A Potter's Vessel - Part 2

The term "throwing" comes from this next step. The lump of clay is thrown down on the wheel, forcefully, as close to the center of the wheel as possible. If the clay is not thrown hard enough, it will not adhere to the wheel and the work will be ruined when the clay moves.

This is definitely not a comfortable step for the clay. Imagine that freefall and the sudden stop at the end. I've felt like that fairly often and I'm sure that you have too. But if we are going to be useful to God we need to allow him to shape us. I often feel like crawling off God's wheel and hiding, because being shaped for His purposes is uncomfortable, very uncomfortable. Not only do we need to cling to the fact that God has our ultimate good in mind, we also need to submit to His hand in leading us where we should go and what we should be doing.



Once the clay is on the wheel, the fun starts. When the potter sits at the wheel, he needs to be sure that he is centered at the wheel. His body, arms, hands, head and eyes are all concentrated on the exact center of the wheel. If he is off-center, he will push the clay off-center and will not be able to make anything.

This is something that I just realized this year. - God is omnipotent. (You've heard that before too, right?) At a seminar I attended in march, the speaker pointed out just what it meant to be omnipotent. It means to be fully present, possessing all power, in every place. I used to think of omnipotence as God being like a thin layer that covered everything. That's not at all what it is. He is fully present, capable of using all His power on my behalf at any time. He is paying attention to me fully, just as he is paying attention to you fully, at the same time. The saying "You can't do two things at once" does NOT apply to God. I am at the center of His attention, just as you are.



Centered and with all his attention on the clay and what he is doing with it, the potter guides the clay onto the exact center of the wheel. With one hand on the side to guide and one hand keeping the clay from spinning up into an unusable tower, the potter begins work the clay.

You would think that we would automatically relax, knowing that God's hand was guiding us. But all too often I find myself tensing up and fighting the very guidance that God has put in my life. I struggle against it and at time really resent it. I also tend to get impatient and want to "get going" and grow up to quickly, but then I'd be like that unusable tower of clay. Only by submitting to the guiding hands of God will I be able to be used by Him.



The whole time the clay is being worked, the potter has a bucket of water nearby to keep the clay moist and workable. A constant source of just the right amount of water ensures that the clay can continue to be worked to fulfill the potter's vision for it.

This might be another step that is overlooked as not having much importance but it is vital. A constant exposure the water of the Word of God is vital for the life of a Christian. Without it, just like the clay, we dry out, become fragile, and aren't good for much of anything. We need to regularly bathe in God's word for guidance, comfort and vision.

A Potter's Vessel-Part 1

(I hit post and then realized just how long it was. I've broken it up into a couple sections so it won't be so long to read.)


How many of you have had the chance to make pottery using a potter's wheel?

I took a ceramics class in college and while I was really annoyed with the hand building techniques (alright, I hated them), I loved working on the wheel. I wasn't very good at it, but I loved it. I thinking back I can see a number of spiritual principles that have parallels in forming pottery on a wheel.
I put my applications in blue to try to separate them out. I hope this isn't too confusing.

First of all, the potter needs to consider what type of vessel he is going to make. Different clays have different uses. What is the vessel going to be used for? Who is going to be using it? Is it a fine vase fit for a king's palace? or is it a large, sturdy pot for storing water? The potter knows what he is going to do before he starts.
"Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" (Romans 9:21)
The Lord has a vision for each of us, for each of our lives. He knows what purpose we will serve and how we will be used. I want to know now what I'm going to be used for and when I'm going to be used. I want to read the script so I know what's coming. God doesn't work that way. Everything has it's own time and purpose, His time and purpose.
The other thing that I noticed at this step was so obvious that I overlooked it-the potter is the one that makes the decision about what is going to be made. All too often, I'm the one that wants to decide what is going to happenand be in charge but if I want God's best in my life then I need to let him make the decisions for me.

Next the clay needs to be prepared. Sometimes it needs to be soaked because it has dried out. Other times in needs to be aired out because there is too much water in it. Once it is the right consistency, the clay is "wedged" or kneaded. Wedging removes the air bubbles in the clay and ensures an even consistency throughout the whole lump.
One of the things that jumps out at me is the use of water. Water speaks of the Word of God. Like the clay, we need it integrated into our live in order to be usefull. If we are dry, we need to be saturated with it. Sometimes we "know" so much scripture that we need to be aired out to let God's Word actually soak in and become a practical part of our every day walk.
We also need to have any air bubbles removed. Sometimes this means changing locations, changing churches, or changing jobs. Sometimes it just plain feels like we've been dumped over on our heads and then smooshed down flat. Even though we don't understand it, we need to trust God that He has everything under control.

