Ephesians 2:10 Masterpieces

11/16/2021

Someone needs to hear this today 💛 You are not yet who you will be. Please don’t give up! God started something incredible in you… And HE will finish it! You don’t have to be perfect…today OR tomorrow! And it is so okay to struggle. And question. And wrestle with hard things. You are in a beautifully messy process of becoming more and more of the incredible you that God designed! Hold on to this Truth…You matter to God! And He is never giving up on you! 💗🙏🏿🙌🏽

05/24/2021

Pause and watch the video below this post...to the end.

Did you make it? Be honest. Many of us will say...seriously?! Or that we had to pry our eyelids open with toothpicks. Honestly, how can we be expected to watch a slow-moving snail for almost 30 seconds? Personally, I have important things to do. People to see. Places to go. I. Am. Busy.

Don’t get me wrong. I can sit for hours and watch something engaging. Something that keeps my adrenaline pumping. Or my oxytocin flowing with happy endorphins. My vice. The Hallmark Channel.

It is hard to pause for snails. They are so slow. And unbelievably...still. They are never in a hurry. I am positive I could light a fire behind one. And it would not pick up its pace. Why?

I had to know the real answer. So I asked Google: “Why do snails...”. Yep. That is as far as I got. Apparently, LOTS of people ask about snails. And the first prompt I could choose? Yes, it was “Why do snails move so slow?” I felt better knowing that other people were probably just as bothered as me. Well. Or curious.

Here’s what Google said, “One of the reasons that they move so slowly is that they must manufacture a slime track on which they move. For every inch they move, they make a thin layer of slime an inch long. This takes time as well as lots of water and energy. The advantage is that they can move along on almost ANY surface.”

Wow! I am bothered by a creature who lives in a posture of dependant intentionality. They are preparing for every “step”. Each of their movements relies on their ability to...pause...and manufacture slime. They need to prepare. Before they can move.

Okay...God. I get it. I hear You. This is not just another lesson about “slowing down”. Which I understand I am still learning. No. It’s not just about slowing down. It is about intentional dependence. Pausing. And preparing. Before I move.

What if I lived like a snail? Never taking a step before pausing. Recognizing my dependence on God. And preparing for my day with the slime that will keep me going? An attitude of worship. A heart filled with God’s Word. Engaged with the Holy Spirit. Attuned to His voice.

Snails are successful because they instinctively know what they need to do. And they just do it. It takes time. And energy. But the payoff is amazing! They can move on ANY surface.

I want to walk on ANY surface. Over the mountains. And rocks. In the hardest places. Like the valleys. And desserts. And I CAN! If I stop rolling my eyes at the snail. And instead. Learn to be more like one.

04/27/2021

It has been over a year now since I've seen my Dad. No hugs. No laughing while sharing a kiss on the cheek. No sitting quietly together. Or holding hands and going for a walk. Our only mode of communication. The telephone. And a very rare FaceTime because he is tech challenged.

I cannot even begin to put words to the depth of sadness I feel. He is 83. I am 54. And to lose over a year at this stage of life. It is daunting. Time seems more precious. Almost more valuable. Probably because we're old enough to realize that we have a lot less of it.

I wanted to post his face. I want to remember how hard this has been. Covid has robbed my family of precious togetherness. As I know it has done with so many others. I cried to my Dad when we had to cancel our annual summer vacation to MI last August. We look forward to our time with him. Playing in Lake Michigan. And all of the timeless traditions we've built since my childhood.

Jesus, thank You for carrying my sadness. Thank You for knowing how hard this is on me. And being my constant source of comfort. And peace. And thank You that I get to see my Dad. THIS JUNE! You are so good my Lord!

Psalm 30:11-12 - You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Dearest Masterpiece - Is there a burden weighing you down? Are you carrying a great sorrow in your heart? Grieving? Let the Lord carry your burden. In His timing...He will turn your mourning into joyful dancing! So...get your dancing shoes out...and live ready! 🙏👠

04/21/2021

It's hard to admit...but I have lived my life more as a "glass half empty" kind of person. My husband. He's the "glass half full" guy. And I've always been kind of jealous that he can more easily see the world through such a positive lens. For many reasons, I've used negativity as a survival skill. It's "protected" me from further hurt and disappointment. Yeah...not really...I know.

But God spoke today. As He so faithfully does. And He said. The glass is NOT half full. Or half empty. The. Glass. Is FULL.

Psalm 23:5c - My cup overflows with blessings.

