Weariness ....

Weariness.....

Years ago, I was at a breaking point.....our family was in turmoil...our church was in turmoil...it seemed everything around us was in turmoil...for a a multitude of reasons...I remember crying out to The Lord,  "peace, peace, please peace for my soul...."

I was reading through Jeremiah at the time and came upon this little verse stuck quietly away ...."Jeremiah 31:25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint..".....amongst his laments.... It was like water in a thirsty, parched  land....

I have returned to that verse and promise and others like it many times since then....desiring that refreshment, that satisfying.....in the turmoils of life...which really don't go away, but my attitude is refreshed...my soul is strengthened....my outlook is changed...because God does not grow weary ....he gives the refreshment, the sustenance....

I love the following one,,also..."Isaiah 50:4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed."
As I am definitely a morning person....and I want to listen....(most of the time....)

I am so glad that God gives answers...that He shows the way....that He gives rest when we seek Him....sometimes the answers aren't what we want, but what we need...then He gives a peaceful heart to accept .....Thank YOU....


Job 3:17 There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary will receive rest..

Psalm 68:9 You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.

Psalm 119:28 My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

Proverbs 25:25 Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

Proverbs 30:1 [ Sayings of Agur ] The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance. This man’s utterance to Ithiel: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail.

Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Molding....

Molding.....

I opened this devo this morning and there is was.  ."pottery"...I have a love for pottery...having taken pictures of it wherever I have been...not collecting pieces I liked (I truthfully didn't want to dust it or have it end up in a garage sale, for which my children will thank me)....but I still like it...the way the pieces are formed, molded either on a potters wheel or rolled out flat with a rolling pin to be formed or even poured into molds...

God  uses this picture of watching the potter form the lump of clay into a pot, reshaping  a marred pot into another...into "what seemed best to him".
God  is the potter, we are the clay....He doesn't ask us "what seems best to us", although most of us have our own ideas what that would be...we are being transformed moment by moment into "what seemed best to Him".   Shaping by the day to day events, our thoughts, words, The Word, the hand of God....forming, reforming, reshaping, molding, centering us on His wheel....not lopsided, just the way He wants....none of will look the same or have the same use, but made individually....by the Creator's hand.....

There are times when I want to jump off that wheel, be my own pot, look my own way, do what I want to do ....then I end up just another lump...the potter picks me up and starts that molding process again...covering or reshaping the wobbles in the clay...transforming, ever transforming....until someday the perfection is completed....

Thank YOU for the patience in Being the eternal potter, the molder, the designer, the embellisher, the finisher....the transformer of our lives....




Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.


The Potter and the Clay
Daily Devotional for August 14
From the Writings of Ray Stedman
 
From your friends at
www.RayStedman.org
Read the Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-23

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message. So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:1-4

We have commented in previous messages about the many things God uses to teach his people, these remarkable visual aids which appear from time to time in this book whereby God imparts lessons to this prophet. Jeremiah was sent down to the potter's house, and there he saw three simple things, conveying to him a fantastic lesson. You may have observed the same things that Jeremiah did, for the art of making a pot has not changed through the centuries. The wheel is now turned by an electric motor, but that is about the only difference. Even this is still controlled by the foot of the potter. The clay is the same as it has always been. The potter is the same, with his capable hands, working to mold and shape the clay into the vessel he has in mind.

What did Jeremiah see in this lesson? First there was the clay. Jeremiah knew, as he watched the potter shaping and molding the clay, that he was looking at a picture of himself, and of every man, and of every nation. We are the clay. Both Isaiah and Zechariah, in the Old Testament, join with Jeremiah in presenting this picture of the potter and the clay. In the New Testament we have the voice of Paul in that great passage in Romans 9, reminding us that God is the Potter and we are the clay. So Jeremiah saw the clay being shaped and molded into a vessel. Then some imperfection in the clay spoiled it in the potter's hand, and the potter crumbled it up, and began anew the process of shaping it into a vessel that pleased him.

Jeremiah saw the wheel turning constantly, bringing the clay against the potter's hand. That wheel stands for the turning circumstances of our life, under the control of the Potter, for it is the potter's foot that guides the wheel. The lesson is clear. As our life is being shaped and molded by the Great Potter, it is the circumstances of our life which bring us again and again under the potter's hand, under the pressure of the molding fingers of the Potter, so that he shapes the vessel according to his will.

Then, Jeremiah saw the potter. God, he knew, was the Great Potter, with absolute right over the clay to make it what he wanted it to be. Paul argues this with keen and clear logic in Romans 9: Shall what is formed say to the one 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 special purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:20b-21) Of course he has. The vessel is shaped according to the image in the potter's mind.

So Jeremiah, by watching, learned that an individual or a nation is clay in the Great Potter's hands. He has a sovereign right to make it what he wants it to be. He has the skill and design to work with the clay and to bring it to pass. If there be some imperfection in the clay, something which mars the design, spoils the work, the potter simply crushes the clay down to a lump and begins again to make it yet a vessel according to his own mind.

