pottery

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

- Isaiah 64:8

Have you ever played with clay?

You know how soft it is, you can make anything out of it.

Song reference!

Beautiful Lord, wonderful saviour
I know for sure, all of my days are held in Your hands
Crafted into Your perfect plan

You gently call me, into Your presence
Guiding me by, Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord
To live all of my life through Your eyes

I'm captured by, Your Holy calling
Set me apart
I know You're drawing me to Yourself
Lead me Lord I pray

Take me, Mold me
Use me, Fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hands
Hold me, Guide me
Lead me, Walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand

How amazing is it that we are each molded to who we are by the Father?

He could have made anything, but He made us.

Have a blessed day.

don't stay angry

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

- Ephesians 4:31

I will be the first to admit that I sometimes have anger issues.

I try really hard to not let things get to me, and honestly I am getting better.

This is a really good reminder though, because we as humans have a tendency to hold on to the stuff that we should not hold.

Mark Twain once said that Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.

WOW.

Think about it – that person that you are angry with probably doesn’t know (or care) that you are angry.

Is it worth the stress, putting all that energy into anger?

I think not.

I will pray that God helps me to get rid of this burden I carry, because it sure isn’t worth the gray hair!

Have a blessed day!

encouragement

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Way to go!

Good job!

You’re a rock star!

Doesn’t it feel good when someone says those words to you?

You would be surprised how you can brighten someone’s day with a few kind words. 

A simple “thank you” can encourage someone to do nice things more often.

A little encouragement goes a long way.

Have a blessed day!

forgiveness

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

- Matthew 6:14-15

It is totally time for a song reference!

It’s the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those who don’t deserve
It’s the opposite of how you feel
When they pain they caused is just too real
Takes everything you have to say the word

Forgiveness, forgiveness

It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always anger’s own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you’ve got a right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying set it free

Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what its power can do
So let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you

Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness

I want finally set it free
Show me how to see what your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, forgiveness
Forgiveness, forgiveness

How can we ask God to forgive us, if we can’t forgive each other?

There is a lesson to be learned here . . . hopefully you picked up on it. 

where are you?

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.

- 1 John 2:9

There is so much hatred in the world, I really don’t know how we have come to this.

Everything has to be “politically correct”.

Because of this, we as Christ followers have seen our standards and beliefs compromised, just to make sure that everyone is comfortable and accepted.

We can’t continue like that.

We can’t condone the wrong that is in the world just so that we don’t offend someone.

Did you ever notice that the very people that are accusing everyone else of hatred, are the ones that hate?

Don’t let someone else’s ignorance affect your belief.
Don’t let someone else’s negativity steal your happiness.
Don’t let someone else’s hatred destroy your faith.

Are you in the darkness or in the light?

you’re not better than me

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

- Romans 12:16

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat service people.

It should not matter if they are ringing up your groceries, bringing food to the table or giving legal or medical advice.

These people are not beneath you, just because they are providing a service.

Everyone should spend at least one day in a “low position”, it will give you a new outlook.

The next time you get mad at a waiter or waitress for messing up your order, make sure that you have not made any mistakes recently.

Live in harmony with one another, no matter what position someone holds, that person is still human and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

He is Risen

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

- Mark 16:5-6

He is Risen! He is risen, indeed!

The resurrection was an amazing thing in those days, and let me tell you, it still is.

Jesus died, was buried, He descended into Hell, on the third day He rose again, He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. (the Apostles’ creed)

Lord, how can we even begin to imagine the glory when He comes back for us?!

Song reference (there are so many, but let’s go with this one today)!

Alone in my sorrow and dead in my sin

Lost without hope with no place to begin

Your love Made a way to let mercy come in

When death was arrested and my life began

Ash was redeemed only beauty remains

My orphan heart was given a name

My mourning grew quiet my feet rose to dance

When death was arrested and my life began

Oh, Your grace so free

Washes over me

You have made me new

Now life begins with You

It's your endless love

Pouring down on us

You have made us new

Now life begins with You

Released from my chains I'm a prisoner no more

My shame was a ransom He faithfully bore

He cancelled my debt and He called me His friend

When death was arrested and my life began

Oh, Your grace so free

Washes over me

You have made me new

Now life begins with You

It's your endless love

Pouring down on us

You have made us new

Now life begins with You

Our savior displayed on a criminal's cross

Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost

But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand

That's when death was arrested and my life began

Oh, Your grace so free

Washes over me

You have made me new

Now life begins with You

It's your endless love

Pouring down on us

You have made us new

Now life begins with You

Oh, we're free, free

Forever we're free

Come join the song

Of all the redeemed

Yes, we're free free

Forever amen

When death was arrested and my life began

Happy Easter Monday, friends. 

Remember just how much God loves YOU. 

it is finished

When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

- John 19:30

Today is Good Friday. 

On Sunday morning, little kids everywhere will wake up thrilled with baskets and eggs and bunnies and candy.

