I went down to the potter's house

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Have you ever felt that you were unable to handle a situation the right way? Then I felt inadequate but somehow after admitting it and leaving it to the Lord, things got better and eventually for the best. Though I have read this verse in 2 Corinthians 4:7, I confess that I did not understand it much! Once I realised that I am a vessel for the Lord's love and grace, it became clear. My eyes were open.  

When we surrender our whole to Jesus, He restores us, heals us and repairs this 'broken pottery' for his purpose. David says in Psalm 31  I am forgotten by them as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.

The Lord tells us through Jeremiah that He is the potter and He shapes us (the pots made of clay) the way he wants us to be. How wonderful to be looked after by our Father. 

This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Jeremiah, go down to the potter’s house. I will give you my message there.”

3 So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working with clay at the wheel. 4 He was making a pot from clay. But there was something wrong with the pot. So the potter used that clay to make another pot. With his hands he shaped the pot the way he wanted it to be.

5 Then this message from the Lord came to me: 6 “Family of Israel, you know that I can do the same thing with you. You are like the clay in the potter’s hands, and I am the potter.” This message is from the Lord. 

Going back to Paul's statement,  this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us, as human beings, we tend to boast too quickly without even realising it! We do notice when others boast but rarely when we do. 

Finally, I like to read this verse of Isaiah, 'We are the clay, You are the potter, We are all the work of Your hands." Our Father who knows us so well moulds us, refines us and transforms us. Are you ready to let Him transform you? 

Why are You so good to me?

Here is a beautiful song that was sent to me on by a friend on You Tube. Just click here or follow the link as for some reason I could not embed it!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iECMJ1Jr5U&feature=relmfu

Through the bustling crowd, to the faraway places,
I can't find such love like Jesus'.
He soothes my heart, He embraces my soul
With His love unrequited* and unfathomable.
(*not asking for returns)

For me He's born, for me He dies,
For all my weakness He feels sympathy -
with His tender calling, with His patient waiting,
with His unceasing love, no complaints or regrets.

Chorus:
Why is He (are you) so good to me?
Bad as I am, He listens (you listen) to my every prayer
In a quiet morning, or in a sad night.
Why is He (are you) so good to me?
Unworthy as I am, He still loves (you still love) me like treasures.
How high and deep is Christ's love! Lord, why are you so good to me?

I will add the original lyrics in Chinese:

Original lyrics in Chinese: 為何對我這麼好？

走過熙攘人群，踏遍海角天涯
找不到一份愛像耶穌
祂撫慰我心，祂懷抱我靈
測不透的、不求回報的愛情

愛到為我降生，愛到為我受死
愛到體恤我一切軟弱
祂柔聲呼喚，祂耐心守候
永不停息、無怨無悔的愛情

副歌：
祂(你)為何對我這麼好？
我雖然不好，祂(你)卻聽我每個祈禱
或在寧靜清晨，或在傷心夜裡
祂(你)為何對我這麼好？
我雖然不配，祂(你)還愛我如同珍寶
此情山高海深，主你為何對我這麼的好？
May the Lord bless you. Your sister in Christ. N.A.

Treasures in heaven?

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money

 and be content with what you have,

 because God has said,

   “Never will I leave you; 

   never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

In 1 Timothy, Paul tells us that money is root of all evils. This statement is verified every day when we hear or read about crimes being committed in order to obtain more money. 

If one is grumbling on one's condition and always thinking  that if one had more money, one's life would be more enjoyable, it implies that one is forgetting God's blessings in our life. 

Does it mean that we must stop working, be lazy ?

 Certainly not, we must remember that our Lord provides,

 let us put our trust in Him.

Jesus himself gives this warning:

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moths and vermin destroy, 

and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ 

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where moths and vermin do not destroy, 

and where thieves do not break in and steal.

 (Matthew 6:19-20)

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, 

or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. 

You cannot serve God and mammon" 

(Matthew 6:19-24).

I found out that the meaning of mammon,  (more correctly spelled "mamon" from the original language) was a transliteration of a common Aramaic word. It was derived from the Hebrew word that meant "to be established" or "to be certain" ('ãman)¹; and thus originally meant "to entrust"².  In time, the meaning of the word changed from the positive idea of "that which is entrusted"  to the negative idea of "that in which a man puts his trust".

 Depending on who you talk to, the conversation may very quickly turn on money, 

whether people deplore the lack of it

 or on the contrary boast about what they have bought with it. 

Sometimes money can hijack your relationship with a loved one.

 If you are not on your guard, it can rote everything

Do you think that having a good job, a title, a good spouse satisfies you? 

Maybe your aim in life it to become famous,

 you treasure all the certificates that bear your name, 

the articles in the local or national press.

The reason why we always need money is that nothing 

we buy with it gives us lasting pleasure.

 ²¹ Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 

²² But when the young man heard this statement, 

he went away grieved; for he was one who owned much property. 

In Matthew 13:44  Jesus tells us that 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, 

which a man found and hid again;

 and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

 

A prayer, Lord, thank you for your Love, thank you for Jesus, our saviour and redeemer. 

Help us to get rid of our material cravings.

 We seek you Jesus, our treasure, Light of the World, our true friend. In Jesus-Christ, Amen