The Master Artist

“Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me.”[1]

Marshall Ramsey, editorial cartoonist for The Clarion Ledger and two time Pulitzer Prize finalist, recently made an appearance at our local library. His reading of Harold and the Purple Crayon and display of artistic ability were mesmerizing – well, maybe not for the intended audience of two and three year olds, but certainly for their parents. (And for people like me who no longer have young children but who happened to be at the library at the time.)

One by one children were invited to draw a random line on Mr. Ramsey’s large pad of blank paper which he then proceeded to incorporate into a magnificent drawing. Not a simple stick figure drawing, but a creative piece of art. One line became a space alien, another a dinosaur, and still another a fisherman catching the “big one”. I was a bit skeptical when one child produced a very curly line that looked like, well, a very curly line. (At least to my untrained eye.) Undaunted, the master artist transformed it into a baby elephant with its mother, the very curly line all but disappeared.

While it is not my desire to discredit the budding artists who aided Mr. Ramsey, I do know he didn’t need those child-drawn lines to create his artwork. The real skill wasn’t in the child’s contribution, but in the artist’s ability to take a random line he didn’t create or orchestrate and turn it into something captivating and fun to behold. He merely invited the children to participate in his creative endeavor.

۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞ ۞

God wants to make something beautiful on the blank pages of our lives, and for some unknown reason He invites His children to participate in this creative endeavor by giving them the crayon of free will. Sometimes that crayon produces clever, imaginative markings, and sometimes it produces down-right brutal ones. However, if we allow Him, God supernaturally incorporates all those lines into an original work of beauty. The fact that He uses the dark lines doesn’t mean He caused them.[2] And it certainly doesn’t mean He needed them.[3] We must remember that redeemed situations, just like redeemed squiggly lines, are a tribute to the Redeemer, not an endorsement for human failures. And when it comes to redemptive art work, God is the Master.

© Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat 2009
[1] “Papa”, a god-like figure, to Mack who had indeed experienced an unspeakable tragedy from The Shack.
[2] “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5
[3] “And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:25

New Quote

I've been reading The Shack...since Christmas when I recieved it as a gift! It's not that I'm a slow reader. It's not that I don't enjoy the book. It's that life has happened, and I just didn't find/make the time to read it. Today these profound words on page 185 found me: ("Papa" is speaking to Mack)

"'...just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors.'"

Amen!

Just About Unpacked

Hopefully, prayerfully, our lives will get back to some semblance of normal before too long and I'll be able to collect my thoughts and post them. We're almost finished unpacking. Everyone at church has been very kind and inclusive. But I keep thinking, "Where am I?" Not in a bad way, mind you, just in a confused way. After living 6.5 years some place I feel a bit disoriented. I go to church and see different faces from the ones I'm familiar with. I ask myself, "Where'd they come from?" But I know God is sustaining me through these changes. If He weren't I'm sure I'd have a nervous breakdown. I know this is God's place for us. I still hear Him saying, "Will you do this for me?" And I still answer, "Yes, Lord."

In other news...my dear hubby is celebrating his 47th birthday today! Happy Birthday, Love!

Moved In

Whew! It's been a very, very busy few weeks. I wish I could post to my blog more, hopefully we'll get settled in and into a routine before too move longer. On June 6th we graduated Cassie. I've never "graduated" a homeschool student before. We had a little ceremony followed by a reception. It was a bit emotional, especially the power point presentation with the music "Find Your Wings". My mom had an attack of Bell's Palsey that very morning. I feel really bad that I didn't even notice she was having trouble until that evening. It isn't a bad case, just very frustrating for her. On Monday, June 8th we began moving our belongings to our new church family in Magee, MS. It has been exhausting! For a people who live not for this world, we really have a lot of worldly possessions! It's all moved in, but not unpacked. The people have been great and I'm especially grateful the church allowed us to pick out the paint for the inside. The kitchen, bathrooms, dining room, and Cassie's room are all yellow. It makes me smile! The rest of the house is a beautiful blue. Wait, not the "rest" of the house! Candace wanted her walls beige and her trim bright orange! It looks great with all her orange shelves and quilt! Cassie left for camp on the 7th. She is a cabin leader at Camp Garaywa which is the state GA campe. (It is a missions organization for preteen girls.) She came home today happy but exhausted. We don't have internet yet. Right now I'm at McAlister's using their wifi and Raymond's lap top. I just wanted to check in and let my bloggy friends know I really am alive and well.

