I can't believe how good it feels to follow God's guidance. I am not perfect in hearing His guidance or being obedient even when I do hear it. Good thing for me, God created this thing called Grace & Mercy. This week I am living within his mercy and feeling so blessed right now. I listened and obediently stepped out in faith tonight. And can't believe the anticipation He is stirring in my heart for the future. It is bright tonight -like the twinkling stars on a dark clear night. It has captured my imagination to know His leading is endless like the universe around us and He has no limitations when planning our lives.
On Sunday, our pastor shared a reminder from Jeremiah when He used clay on the potter's wheel. And shared that God is the potter, we are the clay and God uses circumstances in the world around us to be the forces that help create our shape (like the wheel). At times it feels harsh and we may not appreciate the pressure. But having thrown a few things on a wheel I know the more equal the pressure on both sides the more control and the more defined the object will be.
In the past I felt God say he shaped me from a cracked bowl that was loosing its water and changed me into a vase. I liked that, I was someone that would display beautiful flowers. I would be someone that others would enjoy and held special sentimental value. This week I felt like God said he had re-molded me into a water pitcher.
At first I was disappointed to be changed from something that had honor and held beauty to such an ordinary object -a water pitcher. Then God said that the difference between a vase and a water pitcher is death. And I said "what?" God said a water pitcher can pour out water and maintain life to a whole garden if used properly. It brings nutrients that bring growth, development, fruition & blooms /beauty-- life to a garden. A vase holds the temporarily stolen/cut short blossoms that are beautiful but short-lived and if overlooked decay and die quickly. And he wants me to be willing to pour out what He has blessed me with to others in His timing. I am uncertain what all this means in the natural, but am excited to see him work it out.
The pastor also shared that God has blessings He wants to give us. And the resources for these blessings aren't far from us right now. Which I feel had significance for me. I can't wait to see what that means in the spiritual and in the natural.
He also shared that at times we don't see the big picture that God has for us regarding the specific blessings he wants to give us. We settle for Willy the Whale who is visible to us and we settle for it despite the fact that it is not exactly what we want. God isn't going to repaint the whole picture. He is just going to removed Willy the Whale and then our vision/view point will be restored. Tonight He removed one whale and now I can't wait to see the whole vision he has painted for me. And I really am praying for the whole picture -- job, relationship, friends, social settings, discipling roles, Barnabas friends and mentors.
Thank you God for Your Grace and Mercy. And for your continued desire to bless us, love us, and pour out your best on your beloved children despite our weaknesses, lack of follow through, disobedience etc. We are honored to have Your love.
Oh yeah and
Congrats to new parents Kendra & Trevor on the birth of Kyrie - a beautiful baby girl
& to new parents Heather & Jake on the birth of Jake Jr and healthy boy -- my cousin. They both had their children on Friday
