I look at me and I see Him
Through my pains, God is formed
Through my shame, God revealed
Beauty from ashes, who would guess?
Who else knew that in man so fallen
Is hidden, such wonder, such glory?
But He knew and when I wouldn’t
He came forward: He came my way
He took my hands, set me in place
And began to work His wonders;
Strange wonders, awesome wonders.
As I look at me and see Him
I marvel, how did He know?
How did He work such beauty, such glory
In once fallen pieces of flesh?

Food For Thought: God is not the author of our shame and our pains. No, those were part of the reasons Christ sacrificed His life for our redemption – so that we will live a joyful and fulfilled life. But we are not perfect so we err and errors carry consequences. Add the fact that we live in an equally imperfect world that does not always play fair – bad things happen to good people and good things happen for bad people. Yet, through it all, whether we are up or down, feeling great or small, doing well or not, God is there with us, working all things together for good; digging into our pains to exhume wisdom, gathering our ashes to mold thereof beauty, penetrating our shame with the splendor of His glory. God is continuously working in and with and through us, utilizing our experiences to shape and sharpen us, to make us more and more like Him. Whatever your experiences past, circumstances present and expectations for future, God can work it right if you trust and turn it over to Him.

Scripture: So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1: 27.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I could never understand why You made me to be like You: may I never cease appreciating the honor of being made in Your image, after Your likeness, amen.