A Potter’s Hands

Am I the clay? 

Do I have a say?

Of how a Potter’s Hands

moves in this clay?

Am I the clay?

Do I have a say? 

To instruct a Potter’s Hands

of what tools to use on this clay? 

Am I the clay?

Do I have a say?

 To demand a Potter’s Hands

what vessel to make of this clay?

Isaiah 64:8

But now, O Lord,

thou art our Father;

we are the clay, and thou our

Potter;

And all we are the work of thy 

Hand.

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Quotes on Prayer! IX

 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Many a man … has learned the lesson, It is impossible with men, and then he gives up in helpless despair, and lives a wretched Christian life, without joy, or strength, or victory, And Why? Because he does not humble himself to learn that other lesson: With God all things are possible.

Andrew Murray 

Prayer is asking for rain; faith is carrying the umbrella.

John Mason

When your life is going along as smooth as can be, take time to call home to our heavenly Father. Just like a parent waiting for a child to call, God also longs to hear from us, And the best thing of all is knowing we will never, ever get a busy signal.

Anita Corrine Donihue

Pray! Jesus says. But when you do, forget about yourself. And forget about others. Lock yourself in, secretly, quietly, with the Lord. He sees what you do in secret, and that is all that really matters.

Sinclair Ferguson

Prayer is literally talking things over in confidence — in full confidence with God, Sometimes the substitution of the word “Confidence” for the word “faith” helps.

Eugenia Price

An important thing to remember when praying is that Jesus is our Advocate before the Father. When we begin or end our prayers with “in the name of Jesus,” it is just as if Jesus Himself is saying, “Father this a prayer from your beloved child.”

Corrie ten Boom

I pray without ceasing now. My personal prayer is; Make me an instrument which only truth can speak.

Peace Pilgrim

We pray “Our Father,” not “My Father” ….. to remind us that we share our spiritual privileges with all the people of God.

Sinclair Ferguson

Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.

E. M. Bounds

You must not say or write down a resolution in your journal that “ I will pray more.” You cannot force it. But let the axe come to the root of the tree; cut down the carnal mind. How can you cut it down? You cannot, but let the Holy Spirit of God come …. And then you will learn to love prayer and love God and your neighbor.

Andrew Murray

Dyslexic

the world sees from left to right

or the world looks right to left

the world perceives from up to down

or the world views down to up

the world differentiates right angles

yet the world cannot discern 

the canker worm

expanding from the center out

Now Who has the learning disability? 

Jeremiah 5:21; Hear this now, O foolish

people.

Without understanding,

Who have eyes and see not,

And who have ears and hear

not.

Quotes on Prayer! IIX

 II Timothy 2:1; You therefore, my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.

Kahlil Gibran

You shall find this to be God’s usual course: not to give His children the taste of His delights till they begin to perspire in seeking after them.

Richard Baxter

In ways too innumerable to mention does the Lord work out everything according to His own will. He is never disdain to His people’s needs, He will never disdain their cries for help, but in every hour of need He is on hand to bless.

H. A. Ironside

Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us.

Socrates

Prayer is ordained to this end that we should confess our sins, our needs to God, and bare our hearts to Him, as children lay their troubles in full confidence before their parents.

John Calvin

I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.

Mother Teresa

As a camel kneels before his master to have him remove his burden at the end of the day, so kneel each night and let the Master take your burden.

Corrie Ten Boom

Perseverance is not resignation, putting up with things the way they are, staying in the same old rut year after year, or being a doormat for people to wipe their feet on. Endurance is not a desperate hanging on but a traveling from strength to strength.

Eugene Peterson

Those who know [God] as Father, who sense His love and concern for us, come daily, not only asking in humility for our bread but deeply grateful for the food already supplied.

W.  Phillip Keller

I have often wished I was a more decent man … Nevertheless, amid the greatest difficulties of administration, when I could not see any other resort, I would my whole reliance upon God.

Abraham Lincoln

TRUE FORGIVENESS!

