Our Lives...His Masterpiece!

"For [you] are God's [own] Masterpiece [handiwork, workmanship], created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God planned beforehand for us that we should walk in them." ~Eph. 2:10

Have you ever been to a painting class? I have a bit of a confession, I'm guilty of having gone about 10 times. All of my "masterpieces" sit in a box in my house, and my latest two are ones I'm most proud of, but I digress.

Any-who, at these painting classes, I love how the original version of the painting sits high up an easel on a stage for the entire class to marvel at. Then the master painter takes her post to step-by-step direct us in making our blank canvas slowly look like the original.

"So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image."

~2 Cor. 3:18

How fantastic that God has an original design that He desires to transform us into. But don't be misled, this transformation does NOT happen immediately. Some people are disillusioned and believe that after they 'walk down the aisle' on Sunday during the alter call or as soon as they say amen following the sinner's prayer something spectacular is supposed to come over them that causes them to stop every evil deed they've ever done.

Not true. Does something supernatural occur? Yes! Your nature changes (your blank canvas now contains the foundational colors needed); the Holy Spirit comes to live in you (to acknowledge you as His own) and seals you (as a deposit) to guarantee us everything He promises. [2 Cor. 1:22]

From this point on, we must enlist His supernatural strength and help to turn away from sin. Every temptation we face, every inner struggle we have, every area that falls short of God's standard needs a supernatural stroke of His brush. We must allow Him to dip His brush in His cleansing waters, select colors of His choice and creatively manipulate our canvases.

I think back to areas I used to struggle with and how I fasted and wept and prayed God deliver me from. Yet every time I failed in that area and confessed my sin, I couldn't understand why He wasn't removing that struggle from me. But now I can be faced with that temptation and it not tempting to me anymore. I have no desire to yield to it. He reminds me that He was patiently delivering me through that in His time. That's how He paints our canvas.

Know this, each victory over our sins that we encounter is an example of how strong HE is and we should be so grateful that He is working His righteousness out in us.

Your Creator designed you and He is the master painter; let Him take His post to step-by-step transform your blank canvas and slowly cause you to look like Him...the original design.

I may not look exactly like my Creator right now, but I do not look like I did when I first trusted Him as my Savior. However, I keep the finished result in my view, so I know that as He continues to paint my canvas, I'm certain of what I'm pressing for. Being a reflection of the character of God.

Grown-Up Temper Tantrums

Ok, so this summer I got my final tattoo. Yes I have more than one and yes, they're all hidden (for the most part). But real T, my tattoos are all symbols of deep convictions I've experienced in my walk with the Lord. This latest is my smallest one and hands-down my favorite. Why? Well let me tell you.

Have you ever seen a kid throw a temper tantrum in the store and wonder "Ooooh lemme see how this parent is gonna handle THAT!" I'm guilty of lingering just to see if that kid is gonna get a whooping from their parent. I know my mom would have yanked my chain RIGHT.THERE.IN.THE.STORE!!!

Well as an adult I've thrown some "Grown-up temper tantrums". What do I mean? I'm the kind of person who likes to plan things and then witness those things go just as I planned them. So when those things do NOT go as planned, I throw an adult version of a temper tantrum.

Am I saying that's okay? By no means. I recognize my flaws and how childish this error is and I'm thankful God has revealed it to me, because I can actively ask Him to mature me in that area and eagerly anticipate the act of renewing that will come as a result! But recently a friend called to my attention my anxiety that I was experiencing when I began to notice that a certain event I'm planning wasn't unfolding as planned.

Her words were, "Kim, don't allow yourself to get frazzled. Things will work out as they should and those who need to be there, will be there. Do your part in excellence and leave the results to God." I can't say this is my first time hearing this type of advice.
I once asked my mom, "Aren't you afraid that your kids would grow up and turn against God?"
Her confident response was, "No, because I did my part, obediently, in raising you all and now I leave the results to God."

I remember being appalled (at first) by her confident response, but then later understanding that it wasn't self-confidence she spoke in, but it was hopeful trust in God.

