I’ll let you in on a secret about me. There’s no creative brushstrokes in my DNA—none. Even my stick figures look pitiful.
So no artist-blood runs through my veins. I’m not artistic in any stretch of the imagination. But the art of coloring gives un-artsy people a way to add individual flare to a beautifully drawn picture.
Coloring Connoisseurs
My daughter, Megan, and I are fond of coloring. A fondness starting when we were both little girls. We colored together through her childhood, teen years, college days and into her adulthood (and obviously mine).
Who says coloring is only for kids? This article makes me want to color right now.
Still, Megan and I consider ourselves coloring connoisseurs. We colored for recreation and mental therapy long before the rest of the world caught on to coloring books for all ages.
Proudly signing our name to completed pictures is a tradition. “By Mom” remained my standard signature until Megan married. Now, I sign my actual name.
To later admire our handiwork as we flip through books during a new coloring session, we date each finished masterpiece with month/day/year. They bear who and when information.
God’s Coloring Book
There’s another coloring book story. God’s glorious artwork is seen in creation. Blue sky, aqua blue oceans, sunsets of pink and orange, green grass, and all the primary colors displayed in a rainbow.
And God colored me and you. He chose the color for our skin and hair. And He picked the crayon for our eyes.
Genetics and science behind eye color is fascinating. What actually takes place to end up with brown eyes, and particularly blue or green eyes, is detailed and intricate.
It’s where science and creation ended up on the same coloring page. Science provides a formal explanation to God’s creation process. Science points to creation. Yet, the Lord picked the crayons.
The Master Artist
You see, God’s the true coloring connoisseur. Yet, it must make the Lord’s heart ache when we complain about a particular crayon He chose for us—His artist design.
If you’re comfortable in your unique design, really comfortable, bravo! For many of us, at some point and time, we struggled to celebrate the crayon the Lord chose for us.
There will always be someone, who we surmise, is a better likeness by the original artist. People, who in our opinion, sport the perfect shade of blue eyes or green eyes or brown hair or olive skin.
God’s blood not only runs through our veins as His spiritual children, but His artistic flare also colored us exactly like He fancied.
No scribble. Perhaps coloring outside the lines for some of us, nonetheless a finished picture He desired to capture. Exactly. And perfectly to His liking.
Freckles, dark skin, light skin, dark eyes, or light eyes. Maybe we would have picked a different crayon…though we are not the Creator.
And we are not a cheap replica, but authentic artistry. God’s not an amateur craftsman. He’s the Master Artist Who designed me and you.
We are not a cheap replica, but authentic artistry. Because God’s not an amateur craftsman. He’s the Master Artist Who designed me and you. #uniquedesign @FridayKaren Click To TweetColoring By God
The heavenly Father sketched each of us with His creative brushstrokes—an original work of the famous artist, God. And He never signs a piece of His work: “By God. However, I’m not an artist in any stretch of the imagination.”
So we are a coloring book story. God chose the crayons. We bear who and when information—the artist’s name, “By God,” and month/day/year, our birthdate.
The Lord never removes us from His coloring book. Instead, He proudly nestles us inside the pages as a testimony of His grand handiwork.
Maybe you feel scribbled on and messed up by life, your original and individual flare hidden. Friend, God concerns Himself with original pieces of art that bear an authentic signature—His.
Maybe you feel scribbled on and messed up by life, your original and individual flare hidden. Friend, God concerns Himself with original pieces of art that bear an authentic signature—His. @FridayKaren #designedbyGod Click To TweetThe Lord wipes the slate clean and preserves you as a canvas to display His glory.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)
God chose the crayon. Celebrate your unique design.
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Praise the Lord for his masterful handiwork!
Yes!
Bethany—God’s beautiful masterpiece!
Karen! I love this truth! God is the coloring connoisseur! (And yes, I had to check the spelling on that word!)
I’m no fan of coloring myself, but I love the way God has taken such infinite pains with his colorization of the universe.
Thanks, Michele. And the connoisseur…hehe. I used to hear people say they were a particular kind of expert like food. Or you hear it about wine and so on. But God, He’s the expert craftsman.
Michele —God’s beautiful masterpiece!
I’m going to read this to my daughter when she comes home from school!! So often through the years we do question the colors and as you have shared we need to praise Him for all the colors He gives in our life!!
Yes, April! Glad you plan to read this to your daughter. Thank you. The questioning starts at a young age. So comforting to know the heavenly Father sketched each of us with His creative brushstrokes—an original work of the famous artist, God.
Me, you, and your daughter are signed, “By God.”
Great analogy. I’ m completely unartistic too, but love to color. I find it soothing and a great way to meditate on scripture when done in silence. laurensparks.net
Hey Lauren, coloring is so calming. I love it!
Thanks for commenting.
Lauren—God’s unique masterpiece!
I think you sell yourself short, Karen. Your creativity expresses itself through your writing, if not through art. I just began coloring too. I printed out some free pages and used my grandson’s markers to see if I like it and I do. I love how you discuss the creativity God shows us in His creation. If I had to create the universe, I’m sure I could never come up with an animal like a giraffe or a salamander. The intersection of science and religion is something I think about often as a former chemistry teacher. You give a wonderful explanation of how they can complement each other.
Awe, I appreciate your kind words, Laurie. We were made to be creative by the Creator. Any expression of that is for His glory.
And yay! Glad you like coloring. I’m with you on giraffes and salamanders…it definitely shows just how over the top God is in His creative brushstrokes.
Laurie—God’s wonderful masterpiece!
Karen, my son is an artist, and I love watching a painting progress. Sometimes he paints over his work. But even that adds texture and layers that make the end even better. Beautiful analogy.
Thank you, Debbie. And I’m sure it’s really neat to watch your son in his element and gifting. The layers you mentioned in your son painting over his work reminded me of how God takes us and wipes the slate clean when life scribbles on us. We then become a canvas ready to display His glory…display Him.
Hi Karen, I love art, Ephesians 2:10, for sure. If anyone lives near Ollie’s stores, they sometimes have beautiful Christian coloring books for as little as $3, My mother and I have been able to sow lots to seniors. Coloring Bible verses is calming.
Hey Rebecca, I’ve heard that about Ollie’s from another friend. There’s not one in my town, but in a neighboring town. Thanks for letting us know!
Rebecca, uniquely designed by the Master Artist, God.
I’ve always enjoyed coloring as well. And I am definitely NOT an artist either. 🙂 Great analogy here: “God’s the true coloring connoisseur.” He is the Master indeed.
Lisa, glad you’re in the coloring club. 😉 Thankful that no matter whether life scribbles on us, God’s true artistry is still there waiting to come through.
Lisa—God’s wonderful masterpiece!