Kaleidoscope Vision - Encouragement Café - November 16, 2017

Kaleidoscope Vision
By Aj Luck
Thursday, November 16, 2017

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV

Have you ever looked through the lens of a kaleidoscope?

What did you see?

·       Colors?

·       Patterns?

·       Designs?

·       Beauty?

·       Disarray?

·       Confusion?

Gently turning the tube, the views begin to meld together forming new creations before our very own eyes.

Did you know a kaleidoscope uses 24 fragments to create over 1400 DIFFERENT images? 24 fragments. 24 hours in each day.

How often do we find our circumstances changing in life, even hour to hour? Interesting, maybe even intentional statistic.

So many of us have fragments of our lives lying haphazardly in our minds and hearts. I know I do.

Fragments of:

·       Rejection

·       Fear

·       Hurt

·       Doubt

·       Loss

·       Insecurity

I’m learning that it’s how I LOOK at my fragments that matter. So often my perspective is inward. It’s then that my internal kaleidoscope turns into patterns of:

·       Discouragement

·       Fear

·       Anxiety

·       Depression

·       Stress

If I’m not careful, I will find myself drifting down the river of isolation. Alone, feeling as if nobody will understand or care, so why even reach out. Convinced that I have gotten myself into this mess, so clearly I have to get myself out of it.

Did you realize that the largest section in bookstores across America is self- help?

It’s because the enemy of our souls has so many of us convinced that making fragments into wholeness is our responsibility.

Sounds absurd, but how quickly we can all fall down that slippery slope?

Over 2000 years ago, a Jewish carpenter was nailed to a tree because of my broken, fragmented self. He was more than just a carpenter, He was also the very son of God. Perfect, without sin. He loves each us so completely and UNCONDITIONALLY that He willfully died for each of us.

Paying the price for every fragment life would ever give us, do to us or leave us, the price of his blood made the fragments of our soul whole once again. The best part of all of this is, three days later He rose from the grave- COMPLETELY DESTROYING SIN AND DEATH.

I’ve grown up in church my entire life. I’ve heard this message hundreds of times. However, in the last few days I’ve heard it again, inside my heart.  This time I saw it from a different lens.

I realized that for so many of my days, I’ve focused on the pieces of my life that weren’t coming together into a recognizable pattern. Everything was distorted.

Looking once again at the kaleidoscope of my soul, I now see all of the hurt, pain, worry, fear and frustration forming beautiful patterns of trust, grace and new mercies every morning.

I realized that I was trying to control how I looked at everything. I was turning the tube myself with unrealistic expectations. Trying to make adjustments, to find a different view, a more comfortable one.

Yet, life continues to pour out twists and turns, whether we want them too or not. Unexpected and sometimes, unexplained twists.

When in fact, Jesus IS the kaleidoscope in my soul. He calls the shots. He turns the scope. He shows me what I need to see and when. What he shows me is beauty for ashes.

He is in control. He always has been. He always will be.

Me? I’m simply the vessel in which he trusts His beauty to be displayed through.

We are all Kaleidoscopes.

May we reflect our Creator in everything we do. Always.

Action Step:

Let’s go old school this week with our action step and get creative.

You can use paper, fabric, canvas – your choice.

The more color, the better. Create a kaleidoscope design.

In different parts of your mosaic write the things you are struggling with and causing your views to be distorted. In the center of the design print, paint or write a scripture that speaks to you, reminding you that Jesus is with you always. Some examples: Exodus 15:2, 1 Chronicles 16:11, Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:9, Psalms 13:5, Psalms 56:3

Your mosaic can be large or small. Date it. Keep it somewhere that you can look at often.

Every time you see this, Tell God you trust Him to bring beauty from your brokenness.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for paying the ultimate price for my sin and shame. Lord, sometimes things in this life are painful, disheartening, confusing, and difficult. It’s in those time that my tendency is to try and control. Please forgive me. Help me turn to You in not only the difficult moments but also in the magnificent ones. Help me to trust You in all things. Remind me that You hold my life in the palm of Your hands and that I can trust You completely. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

© 2017 by Aj Luck.  All rights reserved.

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