Dear Friends,
It has been a difficult couple of weeks as I have come to the end of school and all of it's craziness!  3 major productions in 7 days plus an opportunity to speak at a Women's Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast (that I couldn't pass up), packing my class rooms, preparing for vacation and writing this blog!  I almost didn't think the blog was going to get finished because of the technical issues I've experienced trying to put together what I believe God  has laid on my heart to share with you.

During the RESTORE retreats, I present a monologue that describes a true story of how God spoke to me through my gardening. I have been hesitant to share it apart from the retreat because, at that time, I believed it was not to be shared apart from the teaching of the weekend and well...I wasn't sure how it would speak to others apart from an intimate setting.  Out of obedience, I stepped out and used it at the prayer breakfast.  God has also led me to share it with you because, I believe that someone (you will know who you are) needs to hear this!  I have no clue, but God does!  

As we continue to discover that we are His masterpiece, created to do the good works He has planned for us long ago, listen and watch this little movie as it explains how our life is much like a garden.  I pray that you will be blessed and encouraged.  It was designed with much prayer and thought toward you.  Let the Holy Spirit speak as you listen with Holy ears and see through a Holy lens!  You will need about 20 minutes to watch and listen.  I hope you can view it.
Click here if you have trouble 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMzbv9bFQrg&feature=youtu.be

Love, Sherry

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        In a conversation last night with a friend at a party I was reminded again of the need we all have in our lives to be still, to rest, and to be restored and renewed. It is so easy to get caught up in the rush and busyness of our lives and miss the best, the significant things of life and the deep transforming work the Father wants to do within us and through us. The need for restoration that Sherry and I saw in our own lives and those we ministered to is what birthed Restore Ministry. It is, I believe, the heart of the Father for His beloved.
        In my last blog on May 5 I wrote about the wonder of the Masterpiece God has created in us. During the next few weeks we will dig a little deeper into this theme of becoming the Masterpiece the Lord had in mind when He created us for His glory. We are going to focus on personal spiritual restoration. We will also explore transformation because we are restored as we are transformed into the image of Christ. As we allow Him to confirm, strengthen and establish us as His beloved we are restored. We are made complete as designed us to be. 

 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 
1 Peter 5:10-11

 "He Restores My Soul" writes the Psalmist David.


 Restoration is the act of making changes in our lives so that we can be in harmony with the Word of God. 
Restoration is always for the sake of His name.  
Restoration is also growing in the spiritual life that we have received.

In Colossians 3:4, Paul speaks of "Christ, our life.” And Jesus says, "I have come to give them life, and so that they may have it in abundance" (John 10:10).

       There is a spiritual term that describes this process. It is Incarnational spirituality - which means the living, reigning, and ascended Jesus living through us and transforming us into different people. It is a process that creates an entirely new person who sees with new eyes, feels with a new heart, hears with renewed ears, and lives with a new passion. 




Imagine what a difference it would make if we would capture that vision for our lives as we surrender to the work of Jesus and allow Him to restore and renew us into the masterpieces that He created us to be!

       When we capture that vision, we learn to view our eyes as God’s servants. Our ears learn to be constantly listening and in tune with God’s instruction. Our hands and feet become instruments of the mighty Creator. Our hearts beat with God’s passion and our minds begin the journey of thinking God’s thoughts. Our voices speak His words of truth.
       Oh that our lives and our bodies would be a living center of purposeful passion that points toward the risen and reigning Christ! I believe it is possible with the power of Christ who works within us. 

The Word paints a beautiful portrait of what you and I can become. 
Gary Thomas in his wonderful book the Faithful Fight puts it this way - our Creator wants to splash His glory on us.

2 Peter 1:3,4  His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

       We were created in God’s image. Our life of faith is not simply defined by what we believe or what we do or do not do, but rather by who we are. 

God wants us to recapture His image and surrender to His work in our lives.

Isaiah 61:3

 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— 
to bestow on them a crown of beauty 
    instead of ashes, 
the oil of gladness 
    instead of mourning, 
and a garment of praise 
    instead of a spirit of despair. 
They will be called oaks of righteousness, 
 a planting of the LORD 
          for the display of his splendor

He wants to call us “oaks of righteousness - a display of His splendor.”

       If we are to truly come to this place of experiencing transformation in Christ, we need to consider some of the things that may be keeping us from displaying His splendor. In my own personal faith journey in different seasons, the Lord has shown me that I struggled with each of the hindrances listed below. It’s good to revisit the truths we have learned in our journey. Sometimes we forget and slip back into old patterns! Perhaps one of them will resonate with where you are in the process as well.

• We try to live the Christian life on our own strength. We don’t have an accurate understanding of how the Holy Spirit works in our lives.

