The Project
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6
How many crochet projects have I started only to leave unfinished? I always start out well. With enthusiasm. I crochet fiendishly, eager to make a good dent in the project from the get-go. I carefully count. Both eyes on my project. Finger uplifted, poised just right…but in time, it gets a little boring. After a while, I am still making good progress, but the counting has fallen by the wayside. I no longer stop every few rows to take stock. I am on a mission! Finally, I decide to call it a night- and spread out my work to admire. Oh dear! I realize now, that eight rows back I added an extra chain at the end. My afghan, which started out square, is now flaring wider and wider. It will all have to be pulled out! Disgusted, I put it up. For weeks. I cannot bring myself to rip it out so soon after doing all that work. I have to put some time between me and the demolition. Other times, let’s be honest, I never do come back to it. I am never going to count every stitch. If it takes that, I would just as soon not do it…
I am so thankful that when God looks at me, HIS project, He sees potential. He sees a work that can be fixed. Stitches that are easily reformed. He has the patience to rip out the errors any time it is needed. He never tires of me. He never throws me on a shelf never to look back! My Creator, is still in the creative business! As long as my feet strike the dusty sands of life, He is still working to form me. He is working toward the completed project. To make me His masterpiece. “…They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” (Isa. 61:3)
That is what I am. That is what you are!!! We are His showcase. A backdrop on which He can display his glorious splendor! Yes, my canvas is darkened by sin. But, oh how brilliantly His light shines upon a dark backdrop! And when I get it right? When my works line up with His goodness? That, too, is all Him! The only goodness in me is Him!
Why do I strive to be what only He can make me?
Why do I despair at how far I have to go, when His strength is unlimited?
He who began a good work in me. He who began a good work in you, will carry it on unto completion. He will not fall behind. He will not forget. He will not be stumped. When He started the creation of you, He knew what it would take to turn it into something that displays His brilliance!
But what if something happens and my life is cut short? Oh, my friend! That is the greatest miracle of all! When we, believers, breathe our last, His perfection is complete in us!
But as long as there is breath, He is working. Our portion is to cooperate with Him. To yield. To be moldable, pliable, clay in the Master Potter’s Hand. We can work against our destiny. We can thwart the work of God in our life. But if we keep surrendering to His plan, He is not able to fail!
Disgusted with yourself? Worried you will never get it right? Let go! Surrender. Present yourself into His gentle, loving hands. You will love the finished product!
Dear Lord, here I am! Mold me! Make me. Fashion me for your purpose. For your glory! Help me to believe rather than struggle. Forgive me when I botch up what you are doing! Thank you for considering me worth it and loving me. I love you, Lord!
Amen, Sherri. The key is to surrender and to let Him work through and in us.
He’s still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
‘Cause He’s still workin’ on me..
The lyrics to this song came to mind as I read your post, Sherri. I’m so grateful that He’s still working on me.
That song was a blast from my past, Bernadine, lol! But it is so true!