I went down to the DIA today for the Faberge exhibit with Cheryl and Aunt Janice. Let me first say, that I love the DIA. If you ever want to go… I have a Family-plus membership, so we can go for free anytime. I love supporting things in the city, besides, I love the DIA (and it’s a tax deduction).
And not only did He create us, He chooses to never leave us. He loves us. matter how what a mess we create in our lives, He is not only there with a Swiffer to clean it up, there is no stain because His love has washed us white as snow. He stands there waiting to hug us and love us. It’s amazing.
Thinking about how much God loves me, that He would leave a whole lotta sheep to come get me if I was lost, makes me want to stay closer to Him. Our Pastor talked about Luke 15 and how much God seeks after us, how He waits for us to come back to Him, how He celebrates when we run back to His arms. It’s amazing.
It certainly doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Sometimes when things don’t go our way (which if we were so great, wouldn’t we be God, but really we can’t be trusted) we want to do something else. We want to do what WE want to do, we want to be happy. But that happiness is based on circumstances, and as most of us have seen in our lives, our circumstances can change in an instant. As Christians, letting God lead us, surrendering our lives to Him, we have a life that is better than we could have ever imagined for ourselves.
This week I’ve been listening to John, the miracles of Jesus, and then the greatest part of John, the account of His death, and His resurrection. The ultimate sacrifice of His life. So thankful that I was obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
What a beautiful life He lived.
All crafted by the Father.
So that we know that we are truly loved.
To be loved.
To give it away.
So others will know His love.
Luke 15 The Parable of the Lost Sheep Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
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| This one was my favorite |
One of the things about Faberge is that he demanded excellence. If you were to look at his work, you see that every detail mattered. There were so many different eggs, different techniques, it’s amazing. He dreamed/designed these beautiful things, eggs, parasol handles, cane handles. Amazing beautiful stuff.
While I was there, I was thinking about God and all the details of our lives. He created us with such beauty. Each one of us and none of us are the same. Each of us Hand crafted by the Master. Eph 2:10 (NLT) says that we are His masterpiece. Not one of us was created with a flaw, even if the world thinks so… We are wonderfully and fearfully created. He knows everything about us, even how many hairs are on our heads (and the texture, the color, EVERYTHING!). He loves us.
And not only did He create us, He chooses to never leave us. He loves us. matter how what a mess we create in our lives, He is not only there with a Swiffer to clean it up, there is no stain because His love has washed us white as snow. He stands there waiting to hug us and love us. It’s amazing.
Thinking about how much God loves me, that He would leave a whole lotta sheep to come get me if I was lost, makes me want to stay closer to Him. Our Pastor talked about Luke 15 and how much God seeks after us, how He waits for us to come back to Him, how He celebrates when we run back to His arms. It’s amazing.
It certainly doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Sometimes when things don’t go our way (which if we were so great, wouldn’t we be God, but really we can’t be trusted) we want to do something else. We want to do what WE want to do, we want to be happy. But that happiness is based on circumstances, and as most of us have seen in our lives, our circumstances can change in an instant. As Christians, letting God lead us, surrendering our lives to Him, we have a life that is better than we could have ever imagined for ourselves.
This week I’ve been listening to John, the miracles of Jesus, and then the greatest part of John, the account of His death, and His resurrection. The ultimate sacrifice of His life. So thankful that I was obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
What a beautiful life He lived.
All crafted by the Father.
So that we know that we are truly loved.
To be loved.
To give it away.
So others will know His love.
Luke 15 The Parable of the Lost Sheep Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
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