All You Do

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I love road trips. I love to get in the car and drive. I love to see the landscape change by the hour. I love to dream of what will happen at our destination. When we finally get there, I feel fulfilled. We have travelled long and hard, now is the time for our reward. I love road trips, unless I’m travelling with the type of person who can’t wait to get there. They ride, the whole time complaining about the length of the trip. They push you to drive faster, stop less and take a shortcut. They can’t wait to get there. We’ll call them thereyetters.

What thereyetters don’t understand is that the drive is part of the trip. You can’t reach your destination without the journey. However, your attitude, once you reach your destination is colored by your attitude on the journey.

It’s much like that in life. We spend time in church, enjoying our time there. We worship, we pray, we go home. By Monday, it’s hard to remember what we’ve learned. Why is there such a disconnect between Sunday and Monday? Because we don’t do everything for the glory of God. Everything we do is meant to be worship. Everything we do is meant to show the world God’s grace. I try to glorify God in my work, my parenting and my friendships. My every action is meant to bring God glory. When others look at me, I want them to see the peace, conscience and joy that come only from knowing God.

Doing this, making everything about God makes my attitude in church better. It brings intensity to worship. It erases the disconnect between Sunday and Monday. Like the joy in the journey on my road trip, the worship in my daily activities colors my life. It makes me whole. I will do everything to glorify him. I will do everything to draw others to him. My life will be his canvas, I will be his song. Praise God in everything, he is good. All the time.


Glorious Lord,
You alone are able to give life. You have created this amazing world and everything in it. So often I take it for granted, just as I take you for granted. Help me to consciously glorify you in all I do and say. Make my life a life of praise, so that others see you in me.
Amen.

Refined by Fire

This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' " Zechariah 13:9

When I was a child, my mother brought me to a Renaissance Faire. While we were there, I watched a glass blower making paperweights and trinkets. He would take glass, heat it in the fire and shape it from an unidentifiable blob in to a beautiful and delicate flower, unicorn or teddy bear. I think the wonder of that process was lost on me at the time. But as an adult, I am amazed that a piece of glass, room temperature, bent or forced would crack, break or shatter into a million pieces. However, the glassblower, with gentle hands and burning fire, can tenderly shape the glass into a beautiful creation.

I think we all go through periods of fire. Luckily we, like the glassblower’s glass are not consumed or destroyed by the fire. Instead, we are molded into a new creation. Some of the most difficult times in my life have resulted in the most growth. God realizes that sometimes we need to be pushed to the limit to realize his amazing power.

I was literally refined by fire when I was in college. I was a sophomore, living in the dorms. Early one morning, I woke up to my roommate telling me the bed was on fire. When I finally realized what was going on, I got out of the building with only a burn on my knee.

Later, I realized that smoke detectors had been installed just that summer. Had this happened a year earlier, we wouldn’t have woken up. I wouldn’t be here today.

I realized then, that God had a plan for my life. I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure he’ll guide me along the way. I am trying to live my life according to his plan. It sounds easy, but it’s a daily challenge. I can’t do it alone. I have to rely on God. Sometimes, when I feel like I’ve made the same mistake a million times, I remember that God has a plan. He kept me on this earth for a reason and he won’t bring me home until it’s done. He will equip me for my call, I just have to be ready.

Heavenly Father,
I know that you made me for a reason. Shape me and mold me into the person you dreamed of. I know that this life is not always easy. Help me to remember that your fire is meant to refine rather than consume. You have big plans for me. Give me the wisdom to rely on you.
Amen

Empty Handed

Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Have you ever watched a child getting candy from a candy jar? I love when they reach in and grab a handful, only to discover that their hand is now too big to get out of the jar. They pull and pull, shake and shimmy, but the hand is stuck. Finally, they realize they have to let go of the candy. Defeated, they watch the candy drop and take out their hand.

I think this is the perfect analogy for prayer. You see, we often bring our struggles to God. We kneel at his feet. We tell him we are ready to do better. We wait for our answer. After a little while, we decide that we should do something about this problem and begin to work on it. We get a little frustrated that God didn't help us through this - again.

But here's what really happened. We went to God, reached into the candy jar and tried to grab the answer to our prayer. We pulled and shimmied. We shook and danced. We tried to get our hands out. But we never let go of our troubles. We knelt at his feet, but never surrendered our problems. We tried to grab an answer with a fistful of problems.