• We live an intellectual life of faith more concerned with reading the Word, but not doing or living the Word, more concerned with conversion than transformation when both are necessary. How much better if my life is compelling to the non believer because I regularly experience God’s fellowship, presence and power at work in my life.

• We don’t really believe the promises that the Word gives concerning who we are in Christ.

• We have let the busyness of life consume us and lead us on a path of life we were never meant to follow.

       In my conversation with my friend last night we talked about how hard it is to make those choices that make a difference in the way we spend our days, even when we know the promises He gives us in the Word. We get stuck in life as usual, the routine of our days, when the Lord has something so much more in store for us. A life that reflects a crown of beauty instead of ashes, gladness and praise instead of mourning and despair....a life that is the display of His splendor!

       When I was visiting my daughter in Atlanta we went to a tour of homes and gardens one afternoon. The homes were lovely, but the beauty of the gardens captured my imagination. One garden in particular was a continual visual feast and display of beautiful flowers and trees. You had to choose to give the garden time and not rush on to the next place if you wanted to take in all that was there waiting for you. Many on the tour just observed the garden from the house and missed the depths of beauty within to be explored. Others entered in and explored and experienced the sights and smells. 

       As you walked down each path, one gorgeous garden room led you to another. But you had to choose to turn the next corner and walk up the next path to enjoy each amazing display of wonder, color and splendor.  Sometimes our lives are like that - we position ourselves at a distance in our faith walk and miss the opportunity for restoration and transformation, or we stay fixed where we are, stuck on one path when the Lord would have us open the door of the garden gate and walk through it to experience the new wonders the Master Gardner has for us...like a secret garden waiting to be explored and enjoyed.

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves some questions. 
Does the path I’m walking lead to a place I want to go? 
Or, more importantly, does it lead where God wants me to go?

Will we simply justify and blame all the way to nowhere or consider changing direction?

Proverbs 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

Let’s purpose to stop and ponder where we are going, give thought to our ways. That is wisdom.

       In our Monday Musings blogs over the next few weeks we are going to be seeking and discovering what it means to be restored and transformed into the portrait that God wants to paint with our lives. Remember it is the Word that paints the portrait of who we are in Christ.  It is a masterpiece and it is beautiful. 

      It will have His Eyes that see, 
                       Ears that hear His Voice and Mouths that speak His Word.
                                          By His grace we will grow in our understanding of what it means to have His Heart 
                                                                     and His Mind, and Hands and Feet that can be used by God. 

                                        He had a vision in mind when He created you and me anew in Christ Jesus.

The path to restoration involves transformation and transformation will call for surrender. 
Surrender to work of the Master’s hands.
Surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit. 
Surrender of all that we are to all that Jesus is.
Surrender to become a display of His splendor - a splash of His glory! 

The Master Artist has a beautiful portrait in His mind...you!  The completion of His work of art will last throughout your lifetime until at last, because you have chosen restoration, transformation and surrender, the image will be a reflection of His Son.

Surrendered to the work of His hands,
Kathy

A sudden glance in the mirror, I’m startled and I scream out!  Oh my gosh!  I look closer at my expression and the shape my mouth takes from corner to corner, my eyebrows, and shape of my nose.  I lean closer into the view to look deeper into the eyes.  It’s then I realize that I look just like my mother!  It doesn’t always happen that way, but there seems to be times when a certain glance at myself reveals, “I am my mothers child!”

I used to get mad because I didn’t want to look like my mother or act like her!  As a first born with strong will and independent personality, I wanted to be an individual, like no other, especially my mom!  Now, I see things a little differently and have come to respect most of her views, personality, and the legacy that she will one day leave behind.

Now I must explain, that just because Sunday happened to be Mother’s Day, it is not my intention to have you reflect on your mom or lay a guilt trip on you for perhaps not spending the time with her that you could.  As a matter of fact, honestly, I’ve never been a fan of Mother’s Day or Father’s Day!  That may shock some of you but it is painful for me to think of the millions of kids in the world who are not as fortunate as I am to have such great parents who love the Lord!  Sure, the day is designed to honor each of them but it also brings about an enlarged emptiness for those without.  My plan is to focus in this week by carrying on the theme of Uniquely Designed With Purpose!  

Last week, Kathy posted about us being a masterpiece designed by God to do the good work that He has planned for us long ago.  It is true that God has gifted us each with individual abilities, talents and gifts but how often do we think that those things are some kind of “tangible” gift or something that we are good in doing?  I know some people who really struggle with not knowing what kind of “masterpiece” they are because perhaps they are not an artist, musician, author, and their gifts are not the type that one can put their hands on or lay their eyes upon.  They have a wrong view of what it means to be a masterpiece!  Worth is not measured by what you can or cannot do.  Worth is something that is valued and given by others.  It is God who gives us worth.

