UNWRITTEN

Ephesians 2:10-“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.” (NLT translation)

I kept searching the internet for a cool colorful background for this blog but never found exactly what I wanted.  It dawned on me that the walls of my house are covered in original masterpieces that my children have painted, drawn or colored.  The magnificent backdrop of this blog is now an original masterpiece created by my youngest son. With our smart phones we can actually snap a picture, edit and crop, then cut and paste just about anywhere!  I see the fingerprints of God through my son every time I post on this blog!  GoGod!

Ephesians 2:10 has always been one of my favorite verses.  I love being called God’s “masterpiece, handiwork, workmanship, and poem.”  The Greek work for “masterpiece” is poiema, denoting a work of art.  The English word “poem” is a derivative of this Greek work.  Because I am a lover of words, I particularly like the idea of being “God’s poem”, a poem that is still being written by the Author of Creation!  I take comfort in knowing that HE has hand picked the good works HE has planned for me and that my main objective is to stay connected to Christ Jesus.  That connection becomes the conduit for HIM to do those predesigned good deeds through me!

I have the blessing of being on staff at a local urban ministry.  I began by simply hanging around a public middle school.  My role was to be present, consistent and eager to help in any way possible in the Name of Jesus!  I would file for the counselor, bring coffee to the office, restock the clinic, and just sit and listen to kids outside the principal’s office.  I was asked to bring in Character Education speakers and eventually asked what would “you like to do here?”  Without any hesitation I answered, “I love to journal and write.  I love the movie “Freedom Writers” and I love the song “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield.”  I wasn’t even sure where that answer came from because I did not foresee ever being asked that question.  They responded with,”Well, just do that.”  What in the world did “that” mean?

It has been 3 years since I blurted out that answer and I am still journaling, writing, discipling, and journeying with teenage girls who have gone from middle to high school.  We have had slumber parties, retreats, gone to church, served at a local food ministry, gone to movies, shared laughter and many tears, etc…  God had something planned that I could have never dreamed or imagined and I am continuing to let HIM define and write the script.  

Some of the lyrics to “Unwritten”:

“Staring at the blank page before you-open up the dirty window-let the sun(SON) illuminate the words that you can not find….

No one else can speak the words on your lips-drench yourself in words unspoken-live your life with arms wide open-TODAY IS WHERE YOUR BOOK BEGINS!”

What are some of the “lyrics to your song”, “lines of your poem”, or “brushstrokes on your canvas”?  Ask sweet Jesus to help you answer this question.  Ask HIM to see yourself through HIS eyes.  You will be amazed!

Thank you Lord for being the Author of my life.  Thank you for continuing to write my poem.  May my life make much of YOUR NAME!  Let me decrease so that YOU may increase!

GoGod