Many times my wife asks, “Are you ever going to quit making refinements to those pens?” She doesn’t understand why I am never satisfied. I have a strong desire for the pen to be the very best it can. If I see any imperfection, I desire to fix it. I will switch top barrels to achieve better color coordination, file or sand rough spots, or occasionally completely tear down and rework a pen if I feel that it needs to be done. My desire is not to just make a pen in which the owner can take pride, but one that will reflect well on me as the craftsman.
I believe that this is the same desire that God has for us. He continually works in our lives transforming us, shaping us, and “conforming us to the image of His son,” Romans 8:28-30. Philippians 1:6 says, “…that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God will work on perfecting His children until the day He calls us to Himself, when we will be “changed in the twinkling of an eye,” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
Until that day we can be confident that the refining process will continue. That process will include trials, tribulation, and persecution. These are the tools that God most often uses to achieve His desired results in the life of His children.
Meditation starters:
Have I learned to see trials as God’s perfecting work in my life?Do I allow God to work as He chooses to shape my life as He sees fit?
Welcome to my blog!
I have often been amazed at how someone can take something of no value to anyone else and transform it into some beautiful piece of art or something that is useful and valuable. What had been discarded, lost, or forgotten takes on a new life in the hands of the craftsman that sees, not the trash that it is, but the value and potential of what it can become. My uncle has always been good at seeing the value where others cannot. He looks at a deer antlers and sees pens, stands, and jewlery. He has been crafting exquisite writing instruments, which are more a work of art than a pen, for the past five years. His pens have sold at the Thomas Kincaid & Terry Redlin Galliers, fine jewlery stores, and boutiques throughout the United States.
I have been fortunate enough that my uncle has taught me his trade. Working at the lathe I have many quite moments to reflect. It is here that God impresses upon me His procee of shaping and molding a man. God sees in me the value that He created me to have, when all I see is failure and worthlessness. He loving works in my life to take away everything that hinders me from being all that He desires. He skillfully sands and polishes until I shine with His glory. And ultimately, when He is done, I find new meaning and purpose that I have not know before.
Each time I look at one of my pens I can't help but thank God for shaping me into something beautiful! I hope you enjoy reading "Lessons from the Lathe".
I have been fortunate enough that my uncle has taught me his trade. Working at the lathe I have many quite moments to reflect. It is here that God impresses upon me His procee of shaping and molding a man. God sees in me the value that He created me to have, when all I see is failure and worthlessness. He loving works in my life to take away everything that hinders me from being all that He desires. He skillfully sands and polishes until I shine with His glory. And ultimately, when He is done, I find new meaning and purpose that I have not know before.
Each time I look at one of my pens I can't help but thank God for shaping me into something beautiful! I hope you enjoy reading "Lessons from the Lathe".
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Excellent post, Scott. And I really like your blog.
Your thought here about the work reflecting on the craftsman is a good one. Our lives either do bring glory to God, or do not. Though God is patient and keeps working. I'm amazed at Paul's words of certain people being an honor to Christ, but why should we expect less, since this is God's working according to his will?
Thanks for sharing this.
Post a Comment