"If anyone abides in Christ he's a new creation; old things are in the past,... look! Everything about him is like new!" This is my paraphrase of Paul's reassurance as he wrote to the Corinthian church he and Barnabas had planted (2 Cor 5:17). I bet they needed to hear that. I know I sure do. Often. Loudly.

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When I think about the idea of someone like me becoming a "new creation" I can see a busy studio, filled with my clumsy efforts at producing a unique piece of art -- something that will amaze, even thrill and inspire. But, despite my best intentions, it never comes out the way I had hoped. In time, I give up and bring my futile efforts to the Master to fix me, trusting Him to patiently, stroke by stroke, make it into the masterpiece I intended to create. ​

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This is an easy-going country ballad that I hope describes what it's like to be the canvas on God's easel. He knows exactly what's doing -- he's shown that over and over. Sometimes it hurts to be changed, to admit that I haven't done a very good job of making me "work." And it's scary to let someone else "make me over."  I may not like how I turn out. I may not like what I look like; I won't know until he's finished with me whether I'm a masterpiece or headed for the trash can. I have to trust him. Only him. That's really hard to do.

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I'm still not convinced I've seen much progress, but I'm confident I'm on my way. Not because I'm a great me but because He's the best Him.

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Dave