Instead, we need to come to God, lay our problems at his feet and with empty hands, reach out to him. Only then can we grab on as he pulls us from the depths and makes it better. Only then can our hands be filled with blessings.

Heavenly Father,

You are loving and good. You have assured us that when we pray, you will answer. Help us to surrender our troubles to you so that we can grab onto you. Hold us in your arms. Bring us the peace and confidence that comes from knowing you are there and you care.

Amen.

How to Save a Life

2 Corinthians 6:3-10
We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

I recently took a CPR training class. Our group sat and listened to the statistics regarding the effectiveness of CPR, the death rates with and without CPR, and so on. Then we moved into practical "how to" advice. During one part, a man in the back raised his hand and expressed a concern about breaking someone's rib during compressions. The instructor acknowledged the possibility of breaking ribs during CPR and then asked, "But consider the alternative." We all laughed, but it's not that funny. The alternative to intervention during a cardiac arrest is death. A broken rib seems a small price to pay.

I went home and that one line stuck with me. See, sometimes I have a hard time inviting people to church, telling them about God's love for them or even talking about my own faith. This is even true with some of my friends. But if I consider sharing my faith a sort of spiritual CPR, then I have to consider the alternative of not intervening. the alternative, right now, is a life without the peace and joy of having a relationship with my savior. It is loneliness in stressful times and waiting for the other shoe to drop during the joyful times. It is a feeling that death is the end. In a world full of adventure and fun at every turn, it is a life of loud laughter and quiet sadness.

For me, that alternative is unacceptable. When I look at my life, I love waking up in the morning and knowing that this day is a gift. I have a house, job, family and friends, not because I am lucky but because I am blessed. And I know who to thank for it.

During stressful times, I have the support of someone who is more powerful than I can even imagine. I have the joy of knowing that when this life is over, there will be no more stress. I have the confidence that God will get me where I need to go, even if he has to carry me. In the midst of stress, I have peace.

I can't know all of this and not share it. If I see a friend struggling without God, my fear of being labeled a "Jesus Freak" needs to be set aside so that they have a chance to feel the powerful arms of God surrounding them. Like a broken rib in CPR, the discomfort is temporary. When I consider the alternative, it is a small price to pay.

Heavenly Father,
We often live in fear of what others think of us and so we avoid talking about you. But we have been given a gift. We have the knowledge of your love and grace that changes lives. Help us to remember that you will give us courage and words to share your love with others.

Amen

Back to His Arms

Luke 15:20
Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

When I was a child, I loved God. I went to church, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, church camp, you name it, I was there. I loved God and felt his love around me. Then, something changed.
For just a few months, I decided I was angry with God. I wasn’t so sure he loved me and I was pretty sure I didn’t love him. See, I had suffered a loss. A family member had died and I was angry. At seven, anger is a scary thing. It still is. But at seven, it engulfed me.
I didn’t want to talk to God. I couldn’t see how he could love me and let the people I loved leave. For the first time, I didn’t feel him by my side.
Somehow, through God’s grace, I felt his presence once again. In fact, I suddenly knew he had been there all along. Just waiting. I knew I could grab his hand and he’d be there forever. But I felt ashamed. I wasn’t sure that God would forgive my lapse of faith.
A few years later, I was talking to my teacher and confessed my weeks of loneliness, when I doubted God. Here was his response: “Amanda, grace works like this. God is our father. Like a good dad, he takes your hand as you cross the street, trying to keep you safe. He’s so happy when you hold on. But you don’t have to. He lets you decide. When you let go, even for a minute, he is sad and scared. All he wants is to have you back in his arms. He waits and he reaches out to you. When you come back, he rejoices. He loves you. He wants nothing more than walk with you. Even when you wouldn’t hold his hand, he never stopped loving you, and he never stopped trying. He’s just glad you’re back.” I wish I could go back and thank my teacher for his words of wisdom.
Like the prodigal son, I felt ashamed that I had left. In the story, the son left his family, squandered his inheritance, led a shameful life and returned home hoping to work as a servant in his father’s house. Instead, as he walked up the road, his father ran, embraced him and celebrated his return. See, we all go through periods in our lives where we decide to go it alone. I go through seasons of faith that pull me far from him. I know he’s there; I just don’t take the time for Him. Somehow, I always end up back in His arms. Alone I am lost. In his love, I am secure.


