The Masterpiece

by Francine Rivers

White Boy never stayed buried for long.

She hadn’t come to faith because someone gave her all the answers. She came to faith because she met and talked with someone who made her feel enveloped by God’s love. Still, she had to say something to this man who looked like he had everything and nothing. “I believe in God. Life can be pretty unbearable without something to believe in.”

Profound. In the midst of chaos, God draws us closer to Him.

There’s a lot of deep-seated anger in a child who’s been abandoned. Some turn to violence. Roman used paint to fight back.”

This is the reality of a lot of young people.

“Some hide or become people pleasers.”

“Don’t talk. Don’t trust. Don’t feel.” Susan nodded. “The mantra of kids who suffered at the hands of their parents.”

“Believing is seeing.”

Profound

All his strength hadn’t been enough to break free, but one soft word from Christ, and he was alive again.

The power of God’s word and voice.

All I can tell you is faith is just the beginning of a long, difficult journey.”

“God nudges people.”

“I share the blame. If I’d brought you up to know your worth, you might not have sold yourself short. Sometimes women love too much and lose themselves completely.”

This is riveting!

“I’ve laid out my fleece.”

I love the use of this scripture.

The Old Testament prophet Gideon had laid out a fleece twice to be certain God was speaking, that what he heard wasn’t just his imagination.

He had carried that anger around like a heavy shield to protect himself against ever loving anyone again. It took dying before he could learn to live.

The Lord had promised those who believe that He would take away the stony, stubborn heart; give them a tender, responsive heart; and put His Spirit in them so they could follow Him.

“We’re all God’s masterpiece, created anew in Christ.”