THE FILLING

“God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ.” John Piper

Sitting in the morning's glow, a welcomed offering through sky and glass – I try my hand, once again, at the challenging art of calligraphy.

Memories of college days, the painstaking task of keeping sure the exact degree of angle and

line. . .the build up of black smudge marks and the growing indentation on my resting finger.

I struggle to loosen my grip and gain control all at once.

Our professor, gifted and well trained in this discipline, impressed upon us the importance of maintaining a light grasp on the pen at all times. She would often remark, that if she were to walk by and try to pluck it from our hand the fight should be a fast one.

It reminded me of how God encourages me to steward my life – to hold softly the gifts that are given.

At any time, God in His sovereignty can allow loss to enter my space, be it home, possessions, perhaps life itself. We don't often speak in these terms, but it is reality none the less. It would do me well to check my grip from time to time.

Will He find me clutching my fists so tightly to that which He may choose to remove?

Or, by His Spirit, will I live life aware that all I have is a gift sent down from the Father of lights who does not change even though my circumstances might?

It is because He is my portion that I have hope in an uncertain world. It is because He is a God that always desires to bring things about for my ultimate good that I can trust even though I may not understand.

Within sorrow’s chapter lies restoration and mercy as we take this truth in hand — penning once again the story He has written for us.

In Love,

LMB

__________

“God is too good to ever be cruel, too wise to ever make a mistake.”

In the spring of 2006 my husband, Michael, left this quote at the base of his computer that we used on a daily basis. It was located in the center of our home and very accessible. Each time I sat before it, I spoke these words out loud and pondered them quietly. At the time, I never asked where it came from, or why he placed it there.

A month or so went by, and my son, my only son, Aaron’s brain tumor was revealed. It felt cruel, it felt like a mistake, it felt wrong. And these words served as an ark of strength and safety as they stood up against the waves that mounted up high and ominous all around us.

God knew I would need the truth of who He was in a real and tangible way. This truth was anchored to my soul when I needed it most.

In His sovereignty and by His grace, Aaron is living life and having quiet an adventure with it. On so many levels we were spared alternate outcomes and I am in awe at times for that gift. And thankful, daily thankful.

Now, 10 years later almost to the day he wrote it, by the way, for some reason I started wondering about the little blue sticky note that now sits on a shelf above my studio computer. I decided to see where this quote came from and this is what I found:

“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” Charles Spurgeon

Those who know me, know how God has used Spurgeon to grow my faith. I have been reading his works and learning of his life for some time now. One of my narrative paintings entitled, “The Filling” features his well know devotional, "Morning and Evening". It questions the posture we take to all that God has given us, the tightness to which we grasp the temporal, and how we can respond in faith when it is threatened to be removed.

John Piper is also a favorite of mine and his quote is what I lead with on that devotion and it is what I will end with today.

“God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ.” John Piper

In Love, Lisa Marie Browning​