Fine China

I have quite a few friends who are getting married, or who were just married, and I can almost guarantee that one of the gifts they will receive, or have received, is fine china.  What's the use?  I never really considered it a very practical gift.  Yea, it looks pretty, but how often do you actually use it?  It usually ends up staying in the box, so it doesn't break, until you can afford a house large enough to place it on display.  Then once you get that house you have to find a china cabinet you like.  Once that hunt is over and it is all assembled, the dishes usually just sit there, on shelfs, behind panes of glass, for others to look at and admire.  Ok sure, on those special holidays or occasions when you have someone over for dinner, and you want to make a good impression, you may pull out the find china, give it a quick rinse in the sink to knock off the dust, and set a dinner table that looks as if it was a cut out of one of Martha Stewart's magazines.  So other than making your guests feel very special, I ask the same question again...What's the use?

So yesterday, I was siting in church when the pastor started to speak about fine china.  It piqued my interest because I could not see how fine china could relate to what were talking about.  But as he continued on it started to register...We are God's fine china.  But wait a minute!?!?  Fine china isn't hardly used, so how is being a plate, saucer or tea cup, in the cabinet of God's fine china, supposed to make any sense?

Well for starters, china, especially fine china, is set apart.  You usually don't store it with your other dishes, it has its own special place.  Whether that place is in a cabinet or hanging on a wall, it has a specific place that it can call home.  You also handle fine china differently.  It isn't thrown into the dish washer, but instead it is hand washed, dried off and placed back in its spot.  We are God's fine china, we are set apart.  Once we accept Christ into our lives, we are moved out of the dishwasher with the other dirty dishes and placed in a new home.  We, as Christians, no longer belong to this world (the dishwasher), but instead are given a new home (the china cabinet).  We may occasionally get dirty again, but we are washed off and put back on display.

But that still doesn't answer the question I had about china..."What is the point, to collect dust and be used a few times a year?"  Then it dawned on me...God doesn't store us in a box or a cabinet.  He places us on display, in a better than Martha Stewart way.  We are used to impress, not only the ones invited for dinner, but the whole world.  God puts us on display to show off His glory and power.  We are placed on God's table every single day to be gawked at, judged, make an impression, but most importantly to serve a purpose.

You may be a serving platter, plate, salad bowl, saucer, tea cup, or even a butter knife.  But we can take stalk in knowing that however we were crafted, we are God's masterpiece placed on display to serve a purpose.

"For we are God's masterpiece, He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Sometimes we may feel as though we are sitting in a box, or stuck on a shelf waiting to be placed on the table.  It is very easy to slip into the mindset that ..."sure God has a purpose for me, but I have no idea what that is yet," or, "I'm not equipped enough to be helpful or useful in the furthering of Christ's kingdom."   Those thoughts will continue to weigh you down until you realize that they are total and complete lies.  We have a purpose, we were created with good works already planned for us to do.  God notices us and wants to use us when He is setting His table.  All we have to do is ask to be taken out of the cabinet and sparkle our brilliant sheen so the world will marvel at how great our God really is!!!

☆ We are God's fine china, set apart for the world to see ☆

Today's Biggest Battle Field

"Note:  A critical thing for each of us to know and understand is that the ancient tales of valor, sacrifice, redemption, and victory in the Old Testament that played out upon the physical Earth with physical wars and physical swords and shield now plays out upon the spiritual inner terrain of the human heart, with spiritual wars and spiritual swords and shield."~ E. Ludy

I have read through the Old Testament a couple of times and am always amazed at the specificity of detail in some places and the lack of detail in others, but I think the thing that hold my attention the most is the battle scenes.  Have you ever realized that most of the Old Testament is war?  I have always wondered why it was written this way.  Once I read the above quote from Eric Ludy, it clicked.  The wars and battles of the Old Testament foreshadow what is taking place today spiritually.  There was no need for drastic spiritual warfare in the Old Testament because Christ had not yet come to open the door for both Jew and Gentile alike to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.  Satan had a great percentage of the world, so there was no need for him to go on the rampage.  However, when Christ came the tables were turned.  Now, the battle was on for the souls of every human being.

