FEBRUARY 1 is so ordinary to most of you. But to me, it was a day that brought GRACE and BEAUTY in my life. I was reading this morning in Psalm 119 and came across a passage that caught my attention like February 1, 2000.
Your hands have made and FASHIONED me; giving me understanding that I may learn your commandments. [Ps. 119:73, ESV]
1 a popular trend, especially in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior . . .
• the production and marketing of new styles of goods, especially clothing and cosmetics: [as modifier]: a fashion magazine.
2 a manner of doing something: the work is done in a rather casual fashion.
verb [with object] (often be fashioned) make into a particular or the required form: the bottles were fashioned from green glass.
God humbles us best when we believe he has fashioned us, produced us, and created a brand new trend by creating us.
I love the profound truth that we are all created to be like Him and become increasingly more like him (2 Cor. 3:18). It boggles my mind that as hard as we try to be normal and fit in with the masses, God made us to be set apart, beautiful, and full of unique purpose. I look at it this way, He (God) is too beautiful and complex to create us all exactly the same. It took the greatest artist of all time to create all of us unique, however, it was the only way He could create the most accurate image of Himself.
Lauren Marie Hinshaw - Today is a reminder of how creative God is. What a beautiful image of GRACE and BEAUTY you were to your mother and I. Personally, you were a gift at a time in my life when I was not anywhere close to knowing God’s plan for my life. The only thing I feel I knew was mediocrity, average, failure, struggle, fear, and pain from my former days. Grace, beauty, and purpose were drowned out by a poor self-image. Lauren, you were GRACE and BEAUTY FASHIONED for me. Lauren, you still are that voice of GRACE and BEAUTY to your mother and I. You came into my life when I was in desperate need of hope. In fact, it was two years prior to your arrival that I felt a call to ministry but couldn’t gain the proper confidence that I was worthy of such a call. Suddenly, on February 1, 2000, GRACE and BEAUTY was being FASHIONED, WEAVED, THREADED, and intricately DESIGNED into my day and gave me hope beyond my mediocre outlook. You were the evidence that God was in charge, not me. Fashion has a new name and identity:
fashion |ˈfaSHən| A young girl designed and fabricated to bring hope, purpose, grace, and beauty to everyone around her.
Happy Birthday, I love you!
