Saturday, March 4, 2017

BE the Beauty among the Ruins!

Acts 20:24 "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."

I like to take something that looks ruined and turn it into something beautiful. I look at it and wonder what can I do to make this beautiful.  It's probably exactly the way God looked at us before we became his son or daughter.  We were ruined, a mess, and He wanted to make us beautiful.  Why do we deserve that?  I don't know about you but I don't deserve His Grace, (God's Riches At Christs' Expense.)  However, I aim to finish the race of testifying the good news of His Grace. 

Are you thankful for His grace?  He is so forgiving.  There have been things that Jim has wanted to throw away, and I say no I can paint that or do something with that.  Sometimes he listens and sometimes he says you have enough stuff and will throw it away.  I totally agree with his comment but I'm so glad that God is not like that.  He will never throw us away no matter how much "stuff" we have in our life.   But we have to be willing to go through the rough times.  Kind of like I have to rough up a piece of furniture a little before I begin the project.  Then we have to be willing to be patient as we wait for an answer from Him.  Just like I have to be patient for a coat of paint to dry before I put a second coat on.  If we are willing to go through the steps of letting God take our ruins and turn them into beauty then HIS Glory will be shone.  Allowing us to be a light in a very dark world.  Our world today has to make him sad of how ruined it is, but probably not because I'm sure He focus' on the beauty of HIS children trying to make a difference in this messed up world.

How are you trying to make a difference today?  Maybe there is someone at work who just needs a listening ear?  Maybe a hug.  Is there someone in your life who is hard to love?  They need you to be the beauty of their ruined, messed up life.  Even if it's rough. Love them even when they're ugly.  Be patient.  Don't give up.  You never know loving on them may turn their ruins into beauty.  It's all about finishing the race even when you're tired.   

When I get done with a project I step back and get a smile on my face and feel good about it.  I'm sure if you would "be the beauty among the ruins" God would step back with a smile on his face and say "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Matthew 25:23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!"

Climb that "thang!"

I wrote this post back in January of 2007  and I still have those pesky bugs and the enemy is still trying to rob me of my joy on a weekly ...