Blessings to all!

Will you do it? For Me?

I hear Jesus saying,

“Will you do something for me?
Will you make yourself vulnerable and love until it hurts again?
For Me?
Will you help My people see Who I really am?
Will you open the box so My people can at least see out of it?
Will you seek out, befriend, and disciple the few who genuinely want to grow in relationship with Me?
I know you wanted something else.
I know you’re scared of being wounded again, even before your last wounds have healed.
I know you want something fresh, new, and – safe.
But, I’m asking you to put yourself out these, take this risk.
Will you do it?
For Me?”

What else can I answer except, “Yes, Lord. For You.”

Today Siloam Baptist Church in Magee, MS voted unanimously to call Raymond (and our family) as their pastor. And though I'm not sure I'm ready for this I take a deep breath and say, "Here I am Lord. Use me."

Bloom, no Matter the Circumstance

Roses make me smile. In our current location there are two nice roses bushes growing near the shed. One is pink and the other yellow. They are loaded with blooms, and when the sun bathes them in warmth and light they give off the most wonderful fragrance.

Hidden between the yellow and pink rose bushes is a very scrawny plant that looks like it was a rose bush once upon a time. I don't know why it was even permited to stay in the flower bed. It's ugly and half dead.

But today, today I saw this gorgeous flower blooming on that same bush. I don't notice the plant anymore, I just see the beautiful work of Father God.

I was quick to judge the rose bush as unworthy. It only needed time to show its true colors. Now, I wouldn't dream of uprooting the plant. It should be cultivated, not thrown away.

How quickly do we judge the people around us as being unworthy of our attention and care? Perhaps they are unkempt, unsophisticated, or unlikeable. Perhaps they've made some serious life mistakes. For whatever reason, we somehow think time invested in them is wasted. But Father God sees what lies dormant within each one. He knows that each can rise above their circumstances and bloom. All they need is a chance and some cultivation.

Never Forget

Unfortunately, the joy of Luna Moth Day has been dampened by the fact that today is also Holocaust Remembrance Day. While in Baltimore two summers ago we visited the Baltimore Holocaust Memorial. It was quite sobering. Warning: The last photo is quite disturbing.

Let's never forget. "On both sides of the track rows of red and white lights appeared as far as the eye could see...

with the rythm of the wheels, with every human sound now silenced. We awaited what was to happen."

"...in an instant, our women, our parents, our children disappeared. We saw them for a short while as an obscure mass at the other end of the platform." ~ Primo Levi Survival in Aushwitz

In the front center sits the Joseph Sheppard Holocaust Sculpture. The statue depicts the horror of the Holocaust by portraying emaciated bodies of the victims’ bodies contorted in a ball of flame. The base of the sculpture bears the quote from George Santayana:

Those who do not remember the past are destined to repeat it.

1st Luna Moth!

Our family has a strong affection for luna moths. Several summers ago we fed four luna caterpillars, watched them cocoon, and emerge as moths. We don't see that many over the course of a year. They aren't as plentiful as other moths, but they sure are beautiful. I noted in my calendar that I saw the first one in 2008 on April 20th. In 2009 I saw the first one today. Here it is resting on the bricks outside my kitchen window. I've now declared today Luna Moth Day! Here's hoping you see one soon!

Red Bluff

Today was the most gorgeous day I've ever seen! The temps were in the upper 60's to low 70's. The sky was clear. And a light breeze whispered spring. I'd been wanting to take my girls to Red Bluff which is sometimes called Mississippi's Grand Canyon. It is located between where we're living now and my parents' house. Today was the day.

