Everything I learned was in Kindergarten..almost. But that is where I learned about clay and kilns and pottery. I think I may still have some of my masterpieces hanging around the house. When I'm gone and departed, I'm sure they'll fetch priceless amounts of money at auction ;o) But seriously, the guy across the street from me growing up was a master potter. It's cool to watch a master potter work, especially if you can track the whole process of making a single bowl. First, he prepares the clay, which involves wetting it, beating it, cutting it, and kneading it over and over again. It often takes a total of several hours over two or three days to make the clay just right.
Philippians 1:6
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Guess what? God Finishes the job.
God chose me, called me, declared me not guilty, and is in a constant flux of glorifying me. Sometimes I think that He can’t possibly mold me to be like Jesus. But, He can because he is God. He can and he will and does—It’s a promise.
When the clay is ready the potter places it on a wheel that spins it while he presses on it to make the shape emerge. He pushes and pulls and cuts and carves until the shape he has in mind emerges. Then, he sets it on a shelf for a few days to dry before firing it.
The firing process is usually done in two stages. The first stage hardens the clay so it isn’t so fragile while the artist applies the glaze. After the first firing, the potter applies glaze to the bowl. The glaze is very thin clay with chemicals that will change into beautiful colors as they melt. At this point, the piece still looks like some carefully shaped and hardened dirt. The final firing heats the bowl to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes the bowl very hard and durable. It also reveals the colors and designs the potter applied to the surface. Only after the clay has been beaten, shaped, stretched, and fired can we see the beauty that was in the mind of the potter from the very beginning.
Remember that God is the master potter of your life. He planned, prepared, and organized every part of who you are and what you will experience so that he can reveal the beauty he has in mind. He will keep on working, forgiving, and training you throughout your whole life. He will keep the heat on when it’s needed. But, he’ll also give you times of rest and peace.
The most important facts in all of life are these: God loves us and there is nothing that can keep Him from making you and I perfect and complete. When we stand before him in heaven one day, all the beauty he built into our character will be clearly seen.
Take me
Break me
Mold me
Make me
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Dave how true this is. The molding process has everything to do with His great love for us. I am so blessed to have you as a friend. You are one of the genuine few. Not perfect, or have it all together, but most importantly chose that road whereas the world chooses to bypass it. Jesus Christ in on the road with you making the end result of you the image of himself. There is no greater place than to be in his hands.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your deep transparency, keep hidden yourself under the shelter of the Almighty, keep encouraging people and God will reward those who have made the choice to trust in Him even when the world says we're out of our minds.
Godbless you, you are a great and dear friend. I don't understand much or why but you are a vessle of God's love, he will richly reward you in His time.