Issue 1203 – Erased – July 25, 2023
Today’s image is simply a selection from some of the erasers in my pencil box. Over the past while, I have been teaching myself how to sketch and draw. I have always had an interest but was told in elementary school that I had no talent and would never be able to draw. I believed that teacher and never pursued my interest.
Indeed, I will likely never be a commercial artist. Still, I am beginning to make my duckies look like duckies, and my horses look like horses. I am starting to do simple landscapes, and you can actually see what I attempted to draw being represented. I am not ready for public display of my “art,” but pursuing this area of interest is enjoyable.
As an added bonus, four of my six grandchildren love to draw, and a fifth will draw when in the mood. The youngest isn’t interested yet. The four out-of-town grandchildren are staying here for a couple of weeks, so most of us have been able to spend time drawing and telling stories. It has been a blessing from God to have that time sharing in a common interest.
In pursuing my new hobby, I have learned a lot from reading and YouTube. Who knew there were so many types of pencils or erasers? I had no idea there was a correct way to sharpen a pencil. I have learned how to shave a pencil so that the graphite can be used for drawing skies or water. A pencil extender to hold a pencil getting too short to comfortably hold? Brilliant.
Blending sponges, sandpaper, stomps and totillions, and exacto knives all have their place. I now own pencils of different hardness and blackness, ranging from F to 8B, and many more types are available.
Outside of the pencil and some surface to draw on, the eraser is my best friend. I can use it to remove guidelines I have sketched in or even total drawings that didn’t turn out like they should have. I don’t erase all my mistakes or failures. I keep many of them to refer to as I learn how not to do things. I am grateful for a tool that will erase the mistakes.
There is an even bigger way to erase mistakes than any tool in my limited arsenal. The blood of Jesus has washed away all my sin, transgressions, outright rebellion, and treason against God.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 9:22
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3:19
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13
And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood Revelation 1:5
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
There are still earthly consequences to be paid for my sin. Still, I can have a relationship with the Lord covered in the imputed righteousness of Jesus. As Christians, we can take that fact for granted. After all, as they say, familiarity breeds contempt.
But when I am honest with myself, it is a debt too big to ever repay on my own. I am truly lost without the work of Christ and even the faith that is in itself also a gift from God.
When I consider who I am without Christ, I can only marvel at His love and grace. My love for Him intensifies, and I want to cry out, “Hallelujah, what a saviour.”
May our lives reflect our love of and gratitude toward God.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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