An Empty Pot

By LFJ

I am an empty pot.
Filled with water to the top.
That overflows on its own
But never needs to be known.
I am an empty pot filled with water
I am an empty pot
formed and shaped by wise hands.
formed and shaped to withstand
brought back from clay and dust I was
to be an empty pot.

What use is a pot I say that can hold no water
or is filled with so many things that It would rather not bother.
What use is fancy designs if water does not hold.
If things that placed inside just rattled in the mold.
What use is the empty pot that is full of greed and pride
What use an empty pot if when needed for use will hide.

Each time I fall or crumble I mold back to his hands
and then I am reshaped to a pot thats far more fine and grand.
To Take me to the oven and to set me to stand would not justify the
Mastery of the Potmaker or his glorious hands.

More Beautiful than Poetry

Today I sat with Bible in hand
pondering lifes moments and nature so grand
I thought about the way the world turns and
how fires dances and burns.

I thought about the wonder of created things.
Artistic and poetic it all seems.
I thought about life and the end of it.
I thought about God and the mystery of it.
I thought about pain, love, nightmares and dreams.

I thought alot and all answers came to dull end.
then luckily a friend came beakoned me in.
he opend the bible that sat upon my lap.
He opend wide pages of wisdom and song
He opened wide mysteries broken
He even gave me a Psalm.

More Beautiful than Poetry your Word is to me
More Beautiful than a waterfall or flowing stream
more Beautiful than the Sun Upon a Morning Dusk
More Beautiful than Elephants trampling with lifted tusk
More Beautiful that the universe in all its glory
More intriging than any written story
More Powerful in the world in all it's Glory
your Word is to me.

More Beautiful than any written word
Uncovering attitude, spirit and thought.
More Beautiful than all words can ever say
More real than Death and Life of Today.
More gripping than any old movie
More musical than songs from a Symphony
Your Word is to me.

So I thought all of these things will
Bible laid bare. As wind blew pages open
to mysteries I did not dare. To place I could not touch
To explain this world that I must live.
To know that I must for forgive just to live
To understand and love like my father did.
To me this word is more beautiful than any poetry.

-LFJ

My Gift to God This Christmas

"What can I give a God who has all?"
As Christmas is here, I sit down to think
He won't need socks, a bat or a ball
And certainly nothing all wrapped up in pink

I think of all the gifts and the toys
On sale at the shops for all to see
Everything imaginable for little girls and boys
But nothing so grand for a God such as He

I look at my Christmas tree all glittering gold
And red and green with fairy lights
With as many decorations as it can hold
To lighten my days and brighten my nights

But I find no answers there as I take it all in
And so I gaze at the presents spread under the tree
And I see one is missing; the one for Him
My heart cries out, "What shall I get thee?"

I've searched every shelf, looked high and low
I've driven everywhere, from the north to the south
I've gone to every shop but have nothing to show
When I realize I can give God the words of my mouth

For I remember some things that my Bible tells
About angels surrounding God's mighty seat
Each holding a beautiful golden bowl
filled with incense, smelling so sweet.

It's the prayers of the saints that fill those bowls
Prayers from people like you and me
The pleas of our hearts, the cries of our souls
And praise and worship from us to thee

And as I remember the gift of His Son
Jesus of Nazareth, born on Christmas Day
Of His purpose in life, our freedom He won
I know what to give; I know what to say

I give Him my thanks and all of my praise
I have so much to tell Him, so much to give
I can bless His heart in so many ways
Thats what I can offer, and how I should live.


_______________________________________________________________

"And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."
Revelation 5:8
"May my prayer be set before You like incense, may the lifting of my hands be like the evening sacrifice."
Psalm 141:2

My Awsome Family..Doing what we do best..Fellowshipping together! 

