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Respite For the Weary
Have you ever wondered what God's favorite colors are? Greens and Blues? Reds and yellows? Maybe its all the colors of the rainbow? Or maybe its every single color, with every shade and hue. After all, he created each one with his perfect imagination!
From the beginning of Christmas Morning, I was asking God himself to pick his choice colors for the pages of this children's book. I personally see in black-and-white words, so my creativity in the world of art is close to nothing. I knew this story needed God's divine touch in order for it to come to life.
As I was praying this specific request, I also "happened to be" in the book of Exodus in my daily Bible reading plan. And it is in these pages that I found three (if not four) of his "favorite" colors! Over and over again, God chose these colors:
You shall make the tabernacle with the tent curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns... Exodus 26:1
And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen...Exodus 26:31
You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen... Exodus 26:36
Contextually, God is instructing Moses how to decorate the tent of meeting--a place where his presence would reside among his chosen people while they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Figuratively, my heart's desire is for God's beautiful truth to reside on every page of Christmas Morning.
So there you have it! Blue and purple and scarlet became my color scheme, hand picked by the Divine Decorator himself! And to add to it, the fine twined linen is the white line that is intentionally drawn throughout most all the pages of Christmas Morning. (I wrote about the meaning of this white line in my previous post: https://www.respitefortheweary.com/post/the-making-of-christmas-morning-backstory-and-the-white-line. .
Here is one more fun and awesome fact-- another word was repeated in these same chapters of Exodus:
They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Exodus 25:10
You shall make a table of acacia wood. Exodus 25:23
You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood. Exodus 26:15
Now, can I remind you that my illustrator's name is Acacia? I don't believe in coincidences. I do believe in God's intimate and intentional instruction toward his dependent and faith-filled children. Acacia, who also happens to be my daughter-in-law, is the person who God has appointed to bring Christmas Morning to life through his sweet and holy touch. I am amazed at how he is working through her!
God is in this book. His glory is what I want to come out of every page, every word, and every stroke of color.
I could go on and on, but instead, I will stop here and say, "Stay tuned."
There is more to come in the making of Christmas Morning...
Tuesday
Picture: House (foundation)
Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:3-4; John 14:6; Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Corinthians 3:11
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Take a minute to think about the concrete foundation that is laid before the building of any home. Much like this firm foundation (and more so!), God never changes or shifts. He is the unshakeable Rock. Jesus Christ laid down His life so that we can build our house on His eternal truths. The more we know Him through His word, the more we understand the security of our foundation.
Are you building your life on His rock or sinking sand? Explain.
Write out a few biblical truths that you want to build firmly upon so that you know your “house will not fall”.
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference.
Monday
Picture: House (Builder/Architect)
Scripture: Psalm 127:1; 1 Chronicles 28:11-12, 19; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Hebrews 3:1-6; 11:8-10
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Close your eyes and visualize the detailed architectural plans of a residential home. Much like these plans, God has laid out every detail of our lives, start to finish. Just as God spoke to King David in regards to the physical temple that was to be built, He speaks to us through His word concerning our daily plans.
Do you consider your Builder trustworthy or do you have plans of your own? Explain.
What are some specific life plans that God has revealed to you as you have trusted in His word?
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference:
Friday
Picture: Vessel (pouring out)
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:7-16; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Philippians 2:16-18
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Meditate on the act of someone pouring refreshing purified water from a pitcher into several different drinking glasses. This idea illustrates God’s beautiful work being manifested through us towards others. As a Christian (like Paul in the above verses), we have a continual life-long privilege of filling up and then pouring out.
What are differing factors that might keep you from being a life-giving vessels to others?
In what way is God using you to be His vessel of sacrificial love: in your family, in your job, in your witness to the lost?
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference:
Tuesday
Picture: Sheep (downcast, dispirited)
Scripture: Psalm 38:6-10; Matthew 9:36; Psalm 42:5-11
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Read and meditate on this excerpt from Daily Bread: “In his classic book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, W. Phillip Keller gives a striking picture of the care and gentleness of a shepherd. In verse 3 when David says, “He restores my soul,” he uses language every shepherd would understand. Sheep are built in such a way that if they fall over on their side and then onto their back, it is very difficult for them to get up again. They flail their legs in the air, bleat, and cry. After a few hours on their backs, gas begins to collect in their stomachs, the stomach hardens, the air passage is cut off, and the sheep will eventually suffocate. This is referred to as a “cast down” position. When a shepherd restores a cast down sheep, he reassures it, massages its legs to restore circulation, gently turns the sheep over, lifts it up, and holds it so it can regain its equilibrium. What a picture of what God wants to do for us! When we are on our backs, flailing because of guilt, grief, or grudges, our loving Shepherd reassures us with His grace, lifts us up, and holds us until we’ve gained our spiritual equilibrium.”
Have you ever been, or are you currently, downcast or dispirited? Explain.
Do you know others who are downcast? Write their names here and pray for them, as well as consider writing them an encouraging note.
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference.
Thursday
Picture: House (Rebuilder/ Restorer)
Scripture: Isaiah 57:14-15; Isaiah 58:12; Isaiah 61:4; Jeremiah 31:3-4; Ezekiel 36:33-36
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Visualize for a minute a house either being built or remolded. With this picture in mind, a message of hope comes to us. Not only do we have a Builder, we also have a Rebuilder. Sometimes the chaos of sin or circumstance enters and reeks havoc in our lives; BUT, no mess is too big for our Savior. He can redeem anything, causing all things to be even more beautiful than before.
Is there something that God has placed on your heart “to build” that is based on His foundational truths?
Is there a time in your life that you have experienced “beauty from ashes” due to God’s redeeming love? Explain.
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference.
Monday
Picture: Sheep (the Good Shepherd)
Scripture: Psalm 23; Isaiah 40:11; 1 Peter 5:7
Write any phrases from the selected Bible verses that speak to you:
Imagine a modern day shepherd tending to his sheep. See him leading, protecting, grooming, and feeding all his sheep. Just as this guardian has many roles in caring for his flock, so does our Good Shepherd concerning His people.
In Psalm 23, what verse speaks to you most concerning the Lord as your Shepherd?
In what ways do you personally feel the Lord’s care for you in your current life circumstances?
Write a prayer using the above verses as a reference.
Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things passed away; behold, new things have come! II Corinthians 5: 17
Dear Lord,
May your powerful love control us! Give us willingness to die to ourselves daily, and then to live in step with your Spirit. Help us to cling to the beautiful truth that old things have passed away; and yes, new things have come! Cause us to walk in this newness of life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.