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Archive for the tag “Jars of Clay”

05 Feb 2014
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Ouch!

You know when you ask God to reveal things in your heart, He’s going to respond. I asked for God to do that for me. One of the things that God revealed to me lately came through a sermon by Joyce Meyer. She made a statement about one of her kids asking what she (her daughter) could do for her (Joyce) that day. At that moment, I had a flashback to the days of my youth. I would have never come to my Mom to ask how I could help her. Mom always had to ask me to do things for her. I was so self focused that I would not have seen her need in front of me. I wish I could say I grew out my selfish nature, but I am still working on it.

I remember so many times when the family went off to play golf and left my Mom home to cook our supper. My Mom truly had a servant’s heart. She never complained about doing for others. She knew we were off doing what we loved to do. And when we got home, she was always ready for us to sit down and enjoy a good meal. Even in the last few years of her life, when she was hurting she still managed to get through the cooking without a complaint. I was better in the later years with helping out in the kitchen without being asked. But it still makes me sad to think of how I treated my Mom without the gratitude for her caring nature. I know in her last days, I asked her forgiveness for how I treated her in my youth. She had already forgiven me long ago, but I still needed to say it once again.

When God revealed my heart, I saw my selfish nature. I don’t think my Mom had a selfish bone in her body; especially in those later years. She was so giving. I keep asking God to reveal my heart, and sometimes He shows me my Mom’s. I am still so far from perfect. But every time He reveals something, I can choose to accept the challenge. I know I want to become more like my Mom, but even better, I want to be more like Christ. As God reveals each area to surrender, I am one more step closer to living like His Son. I know I can’t do it on my own, which is why He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us. It’s through His strength I can do all things. Change doesn’t come easy. I will probably fail more times than not, but that’s okay. God is patient with me and will help me finish the work that has already begun in me. God is at work. I am still in the Master Potter’s hands. I am still being made into a useful vessel. One day God will have me ready for His glory.

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

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19 Sep 2012

Greater Things

I have heard two messages in the last week that tie in with this season of my life. God has placed a new theme over the last few years called “greater things.” He is calling me to greater things. The sermon I heard first was from Steven Furtick at Elevation Church. The scripture was 1 Kings 19:19-21. In this scripture we see Elijah placing his cloak on Elisha – Elijah is passing the mantle. Elisha took up the cloak and followed Elijah. Elisha went on to do greater things than Elijah. But Elisha first had to burn his plow. He had to get rid of the thing that would tempt him to go back. He was called to a higher purpose than plowing fields. Everything changes when the mantel is passed to us.

Then the next message was from Beth Moore from her simulcast on Saturday (September 15). Her message began with “the Lord speaks; many, many women spread the good news!” Psalm 68:11 (NET) The story continues with Elisha and two women (found in 2 Kings 4:1-33). One woman had almost nothing, and the other had almost everything. Both needed a miracle. The one with nothing knew she needed a miracle. The other thought she had everything and didn’t need a miracle. Girl A had nothing but a little oil. All she needed was more jars. With more jars, she received a blessing of a personal testimony for God’s unending supply to fulfill needs. Girl Z had about everything but lacked a son. She didn’t want to be disappointed again and decided “doing fine” was good enough. We are not called to a “fine” life but a faith life. If we have everything we need, then we are not living a big enough life. We have taken faith out of faithfulness. We have given ourselves over to fear instead of faith. (From my notes from Beth)

The mantle has been passed. There’s nothing to go back to. God has called each of us to tell, and it’s my turn to tell my story. Time is getting short. This is the season for being prepared to offer people the hope of which God gives in abundance. God has an unending supply of everything needed for an abundant life. The only thing that will keep the oil (the Spirit of Truth) from flowing is a closed jar (mouth).

Let this jar of clay shine the brightest light through all the cracks so that others may be drawn to the Light.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

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