Forgiving God,
You have an amazing capacity to love us, despite our frequent mistakes. We stray from your presence, only to return, hoping to feel you near us once again. You always take us back. You are always there. Thank you.
Amen

Worry

Philippians 4:6
Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.

It is so easy to give thanks to God. I am grateful when he is good to me. Each night I thank him for the gift of my family and for his presence in my life. Each morning I thank him for the new day and for the opportunity to serve him in some way. I can do thanks.
I have trouble with supplication. Don’t get me wrong, I ask God for a lot. I just don’t give my worry to him. I ask him for help with finances and three seconds after I say amen, I begin to worry about work. I ask him to heal a friend and open my eyes worrying about his family. I can ask, I just can’t surrender.
Paul tells us not to worry about anything. How can we not worry? Life happens; we have to deal with it, right? But here’s what I think he’s saying: we have to think about life’s troubles, we have to address them, but we don’t have to worry about them. I can think about problems at work, I can problem solve, pray, and finally resolve, but I don’t have to let the problems control me. When I worry, I place all of my energy on them; I begin to put more importance on the problems than on God or the blessings in my life. Seldom do I find a solution through worry. If, instead, I pray and ask for guidance, my thoughts clear and opportunities present themselves.
Last year, I realized that I could no loner bring my girls to my friend’s house while I was at work. The bus would not pick up there for Maggie’s school. I researched different day cares and knew that we were going to have a hard time paying for them. I didn’t know anyone in our district who did home daycare. I was consumed with worry.
I decided the best thing to do was to calm down. I couldn’t think clearly, so I prayed for peace. Then I sarcastically suggest that if God had any ideas, he might let me know. Less than five minutes later, the phone rang and my mom had a great idea. A friend of ours needed work and could drive to our home and ca for the girls here. It has been a blessing.
I didn’t solve my problem through worry, I solved it through prayer. I guess I learned a few things through this process, God answers prayers, worry is counterproductive and God forgives sarcasm when you’re really stressed out.
The other part of this passage that rings true in my life is that when we are worried, thanking god for what we already have brings joy and peace in the midst of trouble. When we remember to thank God for blessings and surrender our worries to him, solutions arrive and our worries disappear.

Sovereign Lord,
We know that you have blessed us immensely on this earth and that our problems are opportunities to grow. Thank you for being present in our lives. Help us to focus on you and not on our worries. Help us also to remember that though you will hear our prayers, we need to be listening for the answers and putting in the effort to solve our problems. Grant us patience and persistence in difficult times.

Amen.

Courage

Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

When I was little, we lived across the street from a park. I was five or six years old and there was a giant slide. It didn’t have any tunnels or railings and the only way to get to the top was up a really, really tall ladder. Or weeks I swore I couldn’t go down that slide. It was tall and it was very scary. Finally, my sister told me that she would go with me and she’d hold my hand all the way. We did it together and pretty soon, I could do it by myself. I just needed a little help t first.

It’s the same for me in life. Sometimes I am faced with things I am not sure I can do. But Jesus tells us that we can do amazing things if we ask him for help. He will be with us, even if we can’t see him. He will make us brave and help us know what to do.

Peter learned this on the boat during a storm. He saw Jesus walking on water and said, “Hey, let m do it too.” So Jesus called him out. Peter boldly stepped out onto the water and walked. Amazing. Only after he realized what was happening did he become afraid. Without faith he sank. However, his faith in Jesus gave him the courage to do the impossible. He walked on water.

I sometimes marvel at the conversations about faith my young daughter has. She shares her love of Jesus with others, unashamed and will complete faith that her friends will love him just as much as her. She openly loves others, without concern for how it makes her look to the world. She bravely witnesses to God’s love, with courage that can only come from God.

Dear Jesus,

You are all powerful and all loving. You have promised us that we can do wonderful things through our faith in you. You will give us courage when we are afraid and strength when we are weak. Help us to answer your call and give us the courage to live the lives you have prepared for us.

Amen

Forgiveness

Psalm 30:5
For his anger lasts only a moment but his favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may remain for the night, but the rejoicing comes in the morning.

