Place me on the Potter's wheel

"But now, O Lord,

You are our Father.

We are the clay and You are the potter;

we are all the work of

Your hand."

This verse is absolutely beautiful but it made so much more sense to me when I saw how clay was really formed into beautiful pottery. It starts off as a soft, dirty, worthless lump of clay. The potter chooses the clay and starts the process by beating and wedging the clay in order for the clay to be workable. He then must slam the clay onto the potter's wheel to pull out any pebbles or rocks. The potter then will begin to knead through the clay to cause the rocks and pebbles to rise to the top so that he can remove them. The potter then begins spinning the wheel, the clay must be on the center of the potter's wheel because if the clay is not centered, it will fall. The potter works very steadfast and faithfully on the clay, even if the clay falls, he lifts it back to the center and begins again. The clay then must be placed in a kiln that is heated up to over 1500 degrees in order to strengthen the clay. The worthless lump of clay was shaped and molded into a beautiful masterpiece! God chose me even when I was mearly a lump of clay, He did not cast me off, but He has placed me on His wheel and shapes me. God kneads into my heart and pulls things like bitterness and selfishness out so that I can be the whole and pure creation He desires. It is not always comfortable being on the potter's wheel, but God is soverign and knows the outcome of the present situation.

Father, I pray that you place me on the potter's wheel. I am but mearly a broken piece of clay God and I ask that You continue to work in my heart and my life. I thank you that You keep all of my tears in a bottle and that You do not even hesitate to pick me up when I fall. I desire to be the pure and strong heart that You have purposed for me. I thank You Father that You are steadfast in Your love for me and You will never give up on me. Build me and shape me into a heart that houses you God, a place where You dwell and can fill me with Your love and joy!

God with us!!!

Christmas is almost here! I love this time of year. I love the cold weather and Christmas lights, scented candles, fireplaces, making Christmas cookies and watching Rudolph with friends! The Lord is good. He is so good. Christmas is such a time of giving and a time of LOVE! Christmas is a reminder that God is with us and for us. This Christmas will be the first without my nephew. My nephew, Jamie, was killed in a car accident in July of this year at only 13 years old. It completely devestated my family but the Lord has been so faithful with his promises. His promises that He will never leave me and that He is with me and that He will provide grace and mercy as I ask. God has shown me what it means to trust Him. He has given my family peace in the midst of this terrible storm and the peace comes with the truth that God is love. God shields us from so many terrible things, but when he sometimes chooses not to, He unfailingly allots grace in the measure that it is needed. Deut 33:27 "The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms." I know what this means now. I know what it means to seek refuge in Gods arms and I also know how it feels when He wraps His arms around me and comforts me. In times of despair and pain, the Lord will quiet you with His love. Immanuel, God with us, and He really is!



"I take, O cross, Thy shadow for my abiding place. I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face, content to let the world go by, to know no gain or loss, my glory all the cross." Elizabeth Clephane

Our Romantic anc Passionate GOD!

God has made us in His image. Women and Men.... isn't it strange how we were made in His image but men and women are so different? When God created men it revealed His strength and love. In Men we get to see the traits of God that show us His faithfullness and His readiness to rescue us and provide for us. Men often see God as their warrior and best friend and strength providor. When God created Eve, He revealed something a little different about Himself. In women, we get to see God's tender touch and His compassion. Women see God as their husband and Prince and true love! God is so amazing and though we learn more about Him everyday, we could never know the full depth of God. He is a beautiful mystery, full of unending wisdom and unconditional love! While he is a Prince and Warrior full of unlimited strength and control, He is also very tender and loving.

Ladies, if you haven't experienced the side of God that makes you feel like the beautiful princess that you are, just put on your wedding dress and let Him dance with you tonight. I promise you will never be the same! You are His bride, His true love! "The King is enthralled by your beauty" Psalm 45:11. God desires to share a life of romance and beauty with you. "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3

Prayer

Lord, Thank you for you constant comfort and love. You have set my heart on fire and a passion now burns deep inside of me for You. Lord, if there is anything in my heart that is not pure and clean, please reveal this to me so that I can surrender it to You, for You are the potter and I am the clay. I will prepare a place in my heart for You to dwell, O God. I will quieten my spirit so that I can hear You whisper to me. Grant me a patient endurance and a spirit that is slow to anger. Father, make me like You. Teach me to walk in Your love and compassion but also give me the strength to stand for Your name. I will no longer grab for worthless items, I have found my life in YOU. I have found my love, my strength, my joy and my peace in You.



"O fire surpassing every fire because You alone are the fire that burns without consuming. Yet, Your consumimg love does not distress the soul but fattens her with an insatiable satiety!" Catherine Siena