Christ followers will rejoice, He is risen, He is risen indeed.

But today, today we mourn.

On the day that Jesus was crucified, people didn’t know that He would rise again. 

There was prophecy, even Jesus said He would be back (John 16:16 - Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”)

They didn’t believe Him, all they knew was that He was dead.

Christ gave His life for us.

He did this so that we may enter heaven and have eternal life.

It’s not all about the bunny.

I am afraid of the dark

In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

- John 1:4-5

I am afraid of the dark, I admit it – I am almost 50 years old (86 more days!) and I truly do not like the dark.

I need some light, some way to see my way through.

Jesus is a light, being in His presence lights my path, keeps me focused.

But what if “darkness” is a metaphor, rather than being the absence of light, it is something deeper, something evil?

Jesus is still the light, the darkness will not overcome Him.

In my house, I have lamps and glow-y things to help me see.

In my soul, I have Jesus.

Have a blessed day.

a little help from my friends

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

- Psalm 18:29

I love the Beatles.

My older brother made sure that I was fully exposed to their music.

One of their big hits was “With A Little Help From My Friends” , the chorus started with “Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends”.

But what if – what if you want more than just “getting by”?

With my friends, I can do great things, but with God, we can do so. much. more.

Come, on, pitch in when your friends need help, but always make sure that you are leaning on God for your full potential.

Have a blessed day.

who cares?

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

- Psalm 55:22

I googled “cast your troubles on the Lord” and came back with six verses. SIX!

Everything from don’t worry to cast your burdens to cast your anxiety to fear NOT!

You can look up the other five if you want, they are Isaiah 41:13; Matthew 6:25; Matthew 11:28-29; Philippians 4:6-7 and

1 Peter 5:7, not necessarily in that order.

God loves us so much that He wants us to share our trouble, our sorrow, our burdens our anxiety with Him.

And the best part? 

He will make it go away.

He will sustain you.

He will give you rest.

He will help you.

He cares for you.

Why even consider looking elsewhere?

Cast all your cares on Him.

Have a blessed day.

what is your outlook?

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

- John 9:3

Whenever there is any kind of disaster or terrible event, we hear people lament over “where is your God now”.

We often see people accuse God of letting bad things happen, and some even suggest that the bad things that happen are a “punishment” for a sin.

We have even been guilty of this thinking ourselves, that if we had not done “this” then “that” would not have happened, or what did I do wrong that I deserved this terrible thing . . . 

Stop it.

Jesus Himself tells us that bad things happen to good people and it is not because of what we have done, but so that we might lean on God – praise Him in the storm if you will.

It’s hard in troubled times to think about praising God and thanking Him, but we have to – we must – trust in Him.

A friend of mine recently gave a visual demonstration with a coin, heads being the terrible thing, tails being the bright side - I can’t remember her exact wording but you will understand:

Heads - my dog ate my favorite expensive shoes/Tails – I have a dog that I love and I can save up for another pair of shoes

Heads – my car needs a new battery/Tails – I have a car

Heads – I was 15 minutes late to work this morning because of traffic/Tails – I have a job

You get it, right?  It is all a matter of perspective. 

Have a blessed day.

happy anniversary

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-13

Today is the anniversary of the day that I married my best friend, so forgive me for being a little more sappy than normal.

Marriage is not an easy thing, there is give and take and arguments and craziness, and that is just the two of you! 

Sprinkle in a few kids and two sides of in-laws, job changes, cross country moves and you have a recipe for potential disaster!!!

It is so very important to make God the focus of your marriage, I can tell you first hand the difference that having a relationship with Him made in our marriage.

Sometimes it is hard to remember the important things about love, the patient and kind parts, the not easily angered and keeping no record of wrongs part.

If you have ever been in an argument and not brought up a past event, then you are a stronger person than I am, because isn’t that our arsenal? 

To hold bitterness and anger in our hearts will destroy a marriage, a friendship, any relationship.

Let God into your marriage, see the good things He can do.

Happy anniversary, my love (yes, he reads these 😊  )

Everyone said we wouldn’t last – fooled them!

Love endures all things.

Have a blessed day.

you don’t always get what you want

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.

- 1 John 5:14-15

Yes, you can ask God for anything, everything that you want.

Just remember that He isn’t always going to give you exactly what you want.

If you feel like your prayers are not being answered or that He is ignoring you, remind yourself that God knows what is best for you, He loves you and He knows His plans for you.

I can think of several things that I prayed really hard about, begging God for a specific outcome, and being heartbroken when it did not end the way I wanted it to go.

And I look back now and thank Him for NOT doing that thing I asked Him to do.

It is all in God’s timing, and His will, we have to be patient and wait for Him.

Now once again, I need to practice what I preach.

Have a blessed day. 

P.S. Happy birthday to the BEST mother-in-law on the planet – we love you Mom!!!!!!!

all you do is complain

And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

- 1 Corinthians 10:10

I get upset with the folks on social media that are constantly negative. 