There was this certain father who had two sons one older and a younger yet close in age. The elder brother was always finding fault with the younger and like wise the younger with the elder. One day a match of strength broke out between the two boys and the father’s prized clock given to him by his grandfather was smashed.

When the damaged clock was found by the father, he summon for the two sons. The two boys appeared before the father and were asked to give their account on how the prized clock had been smashed. The elder son gave his account first, he explained how he could not  possibly be held responsible for it was damaged during his bout with his younger brother. In the elder’s son account he managed to find the fault of the damage with his younger brother. The younger son’s story was some what the same only he too had the fault falling upon his older brother.

The father in his wisdom said, “I am unable to determine who is at fault at this time. So I need for you not to speak to one another nor see one another for the next hour. I want you to go to separate places and judge the punishment I should give out to your brother for damaging my clock. After which time I shall listen to the judgement you have placed on one another. Then I will give you my decision on who is guilty or not and hand out your punishments.”

After one hour the boys returned heads hanging low and unable to look at their father in his eyes. He spoke to the elder son, “What do you have to say? What punishment, what judgement have you placed upon your brother’s head for you have found him guilty of smashing my grandfather’s clock.

The elder son spoke. “My brother is the one who is always provoking   me to defend myself. He should be punished by giving up his allowance until the repair of the clock is paid in full. He needs to be grounded for six weeks from all things he enjoys.”

The father replied, “Very well. Now my younger son what judgement have you come up with against your brother. For you also found him guilty of smashing my grandfather’s clock?”

The younger son began with a tearful voice, “It is true I do provoke my brother and he also me. It is true I am guilty of the damage to the clock. Father I wish to forgive my brother of the crime we have committed against you. I will take the blame alone for I have forgiven him of the acts he has done to me. Please do not punish my brother for this?”

The Father looked at his two sons both with their heads now even lower and replied, “Very well. My eldest please go and get my Bible.”

The eldest son returned shortly with his father’s Bible and went to hand it to his father. The father did not take the Bible. Instead he said to him, “Turn to Luke 6:37, and read to verse 42. ”

The eldest read with a cracking voice, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. for with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” 

And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own? Or how can you say to brother. ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye.’ when you yourself do not see the plank in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

The boy closed the Bible and handed it to his father and stepped back  waiting for the coming judgement.

The father then with authority announced his ruling, “My youngest, I find you guilty of damaging my grandfather’s clock.  Son because you did not judge your brother and did not condemn him and ask for him to be forgiven; I now forgive you of your misconduct I will not punish you. My eldest son I find you guilty of damaging my grandfather’s clock. Son because you did judge your brother and you did condemn your brother with the same measure I will pronounce your punishment: You will forfeit your allowance till two times the value of the clock is paid. You be grounded for twelve weeks and the only thing you can do are the chores around this place. That is all now go.”

The youngest son asked, “May I speak father?” His father nodded yes, so he made a tearful plea, “Father if I ask of you again would you please forgive my brother because you love me? If I ask again would you please forgive my brother because I love him? If I ask again would you please forgive my brother because you love him? Would you please?”

With tears in his eyes and joy in his heart the father cried, “Yes I forgive you both, Yes I love you both! You are forgiven.” He then grabbed his boys and hugged them and kissed them. After which he carried his grandfather’s clock out and pitched it in the trash and never thought of it again.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!!

Trials Into Blessings!

I have a coworker who became a good friend, so I started to pray for him. Steve’s life was going along real good: But God had plans for Steve’s life. Steve was to be broken, divorce was coming, his life was to be torn apart, he was to be thrown into a pit with no way out. At the start of his divorce he became very depressed and wanted to kill himself, his wife and all his family. I have walked this road myself Jesus found me at the bottom of this pit. I said some things to Steve in away most men of God would not talk. I also used language most men of God should never use. Steve had to hear and understand so I spoke his language. Of course I could have used a ball bat, or even a golf club, they work just as well for tact. My idea of tact is to use a nine pound sledge-hammer to drive a thumb tack into a cork board. It may not be pretty but it will get the job done. My method of console is best understood by bloody knuckle blue-collar workers only.

