Are you dissatisfied?

My wife and I are always talking about what we can do to improve our home. We love our house, but we're never quite satisfied with how it looks. In our first 4 years of living there, we installed 4 different kitchen floors before we found the one we really loved. Every time we change or add something, we're content for a short time and then it's time to do more. We always want to add that extra little something to make it more "us".

Don't get me wrong...it's not that we're not thankful for or happy with our house...we just know there's always something else we can change or add to make it even better.

Our spiritual lives are like that. When we get to the point where we're satisfied with where we are, we need to stop and take a hard look at ourselves. I believe that God wants us to continually work to improve our prayer times, devotional times, service, worship, and every other aspect of our spiritual lives. There is always room to grow.

So it's OK to be dissatisfied with where your are today...that dissatisfaction will lead to a better tomorrow.

The Eye of the Beholder

My wife and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary last week. Rather than buying each other gifts that we'd forget about within a few weeks, we decided to look for a piece of art or furniture that would stand as a constant reminder of our love for one another...I know, I know...that's mushy.

So we looked at a couple pieces of furniture and at several art galleries. While walking through the new Antique Archaeology store in Nashville (props to The American Pickers), we saw an old construction sign and both of us said, "That's the one!"

That's the one? Seriously?

This is a bent-up, dented & dinged, rusted out old sign that the Virginia Department of Highways threw out years ago. And then someone found it, stuck it in the back of an old barn, and let it sit for years and years. Technically, it's a pretty ugly and useless sign that can no longer serve it's intended purpose.

But when we saw it, we knew it was perfect for us...that's the one we wanted! The dents, dings and rust didn't bother us at all. We looked past the imperfections and saw a sign with character and with a history. We saw a piece of art that we will cherish for years to come.

Don't you think that's how God sees us? He looks past our rust, dents, and dings and sees a piece of art...a piece of art that He Himself created. He cherishes us greatly, regardless of how others see us or of how we see ourselves. Remember that when you feel dinged and dented. And remember that when you see someone else who is showing some signs of rust. God loves you and He loves them. We are, after all, His most cherished creation.