Masterpiece by Danny Gokey
Listen, I mean really LISTEN to the words of this song. Do you relate? So could the Psalmist. Life is hard, hurtful, and feels futile.
Psalm 73
1.Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.
Sometimes it feels like all life (heaven included) is AGAINST us and we echo King Solomon’s words, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14)
I logged into my Facebook account the other day to find a plea for help: A mother of a teen and tween in the tug of war, struggling to hold and protect, and at the same time let go, and the fear that grips you by the throat as children stumble, fall, make poor choices, and life happens to them despite one’s best efforts to keep danger and evil out of their experience.
What could I say to calm this Mama angst. Angst is such a powerful word. It is a word that sticks in the back of your throat and twists out with great difficulty. We choke out our cries to God for answers and heaven seems silent. But, God’s Word speaks loud and clear: Acts 17:26-27 tells us, “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” He is the potter and we are clay. (Isaiah 64:8) and James 1:1-13 echos the psalmist in the recognition that our trials not only s-l-o-w-l-y change us into the image of Christ but are used by our loving heavenly Father to turn our eyes and feet toward HIM!
The best advice I ever got as a young mom was a poem found in the newspaper. I cut it out and pinned to my bulletin board: now yellowed and shared with many a mom:
God picked you out from all the rest,
Because He knew you’d love this child the BEST!
He picked you out because He knew,
How safe HIS child would be with you!
(Author Unknown)
The other tidbit of popular wisdom : “Be patient, God isn’t finished with me yet!”
Child praying at mother’s knee
Pierre-Édouard Frère – Child Praying at Mother’s Knee
Our children are simply on loan. They belong to HIM alone. Masterpiece making is a process in both the child and in us as parents! It requires skill, time, choices, redos, pain, and LOVE. God alone can supply all these perfectly. So breathe! Pray! And stand back and watch God work all things together for good when we love Him and give Him open hands, yadah (Hebrew for open handed praise), to both receive His gifts and return them to Him as an offering of thanksgiving! (Romans 8:28) And remember His timing is NOT on our stopwatch! It is a marathon not a sprint to the finish line. You are already in the cloud seats! Cheer on!
Even If by Mercy Me
Sent to me by one of my struggling chicks — A testimony of God at work in their life! Thank You LORD! This mama hen’s prayers are being heard!!
Happy Mother’s Day to EVERY bloodied knees Mom, Grandmother, Aunt, Sister, and Friend! You are a MASTERPIECE!