How beautiful is that!

Can you see the white circle in the center between the tree line and the bluff? That's my dad and Candace.

These girls surely scared 20 years off my life by getting so near the edge!

My mom, dad, Cassie, Candace, and started for the bottom. My mom wasn't able to quite make it. I can't believe I didn't get any pictures of her. :-( I'll have to take extra when we go on our next excursion to the Palestine Gardens in Lucedale, MS.

The girls and I made it to the very bottom and walked the tracks a short way. My dad didn't come down the final incline so he could help us back up.


We didn't have time to hike to the Pearl River, but we did find this beautiful creek. We want to go back some time and follow the creek for a while.

My dad and I.

Candace and Grampy.

Look at what erosion has done! The roots made a great ladder. There's my dad.

It was an awesomely beautiful day of making memories.

(And sore muscles.)

Power to Forgive

“If you forgive anyone his sins they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them they are not forgiven.” ~ John 20:23


That only God can forgive sins is clearly stated in Scripture. So what can John 20:23 possibly mean? A theologian I am not, but I’ve been wondering….


While stones were hurling Stephen to his death he prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:60)


In the ultimate act of clemency, Jesus asked God to forgive the crowd for crucifying the Lord of the universe.


What if God answered those prayers? What if, as those executioners stand before God on the day of judgment, their sin of murdering the Messiah and stoning His servant Stephen is no longer on their rap sheet? Could John 20:23 possibly mean that God won’t bring to account the sins against us we’ve forgiven?


Think about it:
The rapist forgiven by his victim won’t face God on her rape charge.
The forgiven murderer won’t give an account for the lives lost at her hands.
The lying backstabber won’t be punished for destroying a reputation.


Hmmm? Let me think on that.


The point of this pondering is not to determine my ability to keep someone from being judged based on my forgiveness. The point is…do I want to?


Very often I pacify my anger with the thought, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) I say I forgive, but secretly I hope ole “So-and-So” gets his/her “just desserts” one day.


And yet, somehow I know it’s true: if I can’t honestly pray, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” then I haven’t truly forgiven.


© Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat 2009

Sonbeams

In the car with time to spare, each of us was carefully dressed and ready for church. The cloudless sky and bright sunshine were welcomed reprieves from the past week of storms. A sunbeam splashed across my lap as my husband backed out of the drive. It was a gorgeous day.

While smiling down at my personal sunbeam, I noticed dozens of white cat hairs and fuzz all over my black skirt. My smile faded. Surely they weren’t there earlier. Where did they come from? Well, obviously they weren’t clearly visible in the artificial light of the house, but in the sunlight all was revealed. I brushed them off the best I could learning a valuable lesson: “Be sure to keep a lint roller in the car.”

Ok, so I learned more than that.

I was reminded that when I check my attitudes, habits, and spiritual growth in the artificial light of what others do, I’m sure to miss something and feel pretty smug about myself. But when I stand in the Sonlight, I see myself as I really am. All my imperfections are revealed. They cannot be hidden. Jesus doesn’t even attempt to brush my faults away. He gives me a new garment without spot or wrinkle; He clothes me in His perfection. He clothes me with Himself.


“…for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” ~ Galatians 3:27

(c) Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat 2009

Being Honest Part 1

Over the last six months I’ve had a lot of time to think, to think about what I say I believe and what I really believe and the difference between the two. I see things, and hear things, and I know I’m not the only one who experiences a discrepancy between faith and practice. I’m creating an on-going list to help me examine myself and to say with the Apostle Paul:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12 – 14)


Like Paul, I want to “know Christ and the power of His resurrection”, but to be honest, I’ll skip “the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings” part. Thank you very much. (Philippians 3:10)

Praying the Model Prayer (a.k.a. The Lord’s Prayer) makes me feel warm and fuzzy and even holy (especially since I know it by heart), but do I honestly want God to forgive me my debts in the same way I forgive my debtors?

