I Want To Be a Vessel For Honor

I always enjoy learning how to do new things. Over the past few days, I have been debating over what new hobby I am ready to take up. I've thought about taking a cake decorating class, a pottery class, or even scrapbooking. All of these things involve taking something from scratch and making a brand new creation--something beautiful, wonderful, and useful.

You know...our relationship with Christ is oh so very similar to these crafty hobbies! We are His clay and He is our Master Potter! We should desire to be molded and shaped by God--to be used by Him. He is so ready to turn us into a vessel of honor!

Let's take a look at cake decorating. We add beautiful colors and designs, putting our special touches on it to make it unique. Even when it doesn't turn out like we want it to on the outside...it can still be used. I mean...cake icing tastes yummy regardless of the design, right?

Well, God is ready to add His special touches to each and every one of you! He's ready to add His love, His hope, His blessings...and when He gets done, He is ready to pour you out to quench a thirsty world!

Even on the days when you feel broken and empty (just like the cake that didn't turn out like you wanted), God can still use you--just as long as you are firmly held in His grasp. He chose each of you because you have seen your own brokenness and have given every shattered piece to Him.

Let God mold you. Let Him fill you up. Let Him hold you. Let Him pour out His blessings through you.

I am unsure at this point which project I am going to pursue...but I am determined that in the end, I will have created something beautiful and useful. When God is done with each of us, we will be His beautiful creation as well. We will be able to fully experience the overflowing joys of being His vessel of honor!

"If anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work."-2 Timothy 2:21

Stay tuned...

B

Inspired by "The Hunger Games"...

Okay, so with the semester ending and Summer school not starting until the first week of June, I found myself at a need for a good read. I saw the movie The Hunger Games back when it first came out, but I hadn't got around to reading the series just yet. I picked up the first book on Monday, finished it in 2 days, and have already purchased and began the second book! There's just something exciting about reading a good adventure book packed with action!

I am such a nerd sometimes due to the fact that I try to relate to each of the characters as much as possible--sometimes even pretending that I am the character right in the middle of the story.

In this case, it was Katniss Everdeen that I felt particularly attached to. I worried as she went to battle. I felt sympathy as she experienced hunger and lonliness. And I silently cheered her on all the way to victory.

Isn't our own life crazy similar to that of The Hunger Games? I mean, not in the same sense that we are stranded alone in the woods left to "fight to the death." But it is similar in the same fact that we are in constant battle with the world and as Christians, we are all striving to receive our eternal reward.

What does God say about being alone? "And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of age."-Matthew 28:20
Just like Katniss felt overwhelmingly lonely, we often feel the exact same way. But the awesome thing is...God is with us wherever we are. He is the friend who walks in when the world walks out.

What does God say about life's battles? "For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."-Deuteronomy 20:4
Unlike The Hunger Games, our fight is not against flesh and blood, but it is against evil forces.

When you find yourself in the midst of a war, do not be afraid. Call on Him in prayer and allow Him to deliver you.

We don't need a spear, a bow and arrow, or a sling-shot to fight our battles here on earth. We have the Lord Jesus Christ as our shield of protection, and He is always victorious! Sometimes He will lead you to shelter for safety and restoration. Other times He may ask you to join Him on the front line in the heat of the battle.

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."-Psalm 32:7

My challenge for you today: Keep your eye on the prize! And like I always say--the war is fought and WON on your knees!

Stay tuned...

B

Going to the Chapel...& We're Gonna Get Married

I was a bridesmaid in a good friend's wedding this past weekend. I had almost forgotten all of the hard work, dedication, and effort that goes into preparing for a wedding! Needless to say, I was reminded. The hair, make-up, the dress, decorations, etc.--all very time consuming, yet all so very worth it!

I will freely admit that I spend a few days daydreaming about my own wedding day--hoping that everything is absolutely perfect in every single way.

So of course all of my thinking and daydreaming just led me to more thinking and daydreaming...

We are God's beautiful bride! No wedding celebration on earth can compare to the celebration we will one day share with Him on that amazing day in heaven!

Every bride prepares for her earthly wedding by doing all she can to be her absolute best. The bridesmaids, friends, and family members of the bride work so hard to make everything perfect before she walks down the aisle to meet her bridegroom.

The Lord abolve is our heavenly Bridegroom, and He has already made all of the wedding preparations for us. How great?!

Our life may sometimes seem anything but perfect, but it is so awesome that on that glorious day, He will present each one of us as being spotless and blamesless! I love that!

He simply asks that we let our hearts be His. He wants us to let His mercy and love be the sweet music that fills the sanctuary.

I get so excited thinking about being clothed in the beautiful gown of God's glory on that special day!

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready."-Revelation 19:7

Stay tuned...

B