"But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you..." 1 Peter 3:15

Lately the Lord has been showing me that the same confidence and hope that I utilized when I put my trust in Him to save me from my sins (some 27 years ago) is the same confidence, hope and trust I must utilize daily. This hope and trust I placed in Him to save me from the wages of my sin and eternal separation from Him is able to keep me grounded when I'm facing the struggle of yielding to the desires I have; it's able to assure me when I'm unsure of what decisions to make, and it gives me wisdom when I'm battling whether to ditch situations that He prefers I face.

When you placed your trust in Christ to be the anchor for your soul, you blindly relied on Him to secure your position with God when your life on earth ends. What a colossal leap of faith. That same measure of faith can be applied daily to the menial moment to moment, day to day things that we should be relying on Him for.

"[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil" ~Heb. 6:19

Needless to say, I'm anticipating that my boat (of emotions) will be rocked less and less and as I grow in this area, I will be moored (anchored) to the sea bottom. I trust the Holy Spirit will remind me of the hope I placed in Christ to be my unbreakable spiritual lifeline and dropping this anchor into my daily situations should keep me at a level of unusual rest even while things around me look awry.

Be careful what you pray for

When someone tells you "be careful" they can mean one of two things:

"Girl, be careful fooling with that chick."
Interpretation- Don't fool with ( be friends with) her.

"Hey I'm about to get on the road!"..."ok, be careful!"
Interpretation- be watchful and proceed with care

I don't know about you but often times I get caught up praying Gods Word because I want so much to please Him. Isaiah 55:11 tells me that his Word doesn't return to Him void but it will accomplish what it sets out to do. So I'll pray for specifics in my life but I also pray things like, "Your will be done", "show me my purpose" and " Be glorified in my life".

Little do I realize when I'm praying these phrases that I'm giving God permission to do what He wants (I.e: what He was ALREADY going to do) but with my full cooperation! Well that's all cute until...

...I start thinking about things on my own agenda, that I desire. Yes I even pout sometimes because I feel (I be in my feelings every now and then) like my own wants are being ignored.

Here's the irony...God is busy taking care of His agenda (like I prayed for Him to do) therefore it's possible that my selfish and/or self-focused motives might not be significant in the grand scheme of things.  What's amazing, however, is that He has makes it His purpose to take care of our needs and grant our desires (when delight ourselves in Him) in His own way and timing.

So I admonish you to "be careful" what you pray for. Not in a "BEWARE" tone! But what I mean is anticipate great things as you proceed in prayer; be confident when you pray His will. Your agenda may not get accomplished, but His will will be done and you can rest assure that He's carefully taking care of your needs and desires in the process!

The Hounds of Heaven

When I was in primary grade school, I remember living at this one house where my bus stop was literally 2 houses away from my own home. It didn't seem like that bad of a deal except EVERY.SINGLE.DAY there was this hairy, brown Chow (a breed of dog) that used to be there when I got off the bus. It was as if he knew what time the bus would arrive and would be waiting at the foot of the steps for my descent onto the pavement. What's more is that I was one of the three people who was assigned to get off at that stop and somehow the dog always decided to follow ME home. I literally dreaded getting on the bus at school because of fear of what was awaiting me when I got to my bus stop. It was as if he smelt the fear in me and taunted me every step home. If I ran, he ran...if I walked fast, he was on my heel; there was nothing I could do (or others kids could do) that would keep him from following ME home. I didn't really have a fear of dogs, but for some reason, I was very afraid of this one dog and his obsession with me.

Let me introduce you to the 'hounds of Heaven':

Grace: Receiving something we don't deserve.

Mercy: Not receiving what we deserve.

I find this same story to often be true in our lives: We are oddly fearful of grace and mercy. These 'hounds of Heaven' are assigned to chase us down and follow those of who walk with God as Believers. But yet we seem to fearfully question their pursuit.

I know you're probably thinking, "Tuh, I welcome grace and mercy in my life...I'm grateful for them!" But not always. When I say we are fearful, I'm not meaning fearful in the literal sense. If we were quite honest with ourselves, some of the ways grace and mercy present themselves- cause us to flee quite hurriedly. How so?

Let's say, for example you are going about your life trying to please God and yet there's an area of your life that you continually seem to fail in when it comes to yielding to Him. As a matter of fact, let's just take it a step further than that. Let's say you are unwilling to yield that particular area to Him. You know He's not pleased with it and you sense some form of conviction, but you just aren't ready to let Him be Lord of that habit quite yet.



