I am the Potter; you are My clay.  I designed you before the foundation of the world.  I arrange the events of each day to form you into this preconceived pattern.  My everlasting Love is at work in every event of your life.  On some days your will and Mine flow smoothly together.  You tend to feel in control of your life when our wills are in harmony.  On other days you feel as if you are swimming upstream, against the current of My purposes.  When that happens, STOP and Seek My Face.  The opposition you feel may be from Me, or it may be from the evil one.

Talk with Me about what you are experiencing.  Let My Spirit guide you through treacherous waters.  As you move through the turbulent stream with Me, let circumstances mold you into the one I desire you to be.  Say yes to your Potter as you go through this day.

 

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

 

Psalms 27:8

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

 

Job 33:6

Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.

 

"The most common way of making early pottery was by hand. This method usually was abandoned after the invention of the wheel. The former method commonly used coils of clay to form the shape of the vessel, which was then smoothed off into finished form. Most of the pottery used in Bible times was thrown on the wheel...The better vessels were finished off with a slip, which is an extra pure grade of clay that will produce the finest of colors. It was the consistency of cream and was applied to the vessel before firing. An additional technique, which produced one of the most pleasing patterns, was burnishing...To burnish a vessel the potter used a hard instrument, such as a piece of bone, and pressed against the original vessel or the slipped vessel, producing the desired pattern. This method gave a play of light and shadow to the fired vessel."

"Jeremiah 18:1-6 refers to the potter's house. This was not a reference to the home of the potter, but to his place of manufacture. The house would be near to a field where clay could be weathered and stored and where it could be prepared for fashioning. A kiln for firing the ware and a dump for the broken and discarded vessels would be a part of the potter's complex. the house would provide cover for the wheel upon which the potter would fashion his vessels in all kinds of weather. This building would also make possible the control of the drying process before the firing. It would be necessary to closely watch the evaporation of the newly fashioned objects since this would also influence the results of the firing process. Although most of the pottery in Biblical times was shaped on the potter's wheel, the one specific reference to the wheel in the OT is Jeremiah 18:3. There were two types of wheel. The hand-turned wheel consisted of two discs. The heavier wheel below gave momentum to keep the lighter one above turning, but the vessel was shaped on the upper wheel. The foot-turned wheel consisted of a large wheel which was turned below by the potter's foot. The small wheel above, connected to the lower wheel by a shaft, was the one on which the prepared clay was thrown and fashioned by the potter. The apocrypha includes a detailed account of the work of the potter at the wheel (Ecclus. 38:29-32). As the ball of plastic clay spun around rapidly, the centrifugal force upon the clay was controlled by the deft fingers of the potter so that any desired vessel could be obtained as long as the quality of the clay permitted the completion of the vessel. Jeremiah witnessed that factors can be present that defeat the original intention of the potter. The clay may be the wrong kind. It may have too many impurities. The treading may not have been properly done, or the potter may have failed to place the ball of plastic clay in the exact center of the wheel. If the clay does not yield the desired product, the potter can then reshape the clay into a ball and produce another vessel. It was this process that Jeremiah noted carefully." (The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, 1978).

 

 

 

 

 

Dear God, Thank you for caring so much that you sent your Holy Spirit to touch me and live within me, sealing me unto the day of redemption. Thank you that there is an Intercessor and Savior, praying for me and standing in my stead when I do not even have the words to say. Sometimes, there is just so much to pray for, so many needs or so much heartache that I just do not know what to pray. But you know my heart. You know my needs. You know the needs of those for whom I am burdened. Father, I come to you now offering words of praise and thanksgiving, and trusting you to always be there and to answer the cries of the heart. I love you. In Jesus' name, amen.

---

Gideon's Success Test
 by Os Hillman

"All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping [the idol] there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family" (Judg. 8:27).

Israel was at war with the Midianites and the Amalekites. So God chose a humble young man, Gideon, to deliver Israel by cleansing the land of idols. After submitting a fleece to determine it was God calling him, Gideon obeyed the Lord and destroyed the pagan idols in the region. Then he summoned a large army?over 30,000 men?to fight the Midianites and Amalekites. God said the army was too large, so He first reduced Gideon's army 10,000 men, and then to a mere 300 men. When God gave Israel the victory with an army of only 300 men, all of Israel knew that it was the power of God, not the strength of his army.