Thank you, Father, for creating men and shaping me. I trust that you are sovereign in all that you do, and that your purpose for me is good.

Life Application: What are three principles we may learn from the visual aid of potter and vessel? Are we learning to be grateful for the Potter's molding of our earthly vessels?

Related Message: This daily devotional was inspired by one of Ray's messages. Please read "The Potter and the Clay" or listen to Ray for more on this portion of scripture.

You shall not commit adultery, Exodus 20:14....

You shall not commit adultery, Exodus 20:14.....

The other day in church, the pastor continued with his study of the Ten  Commandments....

I, in my smugness, thought, "well this really pertains to those people who are married. I am a widow now, so I will just sit back and enjoy and no arrows will be pointing at me".....NO....that was not to be....God's word is , "God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16" and "Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

This was no comfortable sermon....or should not have been to anyone attending...married or unmarried...it spoke to all...

As a widow, my husband is now God himself...my allegiance is to HIm...I have to watch out for "adultery" of the heart.  My husband may be unseen, but He sees all, knows all, understands all....his Spirit dwells within me...He is...I need to be faithful in all ways...

The following are some of the notes of Pastor Randy Myers...

Proverbs 4:23 New Century Version
23 Be careful what you think,
    because your thoughts run your life.

how to be faithful...

-Recommit to God's will....who is in charge of my life??

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7New Living Translation
3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife,for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.

-Recognize the seriousness of sin

Proverbs 6:32 English Standard Version
32 He who commits adultery lacks sense;
    he who does it destroys himself.

Unfaithfulness will tear you down...spiritually, emotionally, relationally
   
-Reduce the temptation

Proverbs 2:11New Living Translation
11 Wise choices will watch over you.
    Understanding will keep you safe.

-Refocus your life

Proverbs 23:19New Living Translation
19 My child, listen and be wise:
    Keep your heart on the right course.

Ask God for Help
Be accountable, trust
Cultivate relationship , focus

As a widow, this sermon very much pertains to me as it does to those still In An earthly marriage...other gods draw away, other activities, other lists of life draw me away as well...I yearn to be wise In heart, understanding and relationship with God...I want to hear His voice..and not follow after false things or be tempted away...I want my thoughts to be His, my ways, His...

thank YOU for breaking my barrier of smugness of thinking....breaking into my Mind, heart and soul with Your Words....help me not to commit adultery in our relationship as I know You will not....

Darkness.....

Thunder , lightning, downpour.....a small dog sits shivering on my lap....over and over again.....then utter darkness.....

 (I found that an iPad makes a good flashlight until I got to,the real one)

I walk through the house turning off the lights that had been on and head for bed...it is dark everywhere....street lights put, moon and stars covered with clouds.....I can't see my hands or feet....darkness....

It reminded me of when we went on a cave tour and the guide turned out the lights....you could feel the darkness ....so black, thick....darkness....

When I read or listen to the news, there is a darkness that comes with the some of the world news....darkness of mans' sin, depravity, hatred, acts of darkness...so against the 

light  of God, His awesome love and light....I just can't help but think how distressed He must feel, or seeing man throw away the light He longs to give...the

Love He has for mankind....and they, choosing darkness instead...

The lights came back on quickly...extinguishing the darkness .....the various clocks blinking...forgotten lights awakening from the dark....no more need for the flashlight....but showing the need for light in the world, in my soul....and those around me...

Thank YOU for Your light ...help mankind to seek it rather than the darkness.... 

2 Samuel 22:29 You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.

Job 5:14 Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night.

Job 12:22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.

Psalm 104:20 You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl.

Psalm 105:28 He sent darkness and made the land dark— for had they not rebelled against his words?

Psalm 107:10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains.

Psalm 107:14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.

Psalm 112:4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

Psalm 139:12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Proverbs 4:19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

Proverbs 20:20 If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

Ecclesiastes 2:13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

Isaiah 5:30 In that day they will roar over it like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks at the land, there is only darkness and distress; even the sun will be darkened by clouds.

Isaiah 8:22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.

Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Isaiah 29:15 Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?”

Isaiah 42:7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Ezekiel 34:12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

Daniel 2:22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.

Luke 1:78-79 New International Version (NIV)

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

    by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

79 to shine on those living in darkness

    and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Building bridges....burning bridges....

Burning bridges.....building bridges....

Part of man's existence  depends on building bridges.  We have built bridges by the thousands all over the globe, connecting land masses, villages, cities,from the deepest of jungles to the wide open plains ,etc so that people groups may connect for business, socially....these manmade bridge require maintenance to keep them safe and usable...

when wars come, those bridges are destroyed to isolate and tear down, stopping that connectivity between people as well...

Bridges...they are so important...

We build human emotional bridges as well.  We connect with others by building bridges of communication, relationships by spending time, effort....sometimes those bridges are hard to maintain and other times, they are as natural as can be...

When Satan wants to break down bridges between people he uses all of his many talents to make that happen, lies, deception......whatever  it takes to break apart people. We are so susceptible to this and follow along...it takes hard work, sometimes to maintain bridges with some people, cultivating....and it may be easier to just to let the relationship slide, melt away into oblivion....without the required maintenance....