Yep. Perspective shift. OVERFLOWING!

And so today...dear Masterpiece...will you choose to believe that your cup is FULL?

I'm starting over today. Pinning this Truth to my heart. And committing to ask God's Spirit to remind me that a FULL cup life. Is a life of joy. Peace. And an unshakable hope. It is a life of expecting. Expecting God to show up. To work all things for His good. Because life is hard. And honestly...negativity is easy. But God IS faithful. And because I am His. The difficulties of this world. Can never empty my cup.

03/10/2021

Have you ever gotten a bad haircut? I mean the kind that made you want to hide from the world? For months!?!

I’ll never forget my visit to a new salon. I had long(er) hair. I sat in the chair. I had high hopes. And great expectations. I just knew I would walk out beaming.

Well...that didn’t happen. As I faced away from the mirror. The stylist chopped off about 4 inches. Amidst her yammering. And not paying attention. I lost a whole lot of hair. I’ll admit it. I cried!

Jesus talks about a different kind of haircut in John 15:2 (AMP). And I visit His salon frequently. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]."

This pruning. While it may be the most difficult haircut to endure. Yields results that make us gloriously beautiful. Because with each snip. We become immeasurably more useful. Abundantly fruitful. It’s like going in for fresh ends. And coming out with your new favorite look.

Jesus is the Master Hairdresser. The stylist Who never makes a mistake. Snipping away. Each clip. With great purpose. His eye for beauty. And design. Knowingly crafting our perfect new look.

I will never return to that salon that wrecked my hair. I appreciate that I have a choice. And I’m grateful that there are many stylists to choose from.

But there is only One Jesus. And as our Heavenly Hairdresser. He never cuts too much. Or too little. And I can trust Him implicitly.

And so today. Beautiful Masterpiece. Remember Who is pruning you. And the significance of submitting to His choice of style. May we commit today to the work of His shears. No matter how difficult it may be. To sit still in His chair. Or under a really hot dryer! For He alone can style our hearts. And send us out of His salon. Beaming. Ready to engage the world.

03/04/2021

As with most people, I have days where my hope emanates from within the depths of my soul. And then days... where I wrestle with hopelessness. Today; I found myself down on the mat. Wrestling. And not very successfully.

God drew me to His Word. And specifically to Psalm 139. He spoke this Truth over me in a fresh way.

Psalm 139:7-12 (AMP) ~ Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, And the night will be the only light around me,” Even the darkness is not dark to You and conceals nothing from You, But the night shines as bright as the day; Darkness and light are alike to You.

I love the way this section begins. With a question. God invites our questions. He wants us to process with Him. And not necessarily with flowery. Perfect. Scripted. Sentiments.

The valley of the shadow of death (Ps 23). Darkness. These are places where God shows up. Where He rescues us. Sits with us. Because these are the places where we often feel forgotten. Unseen. Left. Or lost.

"Surely the darkness will cover me, And the night will be the only light around me." (vs 11). This is where hopelessness resides. When the struggles and trials of life seem insurmountable. When hiding from God. And the world. Actually feels like a valid option.

I needed a reminder today. That while darkness feels like a profoundly lonely place. I am never alone. Even the darkness. My darkness. Is not dark to my God. And it conceals absolutely nothing from His ever watchful and loving gaze.

I will live. One day at a time. And believe that each day is a gift. Not because my circumstances have changed. Not because I actually feel any better. But because I know. That God will not only dance beside me in the light. But sit quietly beside me. As I wrestle with the blanket of darkness encircling my soul.

Dearest Masterpiece ~ Whether you are dancing in the light. Or sitting quietly in a place of suffering. Please know that you are not alone.

02/17/2021

We are beginning a sacred time of Lent dearest Beautiful Masterpieces. My wonderful husband and I did a devotional together from Psalm 51. May this Ash Wednesday service provide a moment of pause as you reflect on repentance and your journey with Jesus. 🙏🏿🙌🏽

Welcome To Centerville Presbyterian Churchexperiencing Jesus • Authentic Community • Transforming Lives - • Share The Good News Within Our Fellowship Of Beli...

12/08/2020

Watch what you pray for. Because others are watching. And listening. And learning.

Last night I was reminded of this truth at bedtime. At Elizabeth's bedtime. Elizabeth and I prayed powerfully. TOGETHER. Gently. But fervently. Like we believed. Together. That God must act. That everything depended on Him. And His working in and through us. And our family.