I remember when I was a child I couldn’t stand having my mother angry at me. When I did something wrong, I’d do anything to keep her from finding out. I knew there was no way I could ever be forgiven for whatever I’d done wrong. I’d sit in my room, sure she’d never be able to forget about my most recent error, but somehow, she always found a way to forgive me and look past my behavior. She always mad me feel loved and forgiven.
Now, as parent, I know exactly how she did it. Each of my daughters has at some point decided that my walls were a canvas, perfect for their marker masterpieces. Each time, I was frustrated when I discovered my young Van Gough’s artwork. Each time, I found the culprit and discussed the merits of paper vs. drywall. Each time, they ended up serving time in their room, while I spent time smirking as I told my husband about their artistry. My anger faded as I retold the story. Soon, a hug and a kiss replaced the tears and the discipline. I even ended up preserving Maggie’s artistry under our kitchen table with varnish when we refinished the table
This psalm assures us that it is the same with God. He’s not just going to look past our indiscretions. He’s not going to ignore our indifference to our neighbor’s suffering. He’s not going to excuse our time spent on worldly gain rather than glorifying him. Luckily, we are looking for God to forgive our errors rather than excuse them.
Like my anger over the misplaced artistry in our house, God’s anger over our sins is temporary. In fact, he is ready to forgive us as soon as we ask. He wants us to learn a lesson, to be made whole and to come to him for forgiveness. As hard as it is to confess to him, that is the first step to forgiveness. As unlikely as it seems that he will forgive us, that is how great his desire is to heal us. His anger may come and go, but his love will last.

Heavenly Father,
You know that I have made so many mistakes in this life. During these periods of darkness, I doubt that I will ever feel better. Yet, with unfailing grace, you forgive my sins, pulling me into the light. Thank you for the joy that comes with knowing you. Help me to share that grace with those around me. Amen.

Be Still

Psalm 46:10
“Be still and know that I am God!”


I love nature. A walk in the woods is like a small piece of heaven here on earth. When I am amidst the trees, with crushed rock beneath my feet, I can feel that God is there. In the woods, I KNOW God. His awesome hand, painted the trees and the butterflies. His endless imagination dreamed up a seemingly infinite number of bugs and birds. In the woods, all is right with the world.
Not so in the “real world”. In my every day life, God feels so distant at times. I get caught up in my schedule, my work, taking care of my family, going to church. There is barely time for a walk, much less a walk in the woods. At the end of the day, I fall into bed and hope for some rest before the next day begins.
Some nights, that rest escapes me. My mind wanders to finances,” How will we pay for that new air conditioner?” kids, “Did they remember to get their stuff ready for tomorrow?” and my own health, “What’s that bump on my neck? What would happen to my family if….?” I’d give anything for a walk in the woods at those times.
I know that the worries of this life are inevitable and will pass away over time. However, their power over me can be pretty strong. In fact, the only way I’ve been able to combat them is to physically get out of bed, sit, clear my mind and then pray. On those dark nights, I journey from fear to peace in a matter of minutes, literally. Once I realize that God is God, and I am just along for the ride, my mind stops racing and my fears keep right on going, until they’ve raced out of my head. Only then am I really still, both physically and mentally. Only then, can I KNOW God.
I KNOW God when I feel his presence and all is well. I KNOW God when I suddenly find the answer to a problem I have been struggling with for weeks. I KNOW God when my tired body can sleep because my overactive fears are held at bay. I KNOW God when I can finally trust his providence. God is real, be still and KNOW him.

Holy God,
You are so real and you truly want to know us. Help us to find you in the midst of our busyness. Help us to find a way to be still, both physically and mentally. Calm our worried minds, so that we can find the peace that only you can bring.
In your Name we pray,

Amen.

Insecure

John 15: 13-15
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Ask anyone who knows me well and they will tell you that I am a well of insecurities. I know that my friends love and value me. But I often worry about those outside my inner circle. It’s not uncommon for me to be in a group of people and think, “I bet no one wants to talk to me” or “What could I possibly say that would be interesting?” And so I sit, wondering what I can say or do that will be cool enough for me to fit in.

I recently joined Facebook, the website where “friends” can catch up, exchange information, share pictures, any number of cool things. My hang-up is this, I’m afraid to ask anyone to be my friend, because I don’t really think they’ll want to say yes. It’s silly, I know, but it’s true.

