the carpenter+ our winner!!

Carpentry. It is a lost art really.

Now a days you don't see too many dusty sweaty men pouring strength and attention into a chunk of wood. Seeing the possibilities, the potential. Grinding, scraping, carving, cutting, removing and sawing until, you see it. The beauty that He saw all along. Those carpenters are pretty creative after all. To see the beauty before hand.

To make something from nothing. Something prized and treasured. Something obviously worth value. Those carpenters, you see, are quite creative....

From a rough log they can make something so smooth and glorious. From something so unlikely, they can create a work of art.
Not surprising because, well, carpenters are rather creative....

Did you know Jesus was a carpenter? But oh, his work did not stop at logs. Oh no, He had his sights on something much more significant.

You.

He sees the potential, the possibilities. He sees the beauty. He sees what could be, what will be. He can look straight through you and see what others can not. From something so unlikely he can make a masterpiece. And often, He sees all this before even you do.

Do you think that we are the ones holding us back? We are the ones who can't imagine that a God as unimaginable as ours, could choose us to do His work?

Fear not. All we have to do is trust. Walk where He leads for He will guide us. He will transform us. Even if we can not imagine the result. Even when we can't see His plan. Especially when we can't see it. Have faith in the carpenter. After all, they are pretty creative you know.

Alright, are you ready for our winner?

Yay! Number 16, Tracey, you are my winner!!!!
So excited! Sent you out an email!!

Luke 9:23-24

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Resolutions.....
Aren't they funny?
We all make them. We make our goals and plans. Create a whole itinerary for our new year.

How about we stop making resolutions for us, resolutions that we want, and start making some for the Lord? Strive to walk more in His way, and do more of what He desires for us. What then?

What if we surrender to our Lord and lay it all out for Him. What if our resolution is to die to ourselves and everyday choose, instead, to pick up the cross.

Did you catch that? Everyday.

My resolution this year is to stop being lazy and to serve. To be obedient to the Lord. I don't know what this will look like, as I often fly by the seat of my pants. But I am sure going to try. It is time to start taking up the cross. It is time to die to myself so that I may live in Him. It is time to stop making excuses. I am being called to act, and for once, I am.

You see, God knows it is not easy. That's why we fail year after year, day after day. I am always failing and I am so far from perfect that I am in awe even trying to comprehend that our God still loves me. That he has a plan for me and has indeed started a "good work" in not only me but each and every one of us. We are all part of His amazing plan. We are all called to be a part...and He knows it isn't easy.

"For I am sure that He who started this good work in you will carry it through until it is finished on the day of Christ Jesus." Phil. 1:6

That is why He will finish His good work in us. We can do nothing alone. Not breathe, not move. Nothing. And we also can not follow through with resolutions and plans all on our own. It is not by our strength that we prevail.
All we have to do is submit. Receive. And He will do the rest. Let ourselves become vessels for His love and compassion. Let our lives merely be arrows pointing to Him. If you give Him the reins, my friends, He will start a good work!!

I am constantly brought to my knees over and over again when I receive just a glimpse of His work. It is something that our human minds will never comprehend on this side of heaven.

So this year, I have made my resolution. Not for myself but for Him. I will strive everyday to chose the cross. Everyday I will work on being transparent in my life to allow Him to cover where I fail.

I made my resolution. Have you?