Treasure in Clay

But we have these treasures in jars of clay to show the all-surpassing power is from God and not from us (2 Corinthians 4:7, NIV).

My demitasse decorated with oranges and blues and highlighted in gold had once been mere dirt, molded, painted and fired specifically to hold Turkish coffee. After I drank my coffee this morning, I noticed the cup had a hairline fracture. It held the coffee just fine, but an almost invisible line reminded me I had dropped it in the sink yesterday.

Though I enjoy these pretty cups, my most important reason for holding, washing, and trying to keep them safe is to enjoy my coffee. Coffee with Scripture. Coffee with my husband or with other loved ones. It's the coffee that's important to me!

Like the clay pots in this verse, we were designed by God to hold amazing treasure. We've been hit by life: divorce, financial shortfalls, wayward children, health surprises, untimely death. The fracture lines they bring are actually occasions for us to discover God's amazing power. No other power is more powerful, even though we might reel with pain. God's Spirit, present and more powerful, transforms each trauma if we let Him. What we thought would have killed us, made us better.

Because the presence of Jesus Christ transforms each trauma, we can still carry the rich tasting, robust smell of God's power. We could have been thrown away or set on a back shelf, but the One who has the power to transform works in us, revealing more and more of God's glorious power.

That's clearly not our own doing.

For Your Consideration

Read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 4:6-9.

How have you found God's power greater than your traumas, helping you heal?

What helps you experience  Christ's transforming presence when life gives you a jolt? What keeps God's presence at bay at such times?

Will you rejoice in God's desire to indwell you, His treasured vessel?

Alice: Sharing New Life

"Did you see that lady?" my sister-in-law asked as the slim, gray haired woman went through the food line?

I asked to be excused from my volunteer work at the church's food booth. Business was slow and I was intrigued when I heard how she had spent her day.

Offering to take her food to her table, I introduced myself. I shared my admiration that she would spend a hot day at the county fair handing out pieces of Good News at the Gideon booth.
Alice's face lit up when I asked why she chose to do that.

She had been raised in Boston by parents who were caught up in the social scene. Her unitarian father thought Jesus was an illegitimate man, and her main faith input was a grandmother who read her Psalms and prayed for her. Before age 30, she had 3 active children, a husband who was often absent with work, and many socialite friends--all of whom were not enough to stifle the nagging suspicion that there was more to life.

That is, until she met Lois.

Lois had rediscovered her Christian upbringing in a way that was exciting and vital. After their children were in bed, they would talk by phone and Lois would share scriptures with Alice. At first, she was offended to hear that she (along with everyone else) was a sinner. But later she discovered and treasured Ephesians 2:8-9. No matter how hard she tried to be a good person, it wouldn't be enough. God had a better way, and He'd already opened the door for her to have true life.

In a Bible Study, honest discussion watered and sprouted Alice's faith. Years passed as her faith grew tall and her relationship with God changed from vague and intellectualized to robust and vibrant.
At first, her husband thought she was crazy, but her new serenity intrigued him. He, too, eventually came to accept Christ's invitation to a transformed life.

Widowed now, with grown children who had themselves discovered new life through Christ, it was Alice's joy to share the treasure she had found. Though stamina and social networks had changed, God's love was just as relevant. As she shared her story, her brown eyes sparkled with life.
Those tracts were maps so others could discover it too.

No More Apathy

Do you remember the last time you purchased a Bible? If you live in the west, you probably perused the bookstores and the internet, asked your friends which study Bible they preferred, prayed over your decision, thumbed through the pages, and finally purchased the one you chose.

We take that process for granted. We western Christ followers still have easy access to the best seller in the world. But its life giving words are not so easily accessible to many--including those hated for following Jesus.

Sadly, in our politically correct world, we've backed off sharing life-giving words because of fear of offense. Or some other hurdle. All the while this treasure sits in our homes (sometimes in our hearts), begging to be released to accomplish God's purpose to bless many.

Easy access has borne apathy.

We have a different sense of urgency when we have five Bibles on our shelves as opposed to a smuggled sheet torn from one Bible shared among underground Christ followers.

Instead of apathy, let's ask God for a renewed urgency to share the difference Christ makes.

God says NOW. Now is the time of God's favor. Now is the day of salvation. (See 2 Corinthians 6:2)

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Read 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 in its larger context.