My husband thinks it’s ridiculous for me to feel this way. He loves to remind me that these are “virtual friends.” He points out all of the people I come into contact with on a daily basis who love me. He reminds me that I am valued by him, my children and God.

John tells us that we are God’s friend. He chose us, even before we were born. We are a part of his intimate inner circle. We are sealed with sign of the cross and marked at God’s own forever. Remember when you were a kid and made a secret club. Invariably there was a ritual involved in the initiation. You spit on your hands, pricked your finger or did some other equally disgusting thing shook hands and you were marked as a member of the group. God has done the same thing for us. The only difference is that instead of us pricking our fingers, he shed his own blood to mark us as his own.

If I focus on the things of this world, I will inevitably be insecure. I will never measure up, I will be rejected, I will feel left out. But when I focus on God, I am accepted. What a treasure! I am choosing to see myself through God’s eyes: loved, accepted and his friend. There is no insecurity in that.

Heavenly Father,
You have made us each unique. You have chosen us all to be your friends and heirs to your eternal kingdom. And yet, we, with human eyes, see only our flaws. We become insecure and unhappy with the person you have made us to be. We focus on worldly success and fail to remember that in you we cannot fail. Thank you for marking us as yours. Help us to remember that we are your friends, today, tomorrow and forever.
Amen

Remain in His Love

John 15:9
I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

When Jesus spoke these words, he knew he would be leaving his disciples. He wanted to prepare them for a time when he was not physically present. He wanted them to know that they were loved, by him and the Father. All they had to do was remain there.

It sounds easy, doesn’t it? Remain in my love. You’re already there, just don’t go anywhere. But life always gets in the way. We get busy, forget to take time with God, put other things first and suddenly, we’ve lost it. We were there. We were feeling Jesus’ love and then it seemed to disappear.

Imagine driving down the road on a foggy night. You’re looking for a street. You’ve driven here a hundred times, but for some reason, you can’t seem to find it. The fog has literally blocked it from view. What do you do? Do you keep driving along at 30 miles an hour, waiting to turn at any minute?

No, you slow down, turn off the radio, lean forward in anticipation, maybe turn on your signal. You get prepared, you get ready. You know the street is there, you just can’t see it.

That’s how it is with Jesus’ love. We may get too busy, losing sight of him. We may zoom by, unaware that our vision is obstructed. All the distractions of everyday life cloud our vision. But if we slow down, turn down the radio, tune out the distractions, we can find him. We can get back to his loving arms. We’re not too far, his love is right there. We just can’t quite see it for the fog.


Jesus, Friend,

Thank you for loving us. Your love is powerful and complete. Help us to remain there. But Lord, when we stray, help to clear the fog the world places in our path. Bring us back to you. Help us to remain in your love.

Amen.

Wisdom

Proverbs 16:1
We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.

I’ve heard it said, “If you want to see God laugh, make plans.” Though said in jest, it often feels all to true to me. I have welcomed some of the biggest blessings in my life with tears and unbelief. I have three amazing daughters. But before the first was born, I had a miscarriage.

When I found out I was pregnant, I celebrated! I calculated the due date, I called my family and friends, I pictured what the nursery would look like. I had a list of names before the words were out of the doctor’s mouth. I had big plans! A few weeks later, I learned a miscarriage probable. Blood was drawn and we waited for the results. Strangely, the wait spanned over Mother’s day weekend. Nothing is lonelier than a Mother’s day when you are unsure if you are a mother or not. I cried and cried. I felt I would never heal. I knew I must have done something wrong to cause this. The next day the results were back. A miscarriage was inevitable.

I felt like my world had ended. All of my plans were over. I felt like I would never heal. Luckily, my husband was wise enough to give me space, but still pull me toward God. In church I realized that God’s view of my life was so much clearer than my own. I would always hurt for the child I thought I would carry, but I had faith that God would show me the way.

A few months later, I heard the doctor say that the numbers looked good. I was pregnant! The plans began again. This time with a little sorrow from our loss, but as the days passed, this baby became ours. By the time she was born, I was grateful for the gift of her. I know that if God had given me that first child, we wouldn’t have Maggie. And she is amazing.

I can’t imagine life without any of my girls. I know they were each sent to me in God’s time, not my own. I had plans, but God has wisdom. I will trust in him to provide the answer. I will trust in him to turn my sorrows into joy.

