Sisters of Grace

First of all, I have missed this beautiful community of writers and readers, it has been A WHILE! I hope to get back consistently into blogging, our long distance move really took a lot out of me! Anywho, I am willing myself to sit in this chair, at this desk and produce something from my heart.

If you have ever heard the phrase “chasing after the wind,” what did it make you think about? For me, I had a reminder this week in my Bible study! Sometimes we have good intentions, that just don’t lead to lasting results! All too often we are living for what is temporary and in a sort of survival mode. We each have talents that we have been blessed with or have worked hard to perfect. My questions to myself and YOU:

ARE YOU USING YOUR TALENTS WISELY? ARE YOU WASTING THEM OR HIDING? ARE YOU SHARING YOUR WISDOM WITH OTHERS?

We are all in a shared human experience, and we each have a worldview shaped by our circumstances. When God created us he had a design, a mold, a way in which we should live. We were given a purpose to create and take care of God’s creation. We all know that life happens to us all and sometimes we loose sight of our purpose. Death, grief, loss, abuse, betrayal, manipulation, slander, hurt, pain, illness, shared suffering, burnout, fatigue, mental health issues, etc. these are just a few of the many human experiences that can take us off course. Friends, I ask you to remember who you are and WHOSE you are: our lives where created by God for his good purpose. We are his workmanship!

DON’T start the eye rolling I know, it may sound cliche, but it’s the truth! Your life matters and it brings something that intricately connects with others and creates something beautiful! The imagery in Jeremiah 18, of the Potter and the Clay is a parable of God using his hands to shape, mold, and refine us. If you have ever seen a person make a clay vessel, it’s quite fascinating that they do not throw away clay that has imperfections. However, the marred, and imperfect lump of clay gets reused into something else. Clay can be dried up, misshapen, and seems utterly useless but when water is applied, the lump can be made pliable again. You CAN be made NEW!

When the Potter, who is our God who loves us beyond comprehension, gets back on the wheel refreshes what has dried up in us, he takes away the hardness of our heart. He breaks up the fallow ground, and starts watering the seeds that have lain dormant in our life. The dreams, goals, hopes, and things long forgotten can be brought back to life. No more chasing after what does not matter, we can let go of the old wounds and trust the Potter. A broken clay vessel can be restored as if nothing ever happened!

“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand,” Isaiah 64:8 (ESV).

The vessel doesn’t talk to the potter and say what they should be formed into, rather the clay is dependent on the potter to finish what he has begun.

Maybe, you have been stubborn, prideful, ignorant, or traumatized as I have been so often in my life: that I thought I knew best. I realize as each year passes that I know a lot, but nothing I know compares to HIS infinite wisdom. I have chased success, money, fame, relationships, things, and all have fallen short of the fullness I feel when I am alone, and quiet with God.

Jesus is the water that nourishes our lives, remember he told us that he would be our rest, our drink, our sustenance, our friend, portion, Lord, savior, and so much more! Don’t get off the wheel too soon, don’t worry he’s not done yet!

“As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand,” Jeremiah 18:6b (NLT).

I am learning that chasing after the wind, is a waste of time. My job is to be willing to stay flexible with God, continue to go back to his wheel and let him work on me. If we abandon God, we loose sight of our way. We may not realize it until the troubles start coming. A lump of clay is useless, until it is shaped, created, reformed into something of value and purpose. God told us he created us from the dust, he made what is insignificant, beautiful.

“ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them,” Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV).

Our lives can become full of worthless pursuits, vanities, and in return, leave us feeling empty and longing. A question God asked Jeremiah:

DOES THE CREATION HAVE A RIGHT TO DICATE TO ITS CREATOR?

This relationship between God and creation, must be built on trusting who God is and is unchanging character.

I hope that I this blessed you today as it did for me, I pray you are encouraged to connect with God and let him mold you. His plans are better, he has it all worked out.

Happy Reading!

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