Your Masterpiece Or Your Master's Peace

Splatters of life's colors come flying onto our canvas; we make attempts to maneuver their placement. Ego battles pride, individually seeking arrangement among the brush strokes of our masterpiece. Stepping back, you admire your work, all the while forgetting what allowed its completion.

Today you can be a part of something; think about how you will be a part of this masterpiece. Do you want to create your own or relinquish your brush to the Master Painter? By allowing His hand to guide your brush strokes, you can become an actual work of art.

Something special is going to happen today because it's a new day! Opening your eyes, taking that first breath, maybe your first "for real breath," how exciting to see how to use your canvas of this new day.

Whether this breath was your first because you were a newborn, fresh from your mother's womb, or because you were saved by grace and newly born, does it matter? Why bother getting caught up in the logistics of which breath is most important?

God allows each breath; therefore, He uses them. Surrendering to the artistry of your Master allows for the inspiration to be used for a purpose. Breathe in this fresh start with a new focus. Turn your attention to God and see how He will use your breath. Allow yourself newness in Christ, for this will lead you toward a natural home.

No one knows what you're facing today, maybe not even you. No matter what happens with our splatters in life, we own our reactions to them, or do we? These have formed in our creation. We will learn from every splatter and are affected by them.

Each splatter becomes part of a beautiful work the Master creates in each of us. The result may smudge a bit, adding a little too much shadow, or at times being a little heavy-handed trying to get our way. We must learn to be patient, waiting for our brush stroke to dry, before seeing what comes next. We're not in control, so why not trust the Father's Hand?

What happened to your painting today?

Were you the dad who saw his newborn inflate his lungs with a joyous fill today?

Were you the daughter who watched her father gasp for one more breath to say goodbye?

Were you the teen who released a sigh at the passing of a driving test?

Were you the girl taking a weak breath due to pain after joyfully walking away from your traumatic accident?

Are you the parent who got the call trying to remind yourself to keep breathing?

Are you patient breathing through the journey?

Are you the family breathing as you wait for the journey to be in the past?

Are you the bride that feels his breath on her cheek as she waits for the first day as his wife?

Are you the groom mesmerized as you gasp, seeing her walk toward you into your forever?

Are you the mom who breathes a comforting sigh knowing the baby moved inside of you for the first time?

Are you the mom trying to hold it together, panting until bedtime?

Are you the family breathing between a hearty laugh of silliness?

Are you sighing a breath of loneliness as you pray for the answers to your moment?

Are you the broken trying desperately to take a breath?

Are you the healed breathing in the beauty and relief?

Are you breathing in your moments?

Are you breathing in moments of pain?

Are you breathing in the moments of joy?

Are you finding they're the same when the breath of heaven is yours?

See, that first breath changes everything, especially if you woke up today. The truth is the Spirit-Breath is for you; how will you use it?

Suppose we recognize, everything good, bad, even indifferent is allowed. It's' allowed for the making of a masterpiece. You're' unique, you matter, and you're' essential. Don't' let anyone tell you what your brushstroke looks like or will look like; people don't' always know. Only the Painter knows that. The work being done within you today is part of the beautiful scene of your future.

Our future is not in the breath of this life, preferably; it's for our paradise destination. It may be hard to recall that idea in your minute to minute. However, if we take a moment to look back at our latest paintings, we often see the masterpiece coming together.

Our circumstance does not define us; how we use it for our walk with Him is what makes for a life-changing moment. Relying on our masterpiece will be a mere replica of the Master Artist's work.

Just as in a work of art, we meet challenges along the way. When in battle with people, it's sometimes hard to remember that God has placed you together at that moment to love one another unconditionally while perfecting the worst parts of yourself. When we humble ourselves to see the imperfection of self over any of those in our path, we then see the work we have yet to do. The love showed us the Master's special love given in every breath regardless of our very obvious imperfections. He sees our worth; why do we not know the worth in others as He does? Why do some not see their worth? We are all a part of the big picture, yet we are often blind to our purpose.

Sometimes things on our canvass become clouded, and it’s all in how we see things. Do we look with a blinded eye through a plank so large it obstructs our view of who we are? Are we detecting a brick wall with limits that are binding and defeating? How about we open our eyes to the masterpiece and see it for what it is? We are, after all, a work in progress. What if, as we stumble, we start seeing the good in every happening?

We inevitably balk at the mishaps of communication during our days. We probably want to rebuke the conversations or obstacles that block us from moving forward. We must try to look at the bright side of the dark cloud on any given day. Most importantly, look carefully at our brush strokes that He has placed upon the canvas, and understand, in retrospect, what an excellent and beautiful work He is doing in all of us.

When something is nipping at your toes, causing a distraction from His Masterpiece, remember as negativity nips only at your toes, and you are at the foot of the cross. Keep focus with each stroke for beautiful work that will complete you.

To live given the examples of works completed by the Master is a gift. To witness His faithful testimonies while in the scenes' chaotic whirlwind. To know and feel His grace in the action of a moment is breath itself. Living in the knowledge that He sees us in our imperfection, yet knowing that He loves us anyway, this is how our brushstroke in life should be with others.

We will never make the brush stroke to place in the masterpiece unless we allow the Master to help us in its placement. He can also erase the mistakes with His special techniques using His grand design.

Forgive, live, laugh, and love, but humble yourself to the joy of one more breath of Him. It's not about our way or what he said/she said, and it's not about the critique of you. It's not about the mistake you made today or tomorrow. It's not even about your brush stroke. It's all about the breath He has given and the work He wants to do with you and in you. It's not about us rather our final placement in our Master's Peace.