Looking Closely

"I was sitting and reading through my journal this morning. Mostly it consists of sciptures that jump out at me as I am doing my Bible reading. This entry is dated October 1, 2009 and I felt that I should share it. So here it is:

'As I look out the patio door at the glory of God's beautiful creation, I am stunned as usual at it. It's only a backyard in Burleson, TX. It's not the Grand Canyon. It's a cement patio with a

swing. There's a building in the backyard, some bushes, plants, pathway, etc. It's commonplace, but quite beautiful. The war, yellow/pink brightness of the early morning sun filters through the screen of leaves at the very back of the yard.

Then for some reason I am drawn to looking through each sqaure of our faux French patio door. There are 30 squares. Each a picture frame. I cover one eye and make a fist with a tiny hole to look through with my other hand. This way I can focus on each frame without seeing the rest of the frames. Carefully I look at each one. I'm amazed at the beauty of each one. Though only part of the picture, each one could be a stand alone painting! Such texture, such color, such stark simplicity, such contract - WOW! I continue to shift from one frame to the next, still looking only through the tiny 'hand-made' viewer.

Then I take my hand down and I am DAZZLED by the whole picture, DAZZLED! I'm excited. This is important. I know it is. God is showing me His glory. Some many times we are told to glorify the Lord. And suddenly I know this is a picture of the church, each one of us beautifully unique, wonderfully and powerfully made, with such depth, color and texture. Each so different, so unique, so individual, so beautiful on our own. We are all stand alone masterpieces of God. But when we come together and are where God has placed us in the body - oh, my goodness, the beauty of it! This what God is saying about unity, about each part of the body is important - about how people will know we are of God because of our love for one another. Amazing!

I just felt led to share this. I know it encouraged me when I read it this morning and I hope it encourages whoever reads it. Let's go out and dazzle the world with the glory of God today!"
- Cindy