When a sculpture begins his work, He takes a large stone and rhythmically begins removing the pieces that do not match the vision he has for the piece. When he gets to a roughing stage, he changes the tool and begins to make more precise cuts to give the piece more definition.
Eventually the sculptor has changed the stone from a rough block into the general shape of the finished statue. The tools used now change to enhance the shape into its final form. The sculptor may use broad, sweeping strokes to remove excess blemishes like small chips or dust. He can use a riffler is a smaller variation of the rasp to create details such as folds of clothing or locks of hair.
God may bring us to places where huge hunks ar chipped away. We may now resemble the person we are to be, but we aren't there yet.
During the walkout process, as we yield to the Holy Spirit, yield to those set in authority over us, a spiritual rasp is used and the dings and knicks are erased.
But God doesn't do anything halfway. We may even be satisfied with ourselves at this state, but God sees the end picture. Because we are looking back at what we were, and God is looking forward at His image of us, the pictures do not always match.
The final stage of the carving process is polishing. The sculpture is now a recognizable figure, but it is still not finished. Now comes the the polishing process. He may first use sandpaper, but ultimately will use emery cloth.
These are the irritations in our lives.
Pay attention. He is using stone to polish stone. In other words, he is using other people rubbing up against us. Emery is a stone that is harder and rougher than the sculpture media. Do you have any difficult people in your life?
They may be there to polish you.
This wearing away of all the roughness, however minute, brings out the color of the stone, reveals patterns not yet seen and adds a lustre.
Finally, oxides are often used to give the stone a highly reflective exterior.The final stage of the carving process is polishing. Think about it. The sculpture is now a recognizable figure, but it is still not finished. Now comes the the polishing process. He may first use sandpaper, but ultimately will use emery cloth.
Pay attention. He is using stone to polish stone. Emery is a stone that is harder and rougher than the sculpture media. This wearing away of all the roughness however minute brings out the color of the stone, reveals patterns not yet seen and adds a lustre. Finally, oxides are often used to give the stone a highly reflective exterior. An oxide is The final stage of the carving process is polishing. Think about it. The sculpture is now a recognizable figure, but it is still not finished. Now comes the the polishing process. He may first use sandpaper, but ultimately will use emery cloth.
Pay attention. He is using stone to polish stone. Emery is a stone that is harder and rougher than the sculpture media. This wearing away of all the roughness however minute brings out the color of the stone, reveals patterns not yet seen and adds a lustre. Finally, oxides are often used to give the stone a highly reflective exterior. Because oxide means it has oxygen, I see this as the breath of God. This is when I am really listening, yielding and being changed from glory to glory.
I realize this is just a metaphor of God's powerful process. The stone does not truly yield, but we must. Being changed from glory to glory requires yielding to the process and absolute surrender. It is a process, but I am finding each time I surrender, the next time I am challenged, it is easier to surrender.
His ways are so much higher than mine. Why would I ever choose less than the best when He gives it so freely?
I want to be God's Masterpiece.
I saw the following skit at church one night and while I was writing this, God brought it to my rememberance. Hope you will take time to watch.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
If I Were Brave
Fear is a thief! It will rob you of your life, the life truly intended you to have. There are over 10,000 fears ranging from fear of abandonment to fear of flying.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
When I first married Ray, he frequently drove my car. I would get in MY car on Monday morning and I would hear the radio blaring twangy country music. Not my favorite. So I would change the station to the easy listening genre I enjoyed. I simply chose not to listen to that station.
But it took me another 25 years to do that with the thoughts bombarding my head. If they aren't coming from God, I change the "station."
Philippians 4:8 8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
So when thoughts come bombarding in to rob you of your faith, rob you of your future, change the station and think on these things.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
When I first married Ray, he frequently drove my car. I would get in MY car on Monday morning and I would hear the radio blaring twangy country music. Not my favorite. So I would change the station to the easy listening genre I enjoyed. I simply chose not to listen to that station.
But it took me another 25 years to do that with the thoughts bombarding my head. If they aren't coming from God, I change the "station."
Philippians 4:8 8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
So when thoughts come bombarding in to rob you of your faith, rob you of your future, change the station and think on these things.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Love Disclaimer
I have been meditating on 1 Corinthians 13 for several months, but I always began with verse 4, because I thought that was where I needed the most improvement.
Then one Sunday I watched as a young father struggled to calm his son. He was clueless. He turned to me and said, "I don't know what else to do."
I whispered, "Just love him."
I thought how the young man repeatedly looks for opportunities to express himself whether to share an exhortation or sing on the praise team all the while leaving his wife with the all of the children. (In our church, the children are in the service. There is no children's church.)
Suddenly what began as a critical thought, boomeranged back. I thought of the past 30 years especially how I did high profile things while neglecting my own family. Only when we operate in divination instead of discernment is this possible. Divination is a counterfeit for the truth, but sadly on the outside it looks real.
When a person is being trained as a cashier, they make them count money for hours on end. The purpose is to teach them the feel and look of money, then instinctively when someone gives them a counterfeit they will immediately know the difference.
Maybe I spent too few hours counting His ways.
Here are those beginning three verses:
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Here is my tongue in cheek, finger pointing back to me transliteration:
1 Though I sing on the Praise Team and help with the children's choir, but have not God's love inside of me and sung silly songs and laughed with my own children, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, attend every church service and even teach clsses and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not tended to my family's needs in love and with joy, I am nothing.
3 And though I cook meals for the new mothers, and bring the best covered dish to the potluck, but I have not prepared an awesome meal for my own family and given them my time, it profits me nothing.
I am on the south end of life's journey now and I don't get a "do-over" with my young family, but I look around the church and I see mamas and daddies who could use encouragement and discernment of what is really important. They are young enough to get a do-over.
Then one Sunday I watched as a young father struggled to calm his son. He was clueless. He turned to me and said, "I don't know what else to do."
I whispered, "Just love him."
I thought how the young man repeatedly looks for opportunities to express himself whether to share an exhortation or sing on the praise team all the while leaving his wife with the all of the children. (In our church, the children are in the service. There is no children's church.)
Suddenly what began as a critical thought, boomeranged back. I thought of the past 30 years especially how I did high profile things while neglecting my own family. Only when we operate in divination instead of discernment is this possible. Divination is a counterfeit for the truth, but sadly on the outside it looks real.
When a person is being trained as a cashier, they make them count money for hours on end. The purpose is to teach them the feel and look of money, then instinctively when someone gives them a counterfeit they will immediately know the difference.
Maybe I spent too few hours counting His ways.
Here are those beginning three verses:
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Here is my tongue in cheek, finger pointing back to me transliteration:
1 Though I sing on the Praise Team and help with the children's choir, but have not God's love inside of me and sung silly songs and laughed with my own children, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, attend every church service and even teach clsses and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not tended to my family's needs in love and with joy, I am nothing.
3 And though I cook meals for the new mothers, and bring the best covered dish to the potluck, but I have not prepared an awesome meal for my own family and given them my time, it profits me nothing.
I am on the south end of life's journey now and I don't get a "do-over" with my young family, but I look around the church and I see mamas and daddies who could use encouragement and discernment of what is really important. They are young enough to get a do-over.
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