(to be continued)

We Shall Behold Him

It's been ages since I've thought of this song. A friend that I had sang it at summer camp at Lassen Pines one year for a tape. It was beautiful. I used to play just that song over and over and over... I don't remember if I wore out the tape or the tape player, but I can't find the tape anymore. I've since lost touch with her, but I wish I could tell her how much I loved the song that she chose to sing that year.

Tonight it has an added meaning because the Lord brought it to mind after spending time with Him. If you search for the title, you can find some posting of the actual song. I would have posted one here but I couldn't find one that had the timing that I remembered. But it's still a beautiful song...

We shall behold Him


The sky shall unfold, preparing His entrance;
The stars shall applaud Him with thunders of praise.
The sweet light in His eyes shall enhance those a waiting,
And we shall behold Him then face to face.

And we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory;
And we shall behold Him, Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Savior and Lord.

The angels shall sound the shout of His coming,
The sleeping shall rise from their slumbering place.
And those who remain shall be changed in a moment,
And we shall behold Him then face to face.

And we shall behold Him, we shall behold Him
Face to face in all of His glory;
And we shall behold Him, Yes, we shall behold Him
Face to face, our Savior and Lord.
We shall behold Him, our Savior and Lord.

Warrior of Light

Lord, it's dark and demons press round.
The advice that they whisper is scarcely sound.
My heart is weak and far, far from brave,
But you have come "to Seek and to Save."

I ask your protection on this long, lonesome night
Before those around me decide on my plight,
And press ever closer and prevent any fight,
I ask that you send a Warrior of Light.

His face will cause ten thousand to flee,
As he aids and protects,--his mission for thee.
And though he be valiant and mighty and true
I ask that he be patient-compassionate, too.

For I am afraid of anything new,
No matter how good, how right or how true.
For though I ask help, yeah, even expect,
However it appears is often suspect

For fear presses in, and doubt colors all,
And while I would see my enemies fall,
I cling to old habits, for they're what I know
Even while they have nothing to show.

"Deliver me, Lord, and come to my aid,
Through this deep river, help me to wade,
And bring me safe over to Heaven's bright shore,
When my journey is finally o're.

For you are "the Way, the Truth and the Life"
Offering to us the Gift of your Life.
All who accept the price that was paid,
Shall in Glory, be like Him made."

And while the night is dark, I'm alone,
I can see your Son on the Throne.
And I thank and I praise and I humbly bow.
"My God you have saved me!--WOW!!!"

The original red-light district?

(written July 17, 2008 - posted here for archival purposes)

From Joshua 2-
(I realize this is speculation, but I thought that I'd pass it on because I enjoyed the thought.)

To get the setting: Joshua send two spies into Jericho to get the lay of the land. They run into Rahab, who protect and hides them. Rahab lets the spies down over the wall by a scarlet cord. The spies tell her to tie the cord in her window and she and everyone inside with her will be safe from the invading Isreal army.


I started thinking about Rahab. Would she have taken the cord she used to save the spies, cut off a piece, tie a neat little bow in her window and hope it got noticed. (That's the picture that I grew up with.) I don't think so. I think that she realized that she was in a life-or-death situation and threw caution to the wind. I can see her using the ENTIRE length of cord, weaving it into her window frame. I can imagine her going out and buying all the scarlet cord that she can find just to make sure that every window in her house was covered. She wanted to make sure that she was noticed and protected just as the spies had promised. She wanted to make sure that no one would mistake her house.

Now can you imagine being inside Rahab's house. Every window is covered with a scarlet weaving. As the light filters through the scarlet cord, everything is bathed in a red glow. What do her neighbors think? After all, she is a hooker, I mean, a harlot. It was just something she thought would give her an advantage over the competition, right?

WRONG! That scarlet cord was her salvation. And that red glow that was cast over the occupants of that house is a picture of the fact that all need to be washed in the blood of Jesus Christ in order to be saved. Because of her faith, Rahab was saved from the annihilation that the rest of Jericho faced. Because of her faith, was included in the genealogy of both King David and the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of your faith, what will the Lord involve you in?




Ps- Isn't it just like Satan to take something that could be such a beautiful picture and corrupt it so that becomes a symbol for Rahab's previous profession instead of a symbol of her deliverance.

Do you have your reservation? Grandpa did.

(written July2, 2008 - Posted here to archive)

Last Monday, Grandpa passed away. Yesterday was his funeral. For the past few weeks, I've been thinking about what to say to honor him. Do I emphasize his accomplishments? Do I cry through how much I love him? Do I tell funny stories? What do I say?

