Last night, my husband Steve was describing a marble stone carving he's making for me of both of our hands. It's called "Loving Hands." Almost every day he drives his old Buick wagon to our boat yard in Florida and sets up a folding ladder and sandbags, lays out his stone carving tools, puts on a mask and begins six to seven hours of delicate work. As the hands begin to emerge from the marble, each finger is fragile under the gentle pressure of his grinding tool. His biggest fear is marring the whole piece with one slip. After hundreds of hours of work over several years , just describing the nearly finished piece brings tears to his eyes. Have I ever received such a love gift? Will I know how to respond when he unveils it? (He's not allowed me to see it for the past several months.) I went to sleep last night asking God for deeper understanding of Steve's love. I want him to know just how loved I feel that he would create such a beautiful gift for me.
Then the obvious hit me. Not only has God created the whole world as a love gift for you and me, He's fashioned each one of us and placed us in it. (See Psalm 139) Imagine the love involved in that creation! As if that weren't enough, God loved us so much that He gave His own Son to live and die in our place, so we would live forever with Him in eternity. Once Christ comes into our life, God begins to mold us into Christ's image, and that takes a lot of chipping, grinding, and polishing. But you and I are worth it. Like Steve's sculpture, you and I are a new creation in Christ Jesus. God is showing the world how much He loves us through the emerging image of Christ in our lives.
How do we respond to such gift? With gratefulness, returned love, and a heart that has learned to receive amazing love.
Are you feel long overdue for sensing God's reality in your life, why not look up? That's right. Just look up at the sky, the trees, the beauty around you. God made them all, just like He made you. And you are beautiful in His eyes, too, and highly valued.
Enjoy your day with a grateful heart.
Virelle
10 comments:
I love what you wrote here, Virelle. Thank you for sharing...and be sure to share the photos of the hands when you finally get to see them!
Eva
Hi Virelle--welcome to blogdom! I'm proud of you. ;-)
And like Eva, I can't wait to see the sculpture.
Vonda
Virelle, I'm putting your blog into my blog reading list. Congratulations!
I recently began blogging too: www.KathyCollardMiller.blogspot.com
It's lots of fun, you'll enjoy it!
Virelle, "Blogging for God" is a unique breath of fresh air. We find your words both inspiring and thought provoking. May God bless you with continued good works.
(Your Snow Bird Friends: Sebastian FL/Portsmouth RI)
Melanie sent your link to me. Welcome to the blogosphere!
Virelle,
Thank you for the reminder of how much God loves us and how He shows His love to us through His beutiful world.
Love & Prayers,
Yvonne
www.yvonneortega.com
blog on website
Virelle, thank you for the lovely reminder of God's gift. I am happiest when I'm in nature. I'm eager to see a photo of Steve's gift to you.
Karen
He's an amazing God. Thanks for the reminder.
Hey, Cookie - I'm adding your blog to mine. BUT, you need to add your website address to your links, so people can navigate back to your wonderfully gorgeous new site!
Ace
Virelle,
I am currently reading your book "Meet Me At the Well". I am thoroughly enjoying it.
I have also sent you an email so you should see it.
I am glad to find your blog. I entered blogworld last year at the end of the year. I have run from writing my heart for a while now and Papa God has brought me back to it. It is on my blog that I write the treasures He has stored in the secret places of my heart.
I loved the sculpture. I also loved this blog entry. Thanks for sharing your heart.
It's nice to meet you.
Julie
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