Staying on the Ancient Path- Temperance

2 Peter 1:5-8

 "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control [a]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither [b]barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

We continue on the journey with adding temperance to our faith.  We discuss how knowledge will lead to action - sel-control.  Using some of my botanical gel prints to make the journal page.  

We use Psalm 119:11

”Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

As the basis for the art journal page.

                

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 

2 Corinthians 4:7 

(Read 2 Cor. 4:1-7)

I recently saw a demonstration on pottery where the artist said,

”I like to play with dirt!”

Never really thought of pottery in that term before…

Peter with the pottery restoration.

Today, pottery is so beautifully finished with glazes of different colors and styles.  The pieces can last for many years. But, in ancient times, clay vessels were used much like we use paper plates today.  Used once, then thrown away. Very little value, if any, was put on them.  Today, archaeologist find volumes of pottery shards on their digs. Very rarely they’ll find a clay pot in tact.  My husband participated in a dig where he found 3 Roman pots in tact! He was the star for the day! Everyone stopped their digging and came over to see!  They let him hold it and take pictures with it.  But, they wouldn’t let him keep them!  Shards, on the other hand, were plentiful. After making sure there was no significant inscription on them, he was permitted to take some home. Part of his training was pottery restoration.  It’s like working an ancient jigsaw puzzle with shards to reconstruct the pottery.   Unique pieces got a place in the museum showcase.  All others were stored away, rarely to be seen.

In this passage we are pictured as earthen vessels (clay pots); made of dirt, cracked, humble and ordinary. Not a likely place to store a treasure.  Yet, God, who created the light to shine from the darkness, has chosen to shine the light in our hearts and to use us to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory and the gospel of the Lord Jesus to others who are still in darkness.  What a treasure!

Our human weakness is not a barrier for the power of God.  God uses ordinary people.  It is because we are blessed with this wonderful treasure that we should have boldness and confidence to live for the Glory of God.

Note:  Thoughts inspired by a sermon on “God’s Glory in our Witness” by Dr. Erwin Lutzer of Moody Memorial Church in Chicago. 

A Window...

Lets you see inside… out… and satisfies your curiosity…
Gives a view…
Lets light shine in…out…
Reflects and casts shadows…
Protects against the elements- rain, snow, wind...
Let’s air in… and out
Can relax…or alarm
Creates the mood…
Is a place for cats to sit…for birds to rest or lay their nests
Is a perfect place to put a potted plant…
Of opportunity
Of heaven
In nature
Of hope.

(If you can think of any more, please leave them in the comments below!)

(Picture on the right: My kids back in the Chicago days.)
Unusual windows always catch my interest. A couple of years ago, when Peter and I visited England, we found out that the designer of the lobby of one of the old hotels in London was the same man who designed the main lobby and ornate staircase of the Titanic. Since we were walking by, we had to see it for ourselves. The resemblance was there right away! (We had seen it in the movie…) The ornate stairs were lit by the natural glow of light coming through these beautiful windows. Each one had a different emblem on it: a Crest, a flowered heart and a cross.
The crest reminds me of family and honor. All my actions reflect on my name and family. The flowered heart reminds me of compassion. May I always have compassion for those in need. The Cross, which I was delighted to see, reminds me of my faith. May I always be a “window” in which the light and love of Jesus can shine through.
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

On another day, while visiting the Lawnswood Cemetery in Leeds, I took a picture of this window, as it gave me a spooky feeling. It reminds me of the seed sown among the thorns in the parable of the sower.

“And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” Mark 4:19

What a contrast to the staircase windows above! I know I don’t want my life to reflect a window like this. Lord, help me keep the “window” of my mind and heart clean in your Word!
Amen.
(Photographs will be available for download at www.PraiseExpressions.Com)