Tuesday, August 21, 2007

The Artisan

He walked with purpose along the beach
hunting for fragments of glass
the waves had tossed up on the shore.
He would stoop here and there
to pick up a broken piece
and put it carefully in his drawstring bag.
He was in no hurry
searching out the smallest
shattered shards.
Satisfied he had found all the pieces
he took his bag of precious fragments
back to his workshop.
Surrounded by shining
translucent works of art
he lovingly and gently
emptied the bag on his workbench.
With utmost patience and care
he set about creating
a beautiful work of art
a stained glass window
a mosaic
that would glow and come alive
as the sun shone through.
Not even the smallest crushed pieces were discarded
those creating special depth and richness
in the artisan's skilled hand.

All the pieces of our broken lives
are valuable and useful in the Master's hand.
He is searching out and redeeming
what seems hopelessly broken
patiently creating a masterpiece -
something to glorify God.

"For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]." Ephesians 2:10 (Amp)

Friday, August 3, 2007

At The Right Time

Enoch walked many years with God
Then one day - at the right time
He was no more, because God took him.
Abraham was called the friend of God
And was promised that his descendants
Would be more than the stars in the sky.
He tried to fulfill this promise his own way
But his way did not work.
Then one day - at the right time
When Abraham and Sarah were
Too old to have children
They had Isaac their son of promise.
Joseph had dreams of high position and honor
Instead he was sold into slavery
And put unfairly in prison
And forgotten.
Then one day - at the right time
Joseph was released from prison and
His dreams came to fulfillment.
Moses was raised in Pharoah’s house.
He killed a man and fled in disgrace -
From wealth and position to lowly shepherd,
Moses hid in the desert forty years.
Then one day - at the right time
God called Moses from obscurity to leadership.
As a shepherd boy David was anointed
To be king instead of Saul
Yet for many years Saul remained king,
And David had to run and hide,
Until one day - at the right time
David received his rightful position.
Esther was a Jewish orphan girl in captivity
Then one day - at the right time
God raised her up to be queen
So she could save her people from death.
Hundreds and hundreds of years passed
As the Jews looked and waited for
The promised Messiah, their savior and deliverer.
Things looked bleak and hopeless…
When would He come and deliver them?
....“Christ came at just the right time
And died for us sinners.”

He didn’t come too soon or too late -
He came at just the right time
According to God’s wisdom and timing.
He’s doing the same in our lives today,
Coming at just the right time to rescue
Or to make good on His word
Or to answer prayers - in His way,
According to His wisdom over our lives.
At the right time.