Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Rest in His Finished Work 8/13-8/20/26 (08/13/26)
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TITLE: God's Masterpiece Isn't Finished Yet | Previous Challenge Entry
By Marilyn Meiners
08/16/26 -
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A masterpiece is a work of art made with great excellence—the finest work of an artist’s career.
I am God’s masterpiece. He created me with great care and excellence—not simply so I could exist, but so I could do the good things He planned for me long ago.
Which means, as long as I have a heartbeat, I have unfinished work to do for Him.
I grew up in a non-Christian home. Our home had religion. We didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. I went to church every Sunday, attended youth group, sang in the choir, and if the church doors were open, our family was there.
We had religion down pretty well.
Unfortunately, the messages we heard preached a “social gospel” not a Gospel of the Bible. Yet even when I didn’t know it, God was working in my life.
When I was nine years old, a missionary spoke at our church. I don’t remember what she said, but I remember what I thought: I want to be a missionary in India just like her!
I carried that dream throughout school. When I graduated, I thought I would become a missionary. I had no idea how—I didn’t even have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Yet.
When I was eighteen, I met a young man who took me to a Youth for Christ rally on our second date!
I had no idea what Youth for Christ was. I only knew I liked this guy, so I was willing to find out.
He began taking me to his Baptist church, where the Gospel was preached. Before long, I realized I needed a Savior. In 1959, I gave my life to Jesus.
God was just beginning His work in my life.
We married in 1960. Instead of becoming a missionary, I became a farmer’s wife.
I thought my missionary dream was over.
God thought otherwise.
Six years later, Paul accepted the call to attend Moody Bible Institute under its Aviation program. We were challenged to consider becoming missionaries, with Paul serving as a missionary pilot.
After three years of training and completing his flight requirements, he realized God wasn’t calling him to be a missionary pilot. Instead, God was calling him to work directly with people, so he continued his studies toward the pastorate.
There went my missionary dream.
In 1974, Paul graduated, and we accepted a call to Staten Island, New York.
I didn’t even know where Staten Island was. Sounded foreign to me.
I soon realized God had begun answering my childhood prayer to be a missionary. What better place to serve than New York City?
I discovered that a mission field doesn’t necessarily require a passport.
Staten Island was my mission field.
God seemed to whisper to my heart, “Enjoy Staten Island. This missionary journey is just the beginning.
I’m not sure I was ready for the words “just the beginning.”
We stayed in Staten Island twenty-one years. Then God called us in a different direction. Our work in New York was finished—but our work was not finished.
It was simply beginning again.
We moved to Pennsylvania, where Paul took on a new role as a District Superintendent. I became involved in our local church, leading women’s Bible studies and mentoring young women.
But then God opened another door—one I could never have imagined when I was nine years old.
In 2008, God gave me the opportunity to serve with Global Media Outreach, an online ministry that allows me to communicate with people from around the world.
And I’m still serving here today.
I have the privilege of sharing Jesus with people searching for Him, studying the Bible with them, answering questions, and watching them grow in their relationship with Jesus.
True missionary work—without ever having to pack a suitcase!
Looking back, I can see God’s hand through every chapter. The little girl who dreamed of going to India didn’t understand God’s plan. Neither did the young farmer’s wife, the pastor’s wife in New York, or the woman eventually ministering to people around the world through the internet.
But God knew.
He was creating His masterpiece.
God isn’t finished with me yet. However, one day I will rest in his finished work. I will hear him say, “well done faithful servant.”
Story is non-fiction
Scripture from the NLT
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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Thank you for sharing your beautiful testimony! This is so encouraging to me and blesses me.
Keep writing for the glory of God!