[Faith-talk] Molded by the Master...

Fri Jan 11 12:49:27 CST 2008

Hello All:
Below is today's devotional from In Touch Ministries.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to all those that read this, and minister to the hearts that do.  May God show you what He wants you to learn today, and reveal to you what He wants you to know.  May He confirm anything that needs confirming to you today.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Anyone willing to share their thoughts on how this has ministered to you?  As for me, it's another great reminder for me and timely as well.  I know this to be true, and see God's handprint in my life through His molding.  However, I may not be completely "submitting" to His molding is some areas.  So to that, I say, "ouch!", and "Amen" for bringing it to my attention.  Thank you, Jesus.  Following the devotional are my thoughts.

Daily Devotional

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Molded by the Master
READ | Jeremiah 18:1-6
If you have ever watched a potter work, as Jeremiah did in today’s passage, you know the wonder of seeing a lovely vessel take shape from a lump of clay. God’s object lesson to the prophet was that the nation of Israel—as well as every person from the beginning of time—was to be shaped by His hand. We are all lumps of human clay waiting for the touch of the master Potter.When clay is placed on the wheel, the potter already has a specific design in mind. The same is true of us—God has determined how He plans to work in our life and what part we are to play in building His kingdom (Ephesians 2:10). He shapes with His hands and cuts with His tools so that our character begins to look like that of His Son Jesus. Each believer will be shaped differently to carry out the unique service God has in mind for him or her. But regardless of our special equipping, we all bear the unmistakable imprint of our Potter.Too often we look around at the talents and abilities of others and wish to be more like someone else. But we have been perfectly designed for the purposes God has for us, and He makes no mistakes. If we spend our time wishing for talents that do not suit God’s plan, or if we refuse to use the spiritual gifts He’s given us, we waste His effort and our opportunity to serve Him."The Master is pleased with the way He’s designed our life and the abilities He has poured into us. To honor the Potter as a vessel should, we must submit to being molded and used as He desires." 

MY THOUGHTS:

1)   "God has determined how He plans to work in our life and what part we are to play in building His kingdom (Ephesians 2:10). "    This scripture verse says:  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  The side note to this verse in my bible says:  " Those who have been save by God's grace are His 'workmanship' (literally. 'masterpiece' or 'work of art'), specially created by Him for the purpose of doing 'good works'.  In eternity past, God prepared these good works that He will accomplish in and through each believer by the power of the His indwelling  Spirit."  God has determined my place in His Kingdom and he molding me for it.  No one else can take my place in His kingdom.  No one else will be molded exactly like me.  How awesome to have a God that cares that much for me to make me unique for His kingdom!

2) " He shapes with His hands and cuts with His tools so that our character begins to look like that of His Son Jesus. Each believer will be shaped differently to carry out the unique service God has in mind for him or her."  I know that I am not perfect.  And at times, this eats away at me.  However, it comforts me to know that God is chiseling away and molding me to make me more like Jesus.  Everyone is unique, and everyone has a different purpose and service for God.  Though some people share the same interests in personal life, business, or ministry, etc., we are still very unique and God will use us each differently in all areas of our lives in comparison to another person.

3)  "...He makes no mistakes."  Praise God!  We all have flaws because we can't be perfect while on this earth.  I'm thankful that God hasn't made any mistakes with me!  Though I'm not perfect, He is the one who made me who I am, and will continue to carry on to completion that which He has started in me, because I love him, and He loves me.  I don't need to "wish to be more like someone else", though how often do we do that?  This is a good reminder.

4)  "If we spend our time wishing for talents that do not suit God’s plan, or if we refuse to use the spiritual gifts He’s given us, we waste His effort and our opportunity to serve Him."  God made us who we are.  If we do not know what our talents and spiritual gifts are, we need to find out.  Spending time in fellowship with other believers will help to reveal that. Once we know, or if we already know, we need to grow in those talents and spiritual gifts to the benefit of the Church.  God uses each of us in one way or another, sometimes in small ways, and sometimes in large ways, to minister to the people around us.  Again, here I have to say, "ouch".  The bible says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing,..."  (Philippians 2:14)

Some notes on comparing:

"I consider that our present suffering are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ( Romans 8:18)

"If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  Each one should test his own actions.  Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load."  (Galatians 6:3-4)  I suggest you read the entire chapter of Galatians 6.  It is packed with instruction.

I am going to share this devotional with my kids individually.  I know that Bekah, my daughter who is visually impaired, is struggling more than ever right now with that fact that she is visually impaired.  I'm sure this will bring about some good conversation and teachable moments.

May God bless you all...

