Unfinished works

I am a professional list maker. I make lists for EVERYTHING. There is nothing better to me than checking off an item on my "to do" list. But, as a Christian, I'm learning that life is much more fluid than completing tasks.

The Word says that we are constantly being molded and changed into the likeness of Christ...no place there to check off the "Christ-like" box while on this earth...at least not until I have been completely and wholly transformed and brought into His throne room. But that doesn't give me license to sit down and wait; rather I must allow Him to work daily in my life making changes one by one in my heart, mind, soul and spirit - spurred on by His Word and His example.

I think that often my source of frustration in day-to-day living is that ALL is always in a state of flux - whether it is the laundry or dishes, my walk with Christ, my career, nurturing relationships with my husband, daughter, family and friends, or my journey to a healthy mind and body. Check boxes don't work there either. But does that mean I neglect all of these things because they will still be there tomorrow? I think not.

I guess perhaps I should switch to a graph and be thankful I am making progress, step by step - and baby steps at that. I must learn to be content and rest in the grace He so graciously gives to those who call Him "Abba Father." He knows everything about me, yet sees me as complete in Him. Should I not allow the same grace to myself, knowing that He has already made provision for all that is in my life - my sin, my calling, my needs, my wants and my desires.

I think, perhaps, I should try to migrate from list maker to progress maker. His grace changes me daily and every day I am no longer the same. Not perfect - but changed.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. I John 3:2 NIV

Our lives are a masterpiece

We mark our days with plans and wishes – I must do this; I’d like to do this; I know I’ll never be able to do this. I don’t believe that our Heavenly Father finds fault in that, but I do think he must shake His head at us and sometimes even laugh. We plan and plan but with incomplete information – we are hardly ever (or at least not always) privy to that which lies before us. We do not know what will happen today, tonight or tomorrow. And yet we plan. And for what?

Scripture tells us that He takes care of and provides for even the smallest of birds, and then goes on to assure us we are more valuable than many sparrows. If He cares that much for the small, winged creation of His hands, surely we can know for certain that He will take care of us.

Some of our days are difficult and almost unbearable, but our God has already made provision for us before those days unfold. Can I explain why these days are so weighty or why our hearts cry out in anguish? Certainly not; but I do know that He knits and weaves these trials and tribulations into our days to draw us closer to Him, to purify us as His vessels that He may pour more of His love out onto an unsaved world.  He created us to be in relationship with Him and sometimes He has to really work hard to get and keep our attention.

Do I believe that our Heavenly Father causes pain and turmoil to keep us at bay?  Most certainly not. But we live in an imperfect world as the result of original and continuing sin and thankfully our God is able to work within the context of a sin-stained world and is yet able to draw us to Him, granting us the grace of forgiveness of sin and even providing for us ALL that we need.

Even as this day is passing I am boggled by a lack of understanding as to the way our lives unfold. But do I believe God is weaving these sometimes horrific chain of events into the tapestry of our lives for His good? Without question. I am assured by His Word that nothing that happens in our lives is for naught. And God, who chose to give up His own Son for us, will never forget that pain and understands ours and will provide for us the only comfort that can mend our hearts. Through our eyes we can only see the messy back of the tapestry of our lives but at the heavenly gates we will see the unbelievably beautiful masterpiece He has created. His plan. The only one that really matters.

So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31 (NASB)

Treasure

Catching me quite by surprise this weekend, I found myself completely unnerved by a song on a music playlist I recently put together. Bruno Mars' Treasure came up and before I knew it tears were streaming down my face and my heart was laid bare. The song speaks of a man's love for a woman and his thoughts of beholding a beautiful  treasure in her; all the while knowing that she did not see that in herself.

The sobs breaking forth from my heart were simply my recognition that I have never seen myself as a treasure, instead, just the ordinary gray of life. I just couldn't imagine anything more. The song haunted me all evening and brought countless tears to my eyes even as I lay in bed trying to fall asleep.

I awakened the next morning still thinking about the song and the beliefs I held about myself. Knowing that I had to quit listening to this song or be committed, Annie and I left for church. I was looking for a fresh Word to soothe my heart and the Lord did not disappoint. While sitting in church, out of the pastor's mouth, I heard these words: Those in Christ hold all of  the treasures of God - nothing is withheld from those who know Him. When we were adopted into the kingdom family, which was done at His pleasure, we were no longer orphans but have all of His treasures at our hand.

Hardly gray, hardly ordinary. He not only sees me as treasure enough to bring me into His family, but he lays before me all that He has as my own. We truly have been purchased at great price. For this I am thankful.