“But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it will be evident that such overwhelming power comes from God, and not from us.”  2 Corinthians 4:7

This is such a simple verse, but it’s pretty profound.  We hear all the time that we are jars of clay, fashioned to do the work of God; however, this is another side to the clay.  If we were made of something other than clay, say metal or iron or even porcelain, then it wouldn’t be obvious that the things in our lives that happen are from God.  If we were made of iron or metal, then we could say (or others might think) that the miraculous things happen as a result of our own power and strength.  Conversely, if we were made of porcelain, then it could be claimed that the miraculous things happen because we are beautiful or well-made.

But clay pots are simple.  Even when they’re painted and decorated, there’s still a simplicity and delicateness about them.  They’re not always the ones to stand out, but they are useful and are used for everyday tasks, for serving, and for storing.  In the same way, we serve others, we carry the Holy Spirit in us, and God uses us for everyday tasks.  Our strength comes from God, and the overwhelming power given, can only come from from Him!

shadow (credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zedzap/)

In a brief departure from the I Am series, I wanted to write about something I read today.  A woman on Skip Moen’s site said that those who abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91) can run at Goliath because the Almighty God follows immediately behind his shadow.  What a great image for us!  We who shelter under His shadow have the comfort of knowing that He who casts that shadow is immediately behind it and us!  It’s not some random stray shadow that got away and we’re hanging out under it, like under a cloud.  It’s like my shadow.  Where I go, it goes because it’s attached.  As long as I stay in His shadow He is right behind me or right in front of me!  Now, that’s an awesome image!

Glamdring – Foe-Hammer (credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcassaa/)

I am more than a conqueror.

Romans 8:37

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

We shrink from war and battle in today’s society.  It’s not a war against terror, no mention of strikes or maneuvers, on the outside chance we offend or seem too harsh.  We are bred for pacificity, not peace or war.  But we are strong warriors in Christ!  We don’t just kinda conquer, we overwhelmingly conquer the enemy!  That should make us want to grab our swords, take a battle stance, and start hacking away at the enemy’s kingdom!

A strong arm with shield held high
A strong hand with sword wielded skillfully
A strong mind to plot the enemy’s demise
A strong heart to take courage and endure
Strong feet to stand firm and strong
Created to conquer
No longer content to stand by
No longer willing to watch
Stride confidently
Win overwhelmingly
No shrinking back
No fear
For our God is greater
Our God is stronger
Our God is a mighty commander
And His army has already won the battle!

* Incidentally, the sword in the picture is a replica of Glamdring, the sword carried by Gandalf in The Hobbit.  It is called “Foe-Hammer” and “The Beater” by its enemies.

Psalm 25:4-5

Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow.  Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.

This is my prayer today.  Our Inaugural Green Gala  is next weekend and that slight feeling of panic is setting in.  It’s come so fast and there is SO much left to do…  And I probably don’t know the half of it since I’m not really all that much in the know.  I want to know the path I should walk, the things I should do and focus on, to be most effective and to be where God wants me in His plan.  My hope is in Him because this task seems insurmountable.  I had a pastor who one said that if I can do the job on my own, it’s not big enough.  God has the opportunity to shine when we are overwhelmed and the task seems impossible.  He is the God of the impossible.

So, God, I lift up this event to you.  We’re too small to do it alone.  Only You have the knowledge and resources needed to get this school off the ground.  Please put us on the right path, with eyes to see where you have put the resources we need and ears to hear when you direct us towards a person.  I will trust in You because You alone are God, and this is a dream you’ve planted in our hearts.  Thank you that we can trust you and put our hope in You, and you never fail.

2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.  Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I both like this verse and dislike it.  I like it because it shows God’s strength and how He compensates for my weakness.  I like to know that my weakness serves a purpose and allows His power and grace to shine through.  I like that His favor is enough to get me through.  I don’t know if I could say, like Paul, that I am content with my weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities.  It’s hard to be content in those situations.  I don’t know that he’s saying we have to be content, but knowing that they are used by God and for God’s good should help me to be content.

