Inspired by Pastor Jeff Brady , Sermon of 12/12/10.
Jeremiah 18:1-4 (NIV)
"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message. So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him."
As Pastor Jeff opened his sermon with the reading of this scripture, I began thinking over various events in my life. I saw my heart, totally and completely "marred in His hands." Some scars came from things that I could never have been held responsible for; however, so many of the scars are from my own doing. Angry, rebellious, deliberate decisions, choices. Self-inflicted wounds from condemnation and guilt.
Many of those wounds came from taking responsibility for the actions of other people. "Well, he didn't stay because I wasn't ____ or because I was _______. You're fun, but not worth the investment, too many flaws, too much baggage. You're not really worth the effort, not worth fighting for, not really."
After years of broken relationships, not just romantic ones, I had hardened my heart. You can't mold harden clay. It must be pliable. So, the past three years have been a sort of "chipping away" at the old pot in order to create a new one. This past week has been especially difficult. Finally, yesterday the tears began to flow from deep within. The kind of cry that starts in the bottom of your belly. The tears, you see, are the water that make the hardened clay pliable, again.
Just recently, I told someone, "I won't let you close enough to make me cry." Hhmm...Where did that come from? Time to back up, regroup, start again. I refuse to revert to the old shape and pattern of the old pot. I will be formed into "another pot, shaped as it seems best to Him."
Adelaide Pollard wrote:
Jeremiah 18:1-4 (NIV)
"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message. So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him."
As Pastor Jeff opened his sermon with the reading of this scripture, I began thinking over various events in my life. I saw my heart, totally and completely "marred in His hands." Some scars came from things that I could never have been held responsible for; however, so many of the scars are from my own doing. Angry, rebellious, deliberate decisions, choices. Self-inflicted wounds from condemnation and guilt.
Many of those wounds came from taking responsibility for the actions of other people. "Well, he didn't stay because I wasn't ____ or because I was _______. You're fun, but not worth the investment, too many flaws, too much baggage. You're not really worth the effort, not worth fighting for, not really."
After years of broken relationships, not just romantic ones, I had hardened my heart. You can't mold harden clay. It must be pliable. So, the past three years have been a sort of "chipping away" at the old pot in order to create a new one. This past week has been especially difficult. Finally, yesterday the tears began to flow from deep within. The kind of cry that starts in the bottom of your belly. The tears, you see, are the water that make the hardened clay pliable, again.
Just recently, I told someone, "I won't let you close enough to make me cry." Hhmm...Where did that come from? Time to back up, regroup, start again. I refuse to revert to the old shape and pattern of the old pot. I will be formed into "another pot, shaped as it seems best to Him."
Adelaide Pollard wrote:
"Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter; I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still."
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