April 9, 2024

The Farewell Discourse … John 13,14,15,16, and 17  

The Farewell Discourse John 13-17.  John records words of instruction and encouragement to His disciples before His death, resurrection, and ascension.

The Book of John reflects what Jesus means (His beliefs and how He  gives us the Hope of Eternal Life when we cross over into Eternity from our earthly journey).   The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) tell us more about His physical actions and His miracles as He walked on earth and was being followed by the disciples on His earthly journey.

Father God sent His Son Jesus to earth so that God would be reconnected to and be able to communicate with mankind again as He did in the Garden of Eden. 

The Book of Genesis and the Book of John both begin with the words, “In the beginning”.  God is the Creator of all.  Now God has sent His son, Jesus, who was with Him at creation, to re- connect mankind back to God the Father.  John tells us that the resurrection took place on the first day of the week confirming that a new beginning has come into the world.  John also speaks about the garden as the garden is spoken about in Genesis which isn’t mentioned in the synoptic gospels.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke speak more about the humanity, miracles, and how Jesus uses many parables to tell us stories with underlying teachings and meanings.  The synoptic Gospels speak about the actual act of communion at the last supper.  John speaks more about the meaning and significance of partaking of the bread and wine in our lives.  

 

The Book of John is the most spiritual of the four Gospels.  John had walked closely with our Savior.  He knew Jesus intimately. 

John tells us about      1-the Holy Spirit,      2-believers being spiritually born again,          3- about His light overcoming the darkness of spiritual blindness,                                      4- about life in Christ and the promise of Eternal life, and                                                  5- about truth and trust. 

 

In John 11, Jesus raises Lazarus from death.  Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters came to know that Jesus was the Messiah.  After this miracle many more people came to believe that Jesus was the awaited for Messiah.  But also, from that day forward the unbelieving Jewish leaders feared the growing power of Jesus and began to plot to have Him killed. 

In John 12 Jesus and the disciples came back to Bethany in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It was on what we refer to today as Palm Sunday.   Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and many came out waving Palm branches and shouting Hosanna.  Jesus told His followers that His light would only be with them for a short while longer.  His Father God had sent Him into the world and His Father tells Him what to say.  He and the Father are One.   Jesus had dinner at Mary, Martha, and Lazaras’ home.  After dinner Mary washed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and dried his feet with her hair.  Jesus explained to Judas Iscariot, the disciple who was upset about Mary using such expense for this action, “The poor will always be with you.  Mary is anointing me before my burial.  I will not be with you much longer”.

In John 13 Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Passover Supper in the Upper room.  Jesus tells the disciples that He will be going away.  He is leaving His Holy Spirit with them and where He is going, they will follow Him one day.  Jesus rose from the table, poured water in a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the cloth from around His waist.  Peter protested.  Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part of me”.  Then Jesus instructed the disciples and each of us to wash one another’s feet, to serve others.  Jesus came to serve others and He tells us to serve, not be served.   Jesus does two more things in Chapter 13.  He identifies Judas Iscariot as the one who would betray Him and He tells Peter that he will deny Christ three times before hearing the rooster crow.    It is at the table after this that Jesus gave His disciples the most important new commandment that they were to follow. They were to love God and were to love each other.  

In Chapter 14 Jesus tells His disciples that they are not to be troubled.  He would be going away but said that in His Father’s house there are many rooms and that He would be going there to prepare those rooms for them.  Then Thomas said how can we follow you if we do not know where you are going?  

” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”    John 14:6-7 NIVhttps://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.14.6-7.NIV 

This is one of Jesus’ “I am” descriptions in the book of John.

” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. “   John 14:8-14 NIVhttps://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.14.8-14.NIV

Then Jesus goes on in John 14 to tell His disciples that He would be leaving the Comforter with them.  He said, 

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.“          John 14:25-31 NIV HTTPs://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.14.26-31.NIV 

In Chapter 15 Jesus goes on to say that He is the Vine and we are the branches.  God will prune each of us during our earthly lives.  In our earthly journey we will experience difficult times. These experiences teach us and help us to bear good fruit because of the lessons which we have learned.