When I pray, “Thy will be done”, don’t I really mean, “Lord, please conform Your will to mine”?

Do I really want my daily bread? Honestly, I’d feel much better with several weeks or even months of food in the fridge and pantry.

When I say, “Your grace is sufficient” what I really mean is “Lord, Your grace is sufficient as long as all is right in my world.”

I'm just being honest.


Well, that’s my list so far. If any of you are brave enough to be honest, I welcome your “gaps”. I may even compile a list and post them.

I’m pressing on toward the goal, I just haven’t arrived yet.

~ Drewe Llyn

As unto the Lord

I poured my life into them.
I worshiped with them.
I prayed with them.
I cried and celebrated with them.
I spent many thoughtful hours preparing gifts for them.
I genuinely loved them.
But in the end, I was betrayed by many of them.
My broken heart was confused and indignant. How could this have happened after all I’d done for them? Pouring my life into these ungrateful people now seemed like wasted time and energy. Is there no reward for effort? If I had only known it would turn out like this….

You know what I mean. You’ve been there. I don’t need to tell you who “they” are. “They” can be anyone. Family. Students. A spouse. A congregation. “They” can be friends, co-workers, or an organization.

God’s been there.
Jesus poured His life into people.
He worshiped with them.
He prayed with them.
He cried and celebrated with them.
He spent many thoughtful hours preparing a gift for them. *
He genuinely loved them as no one else could.
But in the end, the majority betrayed Him and killed Him.

Christ’s heart was broken, but not because He was confused or indignant. He didn’t whine, “How could this have happened to me?” He did everything good knowing exactly how it would all turn out. And how did it turn out? After the bloodshed, after the pain and suffering, after having His heart broken from the weight of the world’s sin, He sat at His Father’s side victorious. Mission accomplished. His effort received a priceless reward…Us.

Anything and everything I do for people is wasted time and energy. But anything, everything done for the Lord will be rewarded.

Our priceless reward? Him.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” ~ Colossians 3:23-24

* Think Garden of Gethsemane.

(c) Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat 2009

The Gift of Water

When my oldest child was just a baby, those starving children in Africa suddenly became more than a blur of faces. They became someone's beloved child, and I thought, "Why does my child have clean water to drink and some don't? Don't all children deserve clean water?" But I never really knew what I could do (Now especially with our current life situation.) But there is something I can do and so can you. It's called Blood: Water Mission. Here's a quote from their site:

By giving up what you’d normally drink in exchange for the water from your tap you can save that money to help build clean water projects for African communities in need.So ditch the morning coffee and o.j., leave out the lunchtime soda, and cancel the evening beverage. You won’t need an ark for this 40 Days of Water, but you will need a little self-discipline. But we know you can do it, because you know who you’re doing it for. Make the choice.

I figure my daily cappuccino (bought from Wal-mart) costs approximately $.50. Every day I skip it, I'll put $.50 in my special cappuccino cup. Can't we all give the gift of clean water? Especially those of us who claim to serve The Living Water?

Click on the site link for donation information.

(Having children makes you see things differently. Here's a poem I wrote when Kyle was small.)

Faces

I see faces of the starving children
Victims of their country’s war.
Faces of the down and out
Whose families have a home no more.
Faces of the frightened children
Violence lurks outside their home.
Faces of the orphan children
who have to meet this world alone.
Faces of the suffering children
Bodies wracked by sickness, pain.
All the children of the world
Who’ve never heard of Jesus’ name.

Though once these barely caught my eye;
Now they make my spirit groan.
My heart’s been soften by the faces
Of the children that are my own.
And though my own are safe and sound,
There but for God’s grace go we.
And in the faces of my children
I see the world much differently.

(C) Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat 1989

Here I am. Send Me?

