Awe, Perfect!
Every so often, I enjoy browsing through Christian Book Stores
just to read their wall hangings. It draws me to worship. Yet,
no matter how beautiful, either the color or wood tone doesn't
coordinate with my home furnishings. Thus, coming home empty
handed is the norm.
Through the course of conversation, a friend gave me the idea
to frame my poetry. What a Godsend! There is a way to decorate
my house as a testimony for God after all!
For the next few months, every piece of paper caught my
attention - from cards with framed messages (making beautiful
borders) to designed stationery (for backgrounds) to picture
posters (creating otherwise more expensive large wall hangings).
Each and every creation is one of a kind. There's even a
grouping of family photos, with one frame out in front that
says, "Our God Reigns". My house is growing to be a visible
expression of my heart. Isn't God wonderful!?!
However, there was just one snag (an object lesson, if you
will).
In purchasing a picture of a temple garden with doves; no
verse, poem, or saying had been included. It needed something
more to mark its' religious significance. Not having before
realized; doves are no longer easy to find in the stores. My
husband helped search until we found enough pieces to complete a
wall, shelf, and table grouping.
A poem was to set in the midst, to tie this grouping together.
More than a half dozen changes in the framed poem occurred
before I was satisfied with its' wording. Then, the materials
used in the frame changed more times than I can count. It was a
chore ever coming to the place that poem, fonts, paper, ink,
color, background, and frame all worked together like it should.
Eventually, the right combination came together that left that
feeling of 'awe, perfect'. Concluding that this framed creation
was never going to get any better than that, I vowed to never
touch it again. Finally!!! I was glad that was over!
Then one day, while on vacation, I came across a gorgeous
handcrafted Canadian resin dove frame. It was twice what I
wanted to pay. How could I be sure if it were a perfect match,
being several states away? After having labored over the
decision, I concluded that I might not get another chance for a
frame like this again.
Once home, I set the frame with the grouping to see how it
might look. Still uncertain, after hesitation, I took apart my
framed work, transferred it to the new frame, then set it in
place of the original. Awe! PERFECT! It was BEAUTIFUL!!! How
could that be!?! I always thought the feeling of 'awe, perfect'
was God's way of saying something is just right/complete/as it
was meant to be.
"How could that be, God?"
He answered, "See. My 'PERFECT' is even better than yours."
And, yes, I did 'see' the difference.
I think God gave me that object lesson as a way of sharing with
people something I'd already learned, Except the Lord build the
house, those who build are laboring in vain (Ps.127:1). His
'PERFECT' is better than the very best we can do. All our
righteousness is as filthy rags until God begins to live through
us; trading in our knowledge, thoughts, beliefs, talents,
abilities, creativity for His. 'Awe' to know Him! His ways are
always 'PERFECT'!!! And, if we'd just let God build our house
and His, they'd both be 'PERFECT', too.