Thinking about battle and war, my thoughts fill with images of clashing metal, armor and guns.  More specifically, when I would think about armor my mind would race with images of heavy chain, helmets, swords, shields, etc.  So when the Bible tells us to put on the full Armor of God, my mind always jumped to how to beef up personal protection.  However, it wasn't until recently that my eyes were opened to just how nasty the battle field really is.  Having the sunday school mindset of Satan is bad but Jesus saves gives us a childish thinking process.  Don't get me wrong, it is a great place to start but in order to do anything of real value for the Kingdom of God we must have a strategy.  Think as if you were a soldier today, you wouldn't just run into the fight without all of the options weighed, battle field mapped out, resources accounted for, and allies in place.  So why would we think, as Christians, that we can run into the battle waging for human souls with anything less?

I find it so reassuring that we are not going into the battle against the enemy blind.  We have some of the most powerful resources at our disposal and the best allies a person can have.

"Finally, be strong in he Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication for all the saints."  Ephesians 6:10-18

The battle field has been mapped out for us, the enemy's bio has been written and our allies stand shoulder to shoulder with us on the front lines.  That said, there are no surprises.  All we have to do is equip ourselves with the armor, strength and wisdom that God has for us and fight with the knowledge that the battle may be long, hard and tiring but the end result is always the same... We Have Victory because Christ has already defeated the prince of this world!!!!!!

A Case for Gluttony

     So I have started to read through the book of Ezekiel and I came across a few verses that made me stop and think...

Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel."  So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. ~ 3:1-2

     What if God told me to eat a scroll?  Would I do it?  What would it be like?  Would His asking that surprise me and make me hesitate - What did He say?
     After my mind was through running all of its tangents I realized that He has already asked me to eat a scroll.  God has asked each of us to eat of the Bible.  Just think about it...
     When you eat something you must...
          1:  Choose what to eat (grabbing the Bible off of the shelf)
          2:  Prepare it (turn to where you want to read)
          3:  Take a bite (begin to read)
          4:  chew (think through what you are reading and reread some parts multiple times till it makes sense)
          5:  swallow (sit back and take it all in)
          6:  digest (begin to apply bits and pieces of the Word to your life)
          7:  reap the nutrients (experience the great richness of Truth in your life and see it overflow onto others)
     When we eat we encounter multiple flavors and textures, some we like and others we could live without.  For example, a piece of chocolate cake tastes much better to me than potato salad (which makes me gag).    But just because we don't like the taste of something doesn't mean that our bodies don't reap the nutrients from that food anyway.  Occasionally we will read something in the Word that isn't easy to swallow or that we wished tasted a bit better, but we still reap the benefit of it in the long run.

And He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you."  So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.  Then He said to me:  "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them." ~ 3:3-4

     After we eat of the Word and reap the nutrients of its sweetness we are supposed to share with others what we have eaten.  So I would say, in this case, being a glutton has it's advantages!

Seal of Authenticity

Have you ever thought about what makes something authentic?  

au·then·tic

   [aw-then-tik] 

–adjective

1.

not false or copied; genuine; real: an authentic antique.

2.

having the origin supported by unquestionable evidence;authenticated; verified: an authentic document of the MiddleAges; an authentic work of the old master.

3.

entitled to acceptance or belief because of agreement withknown facts or experience; reliable; trustworthy: anauthentic report on poverty in Africa.

     One of the best ways to tell if something is authentic is if it has a 'seal of authenticity'.  Depending on what the object is and who it is from will determine what that seal looks like.  For example, the US Government authenticates currency through watermarks and stamps, artists and craftsmen authenticate their artwork with signatures, businesses may use stamps or stickers or stitching with their company's logo to authenticate their pieces.  Having something that is authentic is of great value.  Have you ever seen an episode of 'Antique Roadshow'?  The appraisers are there for two reasons... One:  to make sure that a piece is authentic and not a forgery and Two: to quote a value/worth for the piece, after it has been verified authentic.
     It had never occurred to me, until today, that we also have a seal of authenticity on us.  Although fingerprints do create a unique authenticity about us, that is not what I am referring to.  As Christians we are sealed.  Sealed in a way that sets us apart from everyone else... the apostle Paul sums it up nicely when he wrote to the saints in Ephesus...

"In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory." ~ Ephesians 1:13-14

     Once we hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and set our beliefs in Him we are sealed.  God has put a stamp of authenticity on us through means of the Holy Spirit.  This seal that not only sets us apart from the rest of the world, but also guarantees us an inheritance.

in·her·it·ance

   [in-her-i-tuhns] 

–noun

1.

something that is or may be inherited; property passing atthe owner's death to the heir or those entitled to succeed;legacy.

