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This is a great story that I thought you would benefit from. It is a simple
reminder of how God is the potter of our life and we are the clay. God is
the shaper of each of our lives and when struggles seem overwhelming, we
need to remind ourselves that these struggles serve a purpose in making us
stronger, wiser, and in the perfect image that God has for each of His
children. I hope this message ministers to you and encourages your heart.
THE TEACUP
There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful
stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This
was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.
One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May
we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed
it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke.
"You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There
was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me
and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'Let me alone', but he only
smiled, 'Not yet.'
"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I
was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy! I
screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.'
Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he
wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him
through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head, 'Not yet.'
Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool.
'There, that's better', I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The
fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!' I cried.
He only nodded, 'Not yet.'
Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This
was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I
screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding
his head saying, 'Not yet.'
Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to
give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf.
One hour later he handed me a mirror and I couldn't believe it was me.
It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.'
'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and
patted, but if I had left you alone, you would have dried up. I know it
made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you
would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the
oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked.
I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if
I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had
any color in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven,
you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have
held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I
first began with you.
MORAL: God knows what He's doing for all of us. He is the potter, and we
are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a
flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Author Unknown
Let this story be an encouragement to you and remind you that God has a
perfect plan for your life. He may need to place some struggles in your
life to strengthen your character so that you may be strong in the days of
greater adversity. Don't get discouraged when you feel like the heat of
the struggle is going to burn you. God knows exactly when to pull you out
and deliver you from that problem, and when He does you will be much wiser
and stronger than you were before. (Proverbs 3:5-6) (Psalm 103:13-14)
God will never give to us more than we are able to withstand, so remind
yourself that if many problems are coming your way, it is only because God
knows your inner strength and ability to be strong even in the midst of a
problem. I encourage you to talk to the Lord today and share with God all
that is upon your heart. Let Him know of the trials that seem overwhelming
as well as thank Him for His past interventions, and let God know that your
trust and faith is completely in Him. I believe when we show such great
faith and trust even in the midst of a storm, God's heart is moved and is
proud of our child-like Faith in His abilities. (Ephesians 3:13-20)
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Isaiah 64:8-9 "But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and
Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand. Be not wroth very
sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech
Thee, we are all Thy people."
Jeremiah 29:11-14 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith
the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will
hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search
for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD…"
Galatians 6:2-6 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of
Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he
deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he
have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall
bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto
him that teacheth in all good things."
2 Corinthians 4:15-17 "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant
grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the
inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but
for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
All scriptures can be found in the King James Version.
Today's Selected Poem: CHILD, YOU MUST WAIT
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem95.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