We prayed for protection for our brothers and sisters in Africa. For the education of girls in developing countries. For those without basic provision to be cared for. And that God would always use us. To be a part of that care. We asked Him for the salvation of people who don't know Him. We named those we love. We shared our desire for creative ways to communicate His love. For the Gospel to be clear. And that we would always be bold. We talked to Him about those who know Him but don't understand the joy of truly living for Him. We prayed that they would make Him a priority. And comprehend the depth of His love for them. We shared our concerns about COVID. And we asked if it could end soon. We prayed for creativity and wisdom for those making vaccines. And we thanked Him that He was using COVID to connect people. From all over the world. To people who know Jesus. And are faithfully sharing Truth. We acknowledged that we don't always understand His timing. Or reasons. But that we had faith. And we trusted Him.

As I reflected. It really hit me. Elizabeth is learning what things matter to me. And to God. She is having the opportunity to live within faith. And a posture of trust. She will, hopefully, not become callous to the world around her. But experience how powerfully the God of the universe can use her voice. As she shakes the heavenlies with God's redemptive heart cry for His world.

Beautiful masterpiece - God has given us a sphere of influence. How are you using your voice in prayer? What are you teaching others when you ask of God? What do they learn from what you omit?

I want to be known as someone who prays in the Spirit. For more than a parking spot. A health issue. A car. A better home. Or even for my family to be "okay". I want to be known as a woman who God uses to see the other. Recognize that the world is a big place. With many desperate needs. And prays with compassion for God to do great things for His glory.

11/03/2020

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, OR THE WAY WE VOTE [added by me] will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Today is election day. A day that brings anxiety. Fear. Anger. Hope. Prayer. And sometimes condemnation for those who vote differently.

Division. It grieves not only me. But God’s heart. And so today. I write not about politics. But Truth.

No matter how you vote. You are lovable.
No matter your party of choice. You are valuable.
No matter your issues of choice. God sees you. He hears you. He cares for you.
You are NOT your political choice. You ARE a child of God.

God is God. He loves ALL of humanity. He created all things. He sacrificed His life on the cross. Not just for you. But every single person. Democrat. And Republican.

His Truth. His Word. Guides our behavior. We love our neighbors just like we love ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). We treat others as we would want to be treated (Luke 6:31).

And so today. I want to be known as. A follower of Jesus. Not a Democrat. Not a Republican.

I love you. I care for you. I am your friend. And fellow sojourner. No. Matter. How. You. Vote.

Dearest Masterpiece...will you join me today in identifying as His follower? Will you be the Beloved of Jesus before you are anything else? We can make a profound difference today. And in the days to come. If we choose His peace. To extend His peace. And love unconditionally.

09/11/2020

Ephesians 6:12 ~ For we[a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Beautiful masterpieces. Have you ever had an incredibly difficult week? Relational tension. Hard circumstances. NOW I realize why my week was so difficult. The reason for the discouraging thoughts. Heaviness. Frustration. Wavering in a God-honoring perspective.

GOD was on the move and the enemy knew it. The prince of darkness and his cohorts could see the hand of God at work. Making things happen. Planning encounters for Truth to be heard. Moments for joy. Life change. Redemption. Satan hates when seeds are planted. Watered. When the Master Gardner is tilling the soil. Growing His Kingdom.

Soon after my battle with tough emotions and trying events, I had INCREDIBLE opportunities to share Jesus. He wants people to know that He sees them. Knows their questions. Hears their wonderings. And that He won't let them wander away from Truth if they are sincerely seeking it.

And God knows my personality. I mean. He made me. So car evangelism is a fantastic outlet for sharing my passion for Him. My windows were down. There was a life-giving Christian song on my radio. And the guy next to me had his windows rolled down. I turned the music up. Not obnoxious. And I continued to sing and worship. He deliberately drove beside my car. Stayed right next to me at the light. And even missed his green light as he took in the worship scene in the car. Yes. He may have been wondering if I was wacky. But I choose to believe that God had captivated him. And was planting a seed. Because God will use whatever it takes to show people the reality of Himself. And His worth.

So let this be our reminder. When life seems so off track. Almost unbearable. And our faith gets shaky. God just may be up to something sacred and beautiful. We need to remember that we are in a battle. And that we, despite opposition, will be victorious.

Thank You Jesus for Eph 6:12. Keep this Truth before us so that we remain faithful to endure. Watch. And wait. You are always doing a good thing! ❤