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

Many of us enthusiastically echo the prophet Isaiah’s words. We want to be about The King’s business. We want to make a difference in this world. Our ultimate goal being to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.” We are inspired by spiritual giants like Billy Graham, Chris Tomlin, Beth Moore, Michael W. Smith, Rick Warren, or Tony Dungy. People extraodinarily gifted by God with high-profile platforms from which to glorify His name. And that’s all we want to do, isn’t it? Bring glory to His name?

But what if…

What if the place God sends us isn’t vast stadiums to preach the Gospel to spell-bound crowds responding in droves to “Just as I Am”?

What if that place isn’t large coliseums leading thousands of youth in singing our Dove Award winning worship songs?

What if that place doesn’t include Nashville recordings, New York Times Best Sellers, or Super Bowl championships?

What if our place to bring God glory isn’t in the spotlight at all?

What if He wants us to shine for Him…

…living in an inner city, run-down apartment?
…while taking dialysis or chemo treatments?
…crying at the bedside of a sick loved one?
…struggling through unemployment and poverty?
…learning humility through humiliation?
…suffering in a concentration camp?
…walking through the valley of the shadow of death?

..."taking one for the team"?

What if the place He sends us, the place we can bring Him most glory is uncomfortable, unsanitary, or downright painful?

Would we still be willing to say, “Here am I. Send Me?”

Do we only want to bring God glory if some of that glory reflects on us?

It’s time for some soul-searching.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." ~ Matthew 16:24-25

(c) Drewe Llyn Jeffcoat 2009

Friends and River Walks

Whew! I thought I'd never get these pictures posted using our dial-up! Here's a glimpse into my life last week and so far this week...

Dear friends came over bringing yummy home-made Mexican food!

(Clockwise: Me, Miss Joyce, Debbie B. and Debbie C. I have a lot of friends name Debbie. :-) )

Last Saturday our community prayer group met. I absolutely love praying with my African American sisters. They bring a fresh new perspective to my life. I think this prayer group is amazing considering we live in Mississippi. ( I want to be like Miss Franklin when I grow up. She is a 77-year old spitfire with tons of spunk!)

Candace and I walked down to the Pearl River which is one of Mississippi's largest rivers. This spot is about a mile from where we're living.

Candace and Zeke.

It was a bit muddier than we anticipated.

I just love this picture of Candace and Zeke!

Cassie was at work when Candace and I last went to the river, so on Monday we traipsed down there again. (Notice the puppy? He followed us home! Even though he was a cutie, I had to take him back where we found him. We just can't handle another animal right now.)

Lots of raccoon tracks!

Yesterday Candace and I went to a friend's house (her name is Debbie too!) and played in her ceramic clay. I made some Christmas ornaments. (Am I good, or what?) Candace made a frog. I'd post some pictures, but I'm getting too frustrated. :-) God bless!

God's Word to Me

I am so blessed by those who leave words of encouragement to help me and my family through a difficult season of life. Thank you so much!

On Sunday the preacher spoke of Moses and the Burning Bush. A story I've known since childhood. A story that is so familiar it has lost its "punch" (so to speak). Oh, but if God can speak through a burning bush, He can certainly speak through a "punchless" story, now can't He? You can read the entire story in Exodus Chapter 3, but here are the phrases that jumped out at me:

1. The Lord said, "I have seen the misery of my people."

2. "I have heard them crying out."

3. "I am concerned about their suffering."

4. "So I have come down to rescue them."

Before I hopped here this morning to write this post, read this comment from Tammie:

"...but I know this ... you are not beyond God's reach, you are not beyond His hearing, your tears have not escaped His attention, your hurt is not beyond His understanding, and your needs are not beyond His ability to meet."

How's that for confirmation?

God sees.

God hears.

God is concerned.

God will rescue.

End of Story...with a lot of "punch"!

The End is the Beginning

Well, tonight is our last night in the place we've called home for 6 1/2 years. All week we've been packing, sorting, moving things, and making Waste Management earn their money this week. If I weren't so tired and so busy I'd be sad.

We've lived here longer than any other place in our married life. My kids were 14, 11, and 8 when we arrived. Now they are 20, 17, and almost 14. The oldest is in college. The middle child will go to college next year. It is a severe time of change.

