A Work of Art

Happy Wednesday, y’all!

This devotion was first published in “The Secret Place.” I hope you enjoy it.

Many admire the beauty of glass, its colors sparkling. Steppingstones, with embedded glass, decorate gardens. Stained-glass windows inspire awe and reverence.

To make the stained-glass, the artist first breaks glass, leaving tiny splinters and sharp edges. Next, she grinds the edges smooth.

Once shaped and smoothed, the artist solders the pieces together to create a stained-glass window. After the stained-glass is completed, its beauty is far greater than the original uncut glass. The artist transformed the glass into a work of art, matching the image seen in her mind.

Like the artist, God forms us into his image, creating our unique stained-glass. Before crafting us, God sees the finished product—more beautiful than we can imagine. Just as the artist arranges the glass, so God shapes us.

This may not always be pleasant, but God, our designer and artist, completes the work he has begun. The more we yield to his touch, the more his light shines through.

Someday all the jagged edges of our lives will be smoothed by God’s touch; someday he will shape us into his perfect work of art, allowing his love to softly glow through the colors of our lives.

Father, thank you for the work you are creating in me. Thank you for forming me into your image.

“May he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13: 21b

Who Are You?

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Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Here are some words from Billy Graham to give you something to ponder today.

“There are three of you. There is the person you think you are. There is the person others think you are. There is the person God knows you are and can be through Christ.”

Billy Graham

Who do you choose to be?

Father God, I pray for myself and for my family. Make each one of us into the man or woman you designed us to be.

To God Be the Glory

Happy Monday everyone!

Can you imagine the day when all give our God and our Savior all praise and honor and glory and power?

Lord, keep me praising you now. You always deserve my praise. Why should I wait until eternity to give you your due?

Hello

Since I have so many new followers, I guess it’s time to introduce myself. For now, I’ll stick to the author side. After retiring from teaching high school English, I resurrected my dream of writing.

The first thing I submitted was a devotion. To my great delight and excitement, it was accepted! I took that as God’s approval on this new “career.” Since then, I’ve published over two dozen devotions and two articles in Chicken Soup for the Soul books. That was super exciting!

I have written a book of meditations over the gospels. Each of the 33 stories tells of a personal encounter someone actually had with Jesus. It moves chronologically from changing water into wine through resurrection. Each story follows with questions for reflection. I spent much time and prayer completing this book.

At the moment, the book is at a publisher, and I am impatiently waiting to hear whether or not they will publish it. The acquisitions editor liked it, but the publishing world moves so slowly.

When it is finally published, rest assured, I will let you know. You probably won’t need Facebook or a blog; you’ll hear me screaming for joy!

I would appreciate your prayers for publication.

Through the Psalms

Psalm 14: 2-3 & 7

“The Lord looks down from heaven

On all mankind

To see if there are any who understand,

Any who seek God.

All have turned away, all have become corrupt,

There is no one who does good,

Not even one.

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!

When the Lord restores his people,

Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!”

This short psalm (7 verses) appears negative when compared with psalms. The idea that there is no one who does good seems discouraging. At least it did until I thought about it a little and prayed about it. In Romans, we are reminded that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). With this thought in mind, I realized how true the statement “there is no one who does good” truly is. Compared to our amazing God, nothing we do is good. Yet, one day our God will restore his people. Think of that day and rejoice and be glad.

Thank you Lord, for your restorative power and your saving grace.

Be Strong

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I struggle with discouragement. What about you?

Lord, keep me strong and keep me from becoming discouraged. Instead, let me remember that you are with me and I can rely on your strength and wisdom.

Rivers of Peace

In a world torn by conflicts and war, people seek peace.  They question why war exists; hasn’t God has promised peace?  When you listen to the news, it seems peace doesn’t exist.  Even in our homes, it can be elusive.  Couples bicker and divorce, siblings argue and fight. 

The book of Isaiah sheds light on peace: “If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river”(48:18a NIV).  One prerequisite to peace is obeying God’s commands.  But what about peace…like a river?  To fully appreciate this concept of peace like a river, imagine a great river running through the land.

The broad river, a constant presence, flows despite obstacles.  Sometimes the river runs smoothly; at other times it runs headlong into a snag, separating and diverting its water to other paths.  The water flows peacefully on, until downstream it smashes full force against the rocks, shattering spray high in the air.  Flowing to the top of a sharp drop-off, the water rushes forward, falling… falling…rushing over the edge, churning and boiling at the bottom.  After a time, the waters collect in a still pool, resting, reveling in the quiet. 

During my mother’s last years, her mind ravaged by dementia, my river of peace constantly ran against snags of her lost memory.  My peace plummeted over the precipice of countless hours watching her mind rapidly losing rational thought and memory.  Constantly swirling and eddying, the waters rushed me from work to my parents’ home to assist Dad in caring for her. Emotional whirlpools threatened to spin out of control. 

The only thing that kept my sanity during this difficult time was God’s peace. You may ask how I can feel peace when my world was turned upside down.  In Galatians 5:22, we learn that peace is a fruit of the Spirit.  Only the spirit of God can give us peace in the midst of the snags, rocks, waterfalls, and whirlpools of life. 

 So how do we receive this peace?  We can’t buy it in a store; we can only receive it as a gift from God.  Once again, scripture aids us in our search for peace.  “You[God]will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV).  Our peace comes when we place complete trust in God and obey His commands (Isaiah 48:18). 

 When our life’s circumstances shatter against the rocks, placing trust in God’s perfect will keeps us at peace despite trying circumstances.  Jesus tells us he leaves us peace, but “I do not give you [peace] as the world gives” (John 14:22 NIV).  The countries of the world may continue to fight, and we will still experience difficulties and tragedies.  But when we obey God’s commands and trust Him, no matter how difficult our circumstances, we experience His peace, flowing like a river deep within our souls.

Thank you, Father, that you provide peace for our souls, even in the most difficult circumstances.

Scatter Sunshine

Good morning!

Here’s an uplifting quote for you.

“The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.”
― Norman Vincent Peale

Father, help me to do as Norman Vicent Peale suggests: “Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others.” Help me to be more like Jesus.

He is Worthy

Happy Monday, everyone!

All praise and glory to God!

Lord, you are worthy. You are love, you are wisdom. you are creator. I thank you and praise you!

Through the Psalms 13

Psalms 13 : 1 & 5-6

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

But I trust in your unfailing love:

My heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing the Lord’s praise,

For he has been good to me.”

Don’t you just love David? Can’t you see why he was called a man after God’s heart? At the beginning of this Psalm (and many of his other psalms) he sounds so much like the rest of us: whine, whine, whine. Have you ever thought and spoken like David did at the beginning of this psalm, or many other psalms? He is often hurt, desperate, or needy. But, no matter what difficulty besets David, by the end of the psalm, he is always praising God.

Lord God, keep me ever praising you, in times of joy and in times of difficulty, for you are worthy of praise.