Jesus told His disciples,   (I am the Vine)

”If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “  John 15:7-8 NIVhttps://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.15.7-8.NIV

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father- will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.“   John 15:26-27 NIVhttps://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.15.26-27.NIV

 

In John 16, Jesus continues to tell the disciples that He was going away.  He was going back to the Father.  He will send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth to them saying,

”But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.“    John 16:7-11 NIV      https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.16.7-11.NIV

”“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”“   John 16:25-28 NIVhttps://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.16.25-28.NIV

In John 17 Jesus tells us,

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.“   John 17:20-23 NIVhttps://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.17.21-23.NIV

Then Jesus says,

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”“        John 17:24-26 NIVhttps://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.17.25-26.NIV

 

In John 16:24 Jesus said,” Ask and you will receive that your joy may be full”.  In John 17:33 Jesus tells the disciples and us, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”.

 

At the end of the book of John in John 20:31 He tells His disciples and us the reason for his words and teachings.  

”But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.“        John 20:31 NIVhttps://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.20.31.NIV

 

December 25, 2022

My Journey to Bethlehem

As God prepared the road for Joseph and Mary, He is preparing our road.  Our road is our walk through this physical journey of life and our spiritual journey to God.  My walk has taken me to Bethlehem and the Christ Child.  Christ is the Messiah. He is God’s plan of redemption seen throughout the Old and New Testaments of God’s Word.

We are all at a different place in our spiritual walks. God will help us to walk forward into a deeper place. How do we get there?  How does our spirit grow?  I have found that God uses the circumstances and trials of life to awaken our spirits and to make us open to what He wants to teach us.  When the situations of life empty our cups of what we think is so important; God then, has the opportunity to fill our cups, our spirits, with the things which are spiritually and eternally important.  The things of this life are temporary.  The physical busyness of getting ready for Christmas is soon over and we are taking down the tree, putting away holiday decorations, and making New Year’s resolutions.  Each of us is looking for more than the temporary.

Scripture has taught me that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”.  As we hear again the Christmas story, as we listen to and read scripture, as we sing songs of adoration, praise, and thanksgiving, as we worship together, and as we share our faith with each other, we grow and move into that deeper spiritual place. I have found that love is contagious and so is faith.  Faith is a gift from God.  There is a longing in each and every heart which God wants to fill.  Everyone searches for purpose and fulfillment.  God convicts our hearts and gives us a beginning mustard seed of faith.  It is up to us to seek and then receive God’s gift of faith.  When we believe and receive this gift, our faith will begin to grow.  We are to confess our faith, use our faith, and share it with others.  I have been given the gift of faith.  I would like to share with you a little about my life and my personal faith journey.

To grow in faith is a choice. How God chooses to bring us to the place where we meet Him is not usually a choice.  I would not have chosen the pain which our family experienced when we suffered the death of two of our children.  I believe that God has a purpose and a plan for each of our lives, whether they be short or long in years.  My spiritual search for truth intensified during this pain filled time and led me into a deep abiding faith.

Richard and I were married fifty eight years ago on September 25, 1964.  We had four daughters, Elisa, Erica, Carrie, and Christa.  We lived in West Hempstead, Long Island, NY, for the first nine years of our marriage.  Richie built our home in Dix Hills.  We lived there until we retired and sold it in 2008.  Much happiness and many tears were experienced during those years on Long Island.

Elisa Lynn was born on May 11, 1970.  She died at 9 years of age in her sleep on the morning of June 27, 1979.  Erica Gayle was born on October 22, 1972.  She and her Husband, Trevor, have given us two wonderful grandsons, Trevor and Hunter.  Carrie Marlene was born on September 25, 1980 (on our 16^th wedding anniversary)  She died two weeks later from complications of meconium aspiration.  She never came home from the hospital.  Christa Grace was born on May 25, 1983.  She and her husband, Kris, have blessed us with three precious grandsons, Harrison, Brooks, and Dalton.  God was walking with us.  He brought us through our times of great pain. And over the years He has given us so much joy.  We have learned to prioritize our lives.  Faith, family, and friends come before any temporary material things in our lives.

