When we despair...
"Great leaders help people have a larger vision of themselves" says Mark Sanborn, a motivational leader. This is who we are: ministers called to enlarge the vision of Individuals to include God in all of life. Then the rug is taken from underneath our feet - We are threatened on every side: the present pandemic squeezes the very breath of life from us: We see people losing their jobs, economy threatened, people dying from the virus in our midst, and we are called to say: "What???" Our fragility begins to show as we deal with the many sadnesses that come our way. If we are honest, our heavy hearts cry out: "Lord, Lord, despair is near."It is in times like these Paul reminds us that "we may be pressed or squeezed on every side by troubles" yet WE WILL NOT BE CRUSHED. We may be perplexed by what is happening and struggle with the many threats of the day. We may be knocked down, and hard punches come our way to threaten and try to take our Godly breath away, but we are promised that God will not abandon us: Let us therefore not abandon God.
The Potter is ours to call upon: the One who created the beautifully, fragile, precious clay pots promises to hear our cry. When we are about to crack, it is the Potter who promises to mold us once more that we may continue to be the earthen vessels carrying the good news into dark and parched places. God asks us to carry the truth when things are not right; we are invited to cry out In lament and share God's light .
We are not called to be the Potter and solve all that is not Godly, but be the fragile clay pot molded by the Potter to do great things in difficult times. We may see darkness surrounding us, but God's light promises to shine through. Our Christian identity will never be found in succumbing to the darkness, but in receiving, carrying, and sharing the GODLY TREASURE with those in darkness. Let the strength of God's treasure be yours and may your faith be tested positive now and always.
Prayer for the Potter and the Clay
Lord in this troubling time,
We pray for the strength
To carry your treasured
Let Your light cover the darkness
Let you strength overcome
Our weakness.
let us make wise choices.
For today and tomorrow.
We pray for a vaccine.
In you, we may know light.
In you , we may be carriers
Of new life... Jesus name,
We pray.
Amen and Amen.
| We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, |
Pat Baxter: "I love the passion God gives us to do mission. After 33 years of ordained ministry I am more in love with God than ever. My latest passion is to learn to paint the beauty that God has given us." (Pat serves as the Ministry Secretary of General Assembly)
