Broken pottery…

 Broken pottery…

 A friend sent picture of a broken bowl mended with gold…a Japanese technique, kintsukuroi, which  makes the bowl so much more beautiful…even in it brokenness…

It reminded me of some chunks of white quartz from the California gold bearing area which has gold stringers running through it, beautifully created by God at some point in time…He filled the cracks in the rock with gold…

Another picture came to mind, one taken around Panama, a discard heap of broken pottery used to fill in spaces around the plants/trees…

And then Job, using a piece of broken pottery to scrape  his sores as he sat in the ashes…in his pain physically…

 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. 

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” 

In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

 And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

Job.2.8-10,Job.2.13

Broken pottery….

Paul speaks of jars of clay…a wonder that God uses us, jars of clay, to portray  this treasure, the Good News of salvation…

And here could be another description of Job, afflicted, perplexed, struck down, but not destroyed…

So many lessons for each of us…even in brokenness God uses the shards, as they are or puts the pots back together in righteousness, gold  with his hand ever ready to restore…refined …

 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

2Cor.4.7-9

But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God [His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. 

2Cor.4.7AMP

Thank YOU

Vessels of clay….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHbbAfrJ4k0

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/beauty-in-the-brokenness-how-god-restores-our-hearts/

https://ldsperfectday.blogspot.com/2013/12/why-word-kintsukuroi-means-so-much-to.html

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/how-to-ask-god-to-restore-to-me-the-joy-of-your-salvation.html 

Songs of faithfulness….

 Songs of faithfulness…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-HszBrTGfA&list=PLAwtUIOjXwSv6b97EB9KtR-uNWweKB3TY&index=1

There are times of just listening….soaking up the songs in my heart…listening for that voice to speak to my soul…being quiet before God…

Listening for his comfort, his healing balm…his words speaking deep…

Thank YOU…

The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 

Day to day pours out speech,and night to night reveals knowledge. 

The law of the Lord is perfect,reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,making wise the simple;

 the precepts of the Lord are right,rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,enlightening the eyes;

 the fear of the Lord is clean,enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,and righteous altogether. 

More to be desired are they than gold,even much fine gold;sweeter also than honeyand drippings of the honeycomb.

 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;in keeping them there is great reward. 

Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 

Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;let them not have dominion over me!

Then I shall be blameless,and innocent of great transgression. 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be  acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Ps.19.1,Ps.19.2,Ps.19.7-14

Salutations…

 

 Salutations….

My grandmothers wrote letters to us every week, sometimes with a side note from a grandfather…one wrote to me throughout college and well in marriage…starting with a “ dear______” and ending with “love_____”…

Now, I could probably use something with AI and have letters written every week to my grandchildren…

I am not faithful in writing, I get birthday and anniversary cards out, usually on time…but not letters…

Just think if Paul hadn’t written to various ones, our New Testament would have been pretty slim…

John wrote as well with Peter,  James adding their words…John tells why he wrote…

All of these letters were sources of encouragement, teaching, discipline…divinely saved through the ages…

I love the salutations on each…the desire for grace and peace To be bestowed upon the recipients…those who first read the words and those who have read the words down through time….us, who are reading them now…and then on to the following generations…because the Word is eternal…

Thank YOU….

salutation-

a

: an expression of greeting, goodwill, or courtesy by word, gesture, or ceremony

2

: the word or phrase of greeting (such as Gentlemen or Dear Sir or Madam) that conventionally comes immediately before the body of a letter

Merriam Webster online 

And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake. 

I am writing to you, fathers,because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, children,because you know the Father. 

I write to you, fathers,because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,because you are strong,and the word of God abides in you,and you have overcome the evil one. 

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

1John.1.4,1John.2.1,1John.2.12-14, 1John.2.26,1John.5.13

 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom.1.7

 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Cor.1.1-3

 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Cor.1.1-2

 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gal.1.1-5

 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph.1.1-2

 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Phil.1.1-2

 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Col.1.1-2

 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

1Thess.1.1

 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Thess.1.1-2

 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 

To Timothy, my true child in the faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 

To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Tim.1.1-2, 2Tim.1.1-2

 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Titus.1.1-4

 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Phlm.1.1-3

 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Jas.1.1

 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

1Pet.1.1-2, 2Pet.1.1-2

 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

3John.1.1,Jude.1-2, Rev.1.4-5

Yet not I…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbyI5axC2-A

 

Saved by grace…

  

Saved by grace…

But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Acts.15.11

 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

John.10.7-9

 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts.16.30-31

 …because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Rom.10.9-13

 …even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Eph.2.5,Eph.2.8-10

 ….who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

2Tim.1.9

 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus.3.4-7

 “Turn to me and be saved,all the ends of the earth!For I am God, and there is no other.

