A Painting in An Art Gallery

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.- Ephesians 2:10

Dear Reader,

Hitting the "New Post" button before beginning this entry was probably more exciting than it should have been. Needless to say, I've missed writing.

For the past month I've been with an incredible team on a mission trip in Bimini, Bahamas...another reason why my entries disappeared for a little while from the world wide web. There were teams also in India, Africa, West-Coast USA, and Germany. Without going into endless pages worth of re-living the past month, I'll simply say for starters: God did the unexpected and more in ways I will never forget on this trip. I would like to take you into what God taught me over the course of that month, and what He is continuing to teach me today. I'm sure I won't be able to get all of it out, but be patient with me :)

The verse from Ephesians I started out this post with I found one day during the trip sitting on the couch in our apartment...completely unsure of where to start reading for the day. Coming back home and re-reading that verse again now brings this image to mind:

Imagine an art gallery. You have hundreds of spectators and buyers looking at all of the art on the wall. Now, I've never been to New York City, but lets place the gallery there. The artist has been around for a while, and has continuously produced the best work around. The opening for the artist's work has started and every buyer is going through the gallery wondering which piece of art they wanted to buy. You see some leaning over to one another pointing and nodding at some paintings, giving away a potential sale. Then you see the artist wandering around the gallery, and suddenly see him stop. Behind him are more buyers, unaware of his presence, criticizing his work. They badger the colors used, the shapes of the images on the canvass, and the overall message behind the work. The artist's smile fades for a while...not saddened because of a lost sale...but because the spectators failed to see the beauty he saw in his work. The showing continues, and the artist moves on amidst the crowd.

I realized along the course of the trip that I was no better than the buyers and spectators, except for the art I was criticizing was myself. Some days, I would see my value, where as other days, I had nothing good to say. All the while, the Artist, God Himself, was walking right beside me, listening to everything I was saying, but the fact that I was forming an opinion about myself, His artwork...His masterpiece...that was not what He saw, saddened Him. It is not, and never will be my place to say how much a piece of God's artwork is worth, even if it is myself. Everything He creates, is in turn a piece of Him and was made for His glory.

I'd like to leave you with this poem I wrote about a year ago entitled "Masterpiece":

Masterpiece

I’ve desired to paint a picture of grace.
With a brush founded with strength,
and water to wash away the filth,
to create a new sense of nobility.
As my brush begins to form its masterpiece,
another Hand takes control.
I’ve lost my power with this masterpiece,
and now that I’ve let go, it can truly come to life.
His eye for beauty surmounts my own.
He paints with passion beyond measure,
and has taught me how to shape,
the mountains of my spirit
and the breath sustaining soul.
The sun beats down upon the earth,
which hold the lively waters filled with love.
How gloriously He shapes the grasses,
with each and every blade,
glowing with the dews of Heaven,
and singing songs of mystery.
The canvass filling up with all,
of His mighty wondrous ways.
The brush never seemed to tire,
or lose any of its shape.
Every color spell-binding the image,
never dulling or losing power.
I set the brush down, His hand now over mine.
For this masterpiece would never fade,
but only blossom with time.


YOU, dear reader, are God's masterpiece.

Endlessly He paints, and creates new artwork, not just with people, but in opportunities, dreams, places, and life itself. Don't miss out on His gallery of work He wants to show you...

LIVE OUT this truth, and see the all of good things He has had planned.

God Bless,

JB