“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV
My friend, you have been chosen by God and your life is being crafted into a masterpiece.
No matter what stage of preparation you are at (and no matter how many times you go back into the workshop), God knows what He is preparing you for.
Trust His vision and His heart.
You are His.
There are seasons of life that you are where you are supposed to be and doing what you are supposed to be doing. You are “in” season. You are inspired, motivated and moving forward.
Then there are seasons when you feel downright out of it. You are not where you want to be and not doing what you think you should be doing. You are in an “out” season. You are discouraged, unmotivated and stuck.
God will use you in both.
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
2 Timothy 4:2 NIV
In fact, it is often the seasons that knock you to your knees that impact other people the most:
Be prepared to walk with God in the good times and bad, easy seasons and hard ones because God is prepared to walk with you through it all.
If you are available, He will use you to minister to those around you.
God’s love is always in season, may you be filled with it today.
In the artist’s hands, a piece of wood becomes a masterpiece.
In the carpenter’s shop, wood is chosen.
It is cleaned and prepared to be formed into the artist’s desire and vision.
Then set aside.
It is cut then set aside.
It is pressed together then set aside.
It is sanded down and set aside.
The master craftsman is working on other parts required to make a masterpiece. Forming them. Fitting them. Preparing them to be put together as one.
Parts are chiseled down with great skill until they are a perfect size. Not too big, not too small as they must be strong enough to stand under great pressure.
They are wrapped tight and set aside.
The base is measured, planned and then cut.
Then sanded, sealed, polished and set aside.
When all the parts are ready, they are brought together. By force and pressure, they are joined by glue or secured into place by the hammer and nail.
What has the creator brought together?
Is the vision realized?
Does the piece of art choose what it is formed into?
Does it choose when the work is finished?
Does it choose where it is placed?
Does it choose when it is used?
In the Master’s hands, simple wood is recreated into a masterpiece. Fine and beautiful, useful and functional.
In the Master’s plan, it is given for use.
By the Master’s hand, it is created as a gift.
By the Master’s desire, it is used as needed.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
You have been chosen and are being crafted as His masterpiece. No matter what stage of preparation you are at (and no matter how many times you go back into the workshop) you can trust God that He knows what He is preparing you for and how to use you when it is time.
You are His Masterpiece.
“But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.”
Isaiah 30:18
When the boys were in elementary school they got out at 2:20pm and I would try to get to the school at the latest by 2:00pm so I can get a good spot in the pickup line. If you have ever experienced the stress of picking your child up in the craziness that is the end of an Elementary school day, you know how important this is.
One day I had to pick them up early from school and as we walked from classrooms to the car, Kyle looked at all the cars waiting in line and said: “Oh, they are already here?” Then he said, “I thought you just got here right when school is out”. I said, “Nope, if I waited until then I’d be way in the back of the line, so I get here early so I can be right on time for you.”
As I pulled in to wait in the pickup line the next day, I thought about Kyle’s perception, “I thought you just got here right when school was out.”
We forget that most things are not always as they seem but only as we see them.
Just as I made a point to be at the school early so that I can be “on time” for the boys, so God is working in ways we can’t see and don’t know about in our lives. He is going ahead, preparing the way and getting His grace and power ready to be right on time in our lives.
Even as we pray, Jesus is preparing to be right on time.
I can’t see what God is doing “behind the scenes” in my life or in yours, but I know He is working. I don’t know how he is going to meet your need, but I know He will. I don’t even have to worry about the whys or hows. I only have to “wait” for Him which means “to expect, look and long for Him, for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship!”
I am praying that you will experience God’s matchless, unbroken companionship today. That you will know that while you may be surprised about what is happening in your life, Jesus is not.
He is ready and waiting for you with His love, peace, victory, favor, and joy to give you what you need today.
There are seasons of life that you are where you are supposed to be and doing what you are supposed to be doing. You are “in” season. You are inspired, motivated and moving forward.