Wise and Loving Father,
Like a child, I try to decide what is best for me. I cry when my plans are foiled, not trusting in your wisdom. You are all knowing and your love for me exceeds all earthly loves. Help me to make plans, but not despair when you lead me a different way.
Amen

Light

John 12:46
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.

I don’t know about you, but I never really outgrew my fear of the dark. As a child, I would stay in my bed, wide awake, because I was too afraid to get out of bed and turn on the light. Somehow, if I could feel my mattress under me, I felt safe. I don’t know what I thought was out there, but I knew it was bad. The distance from my bed to the wall seemed like an ocean, filled with unknown creatures.

Now, sometimes when the kids are in bed and my husband is away, I get a similar feeling. I walk quickly around dark corners, sprint past windows and race to the light switch. Click. All is better. A night without light is scary. A life without light is unimaginable. And yet, so many of us live with darkness. Our lives can be darkened by fear, loneliness, illness, or indifference. Suddenly, we lie awake in bed at night, unable to turn on the light. We can’t make it better by ourselves.

Imagine a light that can remove the darkness immediately, without the terrifying journey to the wall. Jesus says that he came to bring light to the world. He is our light in the darkness. And who am I? Am I empty air that light travels through, as it passes across the room? Or am I a wall that blocks the light from those around me? I am empty air when I bask in the glory of God, reveling in his love, only to go home and continue as I was before, unchanged. God’s light was there, but I did nothing with it. I am a wall when I absorb God’s light on my own. However, when I come across someone who needs it, I judge them, lecture them or ignore them. God’s light was there. I could pass it light on, but instead, I seal in their darkness.

Instead, I pray that I can be a mirror reflecting the light of God’s grace for the entire world to see. As I lay my burdens on the Lord, his light shines in my life and others see the changes it has made. Suddenly, they want to stand in his light as well. God did not shine his light on me so that I may watch it pass or block it from view. Instead, he wants me to reflect his light into the world, drawing others to him, through the love and grace he has shared.

Precious Jesus,
You are our light in this dark world. Help me today to reflect your light upon others so they may feel your grace. Lord, remove the darkness from my life, so that it will not block your light from those around me.
Amen.

We are God's Masterpiece

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things he planned for long ago.


I am a knitter. I love to take a couple of needles and a ball of yarn and create a beautiful and useful sweater, blanket or dress. When I look at the yarn at the beginning of a project, I can anticipate what the finished project will look like. I can see its color, texture, size, everything. Then I slowly knit and purl until I end up with a finished product I am proud of. Sometimes, more often than I’d like, I have to tear out stitches or rows. If I don’t, the sweater won’t fit, or the blanket will unravel. This is a painful, but necessary step in the process. However, when I am finished, I stand back in awe of what I’ve created. Each project is amazing, but I have one or two favorites, one or two masterpieces.
In Ephesians, Paul tells us that we are all God’s masterpiece. I love this image. I see God waving a paintbrush to add the finishing touches. Imagine, “Here are her brown eyes. Here is a patient heart. And finally, the love of words. Ta da! Completion. I am so proud.” He created me with a purpose. He equipped me with everything I need to succeed.
Most days I don’t feel like a masterpiece. I get wrapped up in all the ins and outs of life and forget that God has a plan for me. I lose track of His call and focus instead on myself. Somehow, I usually get back on track and I imagine God ripping out the stitches, so that the sweater won’t unravel. My little tangents are like dropped stitches that God needs to pick up and weave in again.
I know one of God’s plans for me is to raise my children to know God and His love for them. However, some days I just don’t show them God’s love the way I planned. I get caught up in the arguing and hurrying and I unravel. I yell back at them, rather than patiently guiding them to a resolution. At these moments, I realize I can’t do it alone, and I don’t have to. See God is with me all along. He wants me to succeed and his hand will guide me. I only have to take it. On these days, I try to stop, pray and grab on as he delicately picks up the stitches and completes me, his masterpiece.


Creator God,
We praise you for making us in your image, a masterpiece to do your work on earth. Please help us to remember that you have a plan for us. Continue to pick us up when we stray and put us back on the right path, so that when the masterpiece is done, you can step back and be proud of us.

Amen.