A Lump Of Clay
Romans 9:21
"When a potter makes jars out of clay,
"When a potter makes jars out of clay,
doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration
and another to throw garbage into?"
I've read Romans 9 over and over again, and I think it's 'summed up' in the last two verses, 32,33.
"Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in Him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of this in the Scriptures when He said, 'I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall.' But anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.”
I am such a flawed individual - such a 'human'. I have many short-comings, but one in particular with which I struggle, I guess you could say, is my Achilles' heel. The actual definition is, "An Achilles’ heel is a deadly weakness in spite of overall strength, that can actually or potentially lead to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, metaphorical references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to downfall are common."
I literally hate to be ignored. A therapist once told me it stemmed back to my 'growing-up, developing years' during which my Mother reinforced that nothing I could say or do was 'good enough'. This 'down deep' feeling has continued throughout my nearly 63 years. I've often written it off as my Irish, Italian, and French 'blood', which can be very volatile. It begins with
a small, seemingly insignificant slight, then gradually begins to boil until finally my 'Mount Vesuvius' erupts. Much as 3-year old child, I scream and stomp my feet, and sometimes am surprised that I don't throw myself down on the floor allowing my my arms and legs to fledge around violently, 'throwing' a full-blown fit. Of course, almost immediately I 'get a grip' and repent. However, it's always 'there,' and I truly do pray for deliverance from 'it'.
Philippians 3:9
"and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law;
"and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law;
rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.
For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith."
On the 'flip side', this is probably the reason I try to write regularly to folks - both 'online' or by 'snail mail', letting you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers because I do genuinely care about you. Also, this is probably the reason that over the years I've encouraged the 'Silent Majority' to stand up and shout, and that I've become a political activist, championing the cause of conservative, Christian values.
Hebrews 12:2
"We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
"We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame.
Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne."
The bottom line is that if we surrender ourselves to God, He will supply us with a good 'rock' (THE Rock) to kill every giant. So, I'm standing on the Scriptures to lead me through the valley of the shadow of death, and pray that I'm delivered from any 'flaw' which does not bring Him glory - anything which doesn't allow me be a testament for Him.
Psalm 34:14 - "Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it."
Proverbs 4:2 - "for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from My instructions."
1 Peter 3:11 - "Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it."
Proverbs 4:2 - "for I am giving you good guidance. Don’t turn away from My instructions."
1 Peter 3:11 - "Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it."
Hope that you have a wonderful, enabling, peaceful and 'confirming' day. Maggie
________________________________________________________________________________
Coffee Break
"Mending What's Broken"
"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
God specializes in repairing that which is broken. He knows just how to mend it- He knows just how to put it back together. And He desires to put that which is broken back together again.
This fact about God was revealed through the cross. Mankind's relationship with God was broken through Adam's disobedience. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to repair our broken relationship with Him. Through the cross He also fixed our broken lives. He "put us back together again". He made us whole and complete.
When God puts it back together, He does it so perfectly that there is no scar, no seam line and no crack left as evidence that it was ever broken to begin with. That's because He has a way of making it completely brand new- just as if it had never been broken.
What's broken in your life this morning? Is it your relationship with the Lord? Is it a relationship with someone else? Is it your heart that is broken over a situation? Is your life shattered? Whatever it is, the cross is a place of mending. It's a place of repair. It's a place where whatever is broken can be put back together again and made whole. Turn to the cross- turn to its mending, healing, restoring power this morning. Turn to the wonderful Savior who was willing to go to the cross so that whatever in your life is broken could be put back together again.
Have a great day. The cross mended our broken relationship with God.. and everything else that is broken.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is written by Lorraine Ezell
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
________________________________________________________________________________
Start Speaking Faith Now
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." (Matthew 12:34-35)
Words won't work without faith any more than faith will work without words! It takes them both to put the law of faith in motion.
Many believers don't realize that. They'll continually speak words of doubt and unbelief, then they'll jump up one day and say a couple of faith words and expect mountains to move-- and to their dismay, they don't.
Why not?
Because as Matthew 12:34-35 says, it's the words that come from the heart that produce results. The person who just throws in a couple of faith words now and then isn't speaking them from the abundance of his heart, so they're not effective.
Does that mean you shouldn't start speaking words of faith until you're sure you have the faith to back them?
No! Speaking words of faith is good spiritual exercise. If you want to receive healing by faith, for example, fasten your mind and your mouth on the Word of God where your health is concerned. Instead of talking about how miserable you feel, quote Isaiah 53:5. Say, "Jesus was wounded for my transgressions. He was bruised for my iniquities. The chastisement of my peace was upon Him; and with His stripes, praise God, I was healed!"
If you'll continue to meditate on those words and continue to say them, the truth in them will begin to sink in. They'll take root in your heart and begin to grow. And eventually you really will be speaking from the abundance of your heart.
When that happens, it won't matter what the circumstances look like. You'll know you have what you've been believing for and the devil himself won't be able to talk you out of it. You'll cross the line from hope to faith, and you'll start seeing those mountains move!
~ KCMinistry
________________________________________________________________________________
Comments