My four year old sister, Ana, is an artist. She loves to paint and color. If she loses the special picture that she made for a special someone who is coming over for dinner, there is much distress. She is very creative with tape and is good with the scissors too. One of the things that she loves to do is to keep her picture a secret to all in the house until it is finished. If one of the many family members happens to not hear her voice shout through the house, "No one look at my picture", and happens to look over the artists shoulder...well, we won't go into detail about how she reacts, but she's 4, remember :). Now, think about the amazing artist who paints the sunsets and creates the butterfly's wings. I have a friend who is an artist, and she says when she gets to heaven she is going to get some art lessons from God! Beside the point, think how God made Adam...Adam was an original. No one had ever made man before. Think of how our bodies work, the amazing skill and design it took. I stand in awe. Now think of how He creates our lives. He is Omniscience, all knowing. He is the creator of our lives, though we are free to choose the way we will walk. I can just imagine Him, up in his workshop in heaven (not even sure if there is one, but work with me here) creating, writing, dreaming. He's painting this beautiful picture. That picture is your life, and it's not done yet. He's saying to the angels, "Don't look yet! It's not done!" And the angles are getting really excited and are saying, "God, can you please just give us a little hint. Maybe just show us some of the colors you are using?" He smiles, his hands the hands of an artist at work. He considers, "Let me finish this little part, and then you can have a peek." The angles are jumping up and down now. They just cannot wait for that little part to be done. "Is she gonna be an evangelist, a worshiper? Are you giving her the gift of healing? Who are you going to use her to minister to today?" He smiles, patient but concentrating on his work. "Nope, she's an original." He slowly turns the canvas around, covering up all but a small part so the angels can see. They stare, and stare, and stare, then start jumping up and down again, then they start squealing and shouting, and I am pretty sure one faints. And they have only seen a little part of the picture! Same with us, maybe not so dramatic, but we are seeking, seeking, and seeking with all our heart. God takes us somewhere, and you ask, "God, what is the plan you have for my life?" He gives you a glimpse, and you are overwhelmed. But sometimes, when you ask Him for more of the picture, He doesn't show you. I think it's a matter of you trusting and obeying God, but also, can't you see Him up there saying, "Don't look, I'm not done with my picture yet!" You are getting excited, God is getting excited, He gives you another glimpse after some time has passed, and then He might say again, "Don't look yet! I'm not done!" And God is not done with you yet. His hands are those of an artist. They have paint and ink and little balls of clay stuck to them. His hands are also those of a Daddy. Always ready to love and to kiss the hurts that life brings. He is also our Savoir, our Ransom, Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit being the same. He broke our chains. He is our friend, our best friend. Always there to listen and do whatever He can do to help you. He is the lover of our souls. Sending us "spiritual flowers" to make our day, the closest person to us, one who truly loves us. He is our King. He's the unshakable King over an unshakable kingdom. He has all power and all authority, the victory is already won. Remember, he is unshakable. And He's painting...
"...he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6(B)
"God has a very unique way of scooping up the shattered fragments of our hopes and dreams and molding them into a plan of His own---a plan vastly different from ours, but far more wonderful."
Anita Dittman
...God's plan for your life is so amazing. It is beautiful! Our minds cannot even comprehend it. Lay your plans and dreams down. God's plans and dreams are always better than our own. Yes, God did give us certain gifts and talents and put dreams in our hearts, but if He gives you that dream and you lay it down, don't you still think He will make it come true? And if it's not from Him, then you lay it down, it's finished, and you will discover God's dream for your life. Don't believe me? Well, why don't you just find out for yourself. And remember, He's painting...
"Don't look! I'm not done yet!"
This song is "Second Chance" by Rend Collective Experiment. Really pay attention to the lyrics of this song. I have put them under the video and have put some of the lyrics in italics and bold because those are the words I really want you to focus on. I pray God ministers to you through this song!
My future hangs on this You make preciousness from dust Please don't stop creating me Your blood offers the chance To rewind to innocence Reborn, perfect as a child CHORUS: Oh Your cross, it changes everything There my world begins again with You Oh Your cross, it's where my hope restarts A second chance is Heaven's heart When sin and ugliness Collide with redemption's kiss Beauty awakens by romance Always inside this mess I have found forgiveness Mercy as infinite as You (Chorus) BRIDGE: Countless second chances We've been given at the cross Countless second chances We've been given at the cross Fragments of brokenness Salvaged by the art of grace You craft life from our mistakes Black skies of my regrets Outshone by this kindness New life dawns over my soul (Chorus) (Chorus) (Bridge)
And remember, you're an artist too. Create this week! And remember create does not necessarily mean to draw or paint. Write, garden, sew, build, use your imagination, design, draw, paint, do pottery, cook, respond to a situation using the creativity God has given you! And they are MANY more creative things that I have not listed. I would love to hear about your ideas in the comments :).
I'm not great. I fail in every way possible every single day. My hands are empty, and my strength doesn't take me very far. In fact, the only place it takes me is down the wrong path. I am gifted, yes. But I forget about those gifts when I don't rely on Him. I have an amazing identity, yes. But when I put hope in my flesh, the world gives me labels. I can be up on a platform or in the back of the line, no matter where, if my heart is not right, I am no where. Pride takes a bite, slowly at first, but then consumes after the first guard is let down. Humility is a treasure, rare as the most precious diamond. Who puts their life, the life of their family, and the life of everything they have ever known on the line to trust in something that they haven't discovered is trustworthy yet? Not many. But for the ones who do, who trust God with their lives, they have found what is great. Not them, not what they did, but the one they trusted in. God. Only He is great, and only he can make something out of little you. Not something great or popular, shiny or amazing. Just something, someone, that he loves. He'll put your life together, make something come out of it, but for his glory. You will experience joy and peace and you will find true satisfaction. If you let him, you will see, that the best thing that you can be is you loving God and seeking him with your whole heart. The only thing that is great is God. Don't try to be great, don't try to make a mark in a history book, just love Him and serve him, that is the greatest thing you can do, because you do it for the greatest thing that ever was, ever is, and ever will be in the entire universe.
An old brick house
Names written in the concrete on our front porch
Creaky floors
Attic rooms
Laughing at the dinner table
Good smells coming from the kitchen
Music
Family
Playing pretend
Pictures on the fridge
Clapping after we say amen
Bible reading together
Mom's windowsill
Hearts dedicated to the Lord
All this pain I wonder if I’ll ever find my way I wonder if my life could really change at all All this earth Could all that is lost ever be found Could a garden come up from this ground at all
You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us
All around Hope is springing up from this old ground Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us
You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new, You are making me new You make me new, You are making me new
You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of the dust You make beautiful things You make beautiful things out of us
Caleb Josiah turned two a couple of days ago, on September 28. He is such a big boy, and such a big blessing! This last week we went to the ocean for several days. The first couple of days he played and played and played in the sand and just enjoyed getting dirty! Then he discovered the waves and had a blast! At the end though, we found him in the sand...getting dirty again :).
