Identity Found in GodThe Shepherd and the Sheep ~ The Shepherd ~ The Sheep ~ The Voice of the Shepherd ~ The Art of Listening ~ The Lost Sheep ~ The Path ~ Living as His Sheep The Lost Sheep “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4 Being lost. There’s actually two potential sides of being lost. There is the one who’s lost and who doesn’t know where he is – he’s off the path – he’s heading down an unfamiliar path, in unfamiliar territory. By definition, “unable to find one’s way; not knowing one’s whereabouts”. The other end of the concept of being lost is the one who cannot find something, “becoming unable to find something or someone”. The person has lost something or someone. Back in the day, before the lady with a British accent traveled everywhere with you proclaiming boldly where to turn, in how many miles to turn, or when to reroute, we had to figure things out on our own. Sometimes we got it wrong. Are you a part of a family who doesn’t stop and ask for directions? Oh the feeling of not knowing where you are, but the certainty that surely the small road and a few more sketchy turns will get us back on track! I imagine everyone has some form of story of being lost. It’s a very unsettling feeling. I can relate to what I read about sheep as they are afraid and panicky if they find themselves separated from the flock. When I was younger, the fear of getting left behind was real. I can also relate to the shepherd who has one sheep missing. With six of us in our family, and as a previous school teacher who has taken many classes on field trips, I find myself counting heads to make sure all are still part of the group. One day we were at the county fair and I was ordering some fair fries. I glanced down to find that Jesses wasn’t in his spot! I looked all around me – he was nowhere! Panic set in, my world seemed to spin as I desperately tried to get a glimpse of him in the midst of the busy crowd. It was just like a nightmare. While only a couple of minutes passed – and maybe even only one – it seemed like eternity – long enough for my mind to fill up with every horrible scenario possible. I dropped everything (leaving the delightful fair fries behind) and sought him out. When I finally found him walking down the dirt path through the concession stands and through the mob of people desperately looking around for me, my heart filled with relief. Oh how I can relate to a shepherd who goes after that one lost sheep who lost his way! It's not a good feeling to be lost. Matthew 9:36-38 describes Jesus, the Good Shepherd’s heart for His sheep, “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Can you step in and relate? Maybe you can relate to Jesus as the Shepherd whose heart goes out to the lost. Perhaps you are obediently being a worker in the harvest field to lead the lost sheep to Jesus. (Well, shouldn’t we all be in this business?) What priceless work! May the Lord of the harvest give you all that is needed to do this work. Or maybe you can relate to the harassed and the helpless sheep without a shepherd. There are so many pressures in the world we live in, so many distractions that point us away from our shepherd, so much pain that leaves us helplessly crippled. Maybe you are on the dirt path desperately looking around for your shepherd? Or maybe you are a sheep who has experienced the joy and peace of abiding in the flock under the loving care of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. But maybe you’ve wandered. Maybe you’ve been drawn away by outside voices. Maybe you have strayed from the flock. It may have been a gradual stroll in the wrong direction down the dirt path, or maybe you have drifted quickly. If this is you, take note, and notice the pursuit of Jesus after you. It doesn’t matter if you made a wrong turn, He is there for you. Keep an eye out, take heart, He is waiting for you to turn the corner and come back. His arms are open wide waiting to embrace you, His precious sheep. Find your way to Him and join the hope and peace found in His flock. Maybe you are a harassed and helpless sheep who has never been a part of a flock. Maybe you have never experienced life in the presence of the Good Shepherd. Maybe you have never surrendered or accepted Jesus as your Lord. Oh – it’s not too late! Do you hear His voice calling you? He loves you so much and is pursuing you. He has a place in the flock for you. Run away from the traps and danger, and fall in the arms of Jesus. He has laid down His life for YOU. He did that to make a way for you to spend eternity with Him, in His mighty loving presence. Amazing grace. We were lost, but now are found! Maybe you are a sheep abiding safely in His flock. Surround yourself with ways that will keep you from being distracted and wandering. Be mindful of how outside voices might suck you in - media voices, political voices, all kinds of voices. Tune your heart to His voice; pray, dig into His Truth. Stay in step with Him so you don’t become swayed and lost. Connect or Reconnect with your Great Shepherd. If you are lost, know that you have a Shepherd who is seeking after you. You are meant to live in the flock, under His care. Write down ways you sense God reassuring that you are found. What is He asking you to lay down and surrender? Find relief at the image of being found in His flock.
