4 March 2020

Paint stroke up, paint stoke down, paint stroke up paint stroke down. Painting is quite soothing and very rewarding when complete. Freshly painted walls and window frames. 

As long as you don’t have to do too much preparation, too much puttying of holes, it’s ok.

The preparation of the wooden window frames I was going to paint was tedious. I had to scrape off the old flaking paint, rub or sand back some really bad areas and fill in cracks and splintered wood. This took quite a few days to do for 4 window frames, 3 door frames, a whole passageway, 2 ceilings and some edges to paint. This was in between working and doing my normal chores. 

After taping up all around the edges so the paint does not leach into areas where the paint should not be, I was ready to start the painting. As I was enjoying the painting of the final glossy layer of paint, the Holy Spirit once again whispered into my thoughts.

He is the master painter. Any imperfections in me, any areas that need scrapping away – to be made new, (like the old window frames) – the Holy Spirit can fix, but some areas take longer than others.

Some areas in my life need extra refining and scrapping away and I need to give the Holy Spirit permission to do this.

The areas that need taping in my life are ones where I am crossing boundaries I should not cross. This is for my protection. For my good.

The master painter has painted me (created me) with a holy brush. A unique coat of paint that shows forth all of my gifts and abilities. 

Over the journey of life, though, I need renewing, retouching and restoring just like an old window frame that has been sitting in the weather. External circumstances and internal workings have sometimes disfigured me. Not allowed me to show who I am truly am. Who the master painter has painted me to be.

I sat mid-brush stunned.  Out of the blue, while I was doing chores, not even focused on God, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. I needed to listen, to lean into God and let the master painter do His work in me. All I needed to do was make myself available, pliable. Then even I would stand back amazed at the handiwork of God. I could say truly I am wonderfully made!

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups. If you would like more information please click HERE.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Can you share an example from your life where you felt the Spirit was leading you?

Where might the Holy Spirit be talking to you today? Would you listen if He did?

How pliable are you to His moulding you, sanding you back, refining you to be the wonderful person you were created to be?

How are you currently seeking the Holy Spirit in your life?