Isn’t it amazing how God can take something or SOMEONE so broken and create a masterpiece?
Yesterday our little girl begged me to put up our Christmas tree. I hesitated to put it up so early since it gets SO DRY by the time Christmas rolls around, but I gave into her wishes.
We went to our tree lot and picked one that had some flaws (since we back it into a corner anyway) and had a kind guy bring it into the house for us.
Normally I decorate our tree while our daughter is at school (to avoid little hands wanting to help), but this year she helped me. Overall, she really did a great job. We spent a good hour placing every ornament we had on the tree … then … BOOM! The tree fell over! Yes, the stand was full of water. Ornaments were shattered. Our daughter was crying. I had a big MESS to clean up!
I called my husband to come home and help me lift the tree (sigh). It was not a good time.
Psalm 3:3
But You, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
An hour or so later, the stupid tree was up and looking festive. (The carpet is STILL wet.)
So here I sit enjoying the beauty of the lights against the walls. I love to turn on the Christmas tree in the morning while it is still dark out. Don’t you? I love seeing Fraser Fir shadows dancing across the walls and ceiling — reminding me of my childhood.
As I looked at the tree today, I thought about the similarity of a person’s life. We have to lose our life to truly live (doesn’t Paul say to die is gain? Philippians 1:21). This tree died for the purpose it was planted. It was planted to be sold as a Christmas tree. We were all created for a purpose.
This tree is flawed. One side has branches lower than the other and the back of the tree has branches all pointing north. We all have flaws.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
With the help of our hands, this tree has been adorned with lights, ribbon, and ornaments. God is the Potter and we are the clay.
Isaiah 64:8Yet You, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.
Yesterday I was looking at a disaster — a complete mess!
This morning, I am enjoying the beauty of this tree.
Doesn’t God do the same thing with us? Doesn’t He take the messes in our lives and create a masterpiece? Nothing is too big. Nothing is impossible. No matter what your circumstances, God is ABLE to clean up the mess in your life and bring beauty.
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captive and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Be encouraged! God is FOR you!
First of all, so sorry about the tree mishap…but oh how it looked so pretty afterwards!!
I loved how you compared your tree with our lives..so right on! We are flawed, in so many ways, yet God can still use us and make us "beautiful" for His purposes!!
Great post!
~Beth
This really is a great post, Beth;
so full of wisdom and encouragement.
I remain amazed at how God can take
us and shape us into the image of
His Son. Isaiah 64:8 is a favorite
verse. We named our home school
The Potter's Clay because of that
verse.
Your tree and decorations are just
beautiful.
Blessings,
Sandy
I love the encouragement here; thanks!
Thank you for these beautiful words today Beth. I'm still working on believing them, but I'll get there.
Beautiful tree!
Beth….loved this post…brought tears to my eyes to see the after pix…something in what you said about God taking our messes and making something beautiful touched my heart…thank you for sharing and posting….it's beautiful.
Amen my friend! I'm so glad He takes our messes and makes something beautiful out of them. Thank you for that great reminder!
Thank you Beth, for this beautiful post. I love the analogy of the tree mess compared to are imperfect human state. God takes the ugly things in our lives and makes them beautiful and uses them for His glory! Your tree is glorious!
Isn't it amazing how God can take something or SOMEONE so broken and create a masterpiece?
amen amen amen…What a powerful devotional girl..this was AWESOME…I clicked on the 'after' oh my goodness, must glorious.
I thought of the statement I say about my own life when I read your post..'God has taken the mess of my life and has made it His message of power and glory revealed'…He IS soooooooooo good..SOOOOOOOOOOO awesome!!
A good word, Beth…one I definitely needed to read today.
Sorry you had such a rough time with the tree, but it sure looks beautiful now. 🙂