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Identity Found in GodThe Shepherd and the Sheep ~ The Shepherd ~ The Sheep ~ The Voice of the Shepherd ~ The Art of Listening ~ The Lost Sheep ~ The Path ~ Living as His Sheep The Art of Listening My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 I can remember when our three older children were all in that toddler stage – around 1, 2 and 4 years old. Much of this season is a bit of a blur, but there are moments that stand out clearly. Generally speaking, our house was – ok IS – full of…well...let’s just say, full of sweet noise. There were times, in the midst of the loud toys, sibling squabbles, pretend play and giggles, when I wanted them to hear something I had to say. I would try my best to speak in a way that would break through the chaos. When that failed, my next strategy was to clear my throat, and throw out the command, “Listen to me…”Sometimes that would work, and, well, sometimes not. Now at this point, a parent has a choice – to get louder, or to get closer. Apparently, the tactic of getting closer had been observed by my precious impressionable little ones. How did I know? It was evident when in the midst of some chaos, plus getting dinner ready and laundry done, I felt two pudgy little hands on my cheeks. My attention was won over and I looked straight into those big brown toddler eyes as I heard, “Mommy, wook at me…wisten to me…” A step in discovering the art of listening! Have you ever been talking to someone and you can just tell they are not listening to a word you were saying? How frustrating. There is definitely an art to true listening. As I consider the concept of how a sheep listens to the shepherd, how we should listen to God, I find a challenge. If we have a difficult time being still enough, focused enough to listen to someone we can see and touch, someone sitting right beside us, how do we do at listening to God? By definition, listening is give attention to the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; or to take notice of and act on what was said…or make an effort to hear something; be alert and ready to hear something. Listening is an active activity. As sheep, how do we position ourselves to listen, or hear our shepherd’s voice, and how do we listen and act on what we heard? I don’t know about you, but it’s difficult to listen when other noise is going on. I get distracted. My mind wanders. How do we listen to the voice of God? In the midst of chaos, busyness, the noises of life, what can we do to give attention closely for the purpose of hearing His voice? I almost think we need to carry with us an imaginary remote, and push mute. Finding a way, a time in the day to step away and focus on God’s voice. I picture Jesus and His disciples. I imagine there were times when Jesus was convinced they weren’t listening to a word He was saying. And then there was the Transfiguration. Peter, James and John and Jesus – oh – and Elijah and Moses…All of a sudden the Father intervenes, “a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him” God’s way of placing His hands on their cheeks and getting their attention! How is God attempting to get your attention? Take some time to sit with your shepherd and listen. Make an effort. Take action. Be ready to hear what He has to say to you. Listen for Him by tuning your ear toward Him. Listen for Him in a song. Listen for Him in your prayers and quiet time. Listen for Him through a conversation with someone. Listen for Him as you soak up the nature around you. Listen for Him in the midst of your joy. Listen for Him in the stormy winds. Lean in and listen for Him as you turn a corner, seeking direction ….SShhhh…Listen….Feel His hands on your precious cheeks as He gazes into your eyes….Be still and know….He is God. Spend time listening. Write down what you hear your Shepherd saying to you. Identity Found in GodThe Shepherd and the Sheep ~ The Shepherd ~ The Sheep ~ The Voice of the Shepherd ~ The Art of Listening ~ The Lost Sheep ~ The Path ~ Living as His Sheep The Voice of the Shepherd He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:4 Are there certain voices in your life that evoke certain emotions, or take you back to certain events – good or bad? Are there ones that by merely hearing the voice, you can distinguish who it belongs to? Let’s take a phone call, for example. Your phone rings, (you know – the one that just rings – the one before cell phones that display the name and sometimes even the picture of the person calling). You answer hello, and anticipate who is on the other line. Sometimes it’s someone so familiar you recognize the voice after the first word spoken – your husband, child, mom, dad... Other times, the person begins by