When going through the painful years of loss, my faith was being severely tested. No physical person could help me.  I felt as if I was walking in a fog.  I was going through the motions of living.  I had to keep going for Erica and for Richie.  Richie couldn’t even function.  My parents and sisters were devastated.   I was searching for comfort and purpose.  Many couples are unable to make their marriage work after the loss of a child because both are hurting so much that they can’t help each other.

Prior to the death of my children my life had been a very stable one. Richie did not have an easy childhood but was now settled and happy as a husband and father.  His world came crashing in on him once again.  His spiritual foundation was not strong enough to bring him any peace or comfort. My friend Bobby said “you have the Lord and Richie has you”. My faith gave me strength. As God lifted me up I could help and encourage Erica and Richie.

My foundation of faith was begun and nurtured by God fearing parents who brought me to church and Sunday School at a very young age. I was baptized at Bethelship Methodist Church in Brooklyn.  I was confirmed at Gloria Dea  Lutheran Church in Huntington.  I attended and taught Sunday School as a teenager at West Hills Methodist Church. While living in West Hempstead, I attended Hempstead Methodist Church.  This is where Elisa and Erica were baptized.  When we moved to Dix Hills in 1974 we attended the Dix Hills Methodist Church.  After the death of my children, I went back to West Hills Methodist Church to be with my parents and to be spiritually fed by a wonderful pastor who helped me through a very difficult time.

In my search for deeper understanding, increased faith, and spiritual growth, Erica and I began attending The Commack Church of God. God used the preaching and the loving congregation of this church to feed my spirit and to bring me into a deeper dimension of faith.  It was during this time that I continued to pray for another child.  I had had two miscarriages.  My prayer became, “God, if it isn’t in your plan please take the desire for another child away from me”.  I had submitted to his will.  He did not take the desire away. He gave us the desire of our hearts on May 25, 1983.  Christa Grace was born.  I thank Him every day for giving us another child and for giving Erica a sister.

In 1984 our family joined St. Luke Lutheran Church.  It became our church home for 23 years.  I taught Sunday School for 10 years and as a family we grew in faith and in greater love for our Lord.  Pastor Froehlich baptized, confirmed and married Christa.  Pastor confirmed and married Erica and baptized her two sons.  The people at St Luke were our extended family.

In 2008 we sold our home of 35 years; I retired from Oncology Nursing at Huntington Hospital.  We moved to Orefield, Pennsylvania.  Our new home is one mile away from Erica and one hour away from Christa.  We had purchased a house in The Florida Keys in 1991.  Again, God has given us the desire of our hearts.  Our retirement years were being spent between sunny Florida in the Keys and Orefield, Pennsylvania near our children and their families.

I can only remember one time in my life when I questioned God’s existence.  It was after Baby Carrie died.  I couldn’t believe that a second child would be taken from me. When she died others including Richie questioned how I could maintain my faith.  How could a loving God have allowed this to happen again?  Maybe the God, whom I’ve always known, was not really there.  It was the loneliest time of my life.  Who could I turn to if He wasn’t there; if He wasn’t walking with me.?

This dry period only lasted a few weeks.  I searched the scriptures.  Where else could I go for answers?  I would sit in my yard with my Bible.  God led me to the Book of Job.  Job was God’s most beloved servant and God allowed him to loose everything including his children.  Job never lost faith.  I wasn’t going to either!  God loved Job and I knew that He loved me too.  I was reminded of the poem, Footprints in the Sand.  God was there and He would continue to carry me through the tough times in life. When I read 2 Corinthians1: 4, 5, I knew that the words in this passage were meant for me.   “God helps us in all of our troubles, so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles, using the same help that we ourselves have received from God”.  He spoke to me through His word. I would continue to search and believe!  I was sure of His words and I was sure that He was present in my life!  His word told me that He would use me in the lives of others and He has.  By God’s grace alone was I brought into this deeper place as I walked my spiritual journey.   I will continue walking with Him.  I want to glorify Him in my life.

