Not only is He our Creator filled with compassionate and kindness, He is All-powerful, Almighty, a Warrior, and King of Kings.
It’s good to remember He alone has ALL authority on Heaven and on Earth. No one can match Him! That’s our Jesus – the One who loves us more than we can fathom. Amen!
The Potter is at His wheel. All around His workroom, heavenly beings wait in expectation of the Masterpiece. Some sing in Holy languages that interweave with His words of prophesy, purpose, and love. Their songs infuse the clay with unique gifts, peace, and immense value. An impartation of Himself. Holy. Supernatural. Mystery.
His workroom is sacred. Nothing enters without His permission. Each lump of clay is precious. The Potter knows the exact purpose, place, and circumstance for each vessel He creates, and not a thing is left out, forgotten, or rushed. The Triune Potter is intentional, specific, and perfect. Every jar created reflects the time, attention, and deep love He holds for it. His vision for each jar comes to life under His masterful hands, as the scars He knew He would bear for His creation brush up against me and you.
The roughness of His scars creates slight imperfections in the clay, which are intentional and beautiful to the Potter. He permits cracks and crevices, nooks and crannies that to human eyes are faults and defects. Not to Him. These cracks and broken spots allow others to get a glimpse of Him through us. We are permeated with Him; His breath, His love, and His peace; all the unique gifts that He placed in us. Through our chips and oddities, others who are searching for Him, who may have lost their way, or are traveling in the dark, will see His Light seeping out through our chinks and nooks as a beacon of hope and rest. Opportunities to allow Him to speak through us and offer compassion, acceptance, and peace to a weary fellow traveler. May others do this for us when we find ourselves lost and in need of Light and Hope. The beauty of a broken vessel.
Corinthians 4:7 NLT “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.”
Photo Credit: Connor Scott McManus
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”
Jesus is right there with you in whatever storms are brewing on the horizon or that are already surrounding you.
Can you hear Him speaking to your heart even now? “Peace, be still.”
He will never leave you or forsake you. He stays. In the calm, in the peace, in the joy, and through the storms, the heartbreak, and chaos.
With a word, a glance, a brush of His robe the storm is stilled, fear is silenced, and worry is blanketed with His unending peace.
Whisper His name. He’s got you. Even the wind and waves obey Him.
I love the imagery in this verse .The Lord is my cup of blessing.
When I imagine a cup, I immediately think of my favorite coffee mug. It’s familiar, comforting, filled with something warm and soothing that makes me happy. It feels peaceful and safe.
Of course Jesus is SO much more than a mere coffee mug, but He is comforting, safe, and soothing. He delights in bringing joyful, happy, lovely things into our lives to help soothe and comfort us when life blindsides us, wounds us, and we walk in seasons that are overwhelming and so tiring.
Walking with Him and being in His presence is the true blessing. That He loves us enough to give us even more is an undeserved, yet beautiful kindness.
He guards all that is ours and draws a boundary around what He’s given us. Those we love are guarded, protected, and hemmed in. We can let go of the fear and exhaustion of trying to control and manipulate life and circumstances to keep our loved ones safe. He’s got them. They are safely tucked up into the folds of His robe. He knows what He’s doing. We can breathe out, let our shoulders settle, and allow the joys from His cup of blessing to pour over us – healing, delighting, and comforting.
Photo credit: Tom Fisk
I don’t know what you have on your plate today, but I do know that Jesus is right there with you.
He’s your stronghold, comforter, warrior, healer, provider, mender of broken hearts, and your best friend. He intimately knows every situation you are facing.
Just say His name. Ask for His presence and His help. He hears you. No need for long-winded, big-worded monologues. He’s with you and He’s already working things out, making things right, and putting people and things in their proper place.
If you can’t see it or feel it right now, that’s okay. I pray that hope and trust wrap you up tightly, speaking the exact words you need directly to your heart.
Life is unpredictable. We go into each day not knowing what is waiting for us. Will that prayer finally be answered, will that hard conversation go the way we want it to, will this health issue be resolved, can we just get some peace, will our loved one be safe?
Right in the center of this unpredictability is Jesus. He’s good, steadfast, true, and omnipotent. He has everything concerning you well taken care of.
The chaos that swirls and looks for a way into our hearts is held at bay when we reach out and take His hand. Fear must bow, anxiety must quiet, control must release its vise grip.
