, like a vine with thorns, people seem to keep their distance because they don’t want pain or entanglements; however, God is there.  He can use the most unlikely encounters and circumstances to move you along the path He has prepared for you.As The Vine demonstrates, our God has an amazing journey for each of us. Although different, the destination is the same—to know Him intimately and to experience His love and grace.

We all have dreams for our lives, our futures; however, our plans may not be God’s plan for us.  Sometimes God must refine us by fire in order to mold us into people He can use for His purpose.What if a simple lump of iron, which could be molded into something regal, honored and admired such as a sword or a medal, is instead molded into an ordinary item—a nail.  Nails are used for repairing, building and everyday unremarkable activities; however, what if one nail finds its purpose unexpectedly in a very unusual place?  What if it finds itself as part of the most important event in history?