God's "Craft-time"

This morning I read an ordinary devotion. And it screamed at me. The words were loud. The words were penetrating.

A little girl takes great time in making a snowman out out of socks, batting, and other decorations. When she is finished, the snowman takes on an identity of her own. The little girl is enthralled with what she has made and wants to share it.

Is this NOT how God looks at us? He took time to craft each one of us. For some He added sequins and bows. For others, He gave muscles, or blonde hair, or a short stature. But HE crafted and specially designed each one of us. Then He wanted to show us off. He created the Heavens and the earth. He breathed HIS breath into our lungs. Then He gave us emotions and creativity and compassion and millions of other emotions and novelties that only The Craft God could give. And then He does it everyday. He creates new crafts. I spent time with my best friend and her new baby this weekend. He molded that sweet little boy. He fashioned him extra-specially with talents and gifts and good things. And now God is showing him off.

I love that our crafty God is not finished with His work either. When He sees areas in our life, when our stuffing comes loose, when we lose our sparkle, He puts it back. He adds to the craft. We get more shine. We get more stuffing. (God, I could stand to lose a little stuffing! LOL!) He is sovereign, yet ever-present and Ever-Concerned with our lives. His craft is not finished. Now we do his work. We shine for Him. Some of us are clay-pots for Him to fill and dispense His Love, Glory, and Mercy to a world that is dying.

"In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth." Gen 1:1 -- God's curio cabinet

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Gen 1:26 -- God's dolls

"When the day of Pentacost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Acts 2:1-4 -- God's "re-stuffing" of us

I love to craft. I think it rocks that My God does too.