Warmly,
Lisa
_________________________________________________________________
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Hello All:
Below is today's devotional from In Touch Ministries.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to all those that read this, and minister to the hearts that do.  May God show you what He wants you to learn today, and reveal to you what He wants you to know.  May He confirm anything that needs confirming to you today.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Anyone willing to share their thoughts on how this has ministered to you?  As for me, it's another great reminder for me and timely as well.  I know this to be true, and see God's handprint in my life through His molding.  However, I may not be completely "submitting" to His molding is some areas.  So to that, I say, "ouch!", and "Amen" for bringing it to my attention.  Thank you, Jesus.  Following the devotional are my thoughts.

Daily Devotional
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Molded by the Master
READ | http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%Jeremiah%2018:1-6;&version=49;
Jeremiah 18:1-6
If you have ever watched a potter work, as Jeremiah did in today’s passage, you know the wonder of seeing a lovely vessel take shape from a lump of clay. God’s object lesson to the prophet was that the nation of Israel—as well as every person from the beginning of time—was to be shaped by His hand. We are all lumps of human clay waiting for the touch of the master Potter.
When clay is placed on the wheel, the potter already has a specific design in mind. The same is true of us—God has determined how He plans to work in our life and what part we are to play in building His kingdom (Ephesians 2:10). He shapes with His hands and cuts with His tools so that our character begins to look like that of His Son Jesus. Each believer will be shaped differently to carry out the unique service God has in mind for him or her. But regardless of our special equipping, we all bear the unmistakable imprint of our Potter.
Too often we look around at the talents and abilities of others and wish to be more like someone else. But we have been perfectly designed for the purposes God has for us, and He makes no mistakes. If we spend our time wishing for talents that do not suit God’s plan, or if we refuse to use the spiritual gifts He’s given us, we waste His effort and our opportunity to serve Him.
"The Master is pleased with the way He’s designed our life and the abilities He has poured into us. To honor the Potter as a vessel should, we must submit to being molded and used as He desires."

MY THOUGHTS:

1)   "God has determined how He plans to work in our life and what part we are to play in building His kingdom (Ephesians 2:10). "    This scripture verse says:  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  The side note to this verse in my bible says:  "
Those who have been save by God's grace
are His 'workmanship' (literally. 'masterpiece' or 'work of art'), specially created by Him for the purpose of doing 'good works'.  In eternity past, God prepared these good works that He will accomplish in and through each believer by the power of the His indwelling  Spirit."  God has determined my place in His Kingdom and he molding me for it.  No one else can take my place in His kingdom.  No one else will be molded exactly like me.  How awesome to have a God that cares that much for me to make me unique for His kingdom!

2) " He shapes with His hands and cuts with His tools so that our character begins to look like that of His Son Jesus. Each believer will be shaped differently to carry out the unique service God has in mind for him or her."  I know that I am not perfect.  And at times, this eats away at me.  However, it comforts me to know that God is chiseling away and molding me to make me more like Jesus.  Everyone is unique, and everyone has a different purpose and service for God.  Though some people share the same interests in personal life, business, or ministry, etc., we are still very unique and God will use us each differently in all areas of our lives in comparison to another person.

3)  "...He makes no mistakes."  Praise God!  We all have flaws because we can't be perfect while on this earth.  I'm thankful that God hasn't made any mistakes with me!  Though I'm not perfect, He is the one who made me who I am, and will continue to carry on to completion that which He has started in me, because I love him, and He loves me.  I don't need to "wish to be more like someone else", though how often do we do that?  This is a good reminder.

4)  "If we spend our time wishing for talents that do not suit God’s plan, or if we refuse to use the spiritual gifts He’s given us, we waste His effort and our opportunity to serve Him."  God made us who we are.  If we do not know what our talents and spiritual gifts are, we need to find out.  Spending time in fellowship with other believers will help to reveal that. Once we know, or if we already know, we need to grow in those talents and spiritual gifts to the benefit of the Church.  God uses each of us in one way or another, sometimes in small ways, and sometimes in large ways, to minister to the people around us.  Again, here I have to say, "ouch".  The bible says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing,..."  (Philippians 2:14)

Some notes on comparing:

"I consider that our present suffering are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ( Romans 8:18)

"If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  Each one should test his own actions.  Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load."  (Galatians 6:3-4)  I suggest you read the entire chapter of Galatians 6.  It is packed with instruction.

I am going to share this devotional with my kids individually.  I know that Bekah, my daughter who is visually impaired, is struggling more than ever right now with that fact that she is visually impaired.  I'm sure this will bring about some good conversation and teachable moments.

May God bless you all...

Warmly,
Lisa
Get the power of Windows + Web with the new Windows Live. http://www.windowslive.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_powerofwindows_012008 Get it now!