The Dust-Carver

Why does an autograph on a baseball increase the value?

A book personally signed by the author makes it more precious.  Collectibles and art signed by the designer reveals the true artist.

Husband Jeff is a famed woodcarver in Montgomery County.  During a recent show, a woman returned to our display to bring back a piece she purchased that was unsigned.  She drove over an hour to have him put his individual mark on it.

Another buyer stopped by to ask, “How do you make a piece of wood look like a rabbit?”  Jeff quickly replied, “I study the wood and carve everything away that doesn’t look like a rabbit!”

But, once upon a time, not so long ago . . . something happened . . in the doom of a day.

A heart stopped.  Breath disappeared into a machine.  Man said he couldn’t live, or think, or do.  Life was over.  Coma and defibrillators became the result of multiple strokes, leaving Jeff with partial hearing, double vision, unable to sit up, or put one foot in front of another. Months of therapy dropping pennies into a bank, to resurrect hope and dexterity into feeble hands, once strong enough to build a house.

Another happening  . . . and God said something different.

Woodcarver husband returned to his workshop. A chisel and grace created a wooden image from a block of wood. A creation signed by the retired whittler,  became a master carver once again.  The multi-step process of acrylics and glazes completes the integrity of each carving.  The stroke of the brush paints a portrait of healing grace.

A framed testimony sits at the edge of the gallery table.  A story about . . . only God.

People watch in wonder and ask questions about God’s handiwork. Now there is even more beauty and skill poured into human hands from the Famous One.

If we do not acknowledge our great God, we are just rearranged dust waiting to die.

When circumstances rob us of hope, we can look farther. We can look beyond what we see.

We are special created pieces of flesh and heart signed by the Creator . . .

. . . and everything has been carved away that doesn’t look like Him.

Glory chiseled.  Hewed out by Him for new life.  God Himself custom engraved His signature on us through Jesus.  Carved in dust. We’re not complete until He puts His mark upon us so others can see our Designer.

He places us on His mantle.

What evidence of God’s signature do others see in your life?

 For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus  . . . Ephesians 2:10