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How do you decide?

Among the RuinsWhat would you do if you saw a brick wall across your path?   Would you run straight into it to make sure it in fact was a brick wall that was trying to impede your progress and only then try to climb it, knock it down, or any number of things to get past it?  Would you, like my husband, analyze the wall, and work to determine how to remove the obstacle that is in your  way?  Or are you more like my son who would probably decide a brick wall makes a great backdrop for a comedic act and decide to entertain us while we waited for someone to come along to tear the wall down?

Perhaps you are more like I was when all you would have had to do is tell me there was a brick wall around the corner and I would have started to worry about how we were going to get around it and get to where we were going on time.  Today, if I had my paints with me, I would undoubtedly paint the wall and probably paint an archway on it, believing that the Lord would make a way when there appeared to be no way.

Decisions.  We make a thousand decisions a day.  What to eat, what to wear, where to go, who to meet…a thousand decisions big and small every day.

As a visual artist I must decide what medium to work in, what type of support to use, what color palette best serves my purpose, etc.

As a professional artist:  Where do I show my work?  How do I market and sell my paintings?  Do I work directly with the consumer or use a rep or a gallery?  How do I price, ship, distribute, etc.?

As an artist in ministry the list becomes even more complicated:  Where am I called?  To whom am I called?  Do I focus my efforts within the church community or in the marketplace?

You are uniquely and wonderfully made.  You will answer the questions in your life differently than any one else because you alone walk your path.  Just as my family would handle the brick wall differently, the family of Christ handles decisions in life differently.

You were created for a purpose.  Before He formed you our Creator had your purpose in mind.  As He formed you He gave you the exact gift mix that you needed to fulfill your purpose and live out your destiny as His child in the world.

Why oh why then do we run to the traditions and expectations of man when we are trying to figure out the right decisions to make each and every day?  Why do we listen to that Greek chorus in our heads…the one made up of our family, our peers, our friends or teachers?  Dear Ones, we must tune our ears to heaven and play only to the Audience of One if we are going to live out the vision He has placed within us.

He is the One who created you {Psalm 139: 13}.  He is the One who works all things together for your good {Romans 8:28}.  He is the One who is faithful to complete/perfect the work He began in you {Philippians 1:6}.

He may ask you to march to the beat of a different drum or He may ask you to march in step with the drum line.

He may ask you to move to a far off country {Genesis 12} or He may say “Be still and know that I am God.”  {Psalm 46:10}

You alone walk your path.  You have a unique purpose.  The destiny for which you were created is no one else’s.  Listen to the voice of your Savior.  His promise is that His sheep know Him and hear His voice {John 10}.  Play the song of your life to the Audience of the One who loved you so much He sent His Son to pay the price for your life. {John 3:16} Paint the masterpiece of your life for the Audience of the One who knows you better than you know yourself.  Work in the theatre of your life for the Audience of the One who ordained the days of your life when as yet there was not one of them {Psalm 139: 16}.

I need you!  The body of Christ needs you!  The world needs you to live out the plan and purpose for which you were created.  Listen to heaven as you work and walk on the earth.

Play to the Audience of the One who sits on the throne in heaven and you will hear not only the applause of man.  You will hear angels bending down with their applause as The One celebrates you and declares “Well done good and faithful servant.”  “This is MY beloved son/daughter in whom I am well pleased.”

There’s nothing like it.

Glory to God!