Faith is an awesome gift but with that gift comes responsibility.  To he whom much is given, much is required.  Jesus is the Lord of my life.  I love Him with all of my heart, mind, soul, and spirit.  I am able to love others because He loved me first. I pray for wisdom and discernment daily.  I ask God to use me to His glory in the lives of others. My trials have given me spiritual strength and understanding. God in me, through The Holy Spirit, gives me the ability to know what He would want me to do or to say to help others.  He has touched people through me in my personal life and in my professional life as a nurse.  I want to be His vessel and I know He hears my prayer. Nothing is more important to me than being in God’s will.  What I do for Him is the only thing that will last throughout eternity.

My earthly journey since Richie’s death in January 2021 has been a difficult one.  But my grief is overshadowed by my gratitude to God for the wonderful 56 years of marriage which He blessed us with and for the children and grandchildren which He gave to Richie and me.  I am blessed and I am grateful.  Most of all the gift of faith which God has given me assures me that Richie and I will meet again in eternity.  Richie, Elisa, Carrie, my sister Jane, and others whom I have loved on earth will be “at the door” with Jesus, my Savior, to welcome me “Home”.  In the meantime I will “occupy”, keep busy, during the time I am still on my earthly journey.

The Bible is my road map and GPS.  It gives me direction.  It is God’s love letter to each of us.  God’s promises are real.  Jesus is the Savior.  The Holy Spirit is our comforter, our guide, and He is God’s power within us. We are God’s children and He calls each of us to come to Him just as we are.  He draws us to Himself; asking us to believe and to receive the gift of faith.  Anyone who truly confesses, believes, and receives Christ will never want to turn back from their walk to Bethlehem.

By sharing myself with you, my hope is that your faith will be encouraged.  If anyone is going through a difficult time in their lives, you are not alone, God is with you.  Ask for and seek His presence.  He will make His presence known and give you His peace.

As we walk the road to Bethlehem this Christmas; may we grow in the love of Jesus, may we grow in faith, and may we pass on our increased love and faith to others.  I pray that the lights of Christmas will glow through each of us all year long.

What or Who are you plugged into?

 

As 2022 begins, most of us reflect on years past and try to imagine what the coming year will bring.  Our hope is for a happy, peaceful, healthy, and prosperous year ahead. We think about our circumstances and the people around us.  No one exists in his or her own bubble.  Each of us is affected by issues and people in our lives. Each day, each year, we make minor and major decisions and choices. We are all on a temporary earthly journey. As a baby, others make these choices for us. As we grow into childhood and beyond we must become progressively more independent.  Our path can go in many directions as we touch and are touched by the lives of others. 

Every individual consists of a spirit and a soul housed in a physical body.  Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions.  In order to be healthy and well balanced we must feed and exercise our bodies, minds, and spirits with nutritious foods and edifying thoughts and actions as we mature and learn.  The direction we follow is an example of the choices we make.  We learn by our mistakes and hopefully move forward making wiser choices. We can strive for perfection but there is no perfect person.   

Our belief system helps to govern who we become.  There are many adjectives which people can use to describe others.  When a person is dependent on self, success, or possessions they can be seen as arrogant, self serving, egotistical, or full of pride.  The opposite would be a person who is humble, kind, gentle, generous, thoughtful, and forgiving.  A man or woman can plug into many sources of power.  We all should look at our individual lives and realize who or what is our source of power. 