Then there are seasons when you feel downright out of it. You are not where you want to be and not doing what you think you should be doing. You are in an “out” season. You are discouraged, unmotivated and stuck.
God will use you in both.
“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
2 Timothy 4:2 NIV
In fact, it is often the seasons that knock you to your knees that impact other people the most:
Be prepared to walk with God in the good times and bad, easy seasons and hard ones because God is prepared to walk with you through it all.
If you are available, He will use you to minister to those around you.
God’s love is always in season, may you be filled with it today.
Prayer is what makes a difference in you so that God can make a difference thru you.
When you pray for others, you will begin to see them from God’s perspective, no matter who they are.
God has placed you where you are, for however long, to make an eternal impact.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
Ephesians 5:8-10 NIV
You don’t have to know how God will use you, you just have to know why: to love.
Pray for those God has put around you and love them.
Live as a child of the Light where you are.
Put yourself in God’s Hands and let Him take care of the rest.
“For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.”
Ephesians 2:10 NET
Instead of asking God to give you strength to live your life, what if you asked Him to show you a different way of living it?
Instead of looking for the reasons why things happened yesterday, what if you looked for what is possible with God tomorrow?
Instead of assuming your life is already set in motion, What if you ask God to show you what needs to change in it according to His purposes?
What if you dare to believe that Jesus has more for you?
Because He does. He already has a path prepared in His heart for you with divine appointments and opportunities to bless on it.
What if today you laid down your to-do list and picked up His? Okay, that sounds crazy so maybe you ask God to show you His to-do list in the midst of yours?
God has unseen paths laid out before you to walk in to be a blessing to people you haven’t even met yet.
Life with Jesus is a journey of overcoming and conquering, first steps and new beginnings. It is an adventure of discovery and healing, of bold moves and humble hearts. It is possible if you are teachable.
If you are available Jesus will use you today.
His yoke, your life, a new way.
Last week this pic got uploaded but the words did not so today I’m giving you the words. I know someone needs to hear this today:
As we drove down to Southern California last week, we passed vineyard after vineyard.
After about the third one, I thought, “they look ready to bear fruit”.
Why?
Because they had been pruned back, braced up and almost stripped bare.
That is what Jesus said happens in the life of believer. Not just once but over and over. When God wants to grow you, he prunes you.
Over the years of driving down to Disneyland with my family and driving by countless vineyards, I’ve seen them in all the seasons:
Full and heavy with fruit in the summer.
Rioting wild with leaves after the harvest in the fall.
Barren and unkempt in the winter.
Pruned back, braced up and almost stripped bare in the spring.
The most fruitful vines are those that are cared for and pruned down.
You may not equate being pruned with being cared for but the best of vine dressers do. They lovingly and with ruthless care get the vineyard ready to bear fruit. They cut all the dead branches off. The dead leaves that have fallen to the ground are swept up and cleared out. The main branch that grows up from the vine is stripped down and simplified. They have braced up each one with wood or wire so that it will not break under the weight of its fruit later in the season.
Jesus called himself the vine, you the branch and the Father the vine dresser:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
John 15:1-2 NIV
If you feel like God is doing a clearing work in you, it is because He is preparing you.
He is getting you ready to bear more fruit.
He is caring for you and nurturing you.
He is cutting off dead things that will rot and bring disease to your soul.
He is simplifying your focus and prompting you to define more clearly who you are in Christ.
He is pruning you, even to cutting off some good branches that are stealing nutrients from the main one He wants to grow.
Don’t panic because if you are being pruned, stripped bare and braced up.
Recognize it for what it is- God preparing you for the next season of your life.
It’s going to be good, my friend, so hold on and trust God.
Be prepared to be preach without words.
To listen without judgement.
To speak the truth in love.
To serve without complaining.
To be brave.
To be real.
To be available.
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV)
Be available for God to use you anywhere, anytime with anyone and He will.
Cindy Grasso 