Unfolding Grace

 

Showing signs of being torn and battered by life . . . . .

 

 

 this butterfly briefly pauses to remind me . . . it's still flying! 

 

"We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken.....So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever."    2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18   (The Message)

Eye Opening Wake-Up Call

"You prepare a table before me. . ."  Psalm 23:5, NIV

"Breakfast is ready! Come to the table!"

Who has not uttered these words or at least heard this call?

Often what follows is silence and a period of waiting, soon to be followed by another call and another period of waiting ~ then, perhaps another, and another.

Frustration certainly sets in after I prepare a nice breakfast and those I have called do not come, or they simply choose to come on their own timetable. Then, upon arriving at the table they groggily devour what I have prepared with hardly a word spoken, much less one of gratitude. 

Starting our day with a good breakfast boosts our energy, increases our attention spans, and heightens our sense of well-being. By recharging the brain and body, we are more efficient in just about everything we do. 

Recently, God reminded me of how, more times than I care to confess, I hear his early morning call and yet keep him waiting after he has prepared a wonderful table for me. Far too often I choose to grab a quick bite on the run by reading a one-minute devotional, listening to my favorite worship CD, or by pulling up an inspiring message on my iPod. Though beneficial, these are all poor substitutes for spending time at the table with my Savior, enjoying his presence, gleaning from his Word, and pausing to give thanks. 

Just as eating a good breakfast maintains our physical and mental well being, coming to the table upon the Lord's call enhances our spiritual well-being. Our inner man is energized, our spiritual awareness and discernment heightened, and our knowledge and love for the Lord and others grows deeper. By recharging our spiritual bodies, not only do we become more efficient in all that we do, but all that we do glorifies Him.

Oops! I'm so sorry. I hate to run. But I think I hear my Father calling.

By the way, do you have breakfast plans this morning?

"When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him . . ."  Luke 24:30-31



Write On!

"Call to Me and I will answer you

 and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Jeremiah 33:3

           Your journey is yet to unfold.  Cherish the turning of every page in each chapter.  You will not be disappointed.  There is no greater ending than the one I have penned.  Write on, My child! Allow Me to guide your strokes.  Dip your pen into the well of My heart and allow Me to reveal the beat of it.  ~ Your Loving Father ~

 

 

"We write this to make our joy complete."

1 John 1:4

Take It, Break It, Make It

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So often I find myself saying, "But I only have...." 


Each time I utter these words,  I imply the gifts my heavenly Father entrusted to me are not enough, and I have somehow come up short. Time and again, I forget God's divine power has given me everything I need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3)


In Matthew 14:17-21, the disciples said to Jesus, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."  In their eyes, a few fish and loaves were not quite enough to feed the 5000 hungry men and their families that stood before them.  However, Jesus's response to the disciples perceived dilemma was simply, "Bring them here to me."


"Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were leftover."


As a result of the disciples giving what they had to Jesus, all of those present not only ate and were satisfied, but there were even enough leftovers for each of the disciples.


What? You mean that is all I need to do?  Just bring what I have to Jesus?


Yes.  As I  bring my giftedness to Jesus, He will take it, break it and make it.  He will not only make it enough, but he will make it more than enough....more than enough to satisfy not only my own needs, but  the needs of those around me.


The next time I am tempted to say, "But I only have....", perhaps I will remember this lesson and instead declare,  "I have not only...."  I have not only enough, but I have more than enough.  I have leftovers! 



Creative Expression

"Every creator painfully experiences the chasm

between his inner vision and its ultimate expression."

~Isaac Bashevis Singer ~ 

The above quote eloquently sums up the perpetual inner struggle I have exprerienced as an artist.  Once my brush goes to canvas the end result is seldom what I had in mind.  What is in my mind's eye is always far greater.

In view of this, I reluctantly ask myself...."Is there a chasm between the Master Creator's inner vision for my life and my life's ultimate expresssion?"

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work in us, to Him be the glory...."  Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)






Just Clay

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;

establish the work of our hands for us ~ yes, establish 

the  work of our hands."   Psalm 90:17 (NIV) 

Recently, my youngest daughter was given an opportunity to "throw a pot" at a nearby potter's house.  Before beginning, the instructing potter said, "Do not be afraid to mess up.  It's just clay!"

So often we fail to begin, because we believe in the end we will fail.  We should remember the words of the potter....for perhaps the Master Potter too is saying, "Do not be afraid to mess up.  You are just clay!"

The One who formed us understands.  He will take our unskilled hands in His and with the skill of the Master potter, help us to begin again.

I so love fresh starts!

VIP Seating

What a thrill to be "front and center" as the Master Artist wields his brush and ushers in yet another breathless masterpiece!

"He sends his command to the earth; His Words runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes."

Psalm 147:15-16  (NIV)

Shining Knight

Some days a girl just needs a knight in shining armor. . . . I'm just sayin'. . . .

"I love you God ~ you make me strong.  God is bedrock under my feet,the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight!"

Psalm 18:1 (The Message)

Remembering . . . .

"Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past."  

Deuteronomy 32:7 (NIV)

The ability to remember; to bring to my mind something or someone that I have seen, known or experienced in the past is a blessing I so often take for granted. Remembering brings enjoyment, sadness and sometimes a bittersweet combination.  

Today, I am reminded through the pages of God's Word, to remember the One who remembers me.  Remembering God's unfailing love and faithfulness in the past, instills in me the hope of a future worth remembering.

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you;  I will sustain you and I will rescue you."  Isaiah 46:4  (NIV)

What is wrong with this picture?

"God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him....God rewrote the text of my life 

when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes."

Psalms 18:20,24  (The Message)

I said, "All the pieces?"

He said, "ALL" the pieces!