If the story had ended there, all would have been well. But at the moment of Israel's triumph, Gideon stumbled. He told the people, "I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder." The Israelites took the gold from the bodies of the enemy dead and Gideon melted it and fashioned it into an idol. The Bible calls this idol an ephod, a word that refers to a ceremonial breastplate?Gideon probably depicted the Lord God as a warrior with an ephod of gold.

But God does not allow Himself to be represented by an idol. This idol was an offense against God and a trap for the people. After Gideon's death, the Israelites again worshiped the pagan god Baal. They forgot the Lord God who rescued them from their enemies.

The story of Gideon has a great beginning, but a tragic ending. This is an instructive lesson for us all. As the apostle Paul tells us, "If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Cor. 10:12).

If we fail the Success Test we must go back to God without fear. We can ask Him to help us learn the lessons of our failure and to strengthen us for another effort. The God of second chances is able to accomplish His purpose through us even if we have failed Him many times before.

I know for me there have been times in my life that I have felt like I have totally messed up.  That there was no way that God would ever want to use me again.  And I would drag myself back to him and cry to him.  And every time he would take me back.   I just heard that the word time & always is not how we see it.  God see those words as "WHEN".  When it says always, replace it with the word when.   So every when, God takes us back.  When we mess up, when we run away, when we pray, when we cry out to him.   He is always there at our every when.  I am grateful for my every when, I know he is there, He said he would be.

 

Pride that Leads to Arguments
by Os Hillman

"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned" (Titus 3:10-11).

Have you ever had to deal with a person that just wanted to argue with you, no matter which position they took? This person usually has a strong opinion and draws conclusions quickly, rarely giving credence to other's viewpoint.

The apostle Paul knew how to deal with such people. Once he saw this pattern, he confronted the person. If they continued, he cut off fellowship. However, if this person happens to be your boss, you will not be able to avoid the person.

The root stronghold of a person who is argumentative is pride and fear. This person is not secure in who they are as a person. They mask their inadequacies through a need to always be right.

I had a business partner once who was deeply hurt by lawyers in a corporate take-over. Ever since that time he was argumentative with every lawyer he had to deal with. One time, I had to confront him and tell him what was behind his behavior. Thankfully, he had the grace and humility to repent and renounce his stronghold of pride, insecurity and fear. We proceeded to finish our project.

When you run into this in the workplace, pray for understanding. Negative behavior is like the warning light on your car dashboard. It's telling you there is something going on under the hood. Realize this person is in a prison guarded by a root stronghold that has been a part of his/her life for along time. Unfortunately, it usually takes a significant crisis for that person to examine themselves and become free.

Pray that God gives you grace to work with such a person and pray that God will deliver them.

I am a God who heals, I heal broken bodies, broken minds, broken hearts, broken lives, and broken relationships.  My very Presence has immense healing powers.  You cannot live close to Me withour experiencing some degree of healing.  However, it is also true that you have not because you ask not.  You receive the healing that flows naturally from My Presence, whether you seek it or not.  But there is more - much more - available to those who ask.

 

The first step in receiving healing is to live ever so close to Me.  The benefits of this pratice are too numerous to list.  As you grow more and more intimate with Me, I reveal My will to you more directly.  When the time is right, I prompt you to ask for healing of some brokenness in you or in another person.  The healing may be instantaneous, or it may be a process.  That is up to Me.  Your part is to trust Me fully and to thank Me for the restoration that has begun.

 

I rarely heal all the brokenness in a person's life.  Even My servant Paul was told, "My grace is sufficient for you," when he sought healing for the thorn in his flesh.  Nonetheless, much healing is available to those whose lives are intimately interwoven with Mine, Ask, and you will receive.

Ps 103:3, James 4:2, 2Corinthians 12:7-9, Matthew 7:7

 

 

some of you have ask about my daughter, well here is a website that tells her story.

