“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”
― Genesis 1:26 (ESV)
To be made in the image of God is a powerful reality. We not only look like Him but are called to reflect the virtues of our Father—love, joy, peace, patience, generosity, etc. I can’t imagine a measure of generosity more magnificent than the one true, holy, perfect God giving His only Son for the salvation of broken, sinful humanity, much less my own sin. [1] I’ve been the recipient of financial generosity, relational generosity, generosity of time, grace, and creativity, but this sacrifice—this is incomparable. My Father’s gift removes any human hesitation on my part to hold back and horde. It’s a perspective I long to keep before me every day lest I lose my heart to give as my Father gives.
Let me lead you on a path of my personal discovery, attributes of my Father’s outflow.
Cultivating
Not only did He give me salvation, a gift I could never earn on my own merit, but He generously equips me with authority and power to fulfill everything to which I am appointed. As a marriage and leadership coach, my husband instructs his students to read, warm up, stretch, practice, and leap. He cultivates through counseling, instruction, listening, checking in, prayer to the best of his experience, and guided skill to climb mountains above his own reach and pray they thrive in the process of ascent. In the image of our Father who has freely given, we likewise pour into one another generously, knowing we will abound in every good work. [2] The Good Samaritan in the New Testament also demonstrates this selfless investment. [3]
Creativity
As an artist, I am often held captive by the inspiring creativity of Elohim, Creator God. Just the other day, an Instagram reel featuring the world’s rarest and most beautiful praying mantises captured my heart and imagination for days: Flower Mantis, Giant Dead Leaf, Spiny Flower, Peruvian, Dragon, and more. The intricate detail, colors, and fascinating movement of each variety is incomparable. [4] In addition, a new mantis was discovered in 2023 by a scientist at James Cook University. [5] How are we just now discovering these new insects?
Could Creator God in His unstoppable nature continue to be releasing beauty for our inspiration?
I am a jewelry artist, but I’m also a business woman mindful of my product, supplies, what a particular design approximately costs to replicate, and by the time I’ve accounted for materials, what’s a reasonable fee to charge to still cover costs and make a profit. Not so our Father, who seems to hold back no fragment of design to capture our hearts. Fiery sunsets, radiant sunrises, night skies black as pitch speckled with brilliant stars—each day a different blend of brushes and paint—nothing held back in reservation for tomorrow. Each chicken in my husband’s coop has a creative arrangement of color, feather style, and strut. In the market we browse among a range of apples, asparagus, artichokes and arugula . . . an endless culinary delight. Thank You.
Financially
I want to freely give as my Father has given to me—openhanded with my finances, time, talents, grace, and experience. We have received so much. I tell my children that you cannot outgive God. Luke 6:38 (NIV) instructs, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” If He gives us manna for today, who are we to gather for the week, store in our pantries even when we see our neighbor hungry, and not trust His provision? We were deeply touched by the donations that came to us to fight my medical bills, keenly aware that a $20 bill from some individuals could be a far more generous gift than $1,000 from others. I am inspired to likewise give.
Grace
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” [6] On Sunday afternoons, our church community is studying Rob Reimer’s Soul Care. [7] This past week our exercise was to write down every sin for which we have repeatedly asked for forgiveness, then after prayer, feed our papers into the centered shredder. Powerful to receive forgiveness and in turn give it. I cannot expect miracles when I am not generously extending grace as my Father has—a thousand-fold. The Christian community must be known for limitless love and grace.
So I pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” with the understanding that Father God has gone before me with the gift of His Son orchestrating a delightful journey on which to walk out His will. [8] Through His generosity I am inspired to live with open hands and heart.
[1] “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son … ” John 3:16 (KJV)
[2] 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
[3] Luke 10:25–37
[4] “Unveiling the World’s Rarest and Most Beautiful Praying Mantises,” January 29, 2025.
[5] Matthew Conners, “Citizen scientists help discover new mantis species.” December 1, 2023.
[6] Luke 7:47 (ESV)
[7] Rob Reimer, Soul Care: 7 Transformation Principles for a Healthy Soul (Franklin, TN: Carpenter’s Son Publishing, 2016).
[8] Matthew 6:9–15 (NIV)
The featured image is courtesy of Ariel Lovewell and is used with her kind permission for Cultivating.
Mary has cherished life-long literary dreams coupled with a passion for ministry, all of which lead her to study English literature and later theology and counseling in seminary. She has been designing artisan jewelry for nine years while homeschooling son Ian and daughter Julianna. After 14 years of ministry in San Diego she and her husband Mark Miller, along with their teenagers and cat, Lord Peter Wimsey relocated to Charlottesville, VA where they enjoy farm life, chickens and all. Mary enjoys off-the-wall humor, gardening, cooking, and curling up with anything penned by Dorothy Sayers, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, or Jane Austen.
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