Beauty from Ashes

Today, I'm so thankful for my two working hands and the abilities the Lord has given me. I'm so humbled and thankful to be able to use these gifts to glorify Him and bring honor to his name. I would like nothing more than for "Him to become greater, and for me to become less." (John 3:30)

It's such a privilege to be an artist and to take a blank canvas and turn it into a beautiful work of art. I've never felt as close to my Creator, as I do with a brush in my hand. It's in my meager moments of creativity I see the most awe striking glimpses of who He is... of how beautiful and glorious He is... of how thorough and complete He is.. how "He knit me together in my mother's womb.." (Psalm 139:13) and how "He makes beauty from ashes" (Isaiah 61:3). 

I love taking a blank canvas with nothing on it, praying over it, and painting something on the blank white space... but my very favorite thing to do is take an old, ugly, shoved in the back of closet, forgotten painting and making something new from it. My very favorite paintings have innumerable layers, horrible pasts, thick paint, underlying brush strokes, and lots and lots of colors showing through. It's those paintings that are the most unique and priceless. They could never be imitated or repeated. They are perfect and complete and lacking nothing...

Jesus will not give up on us. He won't shove us in the closet or forget about us. He won't be scared away by muddy paint or too many mistakes or screw-ups. He is thorough and He is complete. And He will make beauty from those ashes.

"He makes everything new" (Revelation 21:5) and "Everything beautiful in its time"(Ecclesiastes 3:11).