"You are making me new, You have made me new."

So I went. To my friend's church. So glad I did. I normally would have to really toss the idea around and convince myself that it was ok to go down by myself and sit and enjoy God's Word to me, and worship Him. Remembering that I can come as I am.

The Pastor had a really great sermon tonight.

In the clay process, we start out as mud. There is clay in it, but have to get the mud out, right? Then after that Christ begins to mold us, form us, shape us. And we get excited, because we feel Christ forming us and smack-dab in His hands. Then we get set aside. This is the stage where we seem to think this is wrong. Where we as clay start talking, like, "What is going on, what have I done where are You God?!" But in reality.........

being set aside is apart of the process, and that is ok.

To dry.

Then we go through the fire. This perhaps can be the hardest part. This is the stage where God brings in sanctification and setting us apart for His service. I've been through the fire, the purging of sin and my way of life that I had. It was hard, by no means easy. Along with that I had oppression and God was with me through it all. He gave me people to talk to and pour everything out to. This can be different fires, marriages, bankruptcy, losing a job, anything. Christ is just getting rid of or helping or preparing us for His work. This, as clay, is when we say, "I don't like that, ouch, that hurts."

Then He thinks about glaze and paint and puts a color on, maybe He didn't want that color so He picks another and sends us through the fire again, and again, constant renewal. Lamentations 3:22-23.

Then when we are done, we are BEAUTIFUL!

And ready to go back and work, serve, and serve the mud.

WAIT?! WHAT? SERVE THE M-U-D?!

Didn't I come from there, just came from there, just purged of my sin or healed from my marriage and God You want me to go and help the same or "the least of these?" Can't I just sit back and enjoy my new life, no worries?

We can enjoy the new life or newness, we will have worries, we will mess up, but I know we were made to serve. Mt.28:20.

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How easy it is to forget. Or to "slip back into the old grooves of evil." Or do things we've been healed from, or sin, or mess-up, be late, whatever.

Isn't that His love though?

Can't the glaze represent also the sin we get smudged, cracked, or dusted upon our new pot handles? And He has to renew us again and again? Isn't that His faithfulness and His GREAT PROMISE?!

I want to cling to that. It is a great hope to know and learn that Christ is never done with us until He returns. Phillippians 1:6.

What a brand new thing. You're beautiful!

Jesus, help me cling to this truth, and remember it is Your hearts desire to continue making me new, no matter what, help me be better. in Your grace and Name we pray and believe, Amen.

TRUTH!

Listen My Beloved...

"I knew what I was getting into when I called you. I knew what I was getting into when I said your name, but I said just the same. I knew what I was getting into when I chose you. I knew what I was getting into and I still like you. I knew what I was getting into and I still WANT YOU!"

Still chose you.
Still like you.
but I said it just the same.
Want you.

"I am not shocked, by your sin, by your weakness, I am not shocked by your brokenness."

Not shocked. by your sin, weakness, brokenness.

"Because only I can see the end from the beginning, and I only I can see where this is going, and I see in you the seeds of love, and the seeds of strength. When all you see is your failure, and pit of shame, I can see deeper than that, I know you better than, better than that."

I can see deeper than that.
Seeds of love.
Seeds of strength.

"You're only at the beginning you've just begun, and I can see where you're going, and all you can see is your hurtin, and your achin........but listen,"

"I knew what I was getting into when I called you, I knew what I was getting into when I said your name, but I said it just the same."

"Just don't give up, don't give in! If you don't quit, you'll win, you'll win. Everything, is in My Hands, it's going to be alright, it's going to be ok."

Everything is in My Hands.

"You don't have to pretend to be someone you're not, because I know you better than better than that. but Listen My Beloved,

I knew what I was getting into when I called you. I knew what I was getting into when I said your name, but I said it just the same, I knew what I was getting into and I still want you, I knew what I was getting into. "I knew what I was getting into, AND I STILL CHOSE YOU! I knew what I was getting into and I still LIKE YOU!"

Beloved, listen. to My truth, and live in it.

I love you with all that I AM,

Jesus.

Song above from Misty Edwards.