Lessons Learned from a Coloring Book - Part 3

I haven't colored for a week. So, I decided to pull out the pencils and sharpener and the coloring book. I just got started coloring when the lights went out! What to do? grab a couple of flashlights and keep coloring, of course! (Lights were off for twelve hours.)

The next day, when I looked closely at what I colored the night before, I was a bit disappointed. You see, what I colored by flashlight wasn't nice and "crisp", not close to the edges and even missing some places. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but, well, was it really worth it?

I started thinking, "It's all about the light." When the light is good, the coloring is good. Better choices are made. All goes well. But, by flashlight, things aren't so good. Hmmm...sounds familiar. 

The light of Christ helps me make good choices. His word lights up the way I should go. Temptation is easier to ignore in the daytime, in the light. Thoughts stay focused. But, in the night, in the dark, when I am tired, it is harder not to give in to temptation. My mind wanders. And when making decisions on my own instead of by Christ's leading, sometimes they are less than beneficial.

Light versus darkness....in coloring and in life, choose Light!

Lessons Learned from a Coloring Book - Part 2

I was coloring again today. All was going well. The centers of the flowers were yellow. The orange flowers were colored in. Then, I started on the turquoise flowers. Hmmm. Something isn't quite right. As I colored, I could feel the pencil point wiggling. So, I sharpened it, hoping to correct the problem. Something was still wrong. I looked more closely at the pencil. The point had broken off and was being held in place by the wood surrounding it. It was still usable. I continued coloring...carefully! As I colored I kept thinking, "The point is going to fall out. I should just take it out and sharpen it." But, I didn't. I kept using the pencil for quite some time before I finally gave in and sharpened it. Afterwards, I wondered why I waited so long to resolve the problem. The coloring went much easier, smoother and faster with the pencil point in the proper form.

Hmmm...I'm like that pencil. Sometimes things go wrong within me. It can be an attitude. It can be an action. It can be a thought. Many times I keep on going. Life goes on. Work gets done. Chores get done. Classes get taught. Sermons get written. But, am I really in the best shape for it? Am I really representing Christ if there is an area in my life that is as shaky as that pencil point? I need to deal with that issue, make things right again before I can fully be myself again, especially as a follower of Christ. 

So, I will keep my pencils in good shape. I will have my daily time with God and continue it throughout the day. And, when life circumstances get shaky or I need to take a good look at something God brings to mind, I need to take action. And with His help, His strength, I can be that pencil in God's hand that He uses to write His story in Lawra, Ghana and throughout the world. 

Lessons Learned from a Coloring Book

My dear friend, Tula, sent me a coloring book, a set of colored pencils and the accessories. I have to admit, when I looked at some of the pictures, I thought that I would never color something so tedious. Then, I became almost addicted! 

Coloring does relax me. It is good therapy! And, I don't need to pull out as much stuff to color as I do when I make cards.I feel so good when I finally finish a picture. But, I had to learn to "think outside the box." Leaves don't always have to be green. Flowers can be a variety of colors, not just the "normal" ones. Don't look close, Sometimes, I don't stay in the lines very well...when I am tired, if I try to hurry, or when the pencil point isn't very sharp, or, when I am not being careful!

Isn't that like our Christian life, too? We hurry. We aren't careful. We don't take time to be with God. We aren't as "sharp" because we haven't drawn our strength from Him. And, as we live out our daily lives, we are not showing a good reflection of him. 

As I was working on the above picture this morning, I thought, "What a mess I have made!" when I looked at a particular spot. I got out the eraser and managed to fix it. But, still, there are places that are "messy." Life gets messy, too. My God is the God of second chances. He forgives. I can try again, not in my strength, not with what I want to do, but with His strength, leading and guiding me. Sometimes life stays messy for a spell. God uses those times to glorify Himself, too, if we allow Him. 

My coloring isn't perfect. Never was. Never will be. And, that's OK. I won't stop coloring. It is a reflection of who I am. My life isn't perfect. Never was. Never will be. And that's OK. Because, I have a God, the Father, who loves me anyway. He leads me, gives me strength, gives me mercy and grace. And, because of His everlasting love, my life can be a reflection of Him.