Thursday, October 8, 2009

In The Potter's Hands

Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn't talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, "Why did you shape me like this?"
(Romans 9:20, the Message)

"But by the grace of God I am what I am..."
(I Corinthians 15:10, TNIV)

For we are God’s masterpiece...
(Ephesians 2:10, NLT)

17 comments:

P Nancy said...

Stepping out into the deep..

Jeff and I are watching the Animal Planet...the life that lurks in the deep waters are "transparent"

The deeper we go, the more transparent we become...

Deeper into the water...deeper until I'm under Healing water flow and over take us!

Can't stop thinking about the Potter's wheel..Thanks Bishop!

P Nancy~

River said...

Spin that wheel Potter.
Mold me
Transform me
Shape me
But most of all
Love me
Stamp your seal of Perfection on me
May I never question where I really came from
You gave me life
Not once but twice
Visions and dreams You put in me
A heart of passion to serve
Hands that are ready to be used
A word from You to share
A song to sing
A poem to relay
Arms to comfort
Legs to walk back and forth to watch over those who need me
In our special place I dance for You and You alone
Rejoicing in the life You gave me
from the wheel

Anonymous said...

Melissa Geter said...

"But by the grace of God I am what I am...." thanks Bish

Anonymous said...

John Wanza said...

Bishop, The Potter's Hands? Adding my Amen to your statment. The Potter is God at his Sovereign best. He can do what ever he wants to do, when and how he wants to do it...

Anonymous said...

Adding this picture to this scripture made it so profound for me. Like I just got it for the first time. God doesn't make mistakes.

Thanks Bishop,
Debra M.

Anonymous said...

Change my heart O God
Make it ever true
Change my heart O God
May I be like You

You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray

Lord, while you are changing my heart
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your Salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me (Ps.51:10-12)

For He is glory, and Worthy of all of our Praises.

Concerns heart

Anonymous said...

Bish-- YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT PERFECT TIMING IT IS THAT YOU POSTED THIS....

I'm BELIEVING and TRUSTING that every single thing in my life is working for my good....He is great no matter what....

I don't know what I would do without CITN and to be able to daily come to a place (BITN) and receive peace if I need it... How does everyone else in the world make it without this place?!?!

Anonymous said...

Keith Mitchell said...

But we all do it all the time. What a shame.

Anonymous said...

Kevin Cecil said...

I know God has it all in control, but I find the more I question God the more He shows me how messed up my thinking really is, religion robbed me for so many years. It is great now to not feel guilty for questioning God. I know this is probably not what u meant but when I studied questioning God I found Abraham did it and so did Jesus. I am not contradicting what you are saying though just sharing my own experience. Love & respect your ministry tremendously!

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks, Kevin...actually, I'm not saying anything...just posting what Paul said...and you're right about Abraham and Jesus (even others) questioning God...I specifically posted these Scriptures because of something I taught at church Wednesday night about not questioning the Potter's design in making you the way He made you...it was more about accepting and embracing your unique personal identity, and about being patient in the realization that the Potter's wheel is still spinning...keep questioning everything...it's how we find truth...peace...

Anonymous said...

Kevin Cecil said...

I can't wait to hear it. Loved your message "yes be yes" I fell like I found a breath of fresh air when I heard about you and Kelley Varner!

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks...let me also say that my response to your comment was not meant to refute Keith's sentiment...you both are really talkng about two different things...you can question God all the time and still trust Him by faith when you don't get the answers you seek...

SCRIBE said...

Re: "In the Potter's Hands"

The Word of the Lord...

There is a shedding off, chiseling away, and shattering of useless vessels. So, must I start from scratch? I- the Lord of Hosts am starting again with fresh clay, adding water as necessary, and carefully molding and sculpting pots and containers of fortitude and power. These such vessels are not truly built to last and sustain minimal damage until they have been placed in the fires / ovens / kilns of life under intense pressure and heat, sometimes set in the sun to soak up the atmospheric elements at work, then placed upon high shelves for a while. And according to the specific work / works that I have fashioned them for, they are selected and sent to different environments to be filled with whatever is necessary to meet / suit the needs of those in that surrounding area.

Some shall be used to carry water, others to store supplies of oil and grain, others to be used as cooking pots, some wine jugs, etc. I- the Lord Almighty have chosen how My Vessels are to be used; the vessels do not get to decide where they will or will not be sent based on their own likes, dislikes, comforts, and proclivities. For though they may be fine, sturdy vessels at best, they may not prove useful in environments of their own making. I AM the Lord Almighty, so RIGHT NOW I say: "BE FILLED WITH MY GRACE, MERCY, WISDOM, and LOVE for maximum effectiveness in any arena that I place you in! Therefore, as I have done the molding, sculpting, and creating, I shall also send My People on the appropriate missions according to My Perfect Plan, Design, and those whom are to be served and benefited, from glory to Glory Everlasting...

Shout Hallelujah! for I- the Lord of Hosts am always on time. Simply say YES, THANK YOU LORD, as I lead the way and place / position whosoever needs to be wherever I deem best.

Amen...Amen.

Unknown said...

Bishop, BEAUTIFUL "centering" message on Wednesday...wow...that's going in my "fave 6" arsenal [my car has 6 cd slots]

I checked out some youtube videos on wheel-thrown pottery last night and noticed this:

--"centering" the clay on the wheel was the most difficult for the potter, requiring more pressure and strength while the clay roughly battered his hands. But once that was accomplished...just the slightest pressure or adjustment created incredible changes in seconds.

--preparing the clay to be put on the wheel was brutal: pounding and squashing and kneading and then only the correct amount was cut off and placed on the wheel for the particular piece the potter wanted to make.

--an interesting technique for restoring basic clay that came from the supplier a little too hard...pierce the block with hundreds of holes, fill the holes with water, cover and wait overnight. Voila! Pliable clay.


Shout out to Kevin, I was pondering posting a re-phrase on that same phrase--so now I'll wait for BibleInTheNow's version--(smile)!

Larry Usher said...

Indeed a great message the other night Bish! The Potter and His work. Sometimes the Potter has to crush the hardened pieces of shapes His vessels have already tried to form themselves into- returning them to a pliable form. This does not feel good to the vessel of course, but is necessary to produce the original intent of the Potter.
I do love the thought that the Potter gets His hands all covered in our "clay" as He works on us, thereby creating an intimacy between the two.

Anonymous said...

The following e mail is as good an example of being in the Potters hands as is current. This brings a sense of destiny as a child of God being the same as a peacemaker to the forefront of thought. What a day to be a patriotic American that loves Christ.


John --

This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that throughout history the Nobel
Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Izumi/JOY said...

VINTAGE WASH - The irregularities and variations of shading and texture are characteristic of this fabric, adding to its natural beauty, and are in no way to be considered defective.

Pulled this off the tag of a retro T-shirt and laughed to God, "I'm gonna apply it to this post!"