Finished works in progress.
Okay, before you read any more, I want you to think about what the above fragment might mean. And why would I put it there? It just seems so contradictory, doesn’t it? How can a work in progress be finished? What does it mean to you as a Christian? And, by extent, what could it mean for Sheltered Reality? Now, stop reading and post your thoughts below. Then you can come back to read the rest.
“Finished works in progress” is my school’s theme for the year, and I think it would be beneficial for us all to look at what such a statement could mean in our own lives. What would it mean if I told you that you are a “finished work in progress?” Or that I am a “finished work in progress?” Breaking it into two parts, we can better make sense of it.
First: “Finished.” This refers to our salvation. When Jesus died on the cross for us, he triumphed over death and claimed us as His own. We only have to recognize Him as our Lord and Savior, and it is Finished. Nothing can take God’s grace from us.
Second: “Works in Progress.” Our salvation may be complete or finished, but that does not make us perfect. That does not mean we no longer sin or make the same mistakes again and again. As Christians, though, we try to be as “Christ-minded” as possible, working towards that “Christ-like perfection” that none of us will reach in this life-time. We are not perfect. We are “works in progress.”
Here’s the thing, though—there’s another side to this whole “Works in Progress,” and that, I believe, is what Sheltered Reality is all about. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (ESV). Do you see it? God has prepared for us good works! “Works in progress” that he has given us the ability to complete! Not only that, but He prepared these works for us “beforehand.” Long before we even know there is something to be done, God is planning it. And He sets us up to succeed in these things.
What are these good works? I believe they can be things as simple as sharing a smile with a random stranger who needed a lift. And to think—God put you on the sidewalk to share that simple smile. WOW! Mind blown.
Are you a finished work in progress? You better believe it. I know by this point you’ve already posted once, but I want you to go back and do so again. What are some of the “good works” you’ve been called to lately? What about the reverse? What has someone done for you lately that God had a hand in? And, finally, what are some of the good works you’ve seen God prepare for Sheltered Reality?
A finished work in progress could quite possibly mean that we were created by God, but we are still in progress on growing and becoming more like Him. Ephesians 2:10 is the verse that my youth group uses as their main point. This verse fits SR very well. We were created so we can do good things and SR does GREAT things!!
ReplyDeleteI am a finished work in progress. I believe that God put me on this earth to use my smile! I NEVER stop smiling. Even if I am not in the best of moods I am STILL smiling. I even smile when I cry....I know weird right? The only time I don't smile is during shows....that's because I concentrate tooo hard!! HAHA. I have been called to be a friend to everyone I see. So I just flash a smile in their direction :) I have seen SR do too many good things to count. SR itself is a good thing that God definitely made happen for a reason!! Anyway, I am going back to bed because I am sick and I have a strained muscle on my shoulder. Love you all and have a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteKristen - that was a GREAT answer! I love that you never stop smiling... I need to work on that more.
ReplyDeleteOk, so, literally a half hour after I finished writing and posting that, these two girls in my hall came around to everyone's rooms offering brownies. Good works? I think so!
Oh, yeah - Get better soon. I think you can count on us bloggers to pray for your speedy recovery. :)
ReplyDeleteJovanna- Thanks....I tried to make sense haha! Brownies sound reallly good right now lol. Thanks! I hope to get better soon! Thanks for the prayers :)
ReplyDeletea finished work in progress could mean quite a few things really. it could men that we as a whole are always changing and fixing things about ourselves, it could also mean that we are done with something but not quite satisfied with it yet....hmmm good statement Jovanna.
ReplyDeleteI think that i am a finished work in progress because i am here as a person abut i am still growing up and have many things to learn in life still. I helped my friend with her math homework and her biology homework...does that count? haha I made a freind at one of the shows this past weekend and we were talking about losing someone that was very close to you. I lost a close family friend that day i got back from South Dakota this past April. He was a very considerate person as i told him the story of that following week in school. I think it was God's way of telling me that not everything should be kept bottled up inside.
ReplyDeleteKristen- I hope you feel better soon. and yes you are definitely in my prayers :)
Colleen- Thanks!! Miss your face! :)
ReplyDeleteI feel I am a finished work in progress for a couple reasons. One, I am still here on this Earth which means when I wanted to be done years ago I wasn't finished with my mission that God had for me. Two, I have been put into some, "less than helpful" situations (Steve I worded it as kindly as possible [what we talked about after practice]) at college this year that I know I must make something out of. Three, God has given me amazing friends to complete my mission here at school and in SR.
ReplyDeleteWhat has someone done for me that God had a hand in? Well, God has a hand in everything; but I guess within the last 2 days it would be Dee, Kristen, Steve, and the Compadres (what some of us call ourselves here at Wartburg :]) being there to talk to me or just listen to me crying over things that had me way over my head. Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (ESV) I think this is what God's good works are for Sheltered Reality. We don't know what is going to happen, but he does. Steve didn't know he would still be doing this nearly 15 years later after he started for his schooling. We can only imagine where we can go from here. All of our time here on Earth is limited, and only God knows when it will end, but we must make the best of it and do all the things (good, and sadly even bad choices) we can while we are here. We may not know who, how, or why we have touched someone, but I pray to good that we have made a positive impact and good teaching lessons for all we have come in contact with.