It's In the Valley I Grow

Sometimes life seems so hard to bear,
full of sorrow trouble and woe
It's then I have to remember
That it's in the valleys I grow.
If I always stayed on the mountain top
and never experience pain,
I would never appreciate God's Love
And would be living in vain.
I have so much to learn
and my growth is very slow,
Sometimes I need the mountain tops
But it's in the valleys I grow.
I do not always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I am very sure of one thing
My Lord will see me through
My little valleys are nothing
When I am feeling so very low
Just give me a gentle reminder
That's it's in the valleys I grow.
Continue to strengthen me, Lord
and use my life each day
To share your love with others
And help them find their way.
Thank you for valleys Lord
For this one thing I know
The mountain tops are glorious,
But it's in the valleys I grow!
-Unknown

Claiming Back our Positon of Authority

Vunerability
This is a great topic because so many times we feel like we open ourselves to others we share our pains our fears and when we do they use those things against us. It is a very difficult position to be in. Do we close ourselves up and never open again or do we simply let it hurt us inside until ulitmately we begin to change into something we would rather not?

Humanism and God Loves
Some people might say not to say anything to keep quiet and lip closed. However as a child or as children of God. God has given us a land an inhertance that which he has set apart for those whom he loves and cares for. He has given an appointed time and an appointed task. With this land we must loudly proclaim what indeed we are entitled. The world will try and convience you otherwise. Your not smart enough, thin enough, rich enough, driven enough. It will place labels that in most cases will stick but with God promises they can never stick. It will use humanistic quailites of love and understanding. It will project itself as caring when in fact it is simply waiting to strike.

Not of this World
You see we are not of this world. Aliens looking upon the world and seeing others who might think they see but they do not. Others attack people when they are down yet we tell others they love them. We use their most intimate of secrets and situations when they are in pain. They strike for the jugular and make them feel hopeless. God on the other hand is Hope. He is Joy and he is love. I write this becasue I have indeed been hurt in this way but I know others have also. It is good to know that people cannot judge us for what we have not done but only what we have. That when people speak against us that the vailidity of the statment must be in facts but it must also follow that they are God. In otherwords that what God has told you is in the Authority of God and noone else. That you are and will be that what the lord has made you to be. If you so want it to be. The action of doing making and creating your own future is still in the hands of the Lord either way.


Warriors
Our will to do it is another important thing. As people of God we must build up not break down show not yell. instruct not dictate. Love not smother. Lead not Prod. We must be understanding and try to give the benifit of doubt to all. Believing in the best and hoping for the best always. Yet the reality of it is that Christians are not weak and they are not to be walked over. Christians are warriors and the ideal that Christians are weak or guliable only comes from the example of those around them but not from the Bible.

A Skewed Vision
God is not about morals and about ideals or spiritual enlightenment or the better good or even what this world percieves as goodness. He is about Direction, correction, Love and Authority. He is our Father in heaven. The ideal that people have about Christians is indeed blured and skewed. The property of love comes from Christ whom we love but the action is one of power of taking the land destorying the Ammorties and claiming what is ours and allowing Gods Will and power in our lives. We must know that regardless of what we hear if we are indeed in Gods light that we are not touched by the squealing of the world. We in a sense are untouchable by the crying and the proding of others unless biblically sound argument is brought. We find solicate and protection in the fortress the Refuge that the Lord has given us. The Church but more importantly the hand of the Almighty whom embraces us. He is love very real, very strong, undying and not what people might always exspect. But might wish they had.

My old Nissan / Daustun 200SX..a Friend (Jason) of mine..Highly skilled in the graphic arts thought this would be funny...He was right. 

GOD'S NATIONS

I was inspired while doing some artwork for the Church website. I was working and the lord gave me this picture. I really don't think there is any need for an explaination. So many people in the world are looking for answers and looking for purpose when in fact the very purpose is to be of the Lords purpose. It is both freeing and enpowering to know and realize the Holy arm of God is in all The Nations, The World and essentially the placment of the stars the rotation of the universe and the very Body of Christ is upholding this nation in its praise and adoration unto him. In otherwords it starts with us the Body of Christ and people who seek to know him. A Childs prayers is powerful for this very reason. In this world we set the Best as being the ones in Front. Christ sees the meekest of voice he sees the weakest of child and being and make them strong in his power and in his glory. We must praise his holy name! We must give praise to his name for his is Lord and Savior of The Nation and the World. We are his inheritance. He desires and loves us. He wants to be part of our lives and our world. What more do we need to ask? His Hand is in all. His power is here and he has given us the ability to use it. Jesus Christ is Risen and Alive. Gods will and powerful hand is to all the ends of the earth. see his Glory not just his creation. Be enpowered, broken and cradeled in his arms. 