telling you their name, identifying themselves right away. Don’t you just love those times, though, when you answer, you don’t recognize the voice, and the caller doesn’t say who they are, but carries on the conversation as if you should know who it is! Sometimes you figure it out, but other times you hang up and still have no idea who you have just spoken with. Then there are the calls when even after the first few words, you are 100% sure it’s a stranger: AKA telemarketer. Asking for Victoria or Mrs. COON are dead giveaways they don’t even know my name! Now let’s look into this a bit deeper. What makes a voice familiar to you? How do you know who’s on the other end? As I’m sure you’ve already concluded, those you spend time with, those you engage in conversations with, are the voices you recognize more quickly. What about those voices that sound familiar? The ones where you know you’ve heard the voice before, but can’t seem to pinpoint who it is? But the more you talk, it comes back and you recall the voice as a friend in the past, one you haven’t connected with in a while. Let’s take another twist on voices. As you know well, there are many voices that surround us. Voices on tv, voices on social media, on the news, political voices, religious voices, voices that judge, put down or label, voices that supposedly identify perfection or success. Voices that conflict, voices that tempt or sway. Oh so many voices! Whose voice matters. The voice that knows best. The voice of our Good Shepherd. In John 10:2-5, Jesus describes the purpose and impact and importance of the Shepherd’s voice. “The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” What an accurate scenario. As strangers approach the sheep, their voice isn’t recognizable as the one who cares for them, and so they run away. But, as the Shepherd speaks, calling them by name, it’s a voice they have learned they can safely follow. One that they have spent time with and have become familiar with. Our Shepherd’s voice confidently leads the way. He knows your name; He knows my name. He calls us by name and leads us. Remember when Mary Magdalene found herself broken-hearted and weeping at the tomb of Jesus. She was in full blown grief over His death, but on top of that, someone had taken His body out of the tomb. She was a mess. This precious sheep was distraught. She just wanted to find her friend. She was in such a disarray that Jesus was standing right by her, but she wasn’t clear enough until…Her dear friend called her by name. “Mary…” Was it the tone of His voice and the way He said her name that brought her to realize it was Jesus standing right beside her. The Shepherd that she was so close to stood right beside her. There’s something comforting when the Good Shepherd calls His sheep by name. It’s the voice that brings guidance, protection, comfort and peace. What are you doing to deepen the relationship you have with Jesus? Dig into His word, study His actions and spend time getting to know Him better. What voices need muted so that His voice rings more clearly? May you deepen and fine-tune the recognition of the voice of your Shepherd in your life. Identity Found in GodThe Shepherd and the Sheep ~ The Shepherd ~ The Sheep ~ The Voice of the Shepherd ~ The Art of Listening ~ The Lost Sheep ~ The Path ~ Living as His Sheep The Sheep I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— John 10:14 Sheep. Let’s explore a few descriptions of sheep that I found. See if you can relate to any of these: · Sheep don’t have top teeth (ok that was just for fun! J) · Sheep won’t lie down unless they feel safe and comfortable · Sheep are afraid of a lot of things · Sheep’s cuts and scratches were healed by olive oil that the shepherd rubbed on them · Sheep have a good memory (can remember at least 50 individual sheep and human figures) · Sheep have poor eyesight, but an excellent sense of hearing · Sheep are very social creatures · Sheep tend to follow each other, even if it’s not a good idea · Sheep rely on shepherds to guide them & to protect them from harm · Sheep are afraid of rushing water. They drown easily. · Sheep become stressed when separated from their flock · Sheep have little ability to defend themselves I have to say that I was shocked about something during my sheep study. I looked and I looked, typing a variety of phrases in the search box, but I could not find a description of sheep that I expected. Nowhere did it mention that sheep were “stupid”. What I have found is that sheep are definitely in need of guidance and direction, but they have it in them to be lead-able. They have the ability to hear well, they recognize their name and trust in the human shepherd they have grown to know. That takes some “smarts”. They may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but they know how to follow a shepherd – there’s something to be said about that characteristic. Do sheep need a shepherd? Absolutely! No doubt that a flock of sheep thrives and survives much better when a shepherd is tending to them. As