Yes, I remember the Greek word for comfort; paraklesis: to come along side because you are invited: When a vessel at sea is in distress the aiding vessel must be invited, to come alongside to give aid. It does not mean you shall not use a fire axe if a fire axe is needed to combat the demons of hell.

This story goes on and on and it is still going on but there is a point to it. God used all the suffering in my life to walk with Steve and sometimes even carry him through his trials. Steve did make peace with God, and so did his seventeen year old daughter. As I think all of the things that I have suffered through, God for His Glory has used my trials to comfort someone else. My trials were not only for my good, but my trials were also used to bless another and another and another. Just like a pebble dropped in a pond the blessing only goes out. Only a God of love can do that!

Out of this story comes the poem Trials!

Just for the record I wrote the story first, but I posted the poem first a dyslexic will do that!

TRIALS!

My trials were not only 

used for my good,

My trials were not only 

used to shape me,

My trials were not only

used to grow my faith,

But My trials are to be used to bless 

another and another and another.

Just like a pebble dropped in a pond

the blessings are to go out to

another and another and another.

Thank-You Yeshua for my sufferings.

   Thank-You Yahweh for my trials.

Thank-You Holy Spirit for Your perfect judgment.

Thank-You my Lord for Your Wisdom.

Thank-You my Messiah for Your perfect Love.

For only You are God.

AMEN!

James 1:2-8; My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 

Quotes on Prayer! VII

 And the king was told to go and dip himself in the Jordan river seven times and he would be clean.

Persevere with patience in your prayer, and repulse the cares and doubts that arise within you.

Evagrios the Solitary

Perseverance is the sister of patience, the daughter of constancy, the friend of peace, the cementer of friendships, the bond of harmony, and the bulwark of holiness.

Bernard of Clairvaux 

Patient waiting is often the highest way of doing God’s will.

Jeremy Collier

Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.

William Barclay

Every evening, I turn worries over to God. He’s going to be up all night anyway.

Mary C. Crowley

May I be patient! It is so difficult to make real what one believes, and to make these trails, as they are intended, real blessings.

John Henry Newman

Patience is a fruit that cannot be picked until it is fully ripened. It will have to endure variable temperatures, wind, sun, and rain before its sweetness is accomplished within us. The result – an unshakable cheer and a bone-marrow belief that Jesus truly has overcome the world.

Patsy Clairmont

The great thing about growing patience is one is never at a loss for opportunities!

Unknown 

We always have God’s full attention. Our part is to give Him ours.

Eugenia Price

He who waits on God never waits too long!

Chuck Wagner

What’s Your Name?

Years ago a young boy

on a moon less night

gazed amazingly into the sky

as Jesus and he lay side by side.

Jesus do they all have names?

son does what have names?

Your stars Jesus,

do they all Have names?

 Abba and I named them each one.

Jesus what are their names?

My son look, listen, and ask;

What’s your name?

They shall whisper to you their name!

Gazing he focused on one star and asked

What’s your name?

a whisper, “Promise”

Jesus he said Promise!

son go ahead, ask another.

What’s your name?

“Cheerful.”

What’s your name?

“Joy.”

What’s your name?

“Faith.”

What’s your name?

“Peace.”

What’s your name?

“Paradise.”

What’s your name?

“Grace.”

What’s your name?

“Generosity.”

What’s your name?

“Gentleness.”

What’s your name?

“Kindness.”

What’s your name?

“Long Suffering.”

What’s your name?

“Passion.”

What’s your name?

“Plea.”

What’s your name?

“Mercy.”

What’s your name?

“Liberty.”

What’s your name?

“Love.”

What’s your name?

“Forgiven.”

and on into the night

till the boy fell asleep

in the arms of Jesus.

Psalm 19:1-3;

The heavens declare the glory of 

God;

And the firmament shows

His handiwork.

Day unto day utters speech,

and night unto night

reveals knowledge.

There is no speech

nor language

Where their voice is not heard.