Hello..Howdy..GodBless and The Rest

How much we take the little things for granted. I know that I do and I have. So many times we forget how a simple hello, a simple email, phone call or even a letter to a friend, a relative is so important.

We live in a world which for the most part has no concern for others. A disregard for the space and for the privacy of others. A place that has a disregard for the peace of mind and for simple consideration.

 It is in our bones to seek what we want and what we need yet in our need is a need for people. It is a tug of war. One pulling against the other. Our desire to seek out our own desires yet have someone else admire them or hear them or see them. Yet in this tragedy which is indeed comedy we find that Our self centered-ness indeed leaves us out of the Loop for that which we desire  - Friends, companionship and fellowship. This is not a topic that needs scripture after scripture this one is simple. Love others as Christ has loved the church.

So many times we simply need to break away from from Me I and why? and go to You, We and Thy. In other-words away from the personal of I and to Them and god. Embodying this is not easy. Like mentioned before...We are apt to fall into seeking our own gratitude and our own pleasures we have to break from what we want and focus on the needs of others to be freed from this loss and ultimate tragedy of Self dependency, independence that ultimately leads to isolation and depression.

Gods love gives us freedom because we no longer rely on ourselves. But because we rely on him and in that set aside our desire to be heard and seen and ..well found. How many people out there feel that there is something special about you something that others maybe can't see. I know I have. And the scriptures say that the Lord has blessed all of his chosen with gifts and many times we have this fire to show but the fire winds up trampling over the people who are just like you. Seeking some kind of recognition. When we find that our recognition is in Christ we set down the bull horn and pick up our hands to help others to be seen.

It should be our desire daily to focus on the talents of others. We need to focus on the gifts of others pointing the fingers away from ourselves and building up those around us. This is the example to be shown so others might follow. The light of the way. Jesus never toted around as the great Miracle worker ...He was a humble son of God. He did not even manage his own money. He put it into the delegation of another. He could not even perform Miracles in his own home town in Mark due to the unfaithfulness of those around. In other-words...He was the reflection of living for others...as well as being accountable to them. Jesus was both a Savior and a Servant.

Many times we are happy being someones Savior because it puffs us up or makes us feel special but in being a servant we have to do things we usually would rather not do or at least have trouble finding ourselves doing. Many times I wonder why I have not written a very close family that is near and dear to my heart. I have not written to them in some time. Yet this blog is plastered with ideas...revelations and simple thoughts of God on my heart. Is it because I am far more interested in what it is I desire than in what others might need? I feel perhaps this is indeed the case.

We must open ourselves to be honest with ourselves. Question our every action or ever motive so that we can become better people in Christ so that his values shape us and allow us to actually be flexible and teachable. We must allow those values not put a shield up of "I am here not moving because I am right and that's all there is to it!"

I welcome in this Blog any comment. Correcting, Rebuking or any of the sort. I know I am not the answer and I know there is only one answer and that is Jesus. I write this in expression of expressing that which sometimes Is difficult for me to express in my life mainly because people won't listen to people talk as much as I do? :)  and the other because this is the place I come so that I might learn and not forget what God has told me. It keeps my bearing and even shows my most honest moments of ....Why do you? How come? Sure it is written and perhaps not always done in action this is indeed something we all face. But from the Thoughts and Mind are where our actions are birthed. I pray that in all that I am and will ever be. That simply I will be ever seeking his Glory even when my Glory is never seen.

In the end what does it matter? What does a blessing mean without someone to bless or what does prosperity mean if you cannot prosper in God? What does life mean if that life is simply striving and never living? or what does worship and adoration mean if not to be of something worship or adoration worthy? What vacation is important if peace is not found there? What love is there if love is not known by the one who brings love. What Good can be done without knowing the source of Good? What pain can be felt if we cannot feel the pain of others? What freedom is there if you live in the world that keeps borders and tradition? And what Relationship is there to God if you do not know him, seek him, worship him, speak to him and desire him. Our actions surly speak mightier than our words. (for my sake I must take that one to heart). For every thing said her is from me and I share it with you.

For what is desire if you cannot share it with others?