I have chosen to believe that God is the Creator, my Creator.  I choose to be fed by His Word.  I have received the gifts of Faith and Salvation.  These gifts are offered to everyone as stated in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”.   God gives mankind free will.  We can choose the gifts of faith and salvation for our self but God will never force them upon us. 

God is my power source.  A flashlight will not illuminate our way without a battery.  A lamp will not work if it is not plugged into electricity.  Mankind can live and move when operating physically and mentally in his or her own spirit and physical ability but will never have eternal power if not plugged into God as its power source.  I do not want to be a lamp without electricity or a flashlight without a fully charged battery.  In John 8:12 Jesus tells us that He is the light of the world.  In Matthew 5:14-16 we are told that we are the light of the world.  God is the Divine Flashlight within us.  When God’s light and power flows in us we become His battery operated, God operated flashlight which radiates His light and power into our dark world. 

Lord God, fill me with your Holy Spirit Power and light.  Use me to your Glory.  I thank you for your light, your Word, your promises, and your power.     Amen

Reflecting on My Faith as I read Galatians

May 25, 2019

My Thoughts as I read Galatians 

“But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start. It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.”

Galatians 3:25-27 MSG

https://www.bible.com/97/gal.3.25-27.msg

We were slaves under the law

Salvation; set free from sin and death; 

a one time occurrence 

By God’s Grace alone! 

How?  When we choose to believe and 

receive His gift of faith which is freely given

No longer slave under the law

Made an heir in God’s Kingdom forever

Justification; sins forgiven and forgotten

Redemption; by the final sacrificial Lamb;  

the final atonement; once and for all!

Christ’s Righteousness imparted into 

those who choose to believe.  It is never forced upon us.  We are given free will.

we can never be righteous in and of ourselves

Indwelled by the Holy Spirit at Salvation

Given the fruit of the Spirit 

Sanctification process begun; 

a process by which the Holy Spirit grows His fruit within us as He teaches us to be more loving, joyful, peaceful, kind, better persons, patient, faithful and gentle 

with more self control.  

We Inherit Eternal Life ;  which is

true, promised, and secured eternally.  

How do we know God’s promises?  We read and believe God’s Word,

our instruction manual, the Bible; for life as we walk our physical journeys.  

Each of us is a unique creation made by our Creator.

Each being consists of a body, a mind, and a spirit.  All three parts of us must be fed for continued life and growth.  

Our  spirits are eternal.

We walk through this life in a body.

We have a mind and the ability to think, learn , and make decisions.

We are spiritual-thinking beings on a physical journey in a temporary body.  

According to scriptures, our days are numbered.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed.  

NOW, this moment, is in the day of salvation 

I have chosen to believe that the One True God is the creator of all.  He has one plan to be united with his children as seen through out the 66 books in His Word.  It is stated in the Gospel of John; John 3:16.  

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16 KJV

https://www.bible.com/1/jhn.3.16.kjv 

I made Jesus , the messiah, the Christ, Lord over my life many, many years ago.  He has never disappointed me.  No one who meets Him will ever want to turn back.  He continues to sanctify me and grow my spirit as I get ready to meet Him and my loved ones in Eternity someday.

My Testimony in Christ’s Love, 

Anna Mae Carlstrand

Psalm 1, 2, and 3 ..... Psalm 146 to 150

April 26, 2019
Psalm 1, 2, 3
As we read the Psalms we are to meditate on the words. God speaks to us as we read; breathe, pause, meditate, and think about what He is saying. He speaks to us and we enter His presence. When I am able to; I read each Psalm out loud. Lord open up our spiritual ears, eyes, and hearts. Give us a hunger for your word and a thirst for your living waters. We come to you in “praise and worship”. This we do no matter what is going on in our lives. You never leave us or forsake us . You are walking with us on the mountain and in the valley; in the joys and in the trials. Speak Lord! We are your servants and we are listening!

As I read Psalm 1, 2, and 3 God tells me that He prospers His children. He takes care of us. His living water brings forth fruit in our lives. The fruit of love, joy, peace etc. (Galatians 5:22,23). As believers we have God’s righteousness within us.