Because of this feeling of inadequacy, many give up along the way. Others continue yet feel hopeless. That’s certainly not God’s intent. He tells us in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 that it is God who makes us worthy. We are created in his image because he loves us. As others have said, we have been created on purpose and for a purpose. We are to honor God with our lives, not seek to be “good enough” by living by the right rules. We are saved by grace through faith so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:8-9). Our boasting is in who God is and what he does through us and among us.
God makes you worthy.  September 21, 2011 By Dillon Burroughs http://www.patheos.com

Though I may look a little bit like my mom, we are very different, yet very much the same!  I tend to live life a little more out loud, while she is much more private.  She loves to be educated, but I would rather educate!  She likes to read books and I’d rather write them!  She is a peacekeeper and I am a peacemaker (making peace by confronting.) I am a social butterfly and she loves to visit but is not really proactive with it.  We both like to see new scenery and have a little adventure…however, I like much more adventure!  But, somewhere deep in my DNA lies a trail of my mother.  Those things that we seem to have in common that have helped develop me into the woman I am and with a love of certain things!

We share the taste for the same style of furniture.  We both love to grow roses, cut them, and share them with others.  We love our coffee in the morning along with some quiet time, and we love a beautifully arranged and set table!  We love spending time outside, the mountains, camping, and doing things for others (although she is better at that than I)!  My mom is stubbornly diligent and determined.  This is a trait that I became aware of in myself over the last few years!  We are loyal, faithful, and friendly.  Deep within, we both have a servant’s heart.  A part of my mother lies hidden within me not only in physical traits, but also the way we think, and sometimes what we say…it’s rather creepy sometimes! There is nothing that she would not do for me!  And she helps empower me to do what God has called me to do.  Though she doesn’t see herself as a musician, an artist (she does paint really well), an author (she wrote a biography of Lottie Moon), or someone with outstanding talents, God has designed her for a more important purpose.  She brings delight to the Lord and she glorifies Him.  She was also designed to be my mom!  A full time job I’m sure!  She is a woman of prayer.

Today I thought about Moses’ mother.  Not much was said about her in the Bible, but when I think about his life, there must be some hidden DNA of his mother that also enabled him to carry out great things for the Lord.  Perhaps he gained a determined strength from his mom.  I’m sure it took a great amount of that to place him in a basket and float him down a river just hoping that his life would be spared.  And then after, she had to give him up a second time to become the Pharaoh’s daughter.  I believe that God placed within her the insight that he would become great some day.  I think of the things that she must have instilled in him as a baby, pouring out her love, rocking him and speaking the things of God.  Moses’ mom was uniquely designed with purpose!  Though it probably broke her heart, she did what was best for him.

Of course too, how about Mary, Jesus’ mom?  Talking about uniquely designed with purpose!  It was at the wedding in Cana that she told him of the problem of the wine running out.  She encouraged the servants to do whatever He asked of them.  It was there that Jesus performed His first miracle.

Each of us is designed with purpose.  Yes, we are made to bring glory to God and help lead others into knowing Him, but I believe it doesn’t stop there.  We are also designed to love one another (it’s our spiritual birthmark Jn. 13:35) and encourage them (I Thess. 5:11).  It’s also what Jesus did.  When we became born again, we received a type of spiritual DNA.  We take on the characteristics of Jesus.  In Acts 11: 19-26, the disciples were first called Christians.  They were identified with Christ.  Though some of us appear a little more unique than others, but that is the beauty of variety and how we work together in the body of Christ.

This week (and always), I’m thankful for my mom, and when I glance in the mirror, I am proud that I share in some of her traits.  She has helped develop and train me into the woman I am today.  And…seeing her in me…well….that’s not so bad afterall!

Thanks Momma!


Striving to live like Jesus,
Sherry

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand--
    when I awake, I am still with you.

                Psalm 139:14-18



       Last week my life forever changed when I became a grandmother. Everyone told me how wonderful it would be, but until you experience it for yourself it is impossible to imagine the depth of joy that such a precious treasure from God brings into your life. Her name means Life - Evelyn and God's favor - Grace.
 To witness the birth of your daughter’s first born is truly a miracle! To see God’s masterpiece emerge from a mother’s womb is to take in the wonder of our Creator in ways that are indescribable. The Scriptures come to life…created my inmost being…..knit together…..fearfully and wonderfully made....in the secret place....all the days ordained for me…

       As I have prayed, rocked, sung, loved and gazed for hours on end at our precious little granddaughter my mind has continued to reflect on these verses from Psalm 139. When I turned to them in my Bible the words were underlined and in the margin I had written - "from the womb God's hand is on me." 
 
      David in this beautiful Psalm describes the intimacy that our Creator God had with us even before we were born. Even in the secret place where the intricacies of our human existence were woven together God understood all our thoughts and feelings...” how precious to me are your thoughts, God!”