     In order to be an heir, one usually has to be related through family ties to the owner.  So you may be asking yourself, "How can I receive an inheritance from God if I am not related through family ties?"  Ephesians 1:4-5 tells us that God loves us so much He wants to adopt us...

"even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.  In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will."

     Not only did God want to adopt us into His family, He wanted to also make us part of His blood-line of decedents.  The blood that Jesus Christ, His Son, shed on the cross allows us to take part in that inheritance and receive that amazing seal of authenticity that is the Holy Spirit.   Paul even goes a step further and lets us know how loved we are by our creator...

"In Him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight." ~ Ephesians 1:7-8

     As a lover would lavish his love with precious gifts, so are we lavished in the precious and priceless gift of Grace; a free gift given to us through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus and His precious blood that was shed for us on cross.   We are so valued in God's eyes that He has gone above and beyond, what we can sometimes fathom, to place a one-of-a-kind seal of authenticity on us.
     As our appraiser, God has determined that you are set apart and authentic.  He has also determined that you are a priceless piece in His family!!!

Buried Promises

While attending a women's conference this past weekend one of the speakers, Eric Ludy, provided a visualization that my mind latched onto and embellished.

God has promised, each one of us, countless treasures.  My treasures are buried in the ground below my feet and all I have to do is dig them up.  If I begin to dig with my hands I may find a coin here or there but not the 'treasure' I was promised.  Realizing that I will get nowhere fast, I begin to pan the area for anything that I can use to dig with.  A few feet away I notice that God has equipped me with a shovel, my enthusiasm for the dig increases.  All I have to do it use what God has equipped me with and begin to move the earth around me.  If you've ever tried to dig, you know that digging is tiring and back breaking and you constantly get stuck on roots, rocks and clay.  Digging for the things God has promised is no different; however, if you have something worth digging for, you will stop at nothing to reach it.  Many people who are digging and don't find what they are looking for tend to give up and walk away after a few hours.  But you know that God has promised you these treasures, so you continue to dig.  The other, who have stopped, peer down at you in your hole and continually mock you saying, "Digging is pointless, you'll never find anything!" or "You should try a different spot, that ones no good."  But you KNOW that the Lord has placed an 'X' on this spot, the spot where you are digging, because He told you so.  You tell yourself that you'll will dig for years if you have to, even though you're worn-out and exhausted. As you take a breather you begin to look around at your hole, the one that you've been working on for months.  Then you begin to realize that there could have been no way that you had dug that much.  The hole is ten-fold what you could have produced in the amount of time you have spent in that hole.  Then you look up, to see how far you'd come from ground level, when... "What is that?" Your gaze is met by one of the most beautiful things!  God is standing at the top of your hole with a shovel.  As you look more closely you realized that your shovel looks like a garden spade compared to the one that the Lord is holding.  Then it hits you... "The only way my hole could be this big is if I were using a shovel of that size.  He must have been digging with me!"  Once you've realized this, digging doesn't seem that tiring anymore, you now find joy in the work and jump out of bed in the morning to see what new and exciting treasures you'll find today.

When the LORD promises us something, it WILL be!!!  The catch is, it may not be in concordance with the timing we had in mind.  Pushing through every barrier and obstacle to reach it may seem impossible that isn't it great to know that we, as Christians, can reach the impossible because we serve a God who makes everything possible!!!

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ~ Matthew 19:26

People Watching

I wrote this while people watching in Prague about a year ago. The Chezch Republic is one of the darkest populations in the world. Less than 1% are Christians and the majority are atheist/agnostic. It made me realize just how much we need Jesus or life is pointless. 

People can spend their whole lives running at warp speed with their nose to the ground. Others wonder aimlessly glancing from east to west, north to south, just to forget what they have seen five minutes later. Some try to skate by without being seen; while others jump up and down to get what little attention they can. Some travel in packs, while others are loaners. It amazes me how much of life we all miss everyday. Even if we think we are taking time to savor each moment we get caught up in the little things of life: work, goals, friends, family, drama, love, longing, tasks, stres...the list goes on and on. But if we really think about it, the things we think distract us from life are, in fact, the very components that are our lives. As long as we take time for the parts we treasure most, we live life to the fullest.

