Adding Beauty Piece By Piece (12/23/13)

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 similat to 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.
Allow God to mold, redesign and add to your life. His plans will beautify you and bless others.