What is the day of salvation? How are you involved?

Truth and Consequence

My people will be destroyed, because they have no knowledge. (Hosea 4:6, NCV)



These are not the people in my story

Before Pope Francis was selected, I watched a TV interviewer ask people on the street their opinions about the new pope.

I was amazed at the ease in which people pontificated about the yet unelected pope. When asked followup questions, they spoke into the roving mike with ease and confidence.

But they were deluded. They spoke glibly with no understanding. There was no new pope--yet.

I hate to admit ignorance. I'm sure they did too. Or perhaps, they didn't even know they were ignorant!

Whatever the cause, their actions challenged me to take another look at myself.

Is it more important to make a good impression or to speak the truth? Is it more important to take another person's opinion as valid or do the hard work of digging for the facts?

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Read Habbakuk 2:6 in context.

Is there an area in your life in which you might need information? 
Would you be willing to search the scriptures while asking the Author of Truth to inform, instruct and give you wisdom?
What other other sources might you need to research?
What action will you take?

Out of the Saltshaker

God's Spirit was with us as we took a personal look at "Being Transformed through Sharing Faith" last Saturday.

I highly recommend Out of the Salt Shaker and Into the World by Rebecca Manley Pippert. It is an extremely practical gift to help you face and overcome your fears. Full of practical examples, you will observe many possibilities and explore how you can grow in confidence in sharing the Good News you've found. It also has questions for group study in the appendix--another practical tool.

Thank you to readers who prayed for us that day. We will discover one day how those prayers impacted eternity.

I never lead a retreat or speak unless I've asked a group of people to pray for me, because when we pray according to God's will, I KNOW He hears us. And, since that's the case, I know He greatly blessed those women with a refreshed urgency to share God-words, marrying them with the good deeds.

I also want to lift up Ed Silvoso's Prayer Evangelism as another great tool. The reminder is that we pray and become sensitive to God's holy nudgings before we say anything. Talk to God about your neighbors before you talk to your neighbors about God!

There are many good tools available. There's a resurgence of interest--finally--in obeying the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). It's time. It's past time, yet the Lord is patient. Let's not waste His favor.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Read 2 Cor 5:11-21 and listen for the Spirit's alerts. What do you discern?

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (verse 20).

What is Christ's appeal through you?

Transformed Through Sharing Faith - Women's Seminar

Women's Seminar- Saturday, April 27th, 9 am to 3 pm.

Poor examples and distorted expectations often undermine our confidence in sharing our faith. "Transformed Through Faith Sharing" will examine the Great Commission, the role of the Spirit's enablement, and common fears.

Besides spiritual and emotional refreshment, you will leave with practical ways to overcome your identified fears and share your faith.

This women's seminar will be held at Cross-Wind United Methodist, 616 N State Road 25, Logansport, Indiana on Saturday, April 27th, 9 am to 3 pm.

Your registration of $39 includes a healthy and delicious lunch catered by Rob & Angie McMinn. We invite you to get a group of friends and come sharpen your skill as a disciple of Jesus Christ for the transformation of your world!

Groups of 5 or more pay $29 each if registered together and prepaid by April 20th.

Please send your name, address/email, phone, church affiliation, and checks payable to Paula Gast, 5801 Trinity Road, Muncie, IN 47304. For groups, please send in one envelope with info for each person. Thank you.

 Please contact Paula Gast through transformingword@sbcglobal.net if you have further questions.

 

The Morning After

My only regret yesterday was that I ate too much desert.

But I was with family, and we laughed around the table. Earlier, my pastor reminded me about the overcoming Christ who gave His life blood for me and the rest of humankind.

For me, He died; for me, He lives!

In a time of increasing skepticism and biblical ignorance, I get to view the story of the resurrection with fresh eyes. I can ask the Lord to disturb the numbing that can come with familiarity or ignorance.

Lord Jesus, my Savior, deliver me from dullness of heart or imagination. Infuse faith into familiarity and give me joy from freshly discovering the power of Your cross and resurrection.

My best words lack the eloquence Your eternal gift evokes. Build on our recent celebrations of Your resurrection and live on in us with resurrection power.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3, NIV)

With your Easter celebration still fresh in your mind, take a look at your life and the mind scrambling evidence of Christ's resurrection.

So what?