Isa.45.22

Thank YOU….

Grace, grace, God’s grace….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzQRLuOLk2o

Saved, saved…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6TW78_1rBM

Saved by grace…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlB7XDz_soQ

Self control….

 Self-control….

We are just reading a chapter on self- control in Bible study…so I thought I would just look up all verses on self-control…

The song included was what set off this journey this a.m….we have the victory through Christ, but I, for one, don’t hold on to that fact as much as I should…I try and try in my own “power”…before finally laying it at Jesus’ feet and acknowledging that I don’t have the “power”…only He does…

Thank YOU….. 

 A man without self-controlis like a city broken into and left without walls.

Prov.25.28

 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

Acts.24:24-25

 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 

But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

1Cor.7.5, 9

 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

1Cor.9.25

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Gal.5.22-24

 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1Tim.2.9,1Tim.2.15,1Tim.3.2

 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

2Tim.1.7,2Tim.3.2,2Tim.3.3-5

 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves too much wine. 

They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus.1.7,Titus.1.8,Titus.1.9,Titus.2.2,Titus.2.3,Titus.2.4,Titus.2.5,Titus.2.6,Titus.2.11,Titus.2.12,Titus.2.13,Titus.2.14

Thought of this psalm…it speaks as much to me now as it did the Israelites long ago…

 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;your hands were freed from the basket. 

In distress you called, and I delivered you;

I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah. 

Selah “But my people did not listen to my voice;Israel would not submit to me. 

So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,to follow their own counsels. 

Oh, that my people would listen to me,that Israel would walk in my ways! 

I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.

Ps.81.6,Ps.81.7,Ps.81.11,Ps.81.12,Ps.81.13,Ps.81.14

You have already won…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJOghIVI3Mc

“As usual “

 “As usual “

 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed.

Acts.14.1

Paul faithfully gave out the Word…his “as usual “ found him winning others to Christ…

Those two words caught me yesterday and again this morning….

“Creatures of habit”, “faithfully”, “ you can count on it”….other similar phrases…

There are only a few other places in Scriptures that uses “ as usual “…and I thought they were kind of interesting…

1. As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it.  1Sam.17.23

Goliath’s usual taunting of others…his “bragging “ right so to speak…and the phrase, “and David heard it”…leaves one lingering on, “what will David do?”… and we know from the Scripture’s record. He defied Goliath with pebbles and more importantly, God on his side…

2.  The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. 1Sam.18.10

David faithfully played the lyre to sooth Saul’s emotions…probably playing music that he played to his Lord…I wonder if those songs later accompanied his many Psalms…

3. “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. Ezek.33.30-32

This one was a sad commentary…Ezekiel was called as a watchman…he spoke and people heard, but they did not want to put his words in to practice…they went about their merry way after hearing truth…like  the sower’s seed …

 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

Matt.13.20-21

4. The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.  Mark.15.8

Was Pilate’s “as usual “ bending to the people? Was he predictably giving in to others to appease them?

5. Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  Luke.22.39-44

This was my favorite…Jesus prayed “as usual”….in this instance he was praying before his arrest, crucifixion and resurrection…his agony apparent…but we know he prayed, as usual…for his disciples…for us…in John 17..

His “as usual” was an open conversation with God that we too can enjoy…

Thank YOU…

Faithful…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJFlY0mwFks

Rich Mullins … and other writers….

 Rich Mullins…and other writers…

We listened to Rich Mullins when my children were growing up…

“Awesome God” still reminds me of a major turning point in our lives and focus…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Mullins

If I stand…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jj0ZTzgmGM

Awesome God…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w2b033DXCw

Step by step…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAMRacZ0zHE&list=PLrMsGn570V2gZblJylBhSaqQPiCH26yWo

And so many more on YouTube….

We have some amazing Christian songwriters and singers still adding to songs of praise and wonder… or the hymn writers of old…

Their songs touch our hearts and souls deeply giving us pause to praise, pray, meditate, listen in contemplation, or sing along with hands raised or lowered…in worship…

When my husband was going through his cancer, I asked God to give me songs…sometimes they were great hymns, sometimes praise songs…all sung to my heart…

The songs can get us through difficult times, great times…

There are songs throughout Scripture which told of great events…people who sang them facing or having faced life…and their hearts were moved to sing…

thank YOU….

Blessings…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQan9L3yXjc

https://www.crosswalk.com/church/worship/important-songs-in-the-bible-that-arent-in-the-psalms.html