Clay Pots

"But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." Isaiah 64:8

As very young girls we three sisters learned to iron. Thanks to mother, who would diligently teach us the importance of caring for our clothes so elegantly. Tammy was an excellent student. I would sit and watch her iron her clothes. She would spray starch her dress pants and iron a perfect crease in each of them. I was in awe of her ability.

Our mother loved to iron and even offered her services to some of our neighbors who did not care for that certain chore. I could not wait until I was old enough or tall enough to begin the arduous practice of manning the hot iron.

I remember the day like it was yesterday when mother called me into the laundry room. She had the ironing board all set up, lowered to my height, and had a few of my daddy's handkerchiefs stacked and ready for my first lesson. I have to say it went very well. I exceeded her expectations. I took those wrinkled pieces of cloth and starched, smoothed and pressed all the wrinkles free. They were beautiful, pristine white masterpieces. I knew my daddy would be so happy. I mean he probably would have been fine with them wrinkled but it made him proud to carry the neatly folded ones he knew I had worked so hard on.

God is the same way. We are a lump of unformed clay and He takes us into His potter's hand.

He calls us into His presence. Gal. 4:6

He smooths our rough edges. Col. 1:13

He loves us into submission of His will. Prov.3:12

He leads and guides and forms us; just as His plans are for us. Prov. 4:11

Sure it only takes a few minutes to make the wrinkles in a piece of clothing disappear when It takes God our lifetime to make us into a beautiful work of art, but oh what a vision He must see when His work is done! He loves us just as we are when He calls us, but He begins His good work in us until we are Kingdom ready. He is so proud to call us His own!

"Bless be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!" Psalm 68:19

I love you & He loves you more!

Father, Mold me and make me. May I be obedient to Your cares and concerns in my life to make me exactly the way You see me. Amen.