So now, you are faced with a situation where you need to ask for something in particular, in prayer.
What do you do?
You either relent in asking Him for it, or you shy away from expecting Him to come through for you. Why?...
Because you figure, you don't deserve for Him to answer that prayer. So you just don't ask for it, altogether! Yea, THAT'S running from His grace.

But let's say He answers that need (that you decided not to ask for) or better yet, EXCEEDS your un-spoken request. Don't you feel a sense of undeserved gratitude?

What we fail to understand is "God IS good". PERIOD! Therefore, because it's in His nature to be good, He can't help but give good gifts to His children (Matt. 7:11; James 1:17).  Giving grace is a by-product of Who God is!

"For by GRACE (hound) you have been saved, through faith. This is not your own doing, so that you cannot boast..." (paraphrased)

Ephesians 2:8-9 is the foundation of our faith...it is the ultimate picture of GRACE waiting for us at the bus stop. When we aren't even looking for it (Romans 3:11), it's chasing us down.

Society has taught us that merit-based, reward/consequence system is just. The great thing is that although God operates within that system, He isn't confound to it! His nature supersedes that system as He desires to saturate us with things we don't deserve, at times we aren't expecting it and in ways we could never imagine. And at our lowest moment, when we are ready to sentence ourselves with the greatest of punishments, He chooses to hold back His wrath and spare His ability to consume us.

THAT is grace and mercy. Don't fear them...embrace them.

If you've messed up, before you spiritually hang yourself (by backing up from church, stepping out of ministry, walking away from relationships) loosen your grip on that rope. God desires to release His hounds on your life.
Are you feeling less than deserving of blessings and good gifts? Take yourself out of the equation and your focus off of yourself...God has His hounds chasing you down; it's only a matter of time before they overtake you! Prepare yourself for them. Their purpose is to compel you towards giving Him thanks and causing your life to bring Him glory.

Hurt people, Hurt people

Often times in life, we may come across a situation where an old friend decides to 'burn the bridge' of a friendship unexpectedly (and maybe even without a complete understanding of why). This can cause a lot of hurt and emotional imbalance. Depending on how deep or long the friendship, it can lead to nights filled with tears and even borderline depression.

The phrase "hurt people, hurt people" comes to mind. Its the thought that when people are hurt by others, they tend to inflict that same type of hurt on those who cross their path. This, whether knowingly or unknowingly tends to happen and thus begins a domino affect of damaged emotions and battered relationships.

As I reflected upon this and how it's hit so close to home for me, I happened upon an interesting thought: 'Hurt people don't have to hurt people.'

We use that phrase to excuse (if you will) or justify the actions of people, but for believers, honestly we are not justified by that phrase. As a matter of fact, we are held to an entirely different standard.

We are expected to bring our wounds, hurts and pain to the Lord. In exchange, He promises His healing and frees us from having to hurt other people. His ointment soothes the injury that results from our wounds which compels us to act in a way that pleases Him.

Psalm 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds"

 

 

No longer should reacting to situations become our mantra, but acting in the power and under the influence of the Holy Spirit becomes our way of life.

 

If you're the one who has burned the bridge, pray the Lord heals your broken heart and rectify relationships you may have destroyed. If you're the one reaping the destruction of the burned bridge, pray for that person who was hurt...that the Lord would heal them. But understand while men are predisposed to rejecting others, it's Gods nature to accept us. Find healing and freedom in that truth!

Bio-illogical Clock

A year ago, I had fibroid removal surgery (just non-cancerous growths on my internal lady parts). It was quite the experience, emotional, physically and spiritually.

Emotionally: My biological clock was booming in my ears! It didn't help that my sexy, African American OBGYN was questioning why a pretty gal like me wasn't married yet. His line of questioning had me wondering if HE was available for the baby making process! Ya know!? LOL (low-key kidding) But seriously, I wasn't getting any younger and even when I went to get a 2nd opinion, my much older, very foreign-accented doctor found a way to clearly articulate that I needed to hurry and pick a man to have a baby with.

