Friday, June 23, 2017

"YOU" - 06/23/17 - Zephaniah 1-3; Haggai 1-2



"I've looked over the field and chosen you for this work.'" The Message of God-of-the-Angel-Armies."(Haggai 2:23)



Whenever we are out and about near sunset, I am scanning the horizon and watching His end of the day show.  Last year Ashley's mom, Dawn, was able to capture this picture of the most amazing sunset.  I can never remember seeing such vivid pinks, purples and grays as they were that night.  The camera could not capture the Awesomeness of our ABBA's handiwork, no matter how many shots I took.  My heart smiles when I recognize ABBA showing off for our enjoyment.  And only because of how very much He Loves us. 
 
I often think about how everything He has created works together.  Some ways can be explained and others we shall never know.  The all of creation has a job description. 
 
And "we" , "we" are the best of the all His creation. Only "we" are made in His image.  Yet how often is it we wonder, doubt, balk, at the "work" our ABBA has given us. There are times we are so into "self", we completely miss the "work" He has set before us and miss out on the blessings gleaned from the "work" when done.  When we are so absorbed into "what are my gifts?", we don't use any and miss out on the Divine Appointments He has set up for us. 
 
No matter where your journey takes you this day and every day, remember - nothing is by coincidence.  Look forward in excitement to where He is leading you, using you, growing you, blessing, completing and transforming you.  All steps are gaining ground closer to being Home with Him!

In all of history, God decided that in this one little slice - this twenty years or fifty-two years or ninety-one years, whatever time "you" have on this earth - this was the single point ideally suited for "you" to serve Him and bring Him Glory.  Out of all of the nearly infinite possibilities, there was no better time for "you" to be born with your unique gifts, talents, skills, and personality.  God knew "you" before "you" were, and He put "you" right where He wanted "you".

Unfortunately, many of us don't believe "we" are masterpieces.  We focus so much on our perceived deficiencies that we convince our selves that God wouldn't use "us", or perhaps even that He couldn't.  Because we have not grasped who "we" are, we work hard to focus on all the things "we" are not.  Consequently, we're not living out "our" true purpose, no wonder we're frustrated.  If you don't know the purpose of something, all you can do is misuse it.

Whose are "you"?  Think about everything that characterizes your life and defines "you".  Think about the experiences you've had, the decisions you've made, all the people you've loved, the trophies you've won, and all those times you've blown it.  Are "you" good enough?  By yourself, no.

But He is.

He's more than enough.  

His grace and mercy is more than enough for "you". 

"You" are who you are - "you" are where you are - because He set "you" on this path, plotted this course for "you". 

And right now, in this moment, as you're reading the words on this page, it's because God put them in front of you for "you".  (And you know it's true, don't you?)  Without Christ, there's something wrong with "you".  But with Christ, "you" are God's Masterpiece.  "you" are created for His purpose, and you have all "you" need to do all God wants "you" to do.  And nothing will be wasted; God will use everything in your life to fulfill His vision for "you".

When you know Whose "you" are, "you" will know what to do.

In Him,
 "YOU"  - are His Masterpiece. 
Ever more so than the most beautiful sunset or anything else of His creation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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