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2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Rage and rebellion, hostages taken; appears there is no escaping, no hope.  A savior devises a plan to save based on faith and trust. A way is made.

LIBERATION

Good intentions, yet deemed unworthy; thorn in his side. Countrymen find strength in unity, an orphaned child finds love.

REDEMPTION

A country devided. A leader stands tall, gifted to perservere. Truth is debated to make a way for change and words articulate in the struggle. Law finds grace.

EQUALITY

Internal pain. Anxiety. The love and support of a family. Transparency; giving it all over to hope. Mourning turns to dancing. 

ACCEPTANCE

A passion to find God, be obedient; humbled and in awe of His creations. Suffering great loss but conquering fear. We

witness a change in perspective and an inspired survivor.

TESTIMONY

An enemy waits, hides in plain sight. Careful, purposed plan to take him out. Communication is essential, in secret. Promise of victory realized by trained soldiers.

JUSTICE

Do you see some of the films of your life? Do you recognize the universal-spiritual theme, good vs. evil?

Solomon said it well, "There is nothing new under the sun."

My friend Linda also says it well, "We all have story." 

Big budget, documentary, comedy, Indie--God's script in your life receives a 5 star rating; a sure box office smash hit. Are you in intermission or watching with intent, on the edge-of-your-seat anticipation?  Your nomination is secure, The Master of Ceremonies reading your name.  Maybe it's time for a re-release or a sequel. Take your direction from the Lord.

Moses did. You saw the movie, right?  

Father God, I seek Your wisdom and direction. From the opening pages to the final scene, I ask that I can get it on the first take, but if not, You are a God with patience, the Best (only) Awesome Director Award!

The Core of Love

Psalm 17: 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings.”

I love apples, don’t you?  Today, so many varieties await our picking.

Crisp, juicy, convenient, satisfying; my favorite, oh, that’s hard to say. 

Honey Crisp, Gala, Fuji, Braeburn, I love them all.  I delight in my apple during the 3^rd hour of my work, usually between 10:30 and 11:00.  Chomp, chomp, I eat it down to the core.

                                                  ~~~                             

This month, I learned from a student/friend, how to Cross-stitch. Looking in a box of supplies, encouraged to find a small project to practice on, I did just that. An apple pattern caught my eye and I began to count the squares, thread the needle through and then back to make the cross-stiches.

It’s not as easy as it looks! I’m glad for a good teacher and patience. Many times I threaded the needle back through the same hole to undo what I just did when crosses didn’t seem to match up. 

Recount, keep an eye on the right line, follow the pattern; eventually, a familiar form started to appear on the canvas, resembling a red ripe fruit.

In need of a very dark red and a very light red, in addition to the “regular red”, I popped into my local craft store and found the right colors for the highlight and shadowing. As an artist, I am aware that color-shifting hues give any drawing depth.  I spent 87 cents. Now, this is a craft I can afford! 

It took me three long weeks, working a little less than an hour each school day. Yesterday, I finished it—on Valentine’s Day. I brought it home. I think its future may find me converting it into a refrigerator magnet or a bookmark. We’ll see.

Yes, Valentine’s Day. Alone again this year with my husband and son working out of town. In my need for some comfort, I reached for the Word as I normally do each night before the lights go out. I flipped it open to the Psalms and started reading in Chapter 17. “Keep me as the apple of the eye,” vs. 8 states.

God just sent me a Valentine!  Apples look like hearts, don’t you think?

He used an everyday thing in my life, along with His Word, to minister to my heart in a moment I felt lonely, reminding me I am the "apple of His eye." No such thing as coincidence when you are tuned into the Holy Spirit. Sure, I created the cross-stitch, but He provided the pattern.  The time to perfect the details takes a committment. I need to ask my self, "Do I want depth, true beauty?" It really wasn’t hard. I wanted to make it look like the drawing; the right image. God provided when I took that step of faith. Going back through the holes of wrong decisions occasionally happens. That is a testimony, and I gained wisdom to teach another. With careful redirection and teaching,  I finished well.

Lord, thank you for apples. Thank you for threads of love in your Word that create a picture of Your love in my heart.  Cross-stitch…yep it certainly is. Amen.

What promises has God cross-stitched into your heart?  

Etched and Written

Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book...

Who had an Etch-a-Sketch when they were a kid? A toy by Ohio arts, the red case held an almost computer-like screen, two dials like a radio or T.V. that turned in any direction to manipulate a line and create a drawing. Although very linear, sometimes with patience and talent, one might get the lines to curve ever so slightly. 

If you messed up, that became an easy fix. Shake it and the picture disappeared. A new blank slate on which to try again, resume your controlled turns, decide whether to go right or left, up or down, moved with little effort.

The inventor, Andres Cassagnes died in France on January 16^th. His invention put Ohio Arts on the map and inspired many future architects.

                                                 

                                                     ~

While accompanying my student to his new drama class, the instructor kept repeating to the busy, full class, “Hurry and find your script, pick out your script!”

Can we create who we want to be; turn the dials to the left, to the right, somewhere in the middle and be happy with what appears? Or do we continue to shake it and try a new style, go a different direction, Let someone else control the “lines.”

How has our life been scripted? Is it a drama, a comedy, an inspirational love story? Are there a lot of characters or is it a one-act play? Do we rehearse our lines or do we know what to say, how to act? Will there be a standing ovation, the lights of Broadway, and a great review?

If I think of my life in Christ on an Etch-a-sketch, It only took one shake of the screen to erase my mess up.  When I asked God for forgiveness, when I believed, he erased all my wrong direction lines, both the ones I drew in the past and the ones I would draw in the future. As long as I hold the screen of my life up to him and allow his direction of my movements, the picture that is created promises to be detailed and an accurate depiction of not only who I am but who my creator is as well. Mona Lisa? No way! character, growth lines and shadows all play a part in the whole picture and God sees it as beauty. There are times when the lines seem to go off the page, reverse. That is when i look down and my hands are holding too tight on the knobs. as the saying goes, "Let Go, Let God." 

The script? I hope it is seen as a love story, one with both comedy and drama, a script many can relate to. I hope it stays unpredictable but with trust, knowing it promises to be encouraging story, all to the glory of the director. I share the billing with many talented players, some of us going through acting school together. The show never closes. One thing I do know, the sequels go on for eternity.

Lord, everyday I need your direction in my life, your wisdom for the picture of who you want me to be. You know the script. I ask never to be an understudy; to be ready with your words scripted on to my heart. Amen.