The lovely, gentle, glimmering thread of Hope that binds us to Jesus is protected and cherished. It can’t be broken or snipped by the vagaries of life. It is our strong and holy connection to the heart of Jesus.
Hope trusts that He’s got you, will never leave you, is always with you. You can’t be snatched up.
The holy, sacred, mysterious thread of Hope is tethered in His power, compassion, and deep love which cannot be taken away.
As you go about your morning routine today, remember that Jesus is there with you. He loves to hear your voice and gather you close to His heart.
Talk to Him. Lay all that weighs heavily on you at His feet. He already knows all the things vying for your attention and the stress it causes. Allow yourself time to just be and let it all wait a bit, as you renew and refresh your mind, body, and spirit in the presence of God. It’s healing. It’s holy. It’s good.
You are enough and He has equipped you to handle what will come your way with His strength, wisdom, and compassion. You are loved. Peace be with you.
Jesus smiling at me… When I slow down and let the image come to me, it is breathtaking.
A smile from another human shows acknowledgement. I am seen. The space I occupy is recognized and validated. And sometimes the smile is genuine, friendly, and true.
But, the smile of Jesus’ face shining on me takes it to a whole new level. There is no ulterior motive, social politeness, underhanded intentions, or false friendliness. He isn’t buttering me up before asking something of me, or figuring out what He can get from me at no cost to Himself.
His face full of kindness, empathy, and wisdom. He knows all of me. The ick, the good, and all the in-between and He still smiles at me. Accepts me. I’m seen, I’m noticed, I’m wanted, and sought out. The delight in being with me shows in His eyes – the way people’s eyes light up at the sight of one that they love, but on a much deeper level.
He isn’t seeking what He can get from me. He’s seeking me out. He wants to bless me, protect and provide for me. His smile reminds me that I’m loved beyond what I can understand just for who I am.
In His smile, there is healing and hope. I feel safe. His smile shining on me is powerful. The One who’s footstool is the Earth, the One who’s name is the foundation of all life, the One who is Warrior and Good Shepherd looks at me, and He looks at you, and smiles. He is gentle and fierce, kind and wise, Creator and King. He smile of His face shines on us because He delights in us.
When I envision the Lord being my shield, it transforms how I imagine myself walking through this day of unknowns.
I think we are often completely unaware of the pitfalls, near misses, and battles going on around us that we are protected from daily. The Lord shields us from so much.
The fender bender that ruins our day, makes us late, and costs us money…did the Lord shield us from something far worse?
The random encounter with an unsavory stranger that left us shaken…did the Lord block the evil intentions that could have gone a different and terrible way?
The beautiful and precious time spent with Him that was uninterrupted…did He shield us from distractions so we could be filled up, loved on, and encounter Him?
This verse really spoke to me. It’s been a hard around here lately. We’re tired and rough around the edges. I wonder what else Jesus has shielded us from?
I am so grateful that the Lord of Heaven, Prince of Peace, and King of Kings sees me and chooses to shield me and lift my head when the harder days come. It’s a beautiful and comforting thing to be seen and deeply loved by Jesus. He loves you, too. Peace be with you.
A divine song was created just for you.
As the Creator spoke you into being, crafting every nuance of personality, eye color, and skin tone He sang over you as He put the finishing touches on His Masterpiece. He called you good, cherished, beloved, worthy. His child.
The song He sang swelled and flowed into your spirit infusing the tiniest parts of you with each note. It’s holy, mysterious, and unique. There is no other song like it – heavenly breath poured out over you, calling into being what wasn’t, into the divine purpose and plan He has just for you. There is no one like you. You are needed.
On an ordinary morning, as the sun rises over the hilltops you hear your song in the way the birds sing that one note that brings you such joy. Intentional.
You catch wisps of your song in the way the afternoon breeze shushes and sighs in the top of the Redwood trees – nature singing to you the very song He breathed into you. Peace.
On a dark summer evening the crackling and snapping of the campfire gentles your mind as your song fills you with safety. Rest.
The wild and fierce crashing of ocean waves onto rocks brings deep feelings of connection and reminders of His unrelenting love that follows after you always. You are seen.
Listen as you go about your days, in the sacred and the ordinary moments, for nature singing your song. He is everywhere and He is always with you. He causes creation to sing His love song to you and refreshes you with breezes that call to your spirit. Deep calls to deep as He sings to you in the silence when there are no words to speak. It is sacred. Mysterious, divine, holy.
Extravagant Hope 