I consider the sheep I saw on the rocky hillside of Israel, I would feel sad if they were making that journey without their shepherd. What a treacherous route, yet it was possible with the peace of the shepherd. My brother and sister sheep, what can we conclude about ourselves? We are referred to as sheep in many passages in the Bible. As we are compared to sheep, it often accompanies the words, “follow” and “listen”. One thing to consider is the fact that this sheep-like characteristic just might be at odds with what we find in society. Words like independent and self-sufficient do not fit in well with the nature of a sheep. As much as we are encouraged to take care of ourselves, there is a reality that we need a shepherd. I wonder if sometimes we get so drawn up in our daily tasks, and follow and listen to other voices around us, that we get distracted from following and listening to our Shepherd. As sheep, there is something to being a part of a flock. As mentioned before, sheep are social; they become stressed when they find themselves separated from the flock. Even though we may enjoy our alone time, as a big picture, don’t we do better with others surrounding us? Others who are following the same Shepherd. Being compared to a sheep brings the idea of doing life together with the Body of Christ, as Jesus leads us in and through the journey we are on. I don’t know about you, but here are some truths I see in my identity as a sheep: Are there times I find myself straying, wandering away from the flock, and even the shepherd? (head hung down) Yes. When I stray, is it more stressful? Pause. Yes. Do I rest better, put my guard down when I feel the safety and comfort my Shepherd provides? Yep! Do I recognize my shepherd and hear Him calling my name? Well…Yes, when I have spent time with Him. Do I surrender the path I think is best, stick with the flock and be led by my shepherd? Um…well…yes when I’m not splurging on too much “green grass”. We, His sheep, are not necessarily dumb. We, like sheep, are crafted to be creatures who are not 100% capable to protect ourselves from the enemy, but are created in a way that causes us to be lead-able. We can lie down and rest, or trudge through the rocky hillside, even when enemies and evil surrounds us because we fall into relationship with our Shepherd. Consider some of the questions above. Write down what you sense God is wanting you to know about being a sheep in His flock. The Shepherd and the Sheep ~ The Shepherd ~ The Sheep ~ The Voice of the Shepherd ~ The Art of Listening ~ The Lost Sheep ~ The Path ~ Living as His Sheep The Shepherd Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd. Psalm 23. A very familiar, memorized scripture. So familiar we may be able to recite it while not even realizing what we are saying. Have you ever found yourself doing that? Singing along with the radio to a very familiar song, but actually thinking about something else, and not even know you’re singning. I have done that – many times in the car! Singing so loudly, and the words are spot on, and there comes a point when I realize I have just been singing along, but my mind was totally somewhere else. How does that even happen? The song was THAT familiar! Sometimes meaning gets lost in what becomes so familiar. Let’s try and recapture the beautiful meaning found in Psalm 23. When Jay and I were in Israel, the picture of a shepherd took a completely new form in my mind. By definition, a shepherd is someone who tends, herds, feeds and guards sheep. My first-hand present-day visualizations of a shepherd and sheep here in Ohio is a picture of a fenced in area with fresh, lush green grass where the sheep can roam around, often no shepherd is in sight. Or, for those of you who have seen the movie, Babe, there’s a certain image you can take away from there as well. But, what I saw in Israel may be a more accurate depiction of a true shepherd. The shepherds we saw were literally walking, leading and guiding a flock of sheep through rocky, rough terrain, most often along the side of a hill or mountain. This shepherd fulfills the role of tending sheep. He must be mindful of the terrain, of the best path to reach a green patch and a source of water. He is trusted and followed because He knows the way. As I was doing some reading on shepherds, I came across a description in Wikipedia that caught my attention, “Shepherds lived apart from society, being largely nomadic”. These men were focused on the task of shepherding. They had to be flexible to move around and lead their flock to various places through the changing of seasons. This picture of shepherding reflects the type of work done by shepherds such Abraham, Jacob, Moses, King David, Amos and many more. It was a common profession. Perhaps that’s the reason that God and Jesus are referred to as a Good Shepherd from Genesis all the way through Revelation. It is clear that our Shepherd carries His job of tending, herding, feeding and guarding His sheep seriously. Over and over scripture emphasizes the promise of His shepherding skills. He is qualified and capable to know when it’s time to move His sheep to green pastures. He knows where fresh water can be found. Our faithful Shepherd is enough when we graze through the rocky hillside, or when an enemy appears to be ready to pounce. He has a smile on His face when a portion of our trek is about to lead to an overflowing portion of goodness and love. Our Shepherd brings peace as He tends to His precious flock. He cares about us so much! Soak in and meditate on these familiar words. Circle, underline, and highlight the descriptions God would like you to consider as you think of Him as your Shepherd! Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Identity Found in GodThe Potter and The Clay ~ The Potter ~ The Clay ~ The Idea ~ The Plan ~ The Refining Fire ~ The Reshaped Pot ~ Living as His Clay Pot Living as His Clay Pot “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” Romans 9:20-21 One evening I was getting ready to prepare dinner. In order to make what I had in mind, I had to wash out a pot that was used the night before to cook dinner. (Yes, I realize that this honesty risks judgement on our kitchen clean-up – or lack thereof!) The night before, the pot was used to hold ingredients I put together to make soup. This particular evening I wanted to use the pot to boil spaghetti noodles. As I was cooking the noodles some thoughts went through my mind. What if I am the pot that I just described? If my Potter wanted to use me to make soup, I trust that the shape and texture and characteristics I have are suitable to accomplish the task. So, I’m used to make soup. Chili soup. Broccoli and cheese soup. Chicken noodle soup. All kinds of soup. I got this! But one day, when I am being washed clean, (there’s a whole analogy in that too…) I realize that it’s not soup that I’m being asked to hold. Wait! What’s going on? You’re using me to make what? Spaghetti? Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Maybe we should talk about this? I’m a soup pot. I don’t know about this spaghetti stuff! I wonder if sometimes we don’t comprehend the valuable, usable vessels we are. I wonder if we put limits on what God has in mind for us to be? Living as His clay pot, His masterpiece, are we open to the possibilities of ALL the good works He has planned in advance for us to do? Or do we just get caught in a rut, a comfortable pot for soup? The challenge for us as His clay pots is to rest ourselves in His hands, continually waiting for Him to reveal the way He will use us. Maybe we are in a season when we are used for soup, but what if He introduces a new way to be used? Would you be open to giving spaghetti a try? What if God needed to use His pot for a different recipe? Can you have faith to trust Him, to take a risk and step with Him into being used as a vessel for His plans? He would not ask you to be anything He didn’t know you could be. When you feel that nudge, surrender and obey. When He plants things in your mind to consider, don’t look away. Grab a hold of His hand and enter the work with Him. He will never leave you or forsake you. Romans 9:20-21 sums this up: “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” Another caution to consider as we explore what kind of pot we are is to not look around at other pots. How often do we see a friend or family member, or neighbor, or even a stranger and think, “Why can’t I be a pot like them? Why can’t I be used in the way they are?” Oh, the destruction jealousy can bring forth! Recall the interaction between Jesus and Peter after the resurrection. In John 21:15-19 Jesus beautifully shares an intimate time with Peter, and prepares him for the kind of life that is ahead for him. Verse 18-19 says, “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.” I’m pretty sure this caused a bit of anxiety in Peter. Peter’s response is described in verses 20-21 where he looks around and sees another disciple and quickly turns the attention away from himself and to the other guy saying to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus’ reply? Well, basically he told Peter it’s really none of his business! “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? YOU must follow me.” OUCH! You see, when we get caught up into exploring other people’s pots, we miss out on an intimate opportunity the potter wants to have with just us. Understand that God has something in mind specifically and purposefully just for you. May you recognize who your Potter is. May you, as clay, yield to His hands that mold, plan, create, refine, reshape and unveil the use of the beautiful pot He has made in you. What kind of pot are you sensing God is asking you to become? What fears or inflexibility do you need to surrender to your Potter? Identity Found in GodThe Potter and The Clay ~ The Potter ~ The Clay ~ The Idea ~ The Plan ~ The Refining Fire ~ The Reshaped Pot ~ Living as His Clay Pot The Reshaped Pot Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.” Jeremiah 18:5-6 I remember sitting in