Deeper Moments

by Melanie (www.melanie-keepingitsimple.blogspot.com)

We used these videos in our church in a series some time ago about Christ being first in our lives.  I just came across them online and had to share them!  Athletes, Musicians, Actors, you name it… all telling their stories… very cool.  It’s important to remember who is first in our lives!

www.iamsecond.com

From the site:  “What is I am Second?”

“I am Second is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others. Actors. Athletes. Musicians. Business leaders. Drug addicts. Your next-door neighbor. People like you. The authentic stories on iamsecond.com provide insight into dealing with typical struggles of everyday living. These are stories that give hope to the lonely and the hurting, help from destructive lifestyles, and inspiration to the unfulfilled. You’ll discover people who’ve tried to go it alone and have failed. Find the hope, peace, and fulfillment they found. Be Second.”

By Maureen Brown (www.emotionallyrich.wordpress.com)

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

Last year, I put Christmas ornaments in each of the kids’ stockings; thinking that when they leave home, they would appreciate having ornaments to go on their first Christmas trees.  This year, I didn’t find any ornaments that I liked, or that were at “stocking stuffer” prices.  I decided to make them each an ornament, using seed beads that I had left over from other projects. 

The pattern for a snowflake ornament called for 226 beads, all of one colour.  The first one I made out of a creamy colour; for the second, I used a cool turquoise.  When I came to make the third ornament, however, I couldn’t find a suitable colour with sufficient beads.  At first I felt at a loss, but then I had an inspiration.  Both sparkly blue and pale violet looked like interesting colours for a snowflake, so I took all of those beads that I could find and poured them into one holder.  Then I threaded my needle and began to make the snowflake, selecting blue and violet beads at random.  Although I say that I chose them “at random”, in reality I chose the bead that looked right, so that no part of the snowflake was dominated by one colour or the other.  When I was finished, I was really impressed with how beautiful the ornament looked. 

I don’t consider myself to be particularly artistic – usually I follow a pattern when I am making crafts – but this time I had made something that could truly be called a work of art.

After finishing the third ornament, I ate my breakfast and went upstairs to have my quiet time.  I was aware of feeling more cheerful than I have been feeling lately.  My heart was encouraged and I took the time to thank God for that, and to thank Him because He is faithful and true regardless of how I am feeling.  I thanked Him for how He made me, giving me a creative spirit that can discern when colours and patterns go well together and when they do not, and the ability to create beautiful things, like the snowflake ornaments.  Then, all of a sudden, I heard God saying, “You know, Maureen, that snowflake made of blue and purple beads is actually more beautiful than one made of only blue or only purple beads.  I gave you the ability to envision and create something unique out of what initially looked unusable.  That is one of the ways that you have been made in my image.  I am creative in the way I designed the world and in the way I mold your life.  I have the ability to combine good things and bad things and make a life that is ultimately more beautiful than one that is made up of only good.  The events that you would rather I didn’t allow into your life combine with the times that bring you joy in a pattern that seems random to you, but they create a whole that brings glory to me.”

So instead of putting the third ornament, that inspirationally beautiful ornament, away with the others after Christmas, I have hung it in my kitchen window to remind me of God’s creative power in my life.  I pray that whenever I see it, I will remember that my life, both good times and bad, is in God’s hands and He knows what He is doing. 

My life is not a series of random events; it is a work of art!