God Blesses all who trust in Him. (He knows His sheep and we hear His voice). He knows the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish. We are to serve the Lord with fear (respect and commitment) and rejoice with trembling. He Is mighty. He is in control. He is to be the Lord of our lives.

Salvation belongs to the Lord and His Blessing is on His people. I am His and I know He takes care of me in all situations. The Lord sustains me and gives me His rest even when enemies (evil people, illness, problems) come against me. I trust Him. He has saved me. He hears my cries and my praises. He Blesses me and those I love. God is love and because He loves us we know how to love others. I trust, praise, worship and love Him. And we love each other in Him.
Love in Christ, Anna

April 27, 2019
Psalm 146 to 150
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6). We are to praise God in His Sanctuary (in our churches and in our homes and in our lives) and in the firmament of His power (in all of creation). Luke 19:40 tells us that even if we don’t praise Him, creation will; then even the “stones will cry out”. We are to praise Him in the “firmament of His power” (Psalm 150:1). God guides us. We are to trust Him. He is the creator of all and of each of us. He is all powerful. We and all of creation are to worship Him with praise and Thanksgiving.

As believers we are to lift up words of praise to our God and converse with Him continually. We are to practice His presence through out our day and we are to know and be grateful for His closeness to us in all situations. We are to believe His Word and His Promises and live every moment in an awareness of Him in us and in all of creation. 

Treasures in Jars of Clay 2 Corinthians 4

April 6, 2018

Treasures in Jars of Clay              2 Corinthians 4

Each of us is molded by the Creator.  As we read in Jeremiah 1:5, before God formed us in the womb, He knew us.  In Bible verses found in Jeremiah, Isaiah, Romans, and 2Corinthians we are described as clay which is formed by our Creator.  God is the Potter.  We are a clay pot on the wheel of life being shaped and molded by God for a purpose and a destiny.  We are a jar of dust into which He has placed Himself.  As is clay on a wheel, we are bent, twisted, formed, created, and produced. Throughout life we have times of being hard pressed, persecuted, perplexed, beat up, and afflicted.  Paul penned his letters of first and second Corinthians to the early Church in Corinth.  He was writing to believers.  Paul assured the church that he was speaking for Jesus Christ as Christ’s servant.  He wanted the light of Christ to shine through him as he wrote and taught the Gospel.  Jesus lives inside of every believing heart.  The Holy Spirit of Christ manifests His light in our mortal flesh.     

We are cracked broken fragile pots.  Precious Jesus is inside of every believer.  He is the treasure of great price living in our earthly vessel.  Jesus works from within us.  We are God’s agents.  We have received and we carry inside of us the dying and suffering of Jesus.  Jesus is the Light of the world.  We become the light of the world as Christ’s light shines through the cracks and brokenness of each of our lives.   His light is revealed through the cracks of our mortal bodies.  As Christ’s death, life, and resurrection were at work in Paul’s life they are also at work in us and in the lives of every believer.  

Paul ends 2 Corinthians 4 with the following words, “because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us in His presence.  All this is for our benefit, so that the Grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the Glory of God.  Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away (perishing), yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”. 

  

God teaches and instructs us when we spend time in communion and conversation with Him.  He grows our faith and gives us wisdom and spiritual understanding.  God allows wounds and times of suffering so that He might be revealed.  We learn of His Grace and Redemption.  He knits our hearts as we become connected to Him.  Each life has a story to tell.  We become a testimony of brokenness and restoration.  Now His light shines through us enabling us to bring the light of His Grace and Redemption into the lives of others.