church as a little girl with the red, egg-shaped case of silly-putty. Oh the fun I had taking the lump of putty, rolling it in my hands, and shaping it into a variety of creations (all while listening to the sermon, of course!). I remember making different sized balls, and then attempting to stack them on top of each other to create a snowman. I remember the frustration if they were either the wrong size, or they kept falling over. I would take them all in my hand, roll them all together and start all over with another plan. Stretch it. Pull it. Roll it. And then there were the moments when an outside force affected my creations. Maybe a hymnal got set down on my perfectly shaped snow ball, flattening it! That didn’t stop me…not when I had a snowman to build. I could take that Silly Putty and roll it right back up! Our Potter has that kind of control. A story found in Jeremiah 18:1-12 describes the Lord’s words to Jeremiah. He told Jeremiah to head down to the local potter, a common trade in those days. Jeremiah went down and noticed the potter doing his thing at the wheel. He observed the potter and his clay pot, which was described as this, “the pot he was shaping was marred in his hands”. I can imagine, the clay that was spinning around was just not taking the shape he wanted. But instead of letting it be, or giving up out of frustration, Jeremiah witnessed him as he “formed it into another pot, shaping it as it seemed best for him”. Just sit with that for a minute. Then the Lord said to Jeremiah, “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? Like clay in the hands of the potters, so are you in my hand.” Oh how the English teacher in me loves this comparison! God has power to reshape us. When we find ourselves flinging around on the potter’s wheel, God has the power to take us in His hands and “shape us as it seems best to Him”. As we are flattened by a threatening “hymnal” that comes down upon us, our potter has the capability to pick us back up and carry on with His plan. Unlike Silly-putty, which is a mindless substance, we have a part in this. The passage in Jeremiah talks about the responsibility of the house of Israel. God desires repentance, for us to surrender into His hands. To be willing and open to what God desires to reshape us into. Do you feel as though you, your pot has a defect or a flaw? A sin? A hurt? A scar? Are you a cracked pot? Broken? Lift up your head, surrender it all, and gaze into the loving eyes of your Potter. He can take the broken pieces into His hands and mold you back together. Your Potter’s hands are ready to reshape you into what seems best to Him. Can’t you hear His voice asking if you believe this, “Can I not do with you as the potter does?” Grab your Bible and read the whole passage of Jeremiah 18:1-12. Set your own stubborn plans and thoughts aside. :) Place yourself in His hands. Pick up all your pieces. Bring every part of your brokenness. Gather every hurt, every flaw, every wrong decision, every sinful thought, every scar that you have and plop it all into His hands. He wants to use all those things and reshape you into what seems best to Him. Write it all down and have peace in the clay pot He is about to reshape in you. Identity Found in GodThe Potter and The Clay ~ The Potter ~ The Clay ~ The Idea ~ The Plan ~ The Refining Fire ~ The Reshaped Pot ~ Living as His Clay Pot The Refining Fire In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. I Peter 1:6-7 I am not a potter. I know people who are, but I am not one of them! While digging in and trying to understand the process of taking a lump of clay and turning it into something beautiful, I learned a few things. Being someone who loves the study of words, I found several descriptions of “firing clay” that really resonated with me: · Firing clay transforms it from its humble, soft beginnings into a new substance · The final aim is to heat the object to the point that the clay is “mature”, that is, it has reached its optimal level of melting · Through the process, the clay also becomes less fragile · The drying part that happens in the kiln must happen slowly, or the clay may burst · While in a kiln, clay gets so hot that it gets to a point where it is changed forever One of our daughters, Chloe, was enjoying a beautiful evening with family during a Fourth of July festivity. We all had sparklers and were enthralled with the beautiful fireworks. That is until one of the sparklers met her soft innocent little cheek. There was instant crying and screaming as her skin was burnt by the heat. We quickly took care of it, and continued to treat the burn over the next couple of days. What started out as a light red burn, turned into a very dark and crusty scab, that eventually led to a soft pink scar in the shape of a heart. The burn got worse looking before it got better. Her cheek was changed forever, as now, whenever Chloe’s cheek gets hot or cold, you can see a bit of the pink heart emerge – which we think is pretty cool! As God holds us in His hands, there are times