So look in the mirror and pray for the grace
To tear off the mask, see the art of your face.
~Michael Card in The Poem of Your Life
When I wake up this morning, my bedroom is still pink.
It’s been pink now for nine years plus.
Every square inch of this house needs to be repainted.
When I brush my teeth, I notice the wallpaper is still only partly removed.
Same thing in the kitchen.
I’m appalled by the silken net above the sink, crumbs on the table, last night’s plates of dried spaghetti, counter stains, refrigerator door handle roughness, and appliance dust.
My feet stick to the floor.
Toys tumble across the living room carpet.
The table (I saw the top just a few days ago) threatens to topple under books and bills and stuff.
I’m a mess.
Everything around me is a mess.
Again.
And it’s choking my creativity, my imagination, my writing, my poetry, my art.
My passions.
And so today I’m going to focus on the mess.
Because I’m mired in this mess.
But while I do that, I’m going to meditate on this verse that Bonnie startled me with.
I think I already knew it, but it hit me today like those things do sometimes.
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.
~Ephesisans 2:10 (NLT)
I am His poiema.
(That’s Greek for masterpiece.)
His poem.
A verse of a larger poem.
His song.
A note of His song.
And I sing His song, recite His poem with my life.
Every day.
Even the messy parts.
(Well, I might have written some of those verses myself.)
And while I work on the messy parts today, I’m going to sing and dance to this song by Michael Card. From his album, Poiema.
Sing and dance with me?
This week’s Faith Barista Jam topic is: What is a passion or interest you’d like to nurture and grow?
I love Michael Card’s music! Thanks for sharing the song and for sharing your heart. Who cares if you’re a mess every now and then? Aren’t we all! And I’m so glad your meditating on what’s most important! … And so will I!
Hi, Beth. It’s nice to know we’re all in this mess together. 🙂 I guess if we didn’t experience it sometimes we wouldn’t appreciate the order.
Love this. So relate to the mess. And the verse in Ephesians…I always say God made you and me a “work of art,” not a “piece of work!”
Oh, I love that, Kelli! A work of art, not a piece of work. Writing that down. 😉
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has a house in need of repair and repaint. Sigh.
This is an old farmhouse. So hard to keep it together. By the time I finish one thing, something else needs to be repeated. Sighing with you.
WOW! What a powerful post! Like you, my house is in need of some repair/upkeep. So glad I found you blog on Authentic Blogger!
Welcome, Mumsy! Thank you for coming by. It seems like a neverending battle sometimes, doesn’t it?
There’s a bundle of good truth in that verse! Always enjoy your words and photos.
I always smile when I see you, Susan. 🙂
This is so great!
I once asked a friend how we as people, even when messy and disordered, know that things need to be “in order” and he replied, “Because God is a God of order, and since we are created in His image, our deepest desire is to find that order.
I think that is why we often create best in an environment of order, but what is cool is how God creates through us IN SPITE of our mess, reminding how it is really all about Him and the beauty that He shines through is!
Thanks for provoking such desires and thoughts in my heart & mind through your post!
Lovely!
Oh, Lindsey. You (he) said that so beautifully. That we create best in an environment of order because He is a God of order–and since we are created in His image, we crave that sense of order in order to be creative. I’m hanging on to that. But yes, it’s amazing that He creates through the messes. And nice that sometimes the messes provoke creativity–gives us something to write about. 😉
I am so grateful that in my mess, I am still his art! Thank you.
Absolutely! And that He can use our messes to create beauty. I love that part of Michael’s lyrics were he says “tear off the mask, see the art of your face.” Sometimes I wonder if we hide behind our messes.
Dear Sandra,
thank you for sharing your thoughts… love that line too… think life in the world sense makes us develop masks and it takes alot of courage to learn and practice being open, vulnerable and authentic… and sometimes you do get hurt very vey deeply … but you keep on keeping on.. believing in yourself because you know that you are God’s creation… and that alone makes you a masterpiece.. its just that you are a work in progress and then you learn to be patient and kind to yourself… after all you are BELOVED 🙂
my heart needed to read what your post says hear… thank you…
Oh, I’m in the middle of a mess too Sandy – getting packed up to move. I encourage myself by thinking that I often have to make a mess before I can get things straightened up!!
I love the thought that we are His masterpiece. I confess I have never quite felt that way, but thankfully I’m a work in progress!
I swore with the last move, my family would have to bury me under the porch. That I was not going anywhere again. But there are days I might give in. There’s something about moving that gives us an opportunity to start brand new. And yes, that thing about making bigger messes in order to clean up a mess. I can relate to that. He’s not done with us yet, Linda.
Just found you throught Authentic Blogger. . .love it here!
So nice to “meet” you.
I just became your newest follower.
Blessings,
Kristin
Oh, I love having you here, Kristin! Welcome, and thank you. 🙂
The image of being a verse in God’s poem is beautiful.
It is good to remember that during the messy times. Thank-you for sharing Michael Card’s song!
Isn’t that a great song? And oh the things that God can do with messes . . .
What a beautiful and profound post! Thank you for sharing this, Snady.
See you soon! 😀
Can’t wait! 😀 😀
(PS ~ You KNOW with five kids in the house that I REALLY got the beginning! You KNOW I love the Lord enough to REALLY get the ending.)
Ahhh. I’m a big enough messmaker myself, but then add the grandgirls. I can’t imagine five.
Wow! I just LOVE this! 🙂