The Way To Go

 

 

Proverbs 22:6

⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

 

 

 

It's time for Jared to go.  He graduates this Sunday from Otterbein University in Columbus, Ohio. After eight ears of training in Musical Theater at Northeast School for the Arts and Otterbein, he is prepared for whatever God has for him.  The time has gone swiftly.  It has been a wild ride.  When you run with Jared you have to strap wheels onto your shoes.  From pregnancy on, I have been preparing for him to go. His training started at birth and over the years the word was embedded in his heart. I believe God's promise that what has been instilled in Jared will not be in vain.  Philippians 1:6 states being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Whether Broadway, film or television, God will continue to use that medium to mold and make him into his servant for His own Glory. I'm not just excited that Jared is ready to go, I'm comforted in this, Jared knows "The Way."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sound of Running Water

 

 

Ezekiel 43:2

² And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.

 

Revelation 1:15

¹⁵ His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

 

Revelation 14:2

² And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps.

 

Is this like unto the voice of God?  In the midst of incredible, lush foliage towering hundreds of feet toward the heavens, the rush of falling water took center stage.  The sound, powerful and deafening commanded my attention.  The soil was rich, the plants were gargantuan and the brush so thick you would need a machete to break through.  None of it would be there were it not for the water.  The air was fresh, cool and clear because of the water.  Akaka Falls on the Big Island of Hawaii exists because of the water emanating from above.

Throughout the scriptures, God’s voice is described as the sound of many waters.  I thought of His voice as I stood there in the mist. All creation begins and ends with Him.  By His voice, the Earth and all there is came into existence.  He is the “Living Water” that sustains us.  If we drink from His well, can you imagine how much spiritual growth would flourish in our life? We would be "Just like a tree planted by the rivers of water bringing forth fruit in it season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper." Psalm 1:3.  Listen for the rushing waters and take a drink. You do not need to spend money traveling to Hawaii for this water.  It’s right where you are and this water is free.

 



Jars of Clay

Look closely.  Can you see the image?  Two figures created by the sculptor can be seen between the pottery. While the clay was wet, the sculptor meticulously formed three pots that when shown together outline the images of a small boy and girl.  Only a creative genius could imagine the finished project while molding the clay, forming curves and straight lines to compliment the other pot.  To create this masterpiece, the clay had to submit to the hand of the sculptor. The clay had to have been immersed in water. To be transformed, the clay must remain still.

 

Isaiah 64:8

⁸ 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.

God is the sculptor, we are the clay.  To become His masterpiece, we must submit to His hand. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)  Are we willing to allow God to do what He chooses to do to make us like Him.  That includes the pain when He pushes us in another direction or stretches us to greater spiritual maturity. Will we allow Him to drench us with the Holy Spirit which  makes us malleable, much easier to work with?  Spirit filled pots are much more likely to stay still until God is finished.   Look closely.  By staying put, the Master has created a new you.