when we may feel quite comfortable being molded and sculpted. Other times it may be a time to “fire the clay”. We may go through a time of great intensity and wonder what is going on, maybe questioning the presence of God. As we are in this refining process, all of who we are is immersed in conditions we most likely would not have placed ourselves in by choice. But the Potter knows best. What does it look like on the other side of the fire? Going back to the definitions we looked at, I love how it fits our description as we are His clay: · Our humble, soft beginnings are turned into a new substance · The final aim is to cause the clay to mature · In the fire, the clay gets so hot it is changed forever · During the process, the clay becomes less fragile If you are currently in the kiln, take heart, you are being refined. You WILL come out on the other side. You will be changed and solidified. Take heart, persevere and anticipate the good your Potter is doing in this process. If you have just gone through the fire, reflect upon what just happened, consider how you are different on this side, and praise God for using the opportunity to mold you for His good. Thank Him for your “heart-shaped” marking. Maybe you are heading to the kiln, about to enter what you anticipate a fiery experience. Take a deep breath, and be at peace knowing your Potter does not waste an experience. Seek Him as you step in this journey. Know that He is God! Write about what refining fire you have experienced. Ask God to reveal to you where He was as you went through that experience. Consider how God used the situation to change you, to humble you. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed......Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." II Corinthians 4:8-9, 17-18 Identity Found in GodThe Potter and The Clay ~ The Potter ~ The Clay ~ The Idea ~ The Plan ~ The Refining Fire ~ The Reshaped Pot ~ Living as His Clay Pot The Plan Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 We had a plan. We would get married, secure solid jobs, and then start a family. Well, we got married, both got teaching jobs, and both were ready to launch into parenthood. However, it didn’t go down how we expected. Month after month led to disappointment after disappointment. But then, much longer than we planned, we finally were able to have our first baby boy. We had a plan. Let’s have our children close together in age. I got pregnant when our oldest was not quite 1 ½ , which would make them right around 2 years apart, just as we planned. But, about 2 months into the pregnancy, the heart beat faded, and we lost our baby. Not in our plans. We had a plan. We were then blessed with two additional baby girls, and we were so grateful for our 3 gifts of life. We got to a place when we started talking about having another child. And so, we made a plan…and I became pregnant with our fourth child. We thanked God for what this meant because we really felt like it was what He had for us, a reflection of recommitment in our lives. But then, just as I made it to the safe three month stage in my pregnancy, we went in for an ultrasound. We were shocked when we discovered there was no heart beat. We lost another baby. What? This was surely not part of the plan. The pain was so intense as our plans were squelched so strongly. God saw us through that storm, and on the other side, we were blessed with our 4th child. My heart cries out for those of you who suffer from infertility, from miscarriages and still-born births. Take heart – God IS with you and is loving you through it all! I could write about countless times I felt my plans were crushed. I am a planner, a list-maker. I am invigorated when there’s an idea, a vision, and a plan to be made to get there. But through much experience, out of many scenarios when I tried to do things on my own, I found the importance of allowing God to be the originator and implementer of the plan. That doesn’t mean I sit back, do nothing or never dream. Rather, I try and position myself (remember that pliable clay?) where I can be tuned in to what God’s plan is. We are in the hands of a Potter who talks us through His plan. Scripture tells us that, in His time, He reveals Himself to us. He wants to be made known. To understand and walk in His plan, I believe Proverbs 3:5-6 sums it up nicely! Not my understanding, but His. When I have an idea, and devise a plan to fulfill that idea, oh how crucial it is to first lean into Him, submit, surrender what may be MY idea and plan, so that His ways are what I walk in. Just as someone comes up and says, “Hey I have an idea”, we can also launch into our own ways and follow with, “Ok – here’s the plan…” Our plans may get us to a certain point, but the plans of our Potter will bring us into completion. Psalm 94:11 says, “The Lord knows all human plans, He knows that they are futile.” While Psalm 33:11 says, “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” When you sense God has an idea, sit with Him, and invite Him to make the plan