Wandering among the results of a potter’s wheel brings to heart thoughts and meditations on God’s words. Words proclaim God’s people created from clay; as varied in shape, size, form, hues, and glazes as the pottery stacked in the artist’s yard. God’s people as fragile, as prone to chipping and susceptible to damage as every vessel made from earth’s malleable substance. Like earthenware, we are strengthened by a kiln. Through the kiln of life’s struggles and pain our Lord fashions our character, reveals our spiritual gifts, and builds our faith. We are God’s creation. We are made and remade for His purposes and His glory. And as such we are filled. Here, this is where we diverge from the ordinary, empty vessels found in a potter’s yard. Our divine creator filled us with the gift, the treasure of His Holy Spirit. No empty vessel are we. No. Fallible, breakable, yes; but treasured beyond understanding, blessed and gifted beyond deserving. Designed to serve our Lord and equipped to do so by the abiding power of the Holy Spirit.
I bring the camera to my eye and strive to frame the large number and variety of pottery in the viewfinder, praising all the while that I am among God’s multitude of wonderfully made people.
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And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. Is. 64: 7-9 NLT
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18 The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” 3 So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. 4 But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. 5 Then the Lord gave me this message: 6 “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. Jeremiah 18: 1-6
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We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4:6-8 NLT
I find the verses from Jeremiah to be hope-inspiring. Sometimes we must be crushed into a lump and re-formed again as He continual conforms us into the image of Christ.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Elizabeth, there is much hope to be found here. We have all experienced those times of being reformed; perhaps after being broken, perhaps for new tasks, but always for the purposes that God intends.
DeleteHe continues to mold me everyday.
ReplyDeleteIt is among our blessings; HIS gentle attention to the shaping of our souls.
DeleteOne of my favorite songs our choir sings is "The Potter's Hand." I love how there are so many shapes and sizes in the photo you captured of the beautiful blue pottery, just as each of us is unique in design. But the best thing we have in common is His unfailing willingness to continue to shape us to be most beautiful on the inside, even when our outsides may get a "crack" or two along the way. Have a good week, Lisa!
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting here Kim. May your week also be blessed.
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa! So fun to find your blog today!
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring thing to hear you pray while you take your photos. Beautiful. And that kiln, yikes. It can get pretty hot in our lives, can't it?
But we are all blessings, and all different as you pointed out.
Nice to meet you!
Ceil
Delighted by your visit here and your vibrant comment! I always welcome meeting a new blogging friend.
DeleteIt's comforting to know that our Heavenly Potter never gives up but He keeps on forming us ... SO that His light might shine stronger! Thank you for letting His light shine here Beside Stille Waters!
ReplyDeleteNina