a hidden masterpiece

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. — 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT See the Good, Loving Her as She Is and Where She Is by Kari Kampakis, from Love Her Well Recognize Her Potential   I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. — Philippians 1:6 NLT   Michelangelo was an Italian artist who created brilliant masterpieces. Two of his most famous sculptures — David, from the biblical David and Goliath account, and the Pietà — he sculpted before he turned thirty.   Clearly, Michelangelo was gifted with his hands. But he also had the gift of vision, and during an anniversary trip to Italy, my husband and I learned about the vision that inspired his magnificent work.   In Florence's Accademia Gallery, which hosts Michelangelo's David sculpture and many half-finished sculptures, our tour guide told us that when Michelangelo looked at a slab of marble, he saw a figure hiding inside who wanted to be set free. His philosophy was to chip away the marble to uncover that hidden figure.   "Every block of stone has a statue inside it," Michelangelo said, "and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it."1   When God looks at us, He sees that hidden masterpiece. He notices the inner potential that nobody else can see yet.   And like a brilliant sculptor who chips away stone, He removes our hard edges. If we trust His hand and vision, He'll transform us into something more beautiful than we ever dared to imagine.   Currently, your daughter is like Michelangelo's half-finished sculptures. You may see glimpses of her potential, but only God sees the final masterpiece. Only God with His perfect vision can see the full picture of who she's meant to become as time and life events shape her.   One prayer you can pray is, "Lord, help me see her through Your eyes. Help me love her like You do. Show me her potential." You get a front-row seat to the sculpting of your daughter's life. You witness every chip, every victory, every heartache. Be the first to believe in her and the last to lose faith. Don't wait until she is perfect to love her, because it's the love you show her today — even as she acts tough, distant, or ornery — that helps crack the shell around her hidden potential.   That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,   No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him. — 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT   Have Grace   Our world is unforgiving, especially to girls. A mistake that a girl makes in seventh grade can follow her for the rest of her life.   It can make her best friends ditch her and her classmates condemn her. Although God is merciful, forgiving every sin through Jesus, this isn't the reality teenagers see daily.   It's imperative for your daughter to know grace and understand how we all fall short of God's standard. Yet even at our worst, He loves us and desires a relationship. Your daughter's rock-bottom moments hold the most potential for her to understand grace because the love she receives when she feels alone and unworthy can turn her heart toward Him.   As author Anne Lamott says, "I do not at all understand the mystery of grace — only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us."2   Grace allows you to see your daughter through God's eyes and love her through her mistakes. It gives her the strength and courage to rise and try again. We all need more grace in our lives — and more people who give it freely.   The Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." — 1 Samuel 16:7   Michelangelo, "Quotes of Michelangelo," accessed April 30, 2019, https://www.michelangelo.org/michelangelo-quotes.jsp. Anne Lamott, quoted in Max Lucado, Grace (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012), 145. Excerpted with permission from Love Her Well by Kari Kampakis, copyright Kari Kampakis. Your Turn   God sees a hidden masterpiece! Isn't that such a wonderful word-picture? Every now and then, we get a peek at the masterpiece He's creating in our children and it's a beauty to behold! Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you. ~ Devotionals Daily COMMENT Share this devotion with someone who needs it today. Don't miss this deal   Save 45% off Love Her Well   by Kari Kampakis   Kari gives mothers hope and reminds them all things are possible through God. Softcover, Regular: $18.99 Sale Price: $10.49 (45% off) eBook price: $11.49 + free U.S. shipping* on orders $35 or more SHOP NOW Moms are eager for tips and wisdom to help them build strong relationships with their daughters, and Kari Kampakis's Love Her Well gives them ten practical ways to do so, not by changing their daughters but by changing their own thoughts, actions, and mind-set.   For many women, having a baby girl is a dream come true. Yet as girls grow up, the narrative of innocence and joy changes to gloom and doom as moms are told, "Just wait until she's a teenager!" and handed a disheartening script that treats a teenage girl's final years at home as solely a season to survive.   Author and blogger Kari Kampakis suggests it's time to change the narrative and mind-set that lead moms to parent teen girls with a spirit of defeat, not strength. By improving the foundation, habits, and dynamics of the relationship, mothers can connect with their teen daughters and earn a voice in their lives that allows moms to offer guidance, love, wisdom, and emotional support.   As a mom of four daughters (three of whom are teenagers), Kari has learned the hard way that as girls grow up, mothers must grow up too. In Love Her Well, Kari shares ten ways that moms can better connect with their daughters in a challenging season, including:   choosing their words and timing carefully, listening and empathizing with her teen's world, seeing the good and loving her for who she is, taking care of themselves and having a support system, and more. This book isn't a guide to help mothers "fix" their daughters or make them behave. Rather, it's about a mom's journey, doing the heart work and legwork necessary to love a teenager while still being a strong, steady parent. Kari explores how every relationship consists of two imperfect sinners, and teenagers gain more respect for their parents when they admit (and learn from) their mistakes, apologize, listen, give grace, and try to understand their teens' point of view. Yes, teenagers need rules and consequences, but without a connected relationship, parents may never gain a significant voice in their lives or be a safe place they long to return to.   By admitting her personal failures and prideful mistakes that have hurt her relationships with her teenage daughters, Kari gives mothers hope and reminds them all things are possible through God. By leaning on him, mothers gain the wisdom, guidance, protection, and clarity they need to grow strong relationships with their daughters at every age, especially during the critical teen years.   Learn More and Save   Want more from Kari?   Save 45% off 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know Softcover, Regular: $15.99 Sale Price: $8.79 (45% off) eBook price: $6.99 + free U.S. shipping* on orders $35 or more SHOP NOW   *Sale prices valid through 8/31/2021, ending at 11:59pm EST, excluding eBooks and audiobooks.  eBooks and audiobook purchases are fulfilled by our partner, Glose.  Free U.S. shipping on orders over $35 valid, excluding Alaska and Hawaii Devotionals Daily ~ our mission is to help you grow and share your faith. Did you receive this message from a friend? Sign up to start receiving Devotionals Daily. Copyright © 2021 HarperCollins Christian Publishing. All Rights Reserved. 501 Nelson Place, Nashville, TN 37214, USA Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions  *Manage Your Email Preferences or *Unsubscribe    Subscription Information This email was sent to Webmaster220 Bible Study Blog  *the blog owner has deleted the hyperlink intentionally