Laced With Grace

“…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

Both of my parents and my children are gifted in art. They can look at a canvas and before long a beautiful masterpiece has been created. They knew all along how their work would turn out but as a spectator I just watched in amazement as the work was revealed in a slow, sometimes painstaking way.

Michelangelo lingered before a rough block of marble so long that his companion remonstrated. In reply, Michelangelo said with enthusiasm, “There’s an angel in that block and I’m going to liberate him!”

Oh, what abounding love would manifest itself in us toward the most unlovable–the most vile–if only we saw what they might become, and in our own enthusiasm for souls cried out, “There’s the image of Christ–marred, scarred, well-nigh obliterated–in that dear fellow, and I’m going to make that man conscious of it!” (Author Unknown–book-His Victorious Indwelling)

In God’s perfection, the only painstaking process is when we try to help Him.

Maybe we should leave the strokes of God’s hand to Him as He reveals the beauty of Himself through us.

Praise the Artist and all His Beauty…

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – (Hebrews 11:1)

My children are ages 24, 20 and 12. Too old for hugs in public (you’ve heard it, “Mom, public!!”) but when we are alone, my children are all over me with hugs and kisses “Recharging” as I like call it, to face the world another day.

We are no different as Christians. Our alone time with God is one of sitting in the Father’s lap and receiving His hugs and kissing that we too may face another day.

If you read the story on my sidebar of how my blog’s name came to be, Little Red Hearts From God, you will know how I share stories of special love messages that are sent throughout the day by friends, loved ones and God that remind us of the assurance of things we cannot see— God’s love.

Today, I’d like to share one special little red heart. Recently, a friend brought flowers to my home for me and left them at the front door. We rarely use the front door unless someone comes to our home. (We use the garage door and so do our family and friends.)

On this special day, my Heavenly Father made sure I found the flowers (before they died) by letting a little bird into our home by way of our back door. You see, as my husband chased the little bird out of the house, he managed to finally get the bird to the front door where it flew right over the flowers. My husband reached down, picked up the flowers. And on the flowers was a card to me, glancing over at me, my husband smiled and brought them to me. (Probably more anxious to see who they were from- sly smile)

There was my gift– my little red heart!!

In a similar way, the Holy Spirit, given to us by God, illuminates scriptures that may seem like foolishness to some people. But believers can see evidence of God’s love and presence because the Spirit gives us new eyes.

                                                        “Where, O death, is your victory?
                                                           Where, O death, is your sting?”
                                                                     (1 Corinthians 15:55)

The sting of death! And all that implies. We each respond differently to its poison. For some, the pain lingers a little too long.

I remember as a child stepping on a bumblebee. The pain was excruciating. My entire focus was drawn to my ache. I, for a brief moment, was fruitless in my movement forward as I sat paralyzed in my world.

Today as a grown woman on my way home from work, I picked up the phone to call my dad to wish him a Happy Valentine’s Day. You can imagine the sadness that engulfed me as I realized that this was not possible. Tears streamed down my face. Overwhelmed in a sea of emotions that was foreign to me, I cried out to my Heavenly Father.

It was then I thought back to when I was a little girl; my dad had taught me how to play chess. We used to play for hours. As long as I heard the words “Check,” even though I was discouraged, I knew I still had a chance. But once the words, “Check mate” were announced, I knew the game was over.

In Chess, Check mate means the player whose King is checked then has to make a move, which gets the King out of check or he forfeits the game.

In the analogy of Satan and Christ on the Cross, I think when Satan saw Jesus dying on the cross, he yelled out to God, “Check.”

In a loud voice, Jesus called out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) But Jesus did not die with a whisper like one who is on his knees admitting defeat, begging mercy from an enemy. Instead He shouted, “It is finished,” like a champion who had won the final battle with the enemy.

“It is finished!”Is the cry of our crucified conquering Lord!

And it was three days later when God yelled out, “Check mate.” The game is over.

Because of this, the sting of death is over—done.

There is no more death.

Only a temporary season of separation. The blink of an eye in our Papa’s time.

Victory? We know the winner of this game.

God wins.