Category: blank canvas

Potential: Capable of Development into Actuality

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
(Ephesians 2: 7-10 The Message)
 
 
 
When I look at a blank canvas or a blank page or a blank screen, I see potential. It may look like nothing, but really it’s a space waiting for expression. I love how God created us to be an expression of His salvation. He saves us. He showers us with grace and kindness. He invites us to join in His work. God gives us the capabilities, the energy and the creativity to do what we were formed to do. Each of us has a unique set of skills, strengths and experiences to offer. No two of us have the same role. Each one of us is honored to be here, now for His purposes.
 
 
As I look at the potential of the empty spaces in my life, I wonder what does God have in store. Where will He lead me next? Will he add a stroke of fiery orange or mellow yellow? Is there anything He needs to edit in my life? Does He look for a better synonym to describe who I am in order to communicate His love and grace? What reality am I missing out on because I am so consumed with my current troubles instead of gazing into His beautiful face?
 
 
What joy God must experience as He adds another layer of color to our life, a defining line and just the write word to finish our sentence. Let’s live out our God-created identities, graciously and generously living with one another, just like God lives toward us! (Matthew 5:48 The Message) I keep repeating that refrain to myself and to you, so that it will become an actuality and second nature to love like God loves. To love others and ourselves in our wondrous uniqueness!
 
 
 
Will you ask God to give you
a word that describes you to Him?
 
( I would love it if you shared that word in the comments, so we can see what God thinks of His daughters and sons!)
 
 
Linking up with Soli Deo Gloria Party
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Posted on by kelrohlf 7

Illuminate: Brightened With Light

 
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God
was hovering over the waters.
(Genesis 1:2 NIV)
 



 
And God said, “Let there be light,”
and there was light.
 
 

 
 
 
 God saw that the light was good,
and he separated the light from the darkness.
(Genesis 1:3-4 NIV)
 
 
As this month comes to an end, desire calls me closer to the flame of God’s light. I want to explore and express His light in fresh ways. As I follow God into the unknown of the future, I see a blank canvas. God hovering over me.
 
The old landscapes and portraits of my life stacked in a dark corner will still speak of who I am, but I want more than the past to define me. A clean, fresh start draws me.
 
I realized recently that as I child, I did not trust my own expression. I let my art teachers “help” me. I may have started a painting, but when I was dissatisfied with my efforts, I would call the teacher over. Inviting him to paint in where I felt deficient to create an image as realistic as possible.
 
As I grown woman, I want to trust myself, as one created in the image of God, capable of expressing my own unique voice and style. I may have to copy others for awhile, and ask them to teach me. But in the end, I hope what others see on the canvas will be a purer expression of me.
 
I desire illumination. God decorating my life. Broad strokes of the Holy Spirit brightening my perspective. I want to engage my spirit and my intellect in God honoring ways. His light shining through all my being.
 
 
Linking up with:
 
Posted on by kelrohlf 4