art

I read a story written by Ruth Graham. The story goes that as the fish tale was told, the fisherman, extending his arms to portray his catch, bumped into the waitress carrying his cup of tea.

The tea now awash on the wall was accompanied by the regret of the fisherman.

Edwin Lanseer, famous artist, also enjoying a drink stands, pencil in hand and traces the stain to reveal an incredible depiction of a stag.

The question then becomes, who are we in this story? The stain or the art? Answer: both

We can lose ourselves in the journey of what we are not. We feel messy or misunderstood. Ugly or unliked. We focus on what we will become, not what we are. It is in the becoming that God does his finest work.

He takes what we are.

And He fashions art.

messy

Life is messy. So much so it feels as if the messy splashes up and over us, covering and almost consuming.

 
But we do not have to consume.  We do not even have to give it breath. We do not have to believe this is all there is, because there is so much more.   We have Someone who lives inside.  Lighting up and organizing the places in our hearts.  His Spirit dwells here.   It is He that allows us to bring a word of truth and an arm full of encouragement to this less than perfect place.
 
Beauty:  it is in the hand of the Beholder. When we hold Him, we behold what He fashions. Faith out of fear. Trust out of turmoil. Wonder out of worry. 

We get to do this.  Because we are His and He is ours.

butterflies

Our milkweeds are right smack dab next to hundreds of zinnias. Dozens of butterflies coming to life, landing on lovely after stillness and struggle.
 
Weary finding rest.  
 
That is the Father, bidding breath in the battle. Beauty in the hard. He doesn’t end suffering to cause us to see Him;  He allows it so we do not miss Him.

HIM

HIS GOODNESS WEAVES ITS WAY IN GRIEF.   HIS PRESENCE POSITIONS OUR EYES TO SEE SOMETHING IN AND THRU AND IN SPITE OF PAIN. HIS GRACE GIFTS US WITH A WAY OF KNOWING THIS IS NOT ALL THERE IS. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE. 

WE WILL RISE.
HE IS HERE.
WE LEAN IN. WE LOVE MORE.  

BEAUTY NOT FROM WHAT WE BEHOLD, BUT WHAT WE HOLD.
HIM.

refreshed

BE REFRESHED.

THIS STRENGTH AND THIS COURAGE  EVERYONE IS ASKING FOR?

IT’S JUST NOT POSSIBLE ALONE.

WE NEED HIM.

 

HE TOLD JOSHUA

HE TELLS US.

 

YOU WILL BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS BECAUSE…

I AM WITH YOU.

 

IT’S NOT ON US TO FILL THE CUP OF COURAGE.

 

IT’S HIS.  

ALWAYS HIS.

 

AND THE GOODNESS WE POUR OUT,    ALL HIM.

tired?

TIRED?
ME TOO.
WHICH FLAG DO WE FLY?
WHICH MARCH DO WE WALK?
WHICH HAND DO WE HOLD?
 
AND I WONDER IF THAT ISN’T THE POINT.
 
I NEED TO LEARN BUT WHAT I TRULY LACK IS WISDOM.
I NEED TO TRUST BUT WHAT I HAVE OVERLOOKED IS FAITH.
I NEED TO BELIEVE.
I NEED TO REMEMBER HE IS IN THIS.
 
I NEED TO REFLECT THE CONFIDENCE OF THAT
WE ARE NOT THE ANSWER. IT IS HIM.

WE ARE TO BE THE BEARERS OF THIS TRUTH, THIS COMFORT,  

AND YES, THIS PEACE.

OUT OF THE DEEPEST SUFFERING COMES THE MOST INTENSE JOY.
 
LET US LOOK WITH WILD EXPECTATION FOR ALL HE IS DOING AND THE JOY TO COME.

what if

What do you have to lose?

I have said those words at least a hundred times.

What if we focused on what we have to gain?

What if we spoke life where death and despair live?

What if we encourage when silence is the norm?

What if we mention His name where correctness is winning the day?

What if we choose to think the best even looking into eyes we do not know?

What if we exhale respect in disagreement?

What if we take time instead of letting busy take us?

Rest would replace weary and love would replace likes.  

We would gain. He would be seen.