" JARS OF CLAY "
(Something to think about...)
(Author Unknown)
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table.
(Something to think about...)
(Author Unknown)
A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table.
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.
So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws.
Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength, and that "In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes".
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."( Matthew 5:3 NIV)
" A LEGACY Of LOVE "
And said they needed help
Would you stop and help them?
Or say "I don't have time"?
If someone came to you, thinking suicide
Would you tell them how much God loves them?
Or would you pass them by?
If someone came to you, with cuts on their arms
Would you ignore their pain?
Or explain to them that Jesus can heal their scars?
People out there are lonely
They don't know what to believe
They've been hurt, abused and broken
They need friends like you and me.
Someone who will accept them, just the way they are
Someone who won't reject them, because of all their scars.
Jesus said to be like Him, and follow in His path
He'd be the outcast's friend
If someone said they needed Him, He wouldn't even ask.
He'd welcome them with open arms
And accept and love them as they are.
So next time someone comes to you
And says that no one cares
Explain to them that God is real,
Explain to them He's there.
Because He loves you unconditionally
He'll never leave your side
He'll be there catching every tear, every time you cry...
" Let us Love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action."(1 John 3:18)
" For where your treasure is, there your Heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)
" What we do in life echoes in eternity."
" Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only what you are expecting to give."
" Life is more accurately measured by the lives you
touch than the things you acquire."
" When you add value to others, you do not take anything away from yourself."
