Friday, 26 August 2011
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Start Living As God’s Work of Art
Do you have God-given interests and passions you’ve put to the side? It is time to start believing God placed them in you for a purpose.
By Bonnie at Faith BaristaOne of the ways I’d like to celebrate Faith Barista’s Blog Anniversary is to celebrate the people who have created community here.
Yes. I’m talking about you.
– the ones who drop by for a visit and leave a comment.
– the bloggy ones who jam with me on Thursdays.
– the ones who quietly read and journey with me.
You’ve inspired me time and again.
You see, I’m not the only one you’re encouraging.
People write to tell me how much they love the thoughts you share. One reader exclaimed,
“I’m so encouraged by all comments that readers post. I like them as much as your posts!”
I was reminded of these words and our community of faith friends as I entered into the new school year with my son…
What I Noticed
TJ got inducted into kindergarten this week, but it wasn’t the first time I’d seen his classroom.
Earlier in the year, parents were invited to visit the school.
The last time I’d stepped into a kindergarten classroom, I was five years old.
One thing I noticed right away was the amount of art displayed. Hanging from the ceiling, taped onto the wall. Everywhere.
Crayon scribbles were decorating the room. Some used a few colors while others really blasted their papers. They were all beautiful. I chuckled imagining happy kids, busy at work creating and having fun.
The second thing that caught my eye were the names of the students plastered around the room. Everywhere.What is Chole’s favorite color?
What does Chloe like to do?
We really like Chloe!
The message being communicated to the children through their names and their artistic expressions was this:
You — are a work of art.
No So Generous
It’s often been said we all start out as a blank canvas.
But, I say we were born original works of art, created by God who is the masterclass artisan. Each of us has been designed with our unique set of preferences, sensitivities and natural born interests.
A sunset. Ever looked out at the horizon and said to yourself, “Average.”?
A rose. Ever placed a stem in a vase and thought, “Ordinary.”?
Yet that is how we’ve often view our God-given interests and passions.
We give children the freedom to explore a variety of interests and encourage them to nurture the ones they enjoy.
Yet, when it comes to ourselves, we are not so generous with grace. Instead of opening our God-given giftings, we keep them wrapped up, stuffed in the back of our closets, in fear of opening an empty box.
The Good News
The world likes to talk about “talent”. If you’re talented, it means you’ve got a special skill that makes others take notice.
It’s not a bad word. But, that word can unknowingly place an eraser in our hands.
When we place talent over God’s gifting, we devalue the interests and passions God naturally tucks away in our hearts.
When we judge our gifting by how many people like what we do, we forget our loving Heavenly Father beams with over-the-moon delight over our smallest expressions of faith.
The good news is that God’s gifting in us cannot be erased by anyone, including ourselves.
God’s Work of Art
No circumstance, mistake, problem or weakness is so big, that it can remove God’s unique expression of Himself in us.
Why?
Because God’s work of art in us is sealed with the Holy Spirit from the moment we became His.
Because God’s work of art is insured by His love.
The amazing thing is this: God puts the brush in our hands and invites us to paint on our everyday canvas.
Don’t be mistaken. God is not an observer. He inspires us from within — by reshaping our hearts and renewing our minds to see and take in beauty.
You and I have a part in this growing art: to nurture our interests and rekindle our giftings.
It is time to start living as God’s work of art. Because you are exactly that.
“For we are God’s masterpiece (the original Greek word poema is translated “poem“),
created in the Messiah Jesus to do good works
that God prepared long ago to be our way of life.”
Ephesians 2:10Don’t discount that voice inside you, the one you were born to speak in — whether you do it through writing, photography, cooking or engineering, teaching, crafting and anything else.
Let’s start by celebrating each other here.
~~~~~What is an interest or passion you’d like to nurture and grow?
Are you living as God’s work of art?
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About the Author
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- From: faithbarista
- Name: Bonnie
- About Me: Welcome to Faith Barista – a blog that serves up shots of faith for everyday Christian living. Are you after that fragrant aroma of Christ in your daily cup? If so, there's a chair here with your name on it. Stay and comment awhile, won't you?
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Comments (3)
I would like to think that I am.
My interests are in marine biology, scripture, and a relationship with Jesus. (That's in order least to greatest.)
Thank you, faithbarista! I don't know why I thought of your blog was an advertisement! That is why I should make time to check out my sibs sites like I use to do! Then I won't make mystakes in erasing sibs! lol GOD bless you!
I have a wide range of interests: WW1 era history, theology, philosophy, bird watching, reading the classics, watching great movies, foreign languages, music, politics, creating and appreciating art, etc. Seems to me I have too many interests and that I can never give any of them, including God, enough time.