God Bless

Today's Prayer
Dear God, please forgive me. I sometimes look at those I see and get frustrated by the way they are. Some are angry and act ugly and even curse. Others have no desire to do what is right. Some just want to "party" and live like the world all the time. Some are lazy. Some are hurting and holding on to bitterness. I don't always understand why they are that way. Then I, in my frustration, become angry and grumble. Forgive me for my ungodly attitudes and complaining. I am sorry. Help me to see the potential in others and to pray for them more and criticize them less. I pray that through my prayers to you and through my Christian testimony and example and through my words and deeds, these people would come to know you or come back and lay their issues on the altar. I pray that we all will lift our burdens to you and drop them at your feet, so that you can take them away and guide us in the way everlasting. Please relieve our griefs and burdens and replace them with your peace. Please bless us as we serve you. Please help us and pick us help when we stumble. Thank you for your mercies. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

---

Stoplight Faith
 by Os Hillman

"And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith" (Matt 13:58).

You can learn a lot about people in traffic. For instance, I observe a lot when I see 20 cars in one line and only 3 cars in another. The reason for the longer line is these people want to make sure they get to make their turn after the light. I, on the other hand, want to get through the light first, then I will worry about making the next turn. This is a difference in risk taking tolerance, or perhaps faith; or even some might argue with me that I'm operating out of presumption versus real faith.

No matter which person you might be in this situation, it is sure that faith is often spelled R.I.S.K. When the priests carried the ark into the Jordan River at flood stage there was a risk they could lose the ark to the Jordan River. However, that is not what happened. "And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap" (Josh 3:13). God changed the entire environment and made it possible to walk across without the pressure of wading through the powerful water only when they took the first step.  Risk means there is a potential for loss. However, when God leads us to take a risk, then He is there whether we succeed or fail. He is there in the success and He is there in the failure. If He leads you to take a risk it may not always succeed in the way you think. In fact, it could even fail.

The only true failure is when we fail to take the risk when God is leading us to do so. Sometimes the fear of failure is the greater obstacle than the risk itself.  Has God called you to step out in an area that requires risk? This could be the place He wants you to move. Ask Jesus to give you the courage to step out.

Our church had a 8/8/08 service on that friday.  It was a great "new beginning" service.  Pastor took some good ole duct tape and drawed a line on the floor and ask us all to stand on one side. Then he prayed over us and when we felt like we were ready to step over the line, we went over.  It was great!!  He was talking about getting to the other side of the boat, the right side.  He was refered to Peter going fishing and Jesus telling them to go to the other side and drop there nets.

What a great feeling we all had afterwards.   The next day, I got up with a greater purpose.  I felt like I need to do a new thing with my front deck.  Since 2004, when Hurricane Ivan came through and removed my new screened in porch.  I just haven't felt like sitting out on the deck that was left.  My chairs and glider swing have been just sitting out there.   So I made up my mind that I was going to do something about it and make it look new again .   So I got a bucket of white paint and a paint brush .  I first washed each chair with hot soapy water and let them dry (which didnt take long in 98 deg)  So I started painting, I started noticing that the wood was cracked and worn out.  That it had really taken a beaten over the last 4 yrs.  It was weather beaten.  They had set through more hurricanes, tons of thunderstorms and very hot summers.  They were really beat up.   As I was painting, God showed me that this is how some of us are in our lives.  We have been through some storms of our own.  That some of us are beaten and just worn out.  We have scars, wrinkles & stress lines.  That we have weathered trials in our lives.  God showed me as I was appling the paint that the paint was covering up all the weather beaten color, filling in all the cracks, soaking into the wood.   As it did this, it was making the surface smooth again.  It made it look "new".  I heard God so clearly, say " let me use my paint brush and fill in the cracks of  your heartaches and the storms you have been through."  I know that he wants to do that with everyone.  That when we dip ourselves into his very presence he covers us.  As I have been painting this past week (when its not raining)  I cant help but think as I paint the chairs, God is painting me.  That every crack I paint he fills in one of mine.  I pray that everyone that reads this that God will paint you too!   That you will let him fill in the holes and the broken hearts.  And let you have a "new beginning".  God bless you!!!