Kristen- I hope you are feeling better. I am getting even worse, and I swear I coughed up a lung, kidney, my spleen, and liver before my 7:45 class this morning!!!
Jovanna and Kristen (and Alex if he ever reads this)- I hope you guys have great school years!!! I'm praying for all of you!
To All-Sorry this is so long! I don't even know if it makes sense!! I have been up for 18 hours and seem to be getting sicker by the hour, so I am going to bed to try to rest up before I must be up at 6:17 tomorrow (yes even on weekends no breaks for me!!!) I miss all of you, and am praying for all of you, because you are a true family to me and you have made a HUGE impact on my life for the better...Thank you so much for that! I truly cannot thank you guys enough!!!
<3 <3 <3 Kelli Jo <3 <3 <3
Kelli- I love that verse. I can't believe it! Everyone seems to be sick lately. Get well soon--we're praying for you too. ;)
ReplyDeleteKristen- I miss you too!!!! Man i had so much fun seeing you in St. Louis. :)
ReplyDeleteKelli- i hope you get better soon. I know how it feels to be coughing like that...and it is terrible. If it helps any i lost my voice at our football game last night. We won 21-20 it was a good game :)
Woah! Close game!
ReplyDeleteJovanna- oh yea! it was the best football game i have ever cheered for in my life haha oh man i had never screamed so much in my life :) yea :) haha
ReplyDeleteKelli- Thanks for making me cry when I read this!!! And I hope you have a great year as well. And I also love that verse tooooo!!!!!! AND all I have done is sleep. I slept 8 hours Thursday night then Friday night I slept 10 hours. Then I fell asleep sitting up...IDK what's wrong with me! I'm about to take some Naproxen for my shoulder and eating Ramen while watching Finding Nemo!!! :)
ReplyDeleteJovanna - what a great addition to the blog. That phrase is definitely an oxymoron. Sorry, but I broke your rule - I read straight through before posting because I was so curious :)
ReplyDeleteI want you all to know that these are absolutely awesome thoughts you've posted!
Since my mind must work differently from everyone else, when I first read this phrase I broke it up as "finished works" "in progress". Not a whole lot different than how you broke it apart. To me, it shows a very optimistic outlook. Someone considers the work as finished, even though it is actually still in progress.
As an 'older' adult, even at my age, I know God is not finished with me yet. It would be tempting to sit in the easy chair at night and fall asleep watching TV, but God has things for me to do. A great quote from John Wesley (founder of the Methodist church): "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can." As long as my heart is beating, I can do something for God's kingdom. I just have to be available to Him.
Looking back over the years I've been in SR, I've seen God use the the least likely situations to make wonderful things happen, akin to being in the right place at the right time. I think God enjoys turning things upside down once in awhile to challenge us and keep life interesting :)
You all take care of yourselves, no time to be sick, right?
Kelli, hang in there!
But... but... I gave you two chances to stop reading!
ReplyDeleteHaha, that's okay, Brenda. I loved your response. That was an excellent quote you pulled up too. And I definitely agree that God loves turning things upside down once in a while. ;)
Woah lots to catch up on. I like everyones comments and I agree with everyone. Go does have a plan for all of us.
ReplyDeleteSo last night I found out that neither Brenda, NOR Steve followed my rule about the reading and posting order. Not only that, but they were reading it at the same time. I can only conclude that you two are bad influences on each other.
ReplyDeleteSorry Jovanna, but I too did not follow the rule about reading and posting.
ReplyDeleteTo All who were/are reading-I found out I have Bronchitis and possibly other sicknesses.
I'm following your rule!
ReplyDeleteChristianity is "finished" because it is established. However, it is "in progress" because it is constantly changing. The same applies for SR, we're always getting new songs, new steps, new members, and new sites.
This is true of many things.
Sorry, I can't think of anything cleverer to say. This is, however, an excellent post.
Geez... My fellow bloggers need to take better care of themselves. ;) Get better soon you guys!
ReplyDeleteJovanna, I broke your rule too. I like to think about what I'm going to say and actually on the way in this morning I heard a song and realized I hadn't responded to this blog entry. The song is by Stellar Kart and is called Something Holy. Here are the lyrics.
ReplyDeleteYou say that the well's run dry.
And there's no more tears to cry.
You're searching for something real.
To make you feel.
You Know that you're incomplete.
A song with a broken beat.
There's a whole in all our hearts.
And there's a reason why!
[Chorus]
We were born to be,
A part of something holy.
All of us are restless until we find.
We were born to be,
A part of something holy.
Bigger than, bigger than
You and I.
Bigger than all our lives.
The hunger you feel inside,
That keeps you unsatisfied.
It pulls at you constantly.
[ Find more Lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.org/KolK ]
Like gravity.
This world never was enough.
We're made for a deeper love.
There's a hole in all our hearts.
It's part of our design.
[Chorus]
We were born to be,
A part of something holy.
All of us are restless until we find.
We were born to be,
A part of something holy.
Bigger than, bigger than
You and I.
Bigger than all our lives.
All our lives we long for something more.
The life that we were all created for.
We were born to be,
A part of something holy.
All of us are restless until we find.
We were born to be,
A part of something holy.
Bigger than, bigger than
Bigger than you and I.
Bigger than, bigger than all our lives!
Bigger than, bigger than