Here’s my thought.  You always hear that the Bible says we must be content in all things.  I don’t know if it says that somewhere else, but it doesn’t actually say that here.  It’s just Paul saying that he has learned to be content.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that it’s not a good thing.  If my troubles allow God to work good into my life than I should be thankful that they count for something and aren’t just random chance.  That would certainly be discouraging.  But since they serve a purpose, I can find solace and comfort and learn to push through.

I also like how he states that in his weakness, he is strong.  He is weak because he’s human and frail and still in a fallen body.  But he’s strong because God works through Him, using his weakness to mold him to His purposes.  Through Paul’s weakness, God accomplished amazing things and touched the lives of hundreds (if not thousands) of people.  I like that.  It’s nice to know that even though I am not perfect and even though I struggle through life right now and even though things don’t always seem to go my way, God is strong and is glorified through my weaknesses because it gives Him the opportunity to do awesome things.  And that’s pretty cool.

2 Corinthians 1:21

It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ…

I’m having a day, or series of days, where nothing really jumps off the page at me.  I read lots of things that I’ve read before or that are things that I know about and believe.  It just feels a little blah.  However, that’s me, not God’s Word.  I think that’s one of the hard things about having read something before.  It’s easy to read it and think “I already know that.”  But God is renews every days and each morning there is more to know.  Sometimes I’m just a little slow.

Anyhow, this is the verse I focused on today.  It was a good reminder that sometimes it takes God’s strength to stand firm.  I teach in a public school, and many of the people I work with either don’t believe in God at all or think of him as an abstraction.  I’m good friends with some of them, and yet I’m often surprised at the things they support (like trying to get the ad with Tim Tebow and his mom taken out of the Super Bowl).  I tend to just lay low and try and live well.  But if it were to come to it, I hope God would give me strength to stand firm in my convictions and speak out for what I believe.  I’m not good at speaking my mind.  Just ask John.  But I’m learning.  Slowly.

Romans 16:25

God is able to make you strong, just as the Good News says. It is the message about Jesus Christ and his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time.

I’m thankful that God can make me strong because there are so many areas where I need strength today and every day.  Today I need strength to forgive and to love because I’m dealing with a situation where I’m expected to put someone first by someone who isn’t doing the very thing I’m supposed to do.  Confused?  That’s okay.  I’m just being a mom trying to protect her cubs.  Sigh.  I’m thankful for this situation because it’s making me more patient, and because when we finally have our own home, there are so many many things I will be grateful for.

I love this. It’s beautiful. No, it’s not full of pretty descriptions or flowery language, but if you think about the pictures it paints, there is such beauty there. We have a Creator who not only created the stars but calls them each by their own name. He checks to make sure not one single star is lost or strayed away. A god who cares that much about lifeless stars surely cares much more for the men and women He gave life to! You may love your house or your car or your diamond engagement ring or your HD TV or your computer, but if you have children, you love them infinitely more than all those things. He sees and hears everything I go through.

I also love the bits about giving strength to the weak. As a mommy to two children under two-years-old I know something about exhaustion… I love knowing that God has all the strength I need to get through one more early morning.

I can’t do anything to save myself except to return to and wait for God. The next part really hit me. Quietness and confidence is my strength. I so often think that action is strength. Doing things, being something. But, here it says quietness. “Be still and know that I am God.” Another translation says, “Be quiet…” Quietness means not telling God what to do, not rushing around trying to fix it; It’s letting go of control, surrendering, being still and quiet. That is so hard to do! Confidence is trusting God to be in control, that He made me exactly the way He wanted me to be, He knows what He is doing, and He will make it work out. By being confident that God has it well in hand, I can rest quietly and not squirm or mess things up with my meddling. This is strength because it’s harder to not do something sometimes than it is to do something. It takes strength to hold on and let God be God.