In a previous post (Go Where He Goes) I mentioned my
Christmas village. Twenty six years ago,
on our first Christmas together, my husband gave me a Christmas village starter
set that included a church, a school, a home and several accessories. We began a tradition of adding to the village
every year. Many years it has been an additional building. We’ve also collected
several pieces that make up two wonderful parks. One surrounds a train station
with a toy train that runs along an oval track. This park has a beautiful
gazebo. The other park contains children playing, snowmen and a carnival style
gallery. It has been great fun putting
the set together all these years.
Over the years, the village has changed quite a
bit. As we have moved into different
homes and changed furniture, the surface we have used to ser the village has
also changed. At one point, we had roads
running through the town. When we moved the
village to a narrower surface, the road no longer worked. We took it out and increased the size of the
parks, where there was ample room. We
currently place the majority of the buildings along a shelf that runs the
length of our den. This feeds into our ski resort and parks. It works for the space we have at this house.
In a way my life is a
lot like this village. When I was first born again, God made some changes in my
life and implanted a set of hopes and dreams. These were kind of like a starter
kit. “For I know the plans I have
for you, declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV) Along
with these hopes and dreams, He gave me talents and abilities to live them out. As I have studied God’s Word and walked with
Him, He has added many other pieces to His plan for my life. Some of the pieces have remained for all
these years. Other God-planted dreams
have been for a season of my life. They
have come and gone as my life has changed. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes
3:1a ESV)
This year there was an urgency to add to the village
before Christmas. After several years of
inattention to the glue, the library that was on a preset board fell and
broke. Suddenly there was a light bulb
with no building to light. After a
search, we purchased a fire station to fill the void. I had wanted a fire station for some time,
but never found one that I liked. This
one is perfect for my village. It
perfectly fills that void.
Why do we seek God with the greatest urgency when
something in our lives is broken?
Although we may appreciate His daily provision, we tend to run more
quickly to Him when we have a need. He
has already made a way for us. His plans
are to make our lives full and beautiful. “And I am convinced and sure
of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in
you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His
return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full
completion in you.” (Philippians 1:6 AMP) He
has started a very specific plan for each of us. He will complete it piece by piece. Sometimes it will be an obvious, significant
addition. Other times His
additions to our lives will be small and subtle.
What we find may not be exactly what has been
lost. Just as my library is being
replaced by a fire station, God may open new doors in our lives and close others. We just need to stay on His plan to see the
beauty unfold. Changes, additions and
alterations are inevitable. As we follow
God’s ways, we will age with grace and beauty.
The pieces of our lives form the masterpiece He has planned. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has
created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us
long ago.” (Ephesians
2:10 NLT)
I may find another library some day. I may not.
Whatever is added to my village will increase its character and
beauty. Whatever God chooses to restore
or replace in my life will also be of a value beyond compare. The tapestry of my life will be full of
character and beauty.
No comments:
Post a Comment