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Thursday, February 12, 2009

The Image Engraved

It’s been a year since I posted my first devotional here. I had never really considered myself a writer, though I knew I had always loved using words. Layers of lies that I believed about myself hid away parts of God’s story in me.

As His truth has come, more of who He made me to be has been uncovered. I was made to write. The sheer love of it brings pure delight to my soul. He has not only given me a desire of my heart. He engraved the desire into my heart to give to me. I see a revelation through an old inkwell that sits on my writing desk.

It was my Great Grandmother, Nannie’s. It’s made of crystal with a ornate silver lid. When I received it, years of tarnish marred it’s beauty. I pulled out the silver polish and began to strip away the layers, one by one. It took several coats to remove it all. As each one was wiped away, I began to see the patterned design in the silver begin to emerge. Eventually as the tarnish was stripped away I saw a beautifully scripted monogram.

The engraving identified my Nannie’s personal possession.

I am like that inkwell. I have something engraved on me. So do you.

We are the image bearers of the Most High God. He has taken His hand and not only formed us, but engraved onto us something unique, something that presents a picture of His life in us. We have been given gifts and talents, pictures of God that tell a story of His love. The climate of life’s circumstances have tarnished us, to the point that sometimes we don’t know what it is that is placed on us.

Who are we to Him?

Daughters of God, yes, His Beloved, yes, but what is it that He has engraved on us that bears His image? It’s the most amazing thing when I really consider it. I am made with my own monogram of God. He knew that as I entered into love it would all be unveiled. I wouldn’t have to search for it, it would emerge. He pursues me with His relentless love. He takes me down paths of removing the tarnish of lies that hold me captive. He reveals to me that it’s not my work that defines me, nor is it my sins. It is He who gives me value. It is He who defines who I am. He made me to love me.

As I embrace His thoughts towards me as my own, I enter into love at it’s finest. Love can only be entered into if I am a receptor. I can never earn it. Nothing I do will ever be enough to pay back what He offers to me. Part of receiving it is embracing it as my own. That means giving myself love, a much harder thing to do. I have lived too long under the shroud of not loving myself. When I refuse to give myself the love He offers, I cancel out His truths offered to me. I’ve come to the realization that insecurities are places where I am not believing the truth of what He says about me. I see my own reflection, poorly, as if looking in a mirror and seeing my flaws. But when I see what He sees I live as one who is loved, by Him, by myself. Layers of the tarnish are washed away and I begin to see that monogram of Him on my life unveil. Love removes the tarnish that life’s circumstances have brought. He takes my ashes and exchanges them for beauty. Love reveals His story etched on my life. We are the image bearers of the Most High God. He has engraved His name on our hearts.

We belong to Him.
We are loved.
Nothing can change that.
Now the question is, what will we do with ourselves? Will we dare to see, believe and tell ourselves what He sees?

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." II Corinthians 3:18


You can find Julie at her blog: Jewelz Sightings

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8 Comments:

Blogger Denise said...

So precious dear.

February 12, 2009 at 12:33 AM  
Blogger you gotta wonder said...

Amen. And these thoughts so nicely dovetail into another post, I thought I'd offer the link to anyone interested. This is an extension of the this thread with consideration for our scars.

http://blog.heidicave.com/2009/02/written.html

February 12, 2009 at 6:45 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a great post! i love the imagery that i am monogrammed by God.

(And i'm a tad jealous of that gorgeous inkwell!)

February 12, 2009 at 8:42 AM  
Blogger Jamaican Princess said...

WOW this was an excellent post!!! ^^ I really like when you wrote " Love removes the tarnish that life's circumstances have brought" that line really stood out to me I think that it is soo true. Keep up the good work!!!!

Many Blessings,

Jamaican Princess

February 12, 2009 at 8:46 AM  
Blogger Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

Very beautiful--God is tattooed with us

February 12, 2009 at 10:15 AM  
Blogger Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

My comment did not come out right... We are engraved by Him is what I meant, but our names are also written on Him...so beautiful

February 12, 2009 at 10:16 AM  
Blogger Mel said...

Such beauty and truth in your words!!

February 12, 2009 at 3:44 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

You're a very gifted writer. As I read your words I see a story being unfolded.
Congratulations on the one year writing anniversary.

February 13, 2009 at 7:04 AM  

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