The Clay Jar

Have you ever worked with clay? The satisfaction of creating something out of a lump of clay as you mold and work with it until you create the vessel that fit the clay. I remember one year working with clay in art class. We each had to design our own vessel. It could be anything we wanted but we had to decide what we wanted to make. As we worked on our projects, the teacher would explain each step and had samples of what our vessels should look like at that particular stage. I don’t remember what I made, probably a small bowl or dish, but I do remember the excitement of going to class each week, and the anticipation of seeing the finished product. Since we each had created our own vessels they were all uniquely different.

But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.

Isaiah 64:8

We are all the work of His hand. All. As I read this verse I thought about how we are each molded and shaped by the Father. He is the potter and we are the clay. He didn’t make a mistake when He created us. He knew exactly what He was doing. He knew when He created some with disabilities that they would bring glory to Him. They would be able to reach people that you or I wouldn’t be able to reach. I have two nephews, both have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I also have a sister-in-law with a host of disabilities. Some would say that they were mistakes. Some would say anyone with a disability was a mistake. They would be wrong. Then again some people would say that the ones who make such comments were the mistakes. But they too would be wrong.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:26-27

Genesis tells us that God created man in His likeness. Which means that everyone was created in His image and therefore not a mistake. God does not make mistakes. Can’t you see the love He poured into each person He created? People He knew when He created them, would bring glory and honor to Him just because of their disabilities and how they handled life. I don’t get to see my nephews that often. Nor do I get to see my sister-in-law every day. We all live in different states, the boys with their parents live in one state, my sister-in-law in another. But each time I do see them I am amazed at their outlook on life. The boys are typical young men, one is in high school and the other is in middle school. My how time flies! My sister-in-law lives life not letting her disabilities get in her way. Sure she has issues, but it is her outlook that blesses me when I do see her.

Have you ever stopped to wonder what it must have been like at the time of creation? I can remember the excitement I felt at each stage of working on my project for class and the satisfaction when it was working out the right way. The excitement I felt back then, pales in comparison to what the Father, Son and Holy Spirit must have felt when they decided to create man. Oh to have been there! The energy that must have been flowing.

God knew exactly what He was doing when He created us. There were no mistakes. Only special people who would impact the world as only they can. So when you see one of God’s special people, remember, they too are here for a purpose. To bring glory and honor to Him. God bless!

Add Title ~ Seriously? But God…

So, one of the hardest things for me is to come up with a title for the posts. When I first started blogging I read some of the ins and outs of blogging. You have to have this or that. You have to post every day. The title needs to be an eye catcher or people won’t read it. You need, you need, you need. I used to think I could come up with a title after writing and discovered that didn’t work for me. I also tried picking a scripture and writing about something that related to the scripture and yeah, that didn’t work either.

God knew before I started blogging exactly how He wanted me to write. I’m pretty sure He was prepared for my insecurities about writing. I imagine He chuckles every time I sit down to write because it seems like I think a post is going in one direction and it takes a totally different direction leaving me to have conversations with the Lord about whether He’s sure that’s the direction I’m supposed to head in. I can almost feel His gentle touch on my shoulder as He says, Trust Me, and of course I do as we go down the path He’s guiding me on. It’s a good thing you aren’t sitting with me because you’d probably hear things like: “Are you sure about this?” and “Okay if that’s what You think…are You certain?” Get the idea? Don’t misunderstand, if I’m not on the right path, I eventually find my way there as He waits for me catch up. I’ll get to where He is and even though I may have wasted time writing my way, He patiently guides me even with all my questions. But that’s okay to ask questions. I think He would rather we ask and seek than keep silent and not find.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

What is it that you want? What are you seeking? As you stand before the door with your hand poised to knock are you ready for it to be open to you? For when you find the door opened to you, you will find the Master waiting to welcome you. God bless! 💗

The Nudge

Recently I was having coffee with a friend of mine and she said to me I think you should write a book with your devotionals. Or something to that affect. And of course I gave her that deer in the headlights look. It started with a nudge. Normally I send my text devotionals only to the people on my list unless I’m asked to add someone. In fact I almost ignored the nudge thinking to myself that I was just tired and I had pulled her text feed up mistake. The feeling wouldn’t go away so I did what any obedient person would do and I sent it to her. She liked it so I added her to my list of family and friends that I send the devotionals out too.

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Battlefield – Are You Prepared?

Before entering any battle you want to know as much about the enemy as you can so that you can develop the best battle plan possible for taking down the enemy. Sometimes an unexpected blip on the radar interferes and you have to change your plans. However, there may be a time when you don’t have enough information to plan ahead and you have to go with what you have; which could be a little bit or nothing at all and you find yourself improvising as you go along.

Ephesians 6:10-11 (see above) tells us to be “Be strong and to put on the full armor of God.”

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. – The Bible is the only book we need to do battle. It gives us instruction and strategy on how to beat the enemy. Stories of ordinary people like you and me and how they were able to accomplish extraordinary feats for God.

While writing this post, I found myself struggling wondering why it wasn’t coming together. Having been here before, you would think I would remember the answer. It wasn’t anything I was doing wrong, but everything I was doing right. I was being obedient to what God put on my heart to do and the enemy wasn’t happy that I’m sharing what God would have me to share.

Be strong in the Lord – We are to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. His power. How? By studying this amazing book, the Bible, filled with knowledge, instruction, teaching and love. His love woven throughout the pages of the Bible. Stories of ordinary people, who failed but went on to do extraordinary things for God. There a different types of battlefields, the ones between men, in the heavenly realm, between man vs. spiritual. By studying His Word and through prayer, we learn how to be strong in Him and in His power. We learn how to put on the full armor of God.

The full armor of God – Imagine you are preparing for battle. You put on your gear and check it making sure your ready for battle. Belt of truth around the waist, check. Kevlar vest – the breastplate of righteousness, check. Boots – preparation of the gospel of peace, check. You test your shield of faith making sure it’s in good order, no cracks, sturdy and strong, check. You check your sword – not just a sword but the sword of the Spirit, check. Your helmet – the helmet of salvation, check. You have every thing you need as you pray fervently at all times alert to the attack you know is coming.

The enemy will attack, that’s a given. Sometimes you may not know how and it’s during those times that you have to really press in with prayer and continually making sure your armor is in good order. One small crack is all it takes for the enemy to mount a surprise attack. Are you prepared? During these unsettling days remember, this too shall pass, and as you press in seeking God, He will see you through this. Stay safe and be wise. God bless! 💓

God's Country~In The Beginning…

You’ve heard the saying “God’s Country”. It can be anywhere. But you know it when you see it. When I think about God’s country, I tend to think about the mountains and how beautiful they are in the spring and fall. I remember living in the Carolina mountains for a season and it was both heaven and hell. The beauty and majesty all around was a sight indeed to behold and I could see why it would be called God’s country. I would soon learn that in the midst of the beauty there was a hell. I didn’t see it coming; it was so subtle that it when it finally registered I couldn’t believe I missed it.

You see, the enemy will insert himself into every situation that he can. He will turn beauty into ashes. Trample all over that gorgeous scenery just to get inside your head. To let you know he can get to you anytime he wants. The enemy wants you to think there is no hope. He wants you to know despair, to fear the unknown. If he can make you believe that the unknown is a terrifying place then he can control you like a puppet.

But here’s the thing…

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