God spoke this message to me many years ago as I searched the scriptures for answers in a time of deep personal suffering; the deaths of two of our daughters.  No physical person could console me.  I sought a word from God.  I needed Him to speak to me.  I sat in my yard reading my Bible, God’s Word.  He heard my prayers.  He heard my cry to know the reality of His presence.  He brought me to the Book of Job.  Job had gone through great suffering.  He had lost everything including all of his children.  He was God’s beloved.  I knew that God loved me as much as He loved Job.  Job never stopped trusting and loving God.  His life was restored.  I would continue to love and trust God even when I didn’t understand.  God brought me to 2  Corinthians 1:3-7.  His Words spoke to my heart through my pain.  I knew the words were for me.  I knew that His light would shine through my brokenness.  He was comforting me and would use me in the lives of others whose sufferings would be even greater than mine.  I believed God’s promises.  When we share in Christ’s sufferings we will also share in His Glory.  God has revealed Himself to me.  He restored our lives.  Richard and I have two wonderful daughters walking through this life with us and two waiting for us in Eternity.  Jesus Christ lives within my mortal clay.  May His light always shine through my beat up, afflicted, and imperfect physical body.   I have received God’s Mercy.  As I experience His Mercy I want His Mercy to flow through me as He uses me and gives me a ministry to share the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in Christ with others.

Thank you Lord.  May all I think, say, and do be to your Glory as I walk my earthly journey.  Amen          

Isaiah 45:9-12

“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
‘How clumsy can you be?’
10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
‘Why was I born?’
or if it said to its mother,
‘Why did you make me this way?’”
11 This is what the Lord says—
the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
“Do you question what I do for my children?
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 I am the one who made the earth
and created people to live on it.
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.
All the stars are at my command.

The Potter's Clay by Deborah Smith Plemmons

I was but a lump of shapeless clay, until I was touched by the Potter one day.
With His hands, He started molding me into what He would have me to be.

I did not resist His gentle touch, though I thought I'd not amount to much.
He smoothed rough edges, getting rid of self.  I really didn't want to sit on a shelf.

He fashioned me after His own image.  I remained pliable to avoid any damage.
Thank you, God, for not giving up on me.  I pray I'll be all you want me to be.

God is the Potter and I am the clay.  He molded me into what I am today.
I feel now I'm a vessel fit for His use; A vessel of honor to share His truths.

 

Poem: Clay in Potter's Hand - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w1x8OKaulM

▶ 4:22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w1x8OKaulM

Feb 14, 2017 - Uploaded by Poetry of Love Media

This is the video version to the one we have on Soundcloud. As we are clay in the Potter's Hand we can be ...

1 Peter chapter 5

Christ suffered.  Christ is now in Glory with the Father.  When we share in Christ’s sufferings, we will also share in His Glory.  In 1 Peter chapter 5 Peter gives instructions intended to help us live just lives for God in Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit.

We are told to:

1)      Be Shepherds of God’s flock.  Jesus is Shepherd over all of His children.

2)      We are to shepherd and teach the small flock He has put in our lives and on our path.

3)      We are to be honest, not pursuing dishonest gain.

4)      We are to be Christ-like examples to those in our care and in our lives.

5)      We are to submit and respect our elders.

6)      We are to be humble not proud.  God shows favor to the humble,

7)      We are to cast our worries and cares on Christ because we know that He is always with us and always caring for our every need.

8)      We are to be alert and sober.

9)      We are to resist the devil and stand firm in our faith.

10)  We are to know that the body of Christ throughout the world is enduring the same sufferings and persecutions as we are. We all are to stand up in faith for what we believe.

The wonderful promise in 1 Peter 5:10 is “and the God of all grace, who called you (me) to His eternal glory in Christ, after you (I) have suffered a little while will Himself restore you (me) and make you (me) strong, firm, and steadfast.  To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen”.  I have made this promise my own by inserting the pronouns me and I in place of the pronoun you.

We are chosen.

We are to stand fast where He places us.

We are to fellowship with each other in love.

Christ promises peace to all who are in Christ.

We must receive and make His Word and His promises our own.

I praise and worship the Lord and come to Him with thanksgiving for His Word, His promises, the gift of faith, my salvation, and my spiritual birth in Him.