Appreciating His Workmanship

Have you ever heard someone say? " Oh, they are such a piece of work!"  It is not meant as a compliment, but a put down.  But what they don't realize is we are all a piece of work, HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in HIS IMAGE.  

Gen. 1:26-27 (AMP) God said, Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. [Psalms 104:30; Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews 11:3]  So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. [Colossians 3:9-10; James 3:8-9]

Eph 2:10-14 (ISV)  For we are his masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared long ago to be our way of life. So then, remember that at one time you were gentiles by birth and were called "the uncircumcision" by what is called "the circumcision" made in the flesh by hands.  At that time you were without Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise. You had no hope and were in the world without God. But now, in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For it is he who is our peace. In his flesh he made both groups one by tearing down the wall of hostility that divided them. 
 
And even when that "workmanship" is in rebellion, and has made itself filthy by wallowing in the muck of sin that is so readily found in the world around us, that does not change the fact that they are still created in HIS image!  They just don't know, or have lost sight of that image. But it is emblazoned on their hearts and deep in their spirits.

Haggai 2:7  I will shake all the nations, and the one whom all the nations desire will come. Then I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Armies.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (AMP)  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men's hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

The Prophet Isaiah had a vision of the Throne Room and saw  the seraphim which flew around God's throne. And as they flew, one would call out to the other saying, "Holy, Holy, HOLY is the Lord!" (Isa.6:1-3)

I heard a minister say once the reason they cried out continually, was because every time they moved they saw God from a different facet or angle and it would cause them to cry out.   Now, the Word doesn't specifically say that, but how many of you have ever known someone whom you loved or just admired greatly?  The more you got to know that person, the more depth of their inward beauty you could see and it was like the unfolding of a flower, was it not?  It's kind of like that with the Lord. 

Psalms says it like this: Psalm 96:9  Bow before the beauty of GOD, Then to your knees--everyone worship! 
 
My friend and I were talking and sharing back and forth and she was saying how she has met some really sold out, on fire people, that just bless her with their presence.  At the same time she is rather humbled and amazed by their response to her,  acknowledging the gifts and beauty that God has placed in her and saying how much she blesses them! As she talked, I thought of a beautiful woman of God that I "mentor" and how her insight and views have often just caused me to catch my breath and say, "Oh wow God!" as I would see something from a new facet that she had shared.

And out of my spirit came this response:  "It is like the seraphim as they flew around God and kept seeing a different facet.  You are seeing facets of God in them, that stretch you and encourage you and bless you.  But they are seeing facet of God in YOU and that blesses them and stretches and encourages them!  

Proverbs 27:17 (BBE) Iron makes iron sharp; so a man makes sharp his friend. 

For you see, we are HIS workmanship. And into each one of us, He has deposited a piece of Himself, that we may behold a glimpse of Him in each other. It is only when the pieces are redeemed that He can start shining through.  And the more we encourage and appreciate Him in ourselves and each other, the more place we give Him to shine and work through us!  

So, let me ask you.  

Have you belittled or made small the workmanship that is called "YOU?" What about others?

What steps can you take to make an adjustment to how you view yourself and others?  Remember this is not a competition!  We (all of us) are being fitly joined together (with each other and in Him)

Epheshians 2:19-22  Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God's [own] household. You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit. 

1Peter 2:5 (MSG) Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. 

Sit down and write out the wrong thoughts that HE has brought to your attention and then write out the declarations of God; what HE says about you! And then quite simply choose to believe what He has said and when those wrong thoughts try to creep back in firmly shut the door.  Give God the Glory for what He has done in you and through you and know that He is at work even yet, perfecting all that concerns you!

 Psalm 138: 8 (GNB)  You will do everything you have promised; LORD, your love is eternal. Complete the work that you have begun. 

Philippians 2:13 (AMP)  [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
 
Oh Lord, You take such great delight in me! You are continually attentive, watching over me and at work in me and on my behalf.  This thought both comforts me and staggers me, as I realize how intimately involved in my life You really are!  Help me to realign my thoughts to Yours in every area of my life.   Both how I view myself, others and situations that I see or am in.  Give me the view of Your heart and Your mindset, that I may speak aright, and walk in integrity before You and man.  I thank You Abba for all that you have done and yet will do. I give you my heart, I give you my soul, come take complete control and have Your way in me and through me.  Let it all be for the Glory of Your Name and the building and expansion of Your Kingdom.  It is in Jesus' Name I pray and receive the Grace to walk in all that You have planned for me. Amen.

The Portrait of God in Your Life

Your Life is called to make history- His Story. You weren't created for mediocrity, for nothingness.  You were created with a purpose and a passion that comes from God.  You are a gift to the peoples of this earth.  A gift from a loving Father, who is a creator- an artiste of unlimited magnitude.  Your life is His expression.  Not necessarily everything that has happened to you, for this fallen world would seek to mar the beauty and turn off the music and put out the light.  But they cannot.  It lives inside of you.  So don't let disappointments, or fears or your self made limitations hold you back.  Throw yourself into the arms of the your loving Father, who wants you to discover all that He has created you to be.  Give yourself over to Him completely. Fall so in love with Jesus and Father God and Holy Spirit...that nothing is too hard, nothing is too small, nothing is too big or high to attain, for HE is bigger and stronger and His Love is more powerful.  It will pick you up, it will thrust you forth and it will keep you and it will lead you an it will compel you. But it is the most wonderful love that you cannot live with out. You cannot be whole with out this love of His.  It is time to discover His Love for you, or rediscover it. all over again.  Be refreshed, Be revived. Be loved this day as never before.  And let Him become your everything.... because YOU mean everything to HIM.

Acts 20:24 (New Living Translation)

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁴ But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

Is this your song? if not, will you make it your song? What is our life worth if we are not following Christ, if we are not laying down our lives moment by moment. What does our life amount to, if we are not BEING Christ to others, bringing His Presence, His Passion for souls and touching lives and allowing HIM to touch through me and you and transform lives... 

© NEM Jan. 9, 2014

Oh Lord-Pick me up like a paint brush and Paint YOUR Picture...





“Paint Your Picture / The Paintbrush” by Julie Meyer

Pick me up like a paint brush
God, dip it in the colors of my life
Paint Your picture
Father, fashion a heart that is wholly Yours
Take Your fingers, God,
Master potter come mold the clay
Tell your story as You mold me
Fashion a heart that is wholly Yours
And write Your name, write Your name in the clay
And sign Your name, sign Your name on the picture
And write Your name, write Your name in the clay
And sign Your name, sign Your name on the picture
Pick me up like a paintbrush
God, dip it in the colors of my life
And paint Your picture
Father, fashion a heart that is wholly Yours
Take Your fingers, God,
Master Potter, come mold the clay
Tell Your story as You mold me
Fashion a heart that is wholly Yours
And write Your name, write Your name in the clay
And sign Your name, sign Your name on the picture
And write Your name, write Your name in the clay
And sign Your name, sign Your name on the picture
Take all I am
Take all I am
I am Yours
Forever, Forever
Take all I am
Take all I am
And I am Yours
Forever
And ever
Take all I am
Take all I am
For I am Yours
Forever, and ever
Take all I am
Take all I am
For I am Yours
Forever
So, come write Your name, write Your name in the clay
Come sign Your name, sign Your name, on the picture
Come write Your name, write Your name in the clay
Come sign Your name, sign Your name on the picture