At almost 50 years young, I can look back and see where I have failed to let God be part of my choices, my decisions. I’m working, at least trying, to remember that even though I didn’t ask God to be a part of the choice, and it didn’t turn out the way I wanted, it was not a mistake.
I feel as if they were, or can be used, to glorify God and be used as a learning experience, a stepping stone. Bad decisions DO NOT equal mistakes – in this I’m learning grace …for myself (the one person I rarely shower in grace).While I’m made up partly of the choices I’ve made, more importantly, I am His masterpiece. I am whole, I am cherished, divinely created, unconditionally loved. Like an piece of art, with every brushstroke (hardship, prayer, blessing, mountain, valley), I am a masterpiece, HIS masterpiece. A messy one, but still, and always, a work of art.
Thank you Lord for the grace you shower each and every day. I am humbled to be able to share these words with y’all and earlier this year and made myself this ring. I felt it needed a matching tee. May you feel his love pouring over you today.
Big Love,
Red
PS. I forgot to mention that after I wrote this in my journal, I turned to our Scripture challenge with Rachel Mellard and lo and behold, God’s reassuring words were waiting in Psalm 86:15 and Romans 5:7-8.
(c) Michelle A. Farley
is past weekend, there was a lot of revelation based around the difference between knowing and believing and this morning was another sign of the transformation that took place. As I was sitting there praying for my family, I realized that we often pray and ask God to give us (or those we are praying for) “stuff”: joy, peace, etc. Now, before you go getting all “churchy” on me, hear me out. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with praying peace or love or comfort over or for people. What I’m saying though is….we never stop to ask God to open our hearts and minds to the “stuff” he’s already given us! Seriously….he is not holding back waiting to grace our lives with love and peace and joy – it is OURS already! We already have ALL of the gifts, tools, skills, talents, people, blessings, and support to be successful! But instead, we place the burden on HIM, and we don’t do any work ourselves. So if our day is CRAP, it’s His fault. If I’m in a bad mood, it’s His fault.
joy.” It may not feel like it right now, but there is joy to be found. There is light in the darkness. There is healing in the hurt. I’m here to tell you, this is a challenge for me as well. While it is a struggle some days to rejoice IN all things, it is so important to guard our hearts and our words. Hurt people hurt people. Don’t let your attitudes and actions leave a permanent mark of a temporary place you are in. Let love, peace, and joy take root in your heart so that the flowers of your soul blossom.