This past Sunday Kay and I had a fantastic opportunity to worship with wonderful friends while in Wilmington, North Carolina. There was a sweet time in the worship when I began to hear the Lord say something over and over to me. "LET THE POTTER BE THE POTTER AND THE CLAY BE THE CLAY." That may not seem like an earth shaking revelation to you, but it came to me over and over.
Jeremiah wrote this account:
"Then I went down to the potter's house and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter, so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?' says the Lord. 'Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!'" (Jeremiah 18: 3-6)
I would encourage you to get your Bible and read to read further into this passage. I think it's pretty significant for the times that we now live in, but here are my initial thoughts on what I believe the Lord was trying to say not only to me, but what He also wants me to now say to you.................
We HAVE to stop worrying about things that we cannot control. That is up to God and He is more than big enough to handle some of the major issues that we face in our day to day living. Jesus tells us often to follow His teachings and commands. We are instructed to meditate on the Word, even day and night. We are told to pray for our enemies and to love our neighbors. To love God with everything inside of us. We are to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. (Love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.) Then there are the beatitudes. Micah tells us to "do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
Those are some things that just come to me off the top of my head that we can control when it comes to our relationship with God, that will then help us keep our minds right when it comes to our outlook on life. I've only scratched the surface with these types of things, but take a minute now to just go back over the things I've mentioned and honestly evaluate how you are doing in those areas. When we take care of the things that we are instructed to do, I promise you God will take care of the rest.
Take it from the man typing that the more you do the things that Jesus and God instructs you to do the stress level will go down, worry will begin to cease, peace will abound and fear will be driven out. I do the whole Facebook thing too, and without judging I can tell who is trying to do it their way and not His way. God is trying to tell us that we need to stop that kind of nonsense. Time is too short and if we want to keep our sanity during these crazy times, we have to let our Father be the Potter.
About 5 years ago there was a situation at our church that really angered me. I had myself convinced that I needed to get involved in a situation and to let someone know exactly how it was going to be. I was even so upset that I had to go outside and walk around just trying to get my emotions to calm down so I wouldn't cross the line (too much). Looking back now I know that my heart was in a sinful place at that time with my attitude. However, while I was outside walking I very clearly heard the words, ".............And so you think that I'm not big enough to handle this?" I heard those words so clearly that I really knew that God wasn't going to mess around with my attitude and so I surrendered and turned it over to Him. You know what happened?
GOD TOOK CARE OF IT. I let the Potter be the Potter.
Had I not there would have been some kind of mess. Over the next few years there were other times when the Lord would have to remind me that He indeed was big enough for the big problems. I finally got it. Ever since I did, God has been shaping me and molding me into the kind of guy that I should be. Not that I am perfect, but I have become a much better man in being a representative of Jesus. Without boasting I am finding that the things I do in life are prosperous and blessed and all for HIS glory.
First, do those things that will allow you to become usable "clay" that can be more easily shaped and molded. In other words: Let the Potter be the Potter and the clay be the clay. That may sound simplistic, but if we really work on becoming better at this we will really start seeing more and more of the amazing things that God has planned. You then have every right to be excited about verses like the one I love from Jeremiah 33: 3.................."CALL TO ME AND I WILL ANSWER YOU, AND SHOW YOU GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS , WHICH YOU DO NOT KNOW."
I haven't blogged in quite sometime and now tonight I sensed the Lord wanting me to write this. There must be a reason. So I need to ask you this: What is going on in your life to where you need to allow the Potter to be the Potter?
For those with ears to hear............let us hear!
Mark S.
Jeremiah wrote this account:
"Then I went down to the potter's house and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter, so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?' says the Lord. 'Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!'" (Jeremiah 18: 3-6)
I would encourage you to get your Bible and read to read further into this passage. I think it's pretty significant for the times that we now live in, but here are my initial thoughts on what I believe the Lord was trying to say not only to me, but what He also wants me to now say to you.................
We HAVE to stop worrying about things that we cannot control. That is up to God and He is more than big enough to handle some of the major issues that we face in our day to day living. Jesus tells us often to follow His teachings and commands. We are instructed to meditate on the Word, even day and night. We are told to pray for our enemies and to love our neighbors. To love God with everything inside of us. We are to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. (Love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.) Then there are the beatitudes. Micah tells us to "do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
Those are some things that just come to me off the top of my head that we can control when it comes to our relationship with God, that will then help us keep our minds right when it comes to our outlook on life. I've only scratched the surface with these types of things, but take a minute now to just go back over the things I've mentioned and honestly evaluate how you are doing in those areas. When we take care of the things that we are instructed to do, I promise you God will take care of the rest.
Take it from the man typing that the more you do the things that Jesus and God instructs you to do the stress level will go down, worry will begin to cease, peace will abound and fear will be driven out. I do the whole Facebook thing too, and without judging I can tell who is trying to do it their way and not His way. God is trying to tell us that we need to stop that kind of nonsense. Time is too short and if we want to keep our sanity during these crazy times, we have to let our Father be the Potter.
About 5 years ago there was a situation at our church that really angered me. I had myself convinced that I needed to get involved in a situation and to let someone know exactly how it was going to be. I was even so upset that I had to go outside and walk around just trying to get my emotions to calm down so I wouldn't cross the line (too much). Looking back now I know that my heart was in a sinful place at that time with my attitude. However, while I was outside walking I very clearly heard the words, ".............And so you think that I'm not big enough to handle this?" I heard those words so clearly that I really knew that God wasn't going to mess around with my attitude and so I surrendered and turned it over to Him. You know what happened?
GOD TOOK CARE OF IT. I let the Potter be the Potter.
Had I not there would have been some kind of mess. Over the next few years there were other times when the Lord would have to remind me that He indeed was big enough for the big problems. I finally got it. Ever since I did, God has been shaping me and molding me into the kind of guy that I should be. Not that I am perfect, but I have become a much better man in being a representative of Jesus. Without boasting I am finding that the things I do in life are prosperous and blessed and all for HIS glory.
First, do those things that will allow you to become usable "clay" that can be more easily shaped and molded. In other words: Let the Potter be the Potter and the clay be the clay. That may sound simplistic, but if we really work on becoming better at this we will really start seeing more and more of the amazing things that God has planned. You then have every right to be excited about verses like the one I love from Jeremiah 33: 3.................."CALL TO ME AND I WILL ANSWER YOU, AND SHOW YOU GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS , WHICH YOU DO NOT KNOW."
I haven't blogged in quite sometime and now tonight I sensed the Lord wanting me to write this. There must be a reason. So I need to ask you this: What is going on in your life to where you need to allow the Potter to be the Potter?
For those with ears to hear............let us hear!
Mark S.
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