 

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favorite poem.
3. Don't believe all you hear.
4. Don't spend all you have.
5. Don't sleep all you want.
6. When you say, "I love you", mean it.
7. When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.
8. Be engaged at least 6 months before you get married.
9. Believe in love at first sight.
10. Never laugh at anyone's dreams.
11. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way
to live life completely.
12. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
13. Don't judge people by their relatives.
14. Talk slowly, but think quickly.
15. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and
ask, "why do you want to know?"
16. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
17. Call your parents.
18. Say, "God bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
19. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
20. Remember the 3 r's: respect for self; respect for others;
responsibility for all your actions.
21. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
22. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct
it.
23. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
24. Marry a person you love to talk to. As you grow older, his or her
conversational skills will be as important as any other.
25. Spend some time alone.
26. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
27. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
28. Read more books and watch less TV.
29. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back,
you'll get to enjoy it a second time.
30. Trust in God but lock your car.
31. A loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to
create a tranquil, harmonious home.
32. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with a current situation. Don't
bring up the past.
33. Read between the lines.
34. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
35. Be gentle with the earth.
36. PRAY. There's immeasurable power in it.
37. Never interrupt when you are being flattered. Say, "thank you".
38. Mind your own business.
39. Don't trust a person who doesn't close his or her eyes when you kiss
them.
40. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
41. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are
living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
42. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
43. Learn the rules, then break some.
44. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each
other is greater than your need for each other.
45. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
46. Remember that your character is your destiny.
47. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

-- Author Unknown

I just got this today from a website I receive daily insight.  Do you think God is trying to tell me something or what!!  Or maybe its just me.  Thanks for the encourging words that I have gotten from you.  Its not like I dont already know these things, I just needed to be reminded.  Just like I heard last night at church, when you dont know what to do go back to the simple part.  That God loves me and thats all I need.

When Bad Things Happen

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved
from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received his word were
baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And
they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many
wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were
together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and
goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily
with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they
ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and
having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily
those who were being saved. - Acts 2:40-47.

When bad things happen in my life my response, since I have been a Christian
has always been to turn to God. Do I blame God for the bad things that have
happened? No. Do I ask Him to help me? Yes. Does He always help me the way
that I want Him to help me? No. However, He does always bring good out of
the bad as His Word promises in Romans 8:28. I may not immediately be able
to see it, but eventually I know that I will and I have every time something
bad has happened. Is that the only way that God helps when the bad things
happen? No. He is able to hold me together and give me peace in spite of the
turmoil and the anguish that may be spinning around me. Philippians 4:6-7 is
not just words on a paper because prayer really does make a difference.
Sometimes God does move in answer to those prayers to change things
supernaturally. I would like for Him to do that every time but even when He
doesn't I trust Him to know better than I do what is best for my life
(Isaiah 55:8-9; Jeremiah 29:11).

Before I was a Christian, I did not turn to God when bad things happened. I
ponder sometimes what a great difference it would have made in my life if as
a teenager I had been walking with my Lord and had called out to Him when I
was hurting and alone. Oh, life during those days would have been so much
better, more full, more exciting, more everything..

Why do people turn away from God or blame God when bad things happen? Acts
2:42 explains why the early church did not do that, "And they continued
steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
bread, and in prayers." This verse says much about what we need as
Christians today. When our world comes crashing in and everything is going
wrong, what do we do? Where do we turn? We should follow the example of the
early church and continue on. They "continued steadfastly." This seems to
indicate that there was at least some opposition to their doing what the
remainder of the verse states.

When all seems lost, continue on. Continue on in the "apostles' doctrine"
which was and is the Word of God. Continue on reading, studying and
meditating upon the Word of God. Continue on memorizing and imbedding the
Word of God in your hearts.

When all seems lost, continue on. Continue on in fellowship with other
Christians. Continue on provoking and encouraging others to love and good
works and assembling with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). Continue on
and stand firm with your labor for the Lord because we know that it is never
in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Continue on in that fellowship of obedience
to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Continue on and you too will
have "gladness.of heart!"

I have been having a battle of my own lately.  My boyfriend of 4 yrs just up and decided that we needed to go our different ways.  First, I was in shock and then I was anger.  How can you look someone in the face and tell them that you love them and then just walk away.  With a straight face.  I have spent my last night crying myself asleep.  I am too old to have to go through this.  I was praying and asking God "WHY".  We had been planning to get married in the next year.  Then this morning I was praying and I looked in my "Jesus Calling" devotion and it hit me right between the eyes.  I have to trust God and his decisions in my life.  No matter how hard .

This is what I read today: