Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot.
Jeremiah 18:4
This verse floated around in my head all day; and while i was cleaning the bathroom (which is when no one is talking to me b/c it's naptime, and so God has my full attention), the verse settled in my heart.
Wow, God must really love us! REALLY love us.
To start out with His first ever clay project at the very beginning of time, KNOWING what "sometimes happens when you work with clay" ....
Yet He picked up some clay and began to lovingly shape it.
Knowing.
2 Timothy 3:17 encouraged this clay pot:
Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
Thank God for the power of His Word and of His Holy Spirit to mold and shape His clay pots for their tasks. The fate of the people in Jeremiah's day certainly does not sound like an appealing way to go.
Instead, Lord, work and blend Your Word and Your Spirit into the grooves of this clay pot.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
No More Leaf-Dropping!
Wow, these chapters in Jeremiah have been pretty heavy (to borrow a phrase from the '80's). Serious stuff God was talking about doing because the people had turned their backs on Him.
So i'm reading along, a little tiny bit smug, thinking wow, those Hebrews really turned away from God! They must have done something awful to make God respond like He is!
But i realized, i was also reading along with a little bit of trepidation hovering over my shoulder. After all, there might be something in here that would grab a line from my life!
Because i know how i am.
And i know that God knows. Even better than i do.
Then, yep, my eyes landed on THE verse.
Jeremiah 16:12, courtesy of the Message Bible makes it all too clear:
Take a good look in the mirror -- each of you doing whatever you want, whenever you want, refusing to pay attention to Me.
13 goes on to say that's why God was throwing them out into a far and strange country.
Rest assured, I won't bother you anymore, God finishes verse 13.
Yikes, that REALLY hit me. I know those verses also include a line about worshiping other gods, and that's what the Hebrews' sin against God was.
I'm not doing that! But still ...
There are times in my life when i do what i want to do, instead of what God wants, when i'm not paying attention to Him.
For me it's in those early morning hours when it's now dark and cold outside, and i stay snuggled in my warm bed instead of getting up and reading my Bible and praying. Or times in my day where i have some moments here and there when i could give God my attention, but i chose to focus on something else (and for me, it's usually something non-productive).
ONE OTHER QUICK THING .... that God gently showed me today...
Jeremiah 17:7-8:
But blessed is .... the woman who sticks with God ... never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season.
The season -- or 2, if it's possible to be in 2 seasons at once -- is that of our house situation and that of raising and training our 2 young children.
I know i've dropped more leaves than i've dropped diapers down that Diaper Genie.
And i know i haven't produced very fresh fruit. Seems like the fruit i'm holding in my hands is nowhere near worth bringing before my Lord. Or even my husband and children.
And i want to work on that.
Looks like these 2 verses go hand-in-hand for me.
Paying attention to God = No more leaf-dropping + Fresh fruit
Sign me up!
So i'm reading along, a little tiny bit smug, thinking wow, those Hebrews really turned away from God! They must have done something awful to make God respond like He is!
But i realized, i was also reading along with a little bit of trepidation hovering over my shoulder. After all, there might be something in here that would grab a line from my life!
Because i know how i am.
And i know that God knows. Even better than i do.
Then, yep, my eyes landed on THE verse.
Jeremiah 16:12, courtesy of the Message Bible makes it all too clear:
Take a good look in the mirror -- each of you doing whatever you want, whenever you want, refusing to pay attention to Me.
13 goes on to say that's why God was throwing them out into a far and strange country.
Rest assured, I won't bother you anymore, God finishes verse 13.
Yikes, that REALLY hit me. I know those verses also include a line about worshiping other gods, and that's what the Hebrews' sin against God was.
I'm not doing that! But still ...
There are times in my life when i do what i want to do, instead of what God wants, when i'm not paying attention to Him.
For me it's in those early morning hours when it's now dark and cold outside, and i stay snuggled in my warm bed instead of getting up and reading my Bible and praying. Or times in my day where i have some moments here and there when i could give God my attention, but i chose to focus on something else (and for me, it's usually something non-productive).
ONE OTHER QUICK THING .... that God gently showed me today...
Jeremiah 17:7-8:
But blessed is .... the woman who sticks with God ... never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season.
The season -- or 2, if it's possible to be in 2 seasons at once -- is that of our house situation and that of raising and training our 2 young children.
I know i've dropped more leaves than i've dropped diapers down that Diaper Genie.
And i know i haven't produced very fresh fruit. Seems like the fruit i'm holding in my hands is nowhere near worth bringing before my Lord. Or even my husband and children.