I actually asked one person if anything makes her happy, because she posts how horrible everything is more often than not.

Negativity can destroy you and your relationships with others.

My daily devotional says to let thankfulness temper all your thoughts, that a thankful mindset keeps you in touch with the Father, and gratitude enables you to see the light of His presence in all circumstances.

I am guilty of negativity on occasion – I know this.

Starting today, I plan to be more thankful and to look for the positive in all things, even when I hurt. 

I challenge you to do the same.

Have a blessed day.

You can choose your friends but you are stuck with family!

Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.

- Mark 3:35

Family . . . there are some crazy dynamics out there.

Families are supposed to be close, loving and supporting of one another, even in bad times.

I am so blessed to have an awesome family that supports me.

Let’s be honest, that does not always happen.

Some families do not have healthy relationships, and it is toxic being around them, and that’s when we have to lean on our other family, I’ve heard the word merge “framily”

Being in God’s family means unconditional love and support, even when we don’t agree with what you are doing.

Come to God’s family, I’ll be there for you.

Have a blessed day.

shadows can be good

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

- Psalm 36:7

As children, I think a lot of us have a fear of the dark, of shadows.

Shadows can be good though!

Think about on a hot summer day, with blistering sunshine (ok, that is me, wishing for summer) we gravitate toward the shade, and what is the shade but the shadow of a building or a tree?

Song reference!

Your love, oh Lord

Reaches to the heavens

Your faithfulness

Stretches to the skies

Your righteousness is

Like the mighty mountain, yeah

Your justice flows like the ocean's tides

I will lift my voice

To worship You, my King

I will find my strength

In the shadow of Your wings

People take refuge in the shade, in the shadows – we can be relieved from heat, we can be refreshed.

God’s love is refreshing, we just need to happily accept it.

Have a blessed day.

testing, testing, 1…2…3…

Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

- Luke 4:12

I remember when I was a young Christ follower and I did not understand how to pray and I really thought that I could just ask for what I wanted.

When I didn’t get the answers I needed, I would be disappointed and I would question my new found faith.

Someone told me to pray that if God wanted me to make this decision, to ask for a sign.

Of course I took that to an extreme and I would say things like “God if you want me to take this job, play <specific song> on the radio this morning.”

Looking back I realize that was pretty dumb, because I always chose a song according to what was popular on that station so I would trick myself into thinking the answer from God was there.

We do not have to test God. 

God loves us and will do what is best for us in His time.

It is hard to be patient, but we have to learn to TRUST.

Song reference!

Letting go of every single dream

I lay each one down at Your feet

Every moment of my wandering

Never changes what You see

I try to win this war

I confess, my hands are weary, I need Your rest

Mighty warrior, king of the fight

No matter what I face You're by my side

When You don't move the mountains

I'm needing You to move

When You don't part the waters

I wish I could walk through

When You don't give the answers

As I cry out to You

I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You

Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings

There's not a day ahead You have not seen

So let all things be my life and breath

I want what You want Lord and nothing less

When You don't move the mountains

I'm needing You to move

When You don't part the waters

I wish I could walk through

When You don't give the answers

As I cry out to You

I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You

I will trust in You

You are my strength and comfort

You are my steady hand

You are my firm foundation

The rock on which I stand

Your ways are always higher

Your plans are always good

There's not a place where I'll go

You've not already stood

When You don't move the mountains

I'm needing You to move

When You don't part the waters

I wish I could walk through

When You don't give the answers

As I cry out to You

I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You

Trust, don’t test. 

You’ll get better results.

Have a blessed day.

daddies

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

- Proverbs 24:3-4

I googled a verse to use to celebrate a dad’s birthday, and this verse, while it does not directly say anything about a dad, it does reflect what a dad does.

Dads should impart wisdom, understanding and knowledge. 

Although my daddy went to Heaven when I was young, I cherish wonderful memories.

My daddy was smart, maybe not so understanding (grin) but he absolutely would share his knowledge with you – whether you asked for it or not!!!

The house he built is not a physical structure, but it is my heart, and through wisdom, understanding and knowledge my heart is filled with treasure.

Our Heavenly Father has built us a beautiful house as well, filled with many rooms, many treasures - and He is waiting for us to come to Him.  

I am a day late, but happy 92^nd birthday in Heaven, Daddy  - save a place for me at the table.

Vulcan mind meld?

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?”

- Matthew 9:4

I am so very guilty of having bad thoughts.

Sometimes I can run an entire scenario in my mind that is not nice or pretty and not even remotely Christian.

I am ashamed (a lot) of things that I think, and I am glad that there is not really a thing like the Vulcan mind meld (sorry, I am not ashamed that I like Star Trek!)

When we concentrate on things that are not pleasing to God, we are really opening a door for the evil one to fill our hearts with darkness.

The immoral or destructive thoughts, the unkind words, they are not of God.

Be careful what you think, keep your mind and your heart focused on God.

Have a blessed day.