Lavender Tears

By Sondra Cunningham

Description:

The strength to rise again and again is not for the faint of heart.

Like each new sunrise, Mary of Bethany’s journey required an inner strength and faith that would permeate through the darkness of life’s unexpected tragedies.

When her hopes and dreams came crashing down around her, Mary’s life began to spin, seemingly, out of control. What she couldn’t see, was that God, the faithful potter, was shaping her life into a valuable vessel. One mended and filled with the pure gold of the Father’s love and destined for a unique purpose.

Held together by the sweet and calming scent of lavender and the memories of her mother’s garden, Mary journeys on, learning how to defeat the night and radiate like the noon day sun.

Book Takeaway:

May this story of what Mary’s life might have looked like lead you into a new season of strength for overcoming. May we all get back up time and time again, if need be, to keep running the race. May we find our perfect love at the feet of Jesus and be cleansed, redeemed, and restored to our true value.
He purchased you because He wants you, cracks and all. His love is the Pure Gold that mends our flaws and only increases our value. Do not be ashamed; do not hide; just come to His feet and pour out all that you are!

Why the author wrote this book:

Dear Reader,
For generations, the story of the woman with the alabaster jar has spoken to many. It teaches us the priceless value of surrendering all that we are and all that we have to our merciful and loving Jesus.
When I was inspired to write this novel, I couldn’t exactly see the primary message God wanted me to convey. He gave me the inspiration suddenly, and I wrote faithfully, as the Holy Spirit continued to share with me, in my mind’s eye. As the pages blossomed and the story changed from a dream to a reality, my spirit was illuminated by the tender message woven through every word.
Lavender Tears is a poetic journey of one woman’s life as she not only sought to find her purpose but earnestly hungered for an indescribably real encounter with God.
No matter what paths we find ourselves on, no matter our gender or stage of life, we have all faced tragedy, heartache, and misfortune in some measure. The lying, false voice of the adversary tries to lead us toward defeat through these painful experiences. He wants us to succumb to his lies and his condemning labels that we call “our failures.”
When we relate to the sacrifices of the women pouring out their valuable oils unto the Lord, it is because we can relate to the desperate need for a Savior.
Mary of Bethany’s life, though unknown through scripture, was quite significant. No matter what her story really looked like, we know she came to the feet of Jesus. We know she was one of, if not the first of, the women to sit publicly at Jesus’s feet and learn.
But how did she get there?
The same way we all do…
For me personally, I journeyed through life with many ups and downs. I was trying to seek Jesus, trying to please God, and trying to please man. The mistakes I made in difficult times tainted me and labeled me. Not until everything and nearly everyone in my life turned from me did I truly fall at the feet of Jesus.
I had to see that my life was not solely about accomplishing all of my dreams perfectly. That it’s value was and is not determined by a perfect marriage, church, reputation, or position. I had to see that I could never earn His love… yet it was still mine.
That’s when I was truly listening…
The voice of truth, of our Heavenly Father God, comes up through our spirits and warms our hearts with peace and love. That voice, the only true voice, has called me into flawless love and acceptance.
And He is calling you.
If the one who is perfect love calls us to receive it freely, why do we so often find ourselves running from it? It must be that we have listened to the wrong voice for far too long.
Stop running and come out of hiding because you are safe and loved with Jesus.
He sees you; He sees me; He sees it all, and He still wants us. God still longs to draw us all close individually and bathe us in His perfect love. Only then can He reveal his perfect will and path for our future.
We cannot outrun His love. We cannot sin or fail or stumble our way out of His love. It is never ceasing, never ending, and perfectly unconditional. It is a pure, perfect, and permanent gift to all who will receive it.
Then we can passionately run out into the world and find our own Miryam, the one who is waiting for you to be brave. We can lovingly find the other lost ones hiding in fear, shame, and guilt and drowning in lies. Reach out your hand and snatch them from the flood water! You can!
May this story of what Mary’s life might have looked like lead you into a new season of strength for overcoming. May we all get back up time and time again, if need be, to keep running the race. May we find our perfect love at the feet of Jesus and be cleansed, redeemed, and restored to our true value.
He purchased you because He wants you, cracks and all. His love is the Pure Gold that mends our flaws and only increases our value. Do not be ashamed; do not hide; just come to His feet and pour out all that you are!