Is Your Clay Moist?
It is not thou that shapest God; it is God that shapest thee.
If then thou are the work of God, await the hand of the Artist who does all things in due season.
Offer Him thy heart soft and tractable and keep the form in which the Artist has fashioned thee.
Let thy clay be moist, lest thou grow hard and lose the imprint of His fingers.
What awesome thoughts Leonard Sweet shares in his book, “A Cup of Coffee at the Soul Cafe”, page 16, that I recently received. Leonard writes in a style that I thoroughly enjoy and understand, conversational writing.
One of the things that the Lord has spoken to me over the years, is that He wanted me to stop trying to figure things out, but rather to sit at His feet and listen and then I read the following statement by Leonard, “Right now God wants to prepare us for something that we cannot possibly understand or predict. Only by accepting “not-knowing” will we be accepted into the heart of existence itself. Only by accepting God’s plan, not ours, will we find ultimate fulfillment. In the words of God through the prophet Jeremiah, “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans of peace not of disaster, plans to bring about the future you hoped for” (29:11 Authors paraphrase)
As I read that, it spoke volumes to me and it was also a wake-up call. That the Lord has been trying to get my attention.
For the last three years, it seemed no matter where I turned, what I read, that particular verse has a way of showing up in conversation, other blogs, letters I receive, no matter what, that verse was like a flashing neon sign to me from the Lord and I think it is beginning to sink in, that His plans, are good plans.
That He wants to remind us, that He is the potter, we are the clay. That it is only as we allow the things of life, the things that we go through, even when we don’t understand the why of it to keep us moist, pliable in His hands.
We have a choice, to be bitter or better, to yield to the Master Potter, knowing that when He is done, we will be a work of art in His hands, that will reflect the reality of who He is and what He has done, that He has taken the broken, wounded vessels and makes them to be the works of His hands to shine forth the life He has breathe within.
Leonard goes on to say “God sends to each of us various and sundry windows of opportunity to meet Him. All of life’s exercises, are the preparations to leap forth in faith through these moving, open windows. It is an institutional head-on plunge into the unknown and unpredictable.”
It is a leap of faith, of trust, of taking what we have and are going through and allowing it to bring us ever closer to our Father and realizing indeed His plans are good plans, for us!!
July 4th, 2006 at 16:24
Thanks for sharing these encouraging thoughts, Paul! Tis amazing sometimes how well things we read will fit the events of the day. Today we were to have gone to my dil’s family’s 4th of July gathering in a town about 45 minutes north of us. But my youngest, still at home, is quite ill…that flu finally caught her that the entire rest of the family got over weeks ago! She has a high fever and feels miserable so I stayed home to help her. She might have been ok, but she has had some times she has almost passed out and had to have help. I know how scary it is to be alone and with no help. My dil’s mom tried her best to get me to come and leave daughter alone (as if age has anything to do with severity of illness or need)…but I had no peace. This is the plan of the day for me. Hubby took the food I had prepared and went to the gathering. I think the main thing we can do to thwart the adversary’s plans for us, is to take them in stride and rejoice anyway!! He is always trying to hurt us, disappoint us, make us miss out…but he never seems to remember that the child of God is never really alone…our LORD is here with us! At ALL times!! And Romans 8:28 will always be true for us!!!
I loved what you shared in part, too, because here we live in the midst of I guess the primary place in the US for pottery making…I am simply amazed at how many different kinds and ideas are out there. Something that I have not been overly interested in even prior to living here (in NC). But watching the potter always directs our minds to the MASTER potter who seems to have even our days of lesser importance planned out for us.
July 5th, 2006 at 16:11
Hi Paul! Thanks for joining the Writing For Christ webring. Don’t forget to add the webring link to your page
)
July 6th, 2006 at 11:30
I chanced upon your blog, and what you wrote about is EXACTLY what i know i needed to HEAR and allow to sink in..I MUSt allow myself to be that moist, pliable clay..HOw else can HE be POTTER? Thank you for your mentioning that I need not figure it all out..YES HIS plans are good plans. Thank you so much.
July 7th, 2006 at 09:50
Praying our hearts will always remain moist for His perfect molding. Hope your day is blesed, Paul. Thanks for your prayers.
July 7th, 2006 at 15:24
Awesome to hear from you Paul.
Take care.
July 7th, 2006 at 17:21
July 7th, 2006 at 18:04
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July 8th, 2006 at 11:08
Well put.
July 9th, 2006 at 09:39
Hey You!!! Just passing by to say hello! And leave a hug, too! Yep…His Word says “all things work for the greater good”. We have to hang on to that, don’t we??? Blessings to you, my sweet friend!!!
July 9th, 2006 at 19:48
Hello Paul, Thank you for your visits. I am so blessed when you stop by. Each post is truly an encouragement to me. I am sorry your daughter is going back to Texas as I know how much you will miss them. Are they going back for good? Seems like you just arrived in Georgia and what opportunities the Lord opened for you there. Continue in God’s work and you have my prayers! ~hugs~
July 12th, 2006 at 16:31
Hi Paul! Hope you’re doing well. Wanted to come by to thank you for your ongoing prayers, and for the lovely comments you always leave at my blogs. Do drop in anytime.
Writing for Him,
Vicki
July 16th, 2006 at 11:50
Hey!! Just passing by to let you know I was thinking of you today! Blessings, my friend!!!
July 17th, 2006 at 01:06
Hi Paul. I saw your link on the Christian Writers Group website. Is that still an active website? I noticed that the conferences listed were all from 2004. I am just starting out my journey in Christian writing for public view — I have been journaling my thoughts and prayers for a hundred years! Any advise and/or guidance would be greatly appreciated. You can email me at Lastuto@aol.com
Blessings,
Linda
July 17th, 2006 at 21:27
Checking in on one of my fav friends before I go nigh-night!!! Have a wonderful and blessed evening!!!