Physically: I'll spare you the grimy details, but in short, there was a lot of pain, a huge belly and one very specific woman in a New Testament story that I could have identified with a bit. From that, it was imperative that if I wanted to conceive anytime soon, those watermelon sized fibroid needed to be removed for the safety of that process.

Here's the catch! My doctors conveyed to me that the fibroids could return in as little as 2 years and that I needed to plan to get pregnant within that window ..."or else".

Spiritually: Bear with me as I connect the two.

Plan A: My own bio-LOGICAL plan- Get married (whenever God sends a suitor), conceive and viola...my life is set!

Plan B: Take my Doctor's advice- rush my plan along by considering a rush order on plan A.

Outlandish Plan C: Considering that in 1990 I gave my life to the Lord, fuel my growing desire to trust Him with the details and plans of my life.

Which door do I choose? Plan A, B or ...and I do mean OR... wait on the Lord. But do I really have time to wait? I mean according to plan B's advice?

Genesis 16 is an account of a man and woman who did just that. Chose their own plan over God's and although God saw fit to make provision within that, there were some repercussions from their decision. It was very obvious what was expected of me...to wait and trust God's plan for my life.


Did I get the surgery? Yes!
But if God doesn't allow me to conceive within 2 years, that's His business...not my queue to jump in the driver's seat and take the wheel. Because ponder this: I can decide to get married, attempt to conceive, and He STILL (Sovereignly) decide that fibroids or no fibroids...He doesn't will that I have children that way.

Ultimately its His temple that I manage and He desires we yield to His plan...for it is far better than ones we could ever dream up or chase after!

Be encouraged friend, "wait, I say, on the Lord..."

My Mind's playing tricks on me

Some of yal may be too young to remember that song by the Geto Boys back in the 90's. "My Mind's playing tricks on me" talked about the paranoia, hallucinations and delusions that can exist in our mental state. Am I the only one whose mind takes me back to the mistakes I've made:

• The great guys I've dated but nit-picked at and thus let go of.
• The foolish activities I chose to behave in when I knew they were no good for me to begin with.
• The secret sins I indulged in to temporarily satisfy my hidden cravings.

The mental chastisement is often too much to bear. The emotional side of me encourages me to run home and bury my head in my pillow and cry. If left to these thoughts too long, thoughts of depression are only a block away.

The only thing that pulls my mind away from this trap, is the Holy Spirit's reminding me of God's character: His faithfulness, love, patience with me, forgiving nature. All of these things come rushing in and all of a sudden I'm not so blue.

I went to the beach the other day and although the beach is a beautiful place to be because of the blue water and the crashing waves, there's an unavoidable evil you MUST face before you hit the water. Its the burning, sticky sand. Those little irritants get into everything you bring...your clothes, your shoes, your electronics, your food (if you're not careful) and your drinks! It's inevitable. It's so frustrating that as sure as I get all the sand washed off of me from the ocean and make it back to my blanket, I've managed to get full of sand all over again. Then my blanket gets infected as well as pretty much everything I touch.

Have you ever dealt with tormenting thoughts of your past? It's inevitable and an unavoidable thing that the enemy (via your mind) wants to control you by sticking those burning thoughts of your past, your mishaps, faults and mistakes to your conscious. Like irritants they can infiltrate your emotions and take you down paths that lead to depression.

Joseph (Genesis chapters 37-46) had a lot of things he could have regretted: telling his brothers about his dreams, getting passed over when the cupbearer and baker's dreams were interpreted, and maybe even saying 'no' to Potiphar's wife may have seemed like a bad idea in a weak moment. But in chapter 45 verse 5 he tells his brothers 'don't think this was a bad thing on your part...God did this!'.

"I form light and create darkness,
    I make harmonies and create discords.
    I, God, do all these things." Isaiah 45:7

Not that He orchestrates sin, but he permits the punishment of its actions and is Sovereign enough to use it for His benefit.

Yessss! That's it...there's your blue water and crashing waves! God allows calamity and darkness and bad times! He has so much purpose that lies beyond the sand grains of our lives. He wants the waves of his love, mercy, grace and joy to crash upon our lives and wash away the stains of our past so we are ignited into new, refreshing seasons.