As a parent, grandparent, I try to maintain a bridge of communication between my children and grandchildren in some way...visiting with them now and then, spending time, listening, questioning....anything to try to enter their worlds....which are so busy as mine was when I was their age...

My parents and grandparents worked at doing the same with me as I was growing up....I want my family members to have fond memories of me as I do of mine...not broken down bridges, bad memories....but a word of encouragement, a hug....whatever..

 We have another bridge in our lives as well...Jesus...He is the bridge between us and God...He is our connection....our lifeline to eternal life...that connectivity....

Thank YOU for bridges of all kinds.  Thank You for family,  Help me to continue to bridge the gap between generations, family members...thank YOU for Jesus, the ultimate bridge....


John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Struggles at a sewing machine....

Struggles at a sewing machine.....

I received my first sewing machine at the tender age of 8 years old.....it was a little children's Singer hand crank.  It Attached to the table with a clamp, you cranked a little wheel of the side and off it went.   My friend got an electric similar to mine, ...Mine  was heavier and worked better...I still have it packed away in a box....

I made baby doll clothes, Barbie clothes, whatever I wanted, learned to read my first pattern instructions and a love for creating with cloth...

My next big leap Into sewing was my grandmother's treadle machine. She had it in her bedroom, next to a window....that soft rhythm of your foot on the treadle, back and forth, back and forth as the machine is still a soothing sound memory...she had made many a quilt on that machine as well as other items...I made school clothes while I visited her and sat under her instruction.....

Finally, I learned how to use my mother's electric Singer machine...it sat in a cabinet with a lid over the top..I had to open the lid and lift out the machine where it was hidden down on its side, fold the shelving into place and voila, there sat a black shiny machine...my mother made so many of my clothes and hers as well.  Each school year, we went to the fabric store, picked out patterns and material for most of my clothes...my first formal was even fashioned at that machine...as well as others that followed...

My high school graduation present was a sewing machine.....there was much discussion about this as my parents were afraid I wouldn't study because I would be too tempted to sew instead...not so....I did study and find some spare time to sew...that graduation  present lasted for ten years with much use in my early marriage and first child...the next machine was and is a Viking. I remember purchasing it with a 25 year guarantee, thinking that is a long time...it flew by swiftly with years added ...and it is still working with all its metal parts...

there were times when I sewed 2-3 hours a day, creating children's dresses,  cowboy shirts, underwear, matching doll clothes, little girl clothes and mommy dresses, my husbands shirts, quilts, machine embroidery, Christmas presents of fabric, a wedding dress..and teaching my daughters to sew their first pair of shorts, a simple quilt, and duffle bag.....my oldest son learned at that machine as well...each home had a special spot for that machine, near a window, at ready for its work out...for 36 plus years....it still holds a special spot  before a window.....

Granted, sewing held a practical use....but it was and is a place to think, ponder, pray, Struggle through ideas and problems, all the while feeling that piece of material take on new form...just like life with its changes from a one thing to another...a thing of practical use or beauty.....creating....a place of comfort.....God met with me there....my quiet "garden"..... Laying out plans, giving ideas, sorting through life's questions, dilemmas, needs...calmness in storms....

Thank YOU for the art of sewing....it winds it way through my life as a thread of care, comfort, creativity.....listening, struggles unloaded, soothing out the wrinkles....making something out of a simple piece of cloth...as You were and are making me, Your creation out a simple piece of dirt into a molded vessel...


Exodus 31:1-6New International Version (NIV)

Bezalel and Oholiab
31 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you

( I can't say I have the skills these men were obviously gifted with, but He has created in each us, talents that we can use)

Weary....but good....

Weary ...but good...

Picture three children, ages 4, 2 and a teething/crawling 11 month old, one grandmother and one dog sprawled across couch, two chairs, asleep... Actually I wasn't asleep, but weary...I undid myself from underneath the youngest, put her to bed and went and treaded in treadmill.  But the picture from the ceiling of the room that I had in my mind was cute...peaceful...after four active hours....these times make one thankful we are younger when we have our children....times of endless questions, sibling rivalry, attention getting, cuddling, feeding, diaper changing, laundry, quick meals, spilled bottles, washed faces/hands, "mine", "no", "yes"....helter-skelter....and even picture taking....

At times I felt like this verse...
While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer. Jeremiah 7:13

Other times, instant obedience....or the shelter in the storm with cling-ons...depended on the minute ....

Grandchildren are a blessing....I have them from three days to almost 15 years...each have their wonderful personalities, temperaments, needs, desires, dreams.....each specially designed for a path planned for them....each loved for their specialness...and I thought my children were/are special as well...but seeing the next generation is delightful....there are no replacements...for either....

Thank YOU so much for the opportunity to be a small part of my grandchildren's lives...from diaper changing to storytelling, to cuddles at night....talking about life and dreams....just time....





Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
—2 Thessalonians 3:16