A large number of the happy memories I have here involve activities and people from our church. Now those recollections have a bitter twinge to them as people and circumstances didn't turn out as I hoped. I've been disappointed. Wounded. Disoriented. Angry. Discouraged. Devastated. Worried. Heart-broken. All from people I loved and trusted. Sometimes I wonder if this 6 1/2 year section of our life journey was a failure. What did all the energy and love we poured into this ministry amount to? Yet I am reminded once again, because I need to be reminded quite frequently, that it's not about people's love for me or people's devotion to me. It's about my love for them. And I did genuinely love them. I still do, which is why it hurts so much. Perhaps that, above all things, shows I did what God intended me to do. If love betrayed doesn't hurt, it wasn't really love in the first place. Love hurts. Just ask Jesus.

I don't know what the next stage of our journey is, though I feel it has to do with refocusing on Christ, resting, and renewing my strength in Him. We're moving to a temporary location that is in the proverbial "middle of no-where". (I know this is true because there is no high-speed internet there, only dial-up. I'll be forced to come to grips with my internet addiction. *grin*)

Lessons learned:

1. People will fail you.

2. God won't.

3. What is seen is temporary.

4. What is unseen is eternal.

5. Life isn't about what others can or cannot do for me.

6. Life is about having God's love for people, even when it hurts.

7. My world can be shaken, but not destroyed when my hope is in Christ.

I'll be around the internet some, but won't be posting a picture a day like I wanted to.

I pray God's richest blessings on you all. Happy New Year!

~ Drewe Llyn

(P.S. For those who have no clue what I'm talking about you can find out here.)

A Photo A Day...except when...

My friend Lori over at Just Pure Lovely has joined Project 365 which is simply to take one photo a day for a year. It sounds like a great idea; literal snapshots (or digital shots) of 2009. I can't do Project 365 since it is day five and this is my first photo. Also, I have serious doubts I'll actually remember to take a photo every day. However, I will attempt to post daily except when I forget, when I don't have time, and when the internet is not working.

Here is today's picture:

Here Cassie and Candace are carrying "treasures" from their old rooms into our new (temporary) residence. The forecast was for 70% chance of rain, but we managed to get two loads transferred today.

Bonus shot:

My precious Trio on Christmas Eve.

My girls and I have tickets to the Trans Siberian Orchestra Concert tonight in Jackson. Third Row!!!! I realized I haven't posted anything about this awesome event here at blogger, so here is what I posted back in 2005. All the excitement still holds true!

Trans Siberian Orchestra
November 11, 2005

Black dresses and tuxedos.
“Flight of the Bumblebee”.
Creative lighting.
Stringed instruments.
Awesome lasers.
“Beethoven’s Fifth”.
Intense pyrotechnics.
Electric guitars.
Unbelievable drums.
Maestro keyboardists.
“Carol of the Bells”.

What could all these possibly have in common?

These eclectic components come together brilliantly in the most incredible show I’ve ever seen. They are Trans Siberian Orchestra (TSO), and they were in Jackson last night. Kyle, Cassie, and I experienced it from the twenty-fourth row. (This year from the 3rd!)

“Christmas Eve in Sarajevo” (a.k.a. “Carol of the Bells”) is what grips and draws me to TSO. Their rendition is like no other and continually gives me chill bumps. I think it’s because I’ve walked the streets of Sarajevo and seen first hand the massive destruction of the Bosnian war on buildings and lives. I can’t begin to describe TSO’s interpretation. I invite you to listen for yourself. “Christmas Eve in Sarajevo”. Hopefully this will open for you. If not, go to http://www.trans-siberianorchestra.com/, click on “multimedia”, and scroll down to “Christmas Eve in Sarajevo”. To discover the source of the title you must go to “Discography” and find “Christmas Eve and Other Stories”.

You’ll discover it’s a rock opera. (Is that an oxymoron??)

What a night!