Are you the Potter or The Clay?

Jeremiah 18:1-6: "The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying; 'Arise and go down to the potters house, and there I will cause you to hear My words. Then I went down to the potters house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.

How to make a pot?

Take the clay out of the box and warm it by kneading it with your hands. You'll want to minimize the addition of air pockets and bubbles. Try to be aware when you are folding over the clay that you are creating air pockets. A great trick to eliminate air pockets is to keep the clay in a round shape, and keep throwing the clay back and forth between your hands. You can also throw the clay on a hard surface (like a table) multiple times.

How does the potter work?

Sometimes God allows certain things to happen because we need to be remolded. God uses very situation in our life to mold us into the vessel he desires not the vessel we want to be. People and situations are like sand paper to smooth out the rough edges..

God looks at this way making a masterpiece takes time...

Once the clay is warm and pliable, roll it into a long "snake." the diameter of the "snake" will determine the thickness of your pot's walls and uniform thickness.
Sometimes it may take a while to fashion the vessel to exact shape, size and thickness of the walls. I have a seen a potter look like he is almost finished with rough shape and flaws appear, and the potter will take the vessel and remold it again and start over because the vessel did not take contour he had in mind, when set out to make the pot.

Ask yourself this?

Do we embrace the challenge, the obstacle, or do we fight it?

Do we try to get off the potter’s wheel?

Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

And later on in Romans 8 the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…

Mistreated? Lied about behind your back?

Laid-off from your job?

Banks steal your home?

Government misdeeds cause the stock market to fall and lose your retirement?

Someone rob you?

Whatever you are facing, sometimes you must go through the fire before you are "hardened steel." As the potter shapes the vessel and gets it into the shape and color it needs to baked in an oven or air dried.

Only after this process is the Pot hardened, ready to be used.

God puts us in situations where we must use our spiritual muscles.

When we had everything going right our human nature gave us the false impression “We” had everything under control.

We can say all day long “Lord I trust you,” “ Lord I depend on you,” but until we have all of your power taken away, Do you realize we are not in control over what happens, only then do we realize how helpless we are and only then are we able to be molded in the potters hand.

When we forgive the people who have harmed us,

Give back the control to God,

Believe even when it look’s impossible,

Stay in Faith even when it was unfair,

And flex our spiritual muscle and show God what we are made of and allow Him to fashion us back into the vessel He intended us to be.

After the “Fire” the Trust in God will be re-molded.

God is not interested in your circumstances he is interested in YOU.

God molds us because he loves and wants his children to follow him and trust him.

So, are you the potter or the clay?

1 Thessalonians 5
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Michael Mack
An American

A Good Laugh is Good for the Soul

The value of a Catholic education and a #2 pencil.

Little Susie was not the best student in Catholic School .
Usually she slept through the class.

One day her teacher, a Nun, called on her while she was sleeping.

'Tell me Susie, who created the universe?

When Susie didn't stir, little Johnny who was her friend sitting behind
her, took his pencil and jabbed her in the rear.

'God Almighty!' shouted Susie.

The Nun said, 'Very good' and continued teaching her class.

A little later the Nun asked Susie, 'Who is our Lord and Savior?'

But Susie didn't stir from her slumber. Once again, Johnny came to her
rescue and stuck her in the butt.

' Jesus Christ !!!' shouted Susie.

And the Nun once again said, 'Very good,' and Susie fell back asleep.

The Nun asked her a third question...'What did Eve say to Adam after she
had her twenty-third child?'

Again, Johnny came to the rescue. This time Susie jumped up and shouted,

'If you stick that damn thing in me one more time, I'll break it in half!'

The nun fainted .

Michael Mack
An American