Our Give-Away for Today!
When a Woman Discovers Her Dream: Finding God's Purpose for Your Life
What is the Dream that God Designed You to Live?
When it comes to living out the dream God has placed on your heart, do you shrug your shoulders and say "It's too late...it's too far out of reach...it's too impossible for someone like me?" You can live out that dream - no matter what age and place in life.
Through this book, Cindi will empower you to:
- explore God's unique purpose for your life
- verbalize new dreams for the first time
- resurrect lost dreams and see them to fruition
- make greater use of your uniqueness and special gifts
- find the boldness to give up a draining career and pursue the dream you've always wanted
Cindi McMenamin is an award-winning writer and speaker, helping women discover strength for the soul. She has more than 20 years experience ministering to women and inspiring them to let God meet their emotional needs, grow stronger through their alone times, and pursue their dreams with boldness.
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Crowning achievement.
Me?
Magnum opus.
Me?
Piece de resistance.
Me?
Be real.
Paint
Do you have any idea how much help I need
to look good enough for church?
Sure, I “clean up okay”–
thanks to my friend Mary Kay!
to look good enough for church?
Sure, I “clean up okay”–
thanks to my friend Mary Kay!
But my life needs far more than make-up:
My track record
is blemished beyond concealer
is blemished beyond concealer
My past
is stained by the deep blush of shame
is stained by the deep blush of shame
My deeds
are pitted beyond polish
are pitted beyond polish
My memories
lie in dark shadows
lie in dark shadows
No amount of make-up will make me a masterpiece.
Chisel
Do you have any idea
how much would need to be removed
for me to become a civil human being?
For starters:
My annoyance with drivers
who can’t seem to find their turn signals
My fury with my husband
when he tells me what we’re doing
rather than asking me
if it’s convenient for me.
My dismay with my children
when they don’t act like
my white-washed version
of who I tell myself I was
at their age.
My peevishness at Starbucks
when they don’t have any more
cranberry orange scones
at 5:30 PM.
how much would need to be removed
for me to become a civil human being?
For starters:
My annoyance with drivers
who can’t seem to find their turn signals
My fury with my husband
when he tells me what we’re doing
rather than asking me
if it’s convenient for me.
My dismay with my children
when they don’t act like
my white-washed version
of who I tell myself I was
at their age.
My peevishness at Starbucks
when they don’t have any more
cranberry orange scones
at 5:30 PM.
Chip away at my faults and nothing
will be left to put on display!
will be left to put on display!
Me?
(Can't see image? Download Ephesians 2:10 here.)
Seriously, this has to be a mistake.
There's no way on earth
(literally!)
that I am
God’s masterpiece.
(literally!)
that I am
God’s masterpiece.
Don’t get me wrong; it sounds lovely.
Amazing, in fact, but
too good to be true.
I know myself too well.
I can never be that good.
Good enough to go on display?!?
God!
But
it is written:
God is shining His spotlight
on you and me.
it is written:
God is shining His spotlight
on you and me.
Not because of us.
Because of who we’ve become
by the chisel of his kindness
by the chisel of his kindness
by the paintbrush of his grace
Created anew!
To do the good things he’s been planning just for us!
(Not doing good things
so that we can recreate ourselves.
The lie
that we are our own artists
is the enemy’s "masterpiece"
but that’s a story for another day.)
so that we can recreate ourselves.
The lie
that we are our own artists
is the enemy’s "masterpiece"
but that’s a story for another day.)
In you and me,
He unveils for all to see
His greatest work, His labor of love,
His most precious perfect gift:
the rescue and recreation of
the rescue and recreation of
our true selves in Him
for all eternity!
Try this today: (1) If you haven't seen it before, or recently, take 12 minutes to take "God's Chisel" to heart:
(If you can not see the embedded video, click here to go directly to "God's Chisel".)
(2) Find an artist's tool – a paintbrush, a small palette, a colored pencil–and place it near your mirror. Each day, when you see it, say aloud, "Jesus, I choose to trust you when you say that I am Your masterpiece!"
(If you can not see the embedded video, click here to go directly to "God's Chisel".)
(2) Find an artist's tool – a paintbrush, a small palette, a colored pencil–and place it near your mirror. Each day, when you see it, say aloud, "Jesus, I choose to trust you when you say that I am Your masterpiece!"
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To enter today’s drawing, leave a comment
- responding to today’s blog, and/or
- sharing your Day #1-11 experience of replacing “baditude” with God’s word and gratitude, and/or
- about anything else on your heart!
Drawing winners 6-8 will be announced soon!
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(Catch up on any "Warm-Up Week" Blog Posts!)