One thing that I did do was create a one way ticket for Grandpa, a one way ticket to heaven. I was amazed at the response to it. So many people commented on it. And a few told me it would be a great witnessing tool. ---That got me thinking...how would you approach someone with it? The best I could come up with was "Do you have your reservation?"

Everyone knows what a reservation is. And the way that the airline industry is functioning today, everyone knows that the earlier you get your tickets the better. The same goes for a ticket to heaven. Except the currency that you use to purchase a ticket to heaven is faith, faith in Jesus Christ. Each individual must purchase their own ticket. There are no group rates. No discounts. No sales or 2-for-1 specials.

So just how do you make this reservation? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31) What does that mean? It means that you believe that Jesus is who he said he is and that you accept that he died in your place to pay for your sins (everything you've done wrong) and rose again, conquering death, and is now in heaven, inviting you to join him. It means repenting (turning around from following your own way) and following Jesus. It really is that simple-and there really is just one way to heaven, however it takes a lifetime to apply and live out. I know Grandpa had his reservation. I have mine. Do you have yours?



BTW-here's what I ended up saying at the funeral:

If Grandpa were to introduce me, he'd tell you that I was his "favorite number one grand-daughter".

Grandpa wore a lot of hats in his lifetime. He was a sailor, a truck driver, and a motorcycle rider. He was a brother, a husband, a father and a friend. But I think the hats that he was proudest of were those of Grandpa and Great-Grandpa. He was a Grandpa seven times and a Great-Grandpa eight and a half times. Grandpa loved spending time with family. There were camping trips to Yosemite, and Newport Dunes in the motor home and trips (I've been told) to Cachuma. Any special event, birthday, graduation or wedding, Grandpa was there. Early.

Proverbs 18:24 says "A man who has friends must himself be friendly," That perfectly describes Grandpa. He was a friend to everyone, always willing to lend a hand to help with a project or to be there to help you celebrate a milestone. I only hope that I can live up to the example that he set for me. But that verse goes on to say "But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Grandpa knew that friend, as do I, and because of that I KNOW that I will see him again one day.

Some of you have seen to "One Way" ticket to Heaven that was made for Grandpa. Since Grandpa love trains, I got this picture of Grandpa riding to Heaven on a train. I can just imagine him pulling into Heaven's Station last Monday night. As he steps onto the platform there is a huge crowd of friends and family rushing to meet him, but leading the charge was the Lord Jesus. As he reached Grandpa, He swept him up into his arms and swung him around like a little boy and whispered in his ear. "Welcome home, my child. I missed you."


Grandpa, I wouldn't wish you back. I love you, so much and I will see you again soon.

Gardening

(written May 18, 2008-posted here for archival purposes)

I was thinking about all that has been happening lately and how beat up I feel. I was reminded that there is a lot of changing and growing going on this year. The growing part struck me.--What do you do when you grow things? You bury them in the dirt. Well, if you're planting seeds, you bury them. If you're planting something that's already sprouted, you pull it out of it's nice comfortable little pot and stick into either a bigger pot or into the ground, and then tamp things down nice and firm. From the plant's perspective, I'll bet this feels rather traumatic--going from what you're used to, to being yanked around, put into a new environment, and then being squeezed into place. Then you get watered. That's generally not so bad, unless you get too much and you just can't cope with it, or you get too little and you start to shrivel up. Getting the right amount of water can make you feel at home faster. But it doesn't stop there...to encourage growth you get fertilized. (This is actually the part that I just figured out.) What is fertilizer? There are several thing that it can be, but most commonly its a pile of poop. As if things weren't bad enough, someone comes along and dumps a pile of poop on you. And you can bet that you're going to get watered again, so now you're sitting in a pile of wet poop. Now what?

Right about now is when I'm looking for a way out of the garden. I'm pulling up my roots and running for the hills. Who care how hard it is out there, I do not want to sit in wet poop!

But wait a minute--who is the Master Gardener? Does He really know what He's doing? Would He do anything out of spite or does He really have my best interests in mind? Only He can see the blueprint for His garden. He know the place that He has for me in it. It might be where I'm currently planted or He may choose to transplant me somewhere else. You may feel like you're sitting in wet poop, but are you going to sit and curse the poop or are you going to use it as an opportunity to grow? (The funny thing about growing--as you grow, your head gets further away from the poop and you don't mind it as much.)

Hope you all have a blessed week.

Welcome!!!

Something about starting fresh on something...

A blank canvas just waiting to be filled.
A masterpiece waiting to be created.

I'm not sure where this blog will go. I want it to be a place where I can share my thoughts and feelings, but I also want it to be a place where I can share what the Lord is doing in my life. There are a few things that I will be pulling together from other sources that I want to archive here. But besides that, happy reading....