The Gift of Blue

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. II Timothy 3:15 KJV

It came wrapped in old newspapers, over-wrapped in white tissue. The bag was a simple brown gift bag, a Mother’s Day gift from my son and his wife. His wife had created this gift on her potter’s wheel, adding a perfectly curved handle. She glazed it with a sky blue, overlaid with a brown that gave the appearance of rain on a winter pasture. Around the rim the blue puddled and thinned into clouds. Inside, were the whirls of her hands on the wheel, glazed with tan and white of melted snow (or maybe it was a mocha with melting whipped cream). Either way this gift was more than a blue mug.

Someone long ago had shown the gift of turning to another, who in turn showed the gift to another, until my daughter-in-law was given the gift. Each in turn had used their gift to share their hearts in the pottery they created. An old gift made new in the sharing.

My granddaughter showed me her pinch pot, her first receiving of the old gift, so proud as she gently held it in her tiny hands, cupped like a nest to cradle a precious egg. Precious hands filled with the old gift that will once again become new with the life she will put into the pottery she turns, leaving her prints along the sides.

Christmas brought a brown gift bag with white tissue covering newspaper. As I gently held the gift unfurling each layer, little brown eyes glimmered with anticipation of the acceptance of the gift. An ornament, impressed with little fingers, fashioned from clay with a stocking shaped cookie-cutter, glazed red.

As a potter shapes the clay and leaves his/her imprint on the piece, so God instructs us to train our children, to mold them in the ways of God. Though they may not always follow, the imprints of the Truth upon their hearts cannot be erased.

Paul told Timothy that from a child he had known the holy scriptures that were able to make him wise unto salvation. Take it from Timothy’s mother and grandmother. Pass along the gift of the knowledge of scripture that leads to salvation.

 

Won't you join the conversation of how you and your family pass along the Gift of scriptures to your children?

 

Blessings,

Gail

 

The Urgency of Prayers

Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

Psalms 76:10

I recently read Kayla Mueller’s letter in the Huffington Post. She told her family how much she missed them and how she thought of what they would do when she got home, but she also let them know how much she was depending on God in her situation. She wrote,

“I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end the only one you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where, in every sense of the word, I have surrendered myself, to our creator b/c literally there is no one else…. + by God + your prayers I have felt tenderly cradled in freefall. I have been shown in darkness, light + have learned that even in prison, one can be free. I am grateful.”

Wow! She did not blame God for her situation. She was grateful to have Him to depend on. Through her death, many are learning to turn to God. He is receiving praise because of man’s wrath. He is restraining even worse tragedies.

Remember in Matthew 26 when Jesus went to pray in the garden, He asked His disciples to watch and pray. Jesus wanted things to be different. He dreaded going to the cross, but He was willing because that was what it was going to take to save us. His disciples didn’t see the urgency of the situation though He had told them many times He would die and be resurrected. He wanted them to pray for strength for Him and that just maybe God the Father would see another way (let this cup pass from me Matthew 26:39). But Jesus, willingly went to the cross for me.

Father, help me to see the urgency of prayer for fellow Christians, persecuted and imprisoned. Prayers for strength as well as for deliverance. Father, help me be willing to suffer to bring You glory through the salvation of those who will see or hear and believe, for You, Lord Jesus, are THE way, THE truth and THE life. No one comes to the Father but by You.  Father, help me to be willing to live in such a way that others may believe in the name of Jesus. For it is in His name I pray, Amen.

 

Skittering verses Flying

Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved. I Corinthians 10:33

While driving along a back road, a little unidentified bird skittered across the road in front of me. I wondered, why didn’t this bird fly? It would have been quicker and easier, it seemed. Though I couldn’t distinguish the type, I knew it wasn’t a killdeer who would normally run instead of fly. What was wrong with this bird? Was he too afraid to risk flying? Was he hurt? It didn’t appear so. His wings were neatly folded against his sides. It was not the time of year for young birds. This had to be an adult acting like an immature bird too afraid to fly!

Then I thought, do I sometimes skitter through life situations when I should be mature enough to fly through with faith? Paul tells the church at Corinth he fed them with the milk of the word and they hadn’t grown. He couldn’t give them the meat because they still acted like infants (I Corinthians 3:2).

I want to be a mature Christian who acts in a way that demonstrates the love and peace and concern for others that Christ demonstrated. Paul understood the scriptures. He understood the customs of the Jews and Gentiles. Paul’s desire was to reach people by whatever means possible. That is my prayer as well. I want to know the scripture, understand the cultures of the peoples both young and old that I come in contact with that I might be able to reach them through means they understand. I want to try the wings of faith for the salvation of others.

The Gift of Fitted Sheets

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29

My linen closet is a wreck. My mother’s was always neatly folded and stacked like a picture from a magazine, but Mama only had flat sheets. Unless we made the hospital corners just right, the twists and turns during the night would untuck the whole bed. In between my flat sheets are the matching fitted sheets, all crumpled and twisted, with the corners all wrinkled and bunched. The whole closet may fall on you if you aren’t careful. But when I pull out a set and stretch them, pulling each corner until those fitted sheets conform to the shape of my mattress, I appreciate

design and purpose of fitted sheets. They may not exactly fit in with the rest of the closet but they’re the best sheets in the stack.

As I change those bedclothes it reminds me of how I thought I could fix my life with just a little fold and a little tuck here and there. What appeared great in the light of day was a crumpled and twisted, wrinkled and bunched mess deep in the dark recesses of my sinful heart. But one day I realized I needed a change. I needed Jesus to conform me to His image through His power of regeneration. Now I am daily conforming to his image, allowing Him to stretch me to new heights, smooth out the wrinkles and fix my twisted thoughts all bunched up in the cares of the world. Christ in me and I in Christ makes life a lot more comfortable than allowing  the twists and turns that used to get me all out of sorts. I thank Him for daily conforming me to His image.

I’ll have to consult Martha Stuart to get the linen closet right, but I’m looking to Jesus to conform me to His image.

Blessings

Gail