I have this quote posted beside my bathroom mirror to help me have a healthy perspective. It’s to remind myself, that while I may feel like a mess, to God, I am a beautiful mess, I am His masterpiece, He created me, just the way that I am and for that reason, I am enough. 

No amount of make-up will make me more beautiful. It only enhances what’s already there. I am a living, breathing piece of artwork, created in the the image of my creator. And while I am not perfect as He is perfect, my imperfections are made beautiful when I give them to Him. As a master artist can make something amazing out of a pile of scraps so can God use my mistakes and failures to create a masterpiece.

When I live out of that truth I can humbly see the beauty in myself and others. I can appreciate that while they might look like a mess, they are in process, just like me.The analogy of a beautiful mess reminds me of an incident with daughter quite a few years ago. I woke up one fateful morning, walked into my kitchen and discovered a massive mess! There were white sticky handprints everywhere... on the walls, floor, cabinets etc. Apparently, my little darling had awoken before me and managed to pry open a bucket of drywall mud, left out by my handyman husband---need I say more? At first I was furious. I promptly placed her in a time out and proceeded to clean up the mess! But as I began to scrub, my frustration began to dissipate, as I saw her lil white handprints as works of ark. I began to imagine her delight as she touched the goey substance, placed her hand on the wall and discovered it’s imprint! “How cool, I gotta try that again, and again, and again..... and again!!!” I had a conversation with her afterwards, and explained what she had done wrong. She was sorry and I forgave her.

Now years later, we cherish two little white keepsake handprints, I decided NOT to clean up that day. They are on display, on the side of an old wooden desk that had been sitting in my kitchen all those years ago, complete with crayon marks she later added to top off her masterpiece.

​Sometimes, messes get messier, but there are always opportunities for life lessons along the way, and there in, lies the beauty.

Let just be honest, as adults we still make messes. Our parents may not be there to help us learn from our mistakes. They may have passed on, abandoned you or just aren’t in a place of a authority over you any longer. But I believe God is your Heavenly Father, wether you acknowledge that fact or not. He is always there waiting to lovingly guide you through life. Our mess’s can become beautiful supernatural works of art when we simply say, “God, I’m sorry... I messed up, please help!” When we do this, He promises to work ALL THINGS together for our good. Why? Because we are His masterpieces, from the moment of our conception. It doesn’t matter if you were conceived in the midst of a mess or not, loved or abandoned by your parents, black, white or purple, accepted or rejected by society, raised in poverty or prosperity. Failure and/or success doesn’t define you. You are valuable because you are a living, breathing piece of art, created with a mind, body and spirit. You might have been unplanned by your biological parents but you were planned by God, on purpose for a purpose. You might feel like a total mess but I challenge you to change your perspective and to surrender your mess to God. Just watch and see the beauty that comes from your mess.

Writing is something that I have been drawn to do from quite a young age. I remember the very first journal I received. It was a little white book with a silver lock and key. I remember the thrill of documenting my days and keeping them locked away in a secret place that was just for me. That little book of childhood memories turned into stacks of wire ringed notebooks filled with with pages of teenage thoughts, feelings, poetry and prayers. It was a safe place for me to express and process life. I was writing my story and I didn't even realize it.

While there have been seasons of my life during which I have stopped jouranling, the better part of my life has been documented on paper. It's one of the very few things that I have been  consistent with. I think that's because, it's not something that I feel obligated to do...it's something that I feel compelled to do. I write to make sense of my thoughts, experiences and emotions and to remind myself of truth when I find myself slipping into negative patterns of thinking. It comes naturally to me and has always been very personal. I do remember enjoying reading and writing essays in school and getting fairly decent grades, but never did I consider writing as a career path or "gifting" that God may call me to share with anyone but myself. It wasn't until I was in my early 20's and going through recovery from a destructive relationship, that I first was inspired to write for someone else. I remember feeling a deep sense, that one day, I needed to write a book and that thought scared me...

 This morning was one of those mornings. In fact this week was one of those weeks. Heck it's been a month and a lifetime if I really think about it. That's not to say that I don't see the good in each day...most days... and the blessings in disguise cause I absolutely do. I have much to be grateful for... even if it's just the lessons I have learned through the difficulties I have faced.

Looking back and being grateful for what God has done in my life gives me HOPE for the future but lately I feel like I have begun to lose sight of that HOPE and forgotten to praise and worship Him when I don't feel like it.

I am continually amazed at how God speaks directly into the inner workings of my heart, through pretty much anything, and ties things together to say exactly what I need to hear at just the right moment, even though I haven't necessarily even voiced my particular struggles to anyone at the time. 

That is the beauty of relationship with a the Living God.

So yesterday was Sunday and the message at my home church was all about Faith, Hope and Love and how they work TOGETHER. Most people have heard that Love is the greatest of the three and but I have never really realized the significance of losing HOPE and how it can actually threaten the loss of both Faith and Love. In Fact, may be the is the very reason why our HOPE seems to be under such attack!
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