The Poiema Life

I don’t really know how I feel about starting this blog. Everyone blogs now. Every one. But, I’ve had multiple people tell me lately I should blog so here I am. Throwing my hat in the ring.

My goal with this blog is to uplift you through encouragement, truth, and confidence. I plan to focus a lot on Jesus, life, and fashion. I told a friend I had a little bit of anxiety going into this. Not because I may have to be open and vulnerable. If you know me, you know I’m wide open. My fear is that I’ll fail at speaking truth into your life and won’t “perfectly” portray the love Jesus has for us. So, grace and compassion are welcomed.

Now to the point of this first blog.

I have four tattoos. Tattoos are still somewhat controversial depending on the person you ask. In my family, they’re definitely not loved by the older generation. You know, I could get diseases from the needles and “are you going to want that when you’re 70? Wrinkles. Sagging skin.” Well, yes, I will. What’s the point of telling you I have four tattoos? One is the word “poiema” written on my left wrist. I’ve had it a little over a year. (The picture is the day I got it.)

Poiema is the Greek word for “workmanship.” In English, we get the word poem + poetry from it. Think work of art. It means “something made,” and in context, what God made.

In Ephesians 2:10 it says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

You were carefully, perfectly, and intently created by God. The God who created the earth. The God who knows every soul and every hair on your head. He made you. You are His workmanship. His work of art. His masterpiece.

Tim Keller, an author, asks:  “Do you know what it means that you are God’s workmanship? What is art? Art is beautiful, art is valuable, and art is an expression of the inner being of the maker, of the artist. Imagine what that means. You’re beautiful, you’re valuable, and you’re an expression of the very inner being of the Artist, the divine Artist, God Himself. You see, when Jesus gave Himself on the Cross, He didn’t say, “I’m going to die just so you know I love you.” He said, “I’m going to die, I’m going to bleed, for your splendor. I’m going to re-create you into something beautiful. I will turn you into something splendid, magnificent. I’m the Artist; you’re the art. I’m the Painter; you’re the canvas. I’m the Sculptor; you’re the marble. You don’t look like much there in the quarry, but I can see. Oh, I can see!” Jesus is an Artist!”

The beauty in that is knowing God purposefully made you the way you are for a reason. When He looks at you, I imagine He says something like, “I made that. Me. I did that. There is no flaw in my art.” There is so much peace and comfort in knowing that. Society doesn’t define your identity. Instagram doesn’t define your beauty. A glance from an attractive person doesn’t define your worth. Your identity is in Jesus; A man who poured out His precious blood for you on the cross so that you would be covered in grace and perfection when God looks at you.

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” -Psalm 129:13-14.

You can rest knowing that you are God’s crowning achievement. No insult, insecurity, or lack of attention can deny that. Jesus is running after your heart every day. Pursuing you endlessly. Tirelessly. Hoping that one day you find your identity in Him and come to know the woman/man of God that He created you to be.

Find your affirmation and worth in Jesus. When you grow to love yourself fully, you are able to quit focusing on yourself and focus on loving others. Our job as Christians on this Earth is to love others. If you can’t love yourself, how can you truly love others? You can’t. You can’t do your job to the best of your ability.

I’m not saying you won’t have moments of insecurity. You will. I still do. They just happen less often and I can quickly speak truth into my life. My tattoo is my daily reminder that I am a beautiful masterpiece and my identity is in a man that loves me so, so deeply. More than I can imagine.

Love yourself. Show yourself some grace. Embrace who you are and the way you look. Focus on your heart and how you care for others. Enjoy your happy pounds. Take care of your health. Find the freedom from insecurity through this new identity!

Welcome to The Poiema Life. A life that is freeing and full of grace.