While this may be a great view of life for most people, life to the fullest consists of fulfilling a purpose. Not a purpose we set for ourselves, mind you, but a grander purpose. One that was thought of long ago. That one which I speak is the exact one, in which, we were created to fulfill. The only way to do that is to seek after the Mastermind that thought of the purpose long ago. The Mastermind that created us for that specific purpose. To seek Him can take a lifetime. While the fulfillment of that purpose is grand, the journey along the way to find the Mastermind to reveal the purpose is what is important. As we seek glimpses of the purpose we find more out about ourselves and those around us. All of these pieces fit perfectly together creating the fullest life possible!

He = Life

From Nothing But Slop To a Masterpiece

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words."  Then I went down to the potter's 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.  Then the word of the LORD came to me saying:  "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD.  "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!" ~ Jeremiah 18:1-6

      Have you ever worked with clay, in school maybe or in your free time?  I used to love working with clay!  Starting out with an idea then going to the 'slop' bucket and grabbing hand fulls of watery clay mixture to slap onto the table to be kneeded or wedged.  You definitely can't skip the 'kneeding' process or your final project will explode into tons of pieces when it is fired in the kiln or turn out with lumps.  To kneed your clay, in other words to make the clay workable and malleable, you must apply pressure and force with your palms repeatedly.  This is a tiring process for the potter because their arms, back and hands grow weary.  The next step, in working with clay, is more one of my favorite parts, 'throwing'.  The clay must be thrown onto the wheel in the center to make sure it sticks.  Once on the wheel the potter applies various degrees of pressure to form a cylindrical shape.  This basic shape is then molded into whatever the potter desires.  In order to make sure the process goes smoothly the potter must continually apply moisture to their hands and the clay.  If the clay dries out and begins to crack, often times the potter is able to save the clay by applying water but other times the crack is so deep and long that the potter does not want to diminish the structure or concept of the piece so the potter must start the process all over, beginning at the slop bucket.  Once the piece is complete it is cut off of the wheel fired in the kiln which sets it.  After they are set the potter can then, using various glazes, create the outward appearance of his masterpiece that others will see, then the piece is fired one last time in the kiln.

     This process is a very rewarding one for the Potter but we, as Christians, are not called to be potters, we are called to be the clay.  Beginning in a slop bucket full of other pieces of clay and trimmings from old projects.  The Potter reaches down His hands and collects us from the filth and muck that surrounds us.  We feel it is an honor just to be selected amongst our surroundings.  Little do we know that our journey on our way to becoming the Potter's masterpiece is a long and painful one.  Next we are kneeded and wedged.  The pressure is applied; pressures that we never expected.  Pressures from those around us to do things that we don't want to do because now we see that they are wrong, pressures to act certain ways, pressure to communicate in specific ways, etc.  But through this process the Potter is working all of the lumps and imperfections out of us.  This process may go on for years but when the Potter thinks it is time, when we are malleable enough, He takes us off of the kneeding table and throws us on the wheel.  Now He is able to shape us into our basic form, the form He will use to begin to sculpt, cut, peal, and smooth away at us.  This process for us, as the clay, is so very uncomfortable.  Not only are we, in our minds, spinning around in endless circles but we are also having bits of us, bits we thought we needed, taken away.  When we fight back because we feel we kneed those pieces we begin to tear ourselves.  Sometimes we create such large tears the the Potter has no choice but to begin the process all over again.  But when He finally creates the framework of His idea and realizes that it is good, He will cut us off of that spinning wheel and place us in the fire of the kiln.  This fire, to us, feels like endless tests and trials, but through those fires the Potter is solidifying His creation into something that will be great.  Once out of the fire, the Potter begins to adorn us with colors and design, the things that catch other's eyes.  Then it is back into the fires for one last cycle of flames that cement us into His masterpieces.  The Potter could not have started with the glaze (outward appearance) of us because the inside would be a mess.  Therefore He must always work from the inside out.  When the Potter has completely finished He puts the piece He created to use, the use He had in mind even before He reached into that slop bucket.

     As Christians, we are designed and crafted for a purpose.  Only God, our potter, knows what that purpose is.  Along the way it may be painful and uncomfortable but in the end He creates a masterpiece that others want.  Others will see the beauty and purpose that we have been gifted and want the same.  An artist always leaves his/her mark on each piece they do, this shows that they have pride and ownership in their work.  God had etched His seal into you, will you live up to the purpose He created you to for?

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. ~ Ephesians 2:10