“If we are marvelously wrought upon even before we are born, what shall we say of the Lord's dealings with us after we quit his secret workshop, and he directs our pathway through the pilgrimage of life? What shall we not say of that new birth which is even more mysterious than the first, and exhibits even more the love and wisdom of the Lord.

Cannot he who made us thus wondrously when we were not, still carry on his work of power till he has perfected us, though we feel unable to aid in the process, and are lying in great sorrow and self loathing, as though cast into the lowest parts of the earth?” Treasury of David


       I have had lots of time to reflect on the wonders of God's creation during the last week as I rocked this precious little bundle of joy. I've thought about the theme of Masterpiece that was interwoven throughout our Restore retreats over the last 2 years. We all begin our lives woven together in the womb and formed in the mind and heart of Creator God. He has a unique vision and plan for us all, complete and whole in the love and transforming work of Christ as our Savior. Our role is to surrender to His work within us that He might complete the Masterpiece He designed.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10(NLT)

       Such beautiful truth and yet, as I have ministered to men and women during my years of teaching the Word, I have found that few of us truly consider ourselves to be God’s masterpiece, if we are really honest. Often we have a difficult time embracing our uniqueness. We have become far removed from the innocence of childhood and find ourselves feeling lost or overwhelmed in the brokenness of our lives. Jesus wants to restore and redeem the brokenness, the wounds, the weariness of our souls. He wants us to find our wholeness, our completeness in Him.

        Your uniqueness is the very thing that God gave you. It is what distinguishes you from others in the world. You were created for a specific purpose and no one else can fulfill it. As I have gazed at the intricacies of our little masterpiece of God's creation, I know that He has a specific purpose for her life. I believe that He will order her life in such a way as to draw her into that unique plan. It is the same for you and me. 
The word found in the Ephesians Scripture above is often translated "we are God's workmanship". That word in Greek sometimes has the connotation of a “work of art.” And so I love the NLT translation that uses the word "masterpiece."

       


       As I rocked and sang my sweet grand baby to sleep tonight I gazed on the wall of the nursery at this little canvas my daughter Maggie had painted for her nursery.

I wonder if you might use your imagination and try to picture yourself today as a "work of art" in the Father's eyes.

 What does He see in the Masterpiece design for your life?

   

     Perhaps in the uniqueness of your special design or his Masterpiece, Jesus envisions for you something like the beautiful work of a stained glass window - a mosaic of many different colors, like a personality with many different facets, yet when placed together and bound with the strength of metal it makes a work of great beauty. It is in the brokenness of the stained glass that the most beautiful light can be seen. These windows must be strong to resist rain and wind. They protect and when God’s light shines through they illuminate with beauty.
      I grew up in a church with glorious stained glass windows that depicted the life of Christ. I learned much about story of Jesus studying them in church services. 

       

       Or perhaps you are like a masterpiece painted on beautiful canvas. With carefully placed strokes, your life tells a story for those who are willing to stop and gaze and take in the beauty of His work of art. Often paintings display the beauty of Creation, or challenge us to ponder the wonder or power of God and his work in our lives. It takes great skill to prepare a work of beauty.

  Perhaps you are this type Masterpiece. God wants your life to be like a great painting that tells the story of His love through His eyes.

       Or maybe He is crafting your life like a great Masterpiece of music that makes hearts soar and want to sing His praise. You bring joy, harmony, passion and worship into our hearts. But the path to a great symphony involves tremendous discipline and skill. You must have ears that are in tune with His music. Only after careful study and sometimes suffering does the work of great beauty emerge. But the final outcome brings all the diversity of instruments together in unity for one great purpose, God’s glory.





 Could it be that your life in His plan will touch the diversity of many lives, like instruments in an orchestra as you lead every heart to sing His song. Will you be an instrument on which He can play the beautiful music of grace?

       Or perhaps you are more like a masterpiece of great literature. Your words challenge or inspire us to think, ponder and consider our life of faith. A life that speaks words of truth takes diligent study and prayer, for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. You must learn His words to bring hope to a desperate world. You must experience pain and His mercy so that your words of comfort come from the depths of your soul.

 Could it be that in the masterpiece He is creating in your life, Jesus wants to minister His words of life through you? Mother Theresa said, "We are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world."

As I rock our precious gift from God, I wonder what Masterpiece the Father is designing for her life and pray that she will surrender her life to the Savior and the work of His hands.

God in His sovereignty and grace has something beautiful planned for your life….
                        "the good things He planned for us long ago."

 My prayer for us all is that we would capture His vision for our lives, choose to surrender to His work within us and through us, and allow Jesus to restore and renew us into the creations of wonder, beauty and purpose that He designed us to be.

Won't you take a moment in prayer to Praise the Father for you are
 "fearfully and wonderfully made."


In awe of our Creator God,
Kathy