And i want to work on that.
Looks like these 2 verses go hand-in-hand for me.
Paying attention to God = No more leaf-dropping + Fresh fruit
Sign me up!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
For All People
Today's read of Isaiah 56-58 was packed with verses that really spoke to me....
Isaiah 56:1-8 spoke of how those of us already in the church should make sure that ALL people feel like they belong in His Church; of how God will bless them and honor them with the very things they've been lacking; and of how His...
"... house of worship will be known as a house of prayer for all people" (v. 7).
I love how this chapter really illustrates -- once again -- when God brings restoration, He does it way over and above and beyond!
It'd be like if God was CEO of His Airline and bumped up a Coach-flying passenger into First Class Gold Plus Plus at the very moment they converted and chose HIS airline! And all the First Class passengers who have been flying His Airline for decades become seatmates to this newly converted passenger! An immediate Bump directly into First Class.
For ALL people.
I also really really loved the picture that was painted in Isaiah 58:10-12...
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
Your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places -- firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
Rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
Of course, there were stipulations presented before this beautiful, life-restoring passage...
If you get rid of unfair practices,
Quit blaming victims,
Quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
And start giving of yourselves to the down-and-out...
The stipulations that poked at me were "generous to the hungry" and "giving of yourselves to the down and out" .....
I was reminded by this passage of God's math ... the more i give out of my resources, of my self --- He steps in and fills me back up! "Full life" ... "Well watered" ... "Rebuild"
God's Kingdom is the best!
Isaiah 56:1-8 spoke of how those of us already in the church should make sure that ALL people feel like they belong in His Church; of how God will bless them and honor them with the very things they've been lacking; and of how His...
"... house of worship will be known as a house of prayer for all people" (v. 7).
I love how this chapter really illustrates -- once again -- when God brings restoration, He does it way over and above and beyond!
It'd be like if God was CEO of His Airline and bumped up a Coach-flying passenger into First Class Gold Plus Plus at the very moment they converted and chose HIS airline! And all the First Class passengers who have been flying His Airline for decades become seatmates to this newly converted passenger! An immediate Bump directly into First Class.
For ALL people.
I also really really loved the picture that was painted in Isaiah 58:10-12...
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
Your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places -- firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
Rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
Of course, there were stipulations presented before this beautiful, life-restoring passage...
If you get rid of unfair practices,
Quit blaming victims,
Quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
And start giving of yourselves to the down-and-out...
The stipulations that poked at me were "generous to the hungry" and "giving of yourselves to the down and out" .....
I was reminded by this passage of God's math ... the more i give out of my resources, of my self --- He steps in and fills me back up! "Full life" ... "Well watered" ... "Rebuild"
God's Kingdom is the best!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Be Encouraged Today!
We began reading I Thess today. I couldn't stop at chapter one but I read the whole book (a whopping 5 chapters, ha) and was touched by the encouragement Paul, Silas and Timothy brought to the church in that city. As I read verses like 1:2 I could only think of the great team of ladies that minister amoung the women at Lincoln City Church. "I thank God for your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ."
We all know that God directs our lives and we have been brought together in this church and in this city because He is using us to bring His message of salvation to those He draws into our sphere of influence. Right now He is bringing many new ladies (and families) into our church and it is a time of stretching for all of us as we "step up to the plate" and reach out to people who are searching for more of Jesus.
I want you to know that God is using each of you but is going to use each of you in a greater way in the days to come. You will find yourselves being stretched to your spiritual limit. Believe me, you are more ready than you think!!! Let the Holy Spirit flow through you and you'll find yourself ministering in confidence and strength!
I am excited about the days ahead. Encourage each other with words of faith and hope and be there for each other. You are all a gift to this body of believers!
I love you all!!
We all know that God directs our lives and we have been brought together in this church and in this city because He is using us to bring His message of salvation to those He draws into our sphere of influence. Right now He is bringing many new ladies (and families) into our church and it is a time of stretching for all of us as we "step up to the plate" and reach out to people who are searching for more of Jesus.
I want you to know that God is using each of you but is going to use each of you in a greater way in the days to come. You will find yourselves being stretched to your spiritual limit. Believe me, you are more ready than you think!!! Let the Holy Spirit flow through you and you'll find yourself ministering in confidence and strength!
I am excited about the days ahead. Encourage each other with words of faith and hope and be there for each other. You are all a gift to this body of believers!
I love you all!!
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