The Sculptor

I attended a Children's Pastor's Conference in Orlando last week.  I arrived early one day, to have a rare moment of alone time. I sat still... a difficult task for a full time wife, as well as, mom of three girls. This particular day I felt like a God was handing me a gift.    I chose to sit at a cafe' table, close to the edge of a pond and tuned in to hear the voice of God. The morning sun slanted through the clouds as a misty vapor rose from the water's quiet surface.  Pen in hand, I sat staring at the blank yellow notebook page in front of me. A quote I heard the previous week played over in my mind. 

"To be human is to be beautifully flawed." (From the movie October Baby). 

 

Well this wasn't a pleasant topic for me, because I have a human nature that loves perfection.  God prompted me to find out about flawed sculptures.  I Googled "flawed sculptures" on my phone.  This is what I read:

 

"Sculptors have to deal with the limitations of their stone. It may not be the same size or shape as their design. They must adjust the design. Michelangelo had to design his colossal David from a block with a hole in the middle.    -from the website The Best Artists

In my 43 years I had never read or heard about this. 

 

I didn't know much about Michelangelo's sculpture so I Googled "Michelangelo's David."  I discovered that the sculpture David is said to be the most beautiful sculpture of all.  David is estimated to be worth about 400 million dollars.  I pondered.  Michelangelo's masterpiece David started out to be a piece of marble with a gaping hole in it?

 

Then God started speaking to my heart.  "You, daughter, are like that block of marble. You are beautifully flawed.  Now here's the deal. Flaws don't bother Me. I created you the way you are and knew the moment you were born in the fallen world in which you live.  I am aware of your failings. My eyes have observed all your moments.  I know the things that you were born with and wish you could change.  I have studied the history of your life, the good and bad. I saw and see the pain, the joy, the moments that shouldn't have been and the moments that were. I see your heart.  I know your insecurities, even the walls that you build to keep people out.  I am using your brokeness and imperfections, to make my glory shine brighter in your life. I love you just the way you are and I care for you."

Tears surfaced as I was reminded of God's unfailing love.  I realized how He sees me.  That He truly sees Me for who I am-- all that I'm not and loves me anyway. Not only does He see and know me, He's still chipping away, as the sovereign Sculptor, at the "stuff" in my life.  I just have to be still and let Him work.

To be human is to be beautifully flawed and perfectly loved by God, our Sculptor.--jj

 





God Answers Every Prayer

It's an amazing thought that God answers every prayer that we pray.  Heaven's "mail room" has no 'Return to Sender' stamped envelopes.  God may take His time answering our prayers, but He will answer.  Sometimes the answer comes speedily.  Sometimes the answer is "No." However, God answers and hears EVERY prayer. 

Recently in my Bible reading I the story of Hagar grabbed my attention. Hagar was Abraham's maid and the mother of his first child. The child Ishmael was the product of Abraham and Sarah's impatience.  Hagar was so distressed by Sarah's harsh treatment that she ran away.  In her brokenness she had a God encounter.  It is recorded in Genesis the 16th chapter that God saw Hagar and sent an angel to tell her to name her son Ishmael that means "God Hears."  At this moment Hagar starts referring to God as El-roi "The God who sees me."  She had a personal experience that let her know that God cared for her.  This encounter gave her the courage needed to return to her mistress. 

Hagar a simple maid, had a God experience in her distress, that made her aware that God was aware of her and that He saw HER situation.  This story gave me faith to believe that if God heard and saw Hagar, God also sees and knows OUR situations.  Sometimes our desperation is good for us because it leads us closer to the One who loves us and can help us.

Have you ever been broken to the point of desperately crying out to God? Maybe you even felt like you couldn't pray anymore prayers? Have you felt like your prayers weren't being heard?  Just because we don't see the answer, it doesn't mean God didn't hear us.  God sees. God hears. God answers. Every prayer.

Hannah in the Bible was so distraught that the preacher thought she was drunk.  Hannah couldn't produce an audible utterance.  Her soul itself made intercession to God.  We have moments as humans when we come to the end of ourselves. At those moments God sees and hears. He answers the cries of our heart. 

We must be aware that God's answers may not be what we expect. However, we can rest in the knowledge that God's ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts are beyond our thoughts. Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord." (NIV) God sees the eternal picture. His plan works all things for our good.

Today be assured that God sees your situation, God knows what you are going through, and God will answer your prayers.

1Peter 5:12

 "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their cries."

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Have a blessed and Joy-filled Christmas!

(Blog post will resume after Christmas.)

Be Still and Know J.Lyn Jones

Dream with me for a moment.
See the manger behind the inn.
Listen to the cricket choir in the pasture beyond the stable.
Smell the sweet straw and musky night air.
Hear the occasional bellow from a cow, or snort from a horse.
Welcome the footsteps of approaching shepherds.
Believe the miracle.

Suddenly the cries of Messiah born in Bethlehem's stable crescendo.
A world suddenly silent. 
Speechless, in awe and wonder of the miracle born.
Hope. A gift to a weary and sin exhausted world. 
Mary pondered the mystery of it all. 
God wrapped in flesh, redeemer.
Born to give--His all. 

This December reflect on the miracle.
 Stare at the stars. Wonder.
Imagine the angels proclaiming His birth. 
Find a quiet place to be still and know.

Let your mind and emotions become quiet with God's love.

Consider the miracle.
Embrace the eternal.

Know that He is God and He loves you. --j.j.