with you. Know, as it says in Jeremiah 29:11, God’s plans are good, ultimately and at the core, they are good. Not by our measure, but through His understanding His ways are good. Be full of hope that your Potter has a plan that He is fulfilling in each crevice of His creation in you. He had an idea, and is fulfilling a plan to follow through with His idea. Isaiah 29:16 – “You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pot say of the potter, “He knows nothing”?” Spend some more time with your Potter. Just as He reveals an idea, ask Him what His plans are to fulfill the idea. Write down what you sense He has in mind? Identity Found in GodThe Potter and The Clay ~ The Potter ~ The Clay ~ The Idea ~ The Plan ~ The Refining Fire ~ The Reshaped Pot ~ Living as His Clay Pot The Idea “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 “I have an idea!” I am sure you have said those words. I am sure you have heard those words said. Bear with me here as we dig into this phrase a bit. Depending on the perspective from which these words are said, and if we are honest, depending on who proclaims these words, certain thoughts and emotions arise. For example, picture someone who shares similar interests with you. Someone who “gets” you. Someone who knows what you like. Someone you can trust and respect. When this person approaches you and exclaims, “Hey I have a great idea!” I imagine your heart stirs and adrenaline might kick in as you anticipate hearing the great idea, one that surely you will be excited about! But then, on the other hand, can you think of someone else, or another scenario, that when you hear the person say, “Hey I have a great idea!” your eyes find themselves in an eye roll, all of a sudden there’s a pit in your stomach, and your mind automatically expects the worst, as you anticipate an idea that will not appeal to you what-so-ever! Now shift gears and imagine the Trinity, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit gathers together and proclaims, “Hey, I have a great idea!” They huddle in as the idea takes shape! Not only does this conversation take place at the time of your conception which is so beautifully described in Psalm 139:13-16, the same discussion continues throughout your life! Our Creator, our Potter has a variety of ideas ahead as His hands shape us into who He would have us be. Potters have ideas. Maybe they take a lump of clay and have an idea to mold the clay into a fruit bowl. What is our Potter up to? What is His idea? I have come to realize that I am something my Potter is shaping. When He “created my inmost being” and while I recognize that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made”, His ideas don’t stop there. He has a plan – just for me. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16. I am thinking He has ideas for us. He doesn’t want us to stay in the mold of infancy, but desires to keep working on us, shaping us into His completion. Just think about this, what emotion arises, or how are you stirred when you hear your Potter say, “Hey I have an idea!” Do you know your Potter enough to know how much He loves you? And do you grasp and accept the truth that out of His abundant love for you, good ideas and good plans await? Can we come to the conclusion that God has ideas just for us? I don’t know about you, but my mind can sure come up with ideas, and well, some of them seem like good ideas! We are challenged to turn our eyes to Him and consider the works of His hand. Because Jesus IS God, He knew God’s idea in detail. He knew He would be sent to earth as a human, leaving His place in Heaven. He knew the joys He would experience in His ministries. He knew the disappointments, trials, temptations, pain and torture He would endure. But in the midst of these realities, Jesus found Himself in the Garden of Gethsemane crying out to His Father, wondering and asking God a question we may at times find ourselves wondering about, “Oh God, Yahweh, Father…Is this really a good idea? Isn’t there another way?” Sometimes we lose sight that God is all-knowing and sovereign. We just wonder what could He possibly be up to? But in those moments, Jesus models for us. Just as He wanted a different idea, a better tasting cup, He had clarity for a moment and shifted His understanding back to His Father’s ideas. He knew God as no other, and out of knowing the Father, He could find it in Him to turn His trust to Him, to the One who creates good ideas. In the midst of deep, deep anguish, He resolved and surrendered, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” May we know that God has good idea for us. He is, from our conception, molding and shaping us. Rest in knowing that, and may we, as Philippians 1:6 says, “be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it out on to completion until the day of “Christ Jesus.” Write down ideas of yours that God asks you to surrender, and what ideas does He want to share with you. |
AuthorVicki Conn Archives
June 2017
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