Let’s continue today with the theme of the Potter and the clay.  If you did not read last week’s blog entry where we introduced this topic, I suggest you do that now before we move forward. The entry will give you some good background to our discussion today.

Now we know by reading Jeremiah 1: 5-6 that Jeremiah knew he was called. It is believed he was around 17-21 years old at that time. We also see in these verses that he was afraid and insecure. He understood what his job was, yet he would still get fearful at times. He was timid by nature, yet given a bold, confrontive message and job to do.

Because of all these circumstances, the Lord speaks to the young prophet in Jeremiah 1: 17 and says, “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces lest I dismay you before them.”

Jeremiah’s assignment certainly was not easy. And to add to the mix, he was not liked -- basically by anyone! It did not take long before he f...

For the next three weeks I would like to invite you to sit with me in the Potter's House and let Him (the Master Holy Spirit) touch our lives. Whatever He wants to do, let’s be willing. Whatever He wants to say, let’s listen. And whatever He wants us to act on, let’s be ready.

Jeremiah 1: 5 (NKJV)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.

Here we see that Jeremiah was familiar with the thought of being formed. As a prophet, he was a spokesman for God and God wanted him to learn and gain insight from watching the process used by a potter. Jeremiah was directed to go to the Potter's House, and you as well were led by the Lord to be reading this entry today. What does the Lord have for us to learn?

As background, Jeremiah was living in a time when Israel had become self-centered, materialistic, and idolatrous. The people were too concerned with themselves.

Jeremiah 18: 1-6 (NKJV)

The word which came to...

Today we will conclude our discussion of the declaration of Jesus in Matthew 5: 13 where He says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

Considering all the properties of salt we discussed last week, I feel Jesus is saying here in Matthew 5: 13 that we are precious, valuable people to Him and that He needs you and me to be the salt in the earth for the benefit of His kingdom.

Mothers of Nations, we are valuable to our world. We are precious gifts and useful to our churches, our communities, and to the Lord Himself. We add flavorful seasoning to those around us as we make ourselves available to be effective. It is essential for us to continue to bring life to others and preserve godliness in the earth. Healing potential lies within each of us, and we can create thirst in others to draw them to the Living Water of Jesus Christ.

Wow! That is quite a tall...

Last week we started our discussion of “Are You Salty?”  If you did not read that introductory blog post, I would suggest you do that first before moving on with today’s entry. 

In Matthew 5: 13 Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.” But what does that really mean? We are “salt?” Perhaps if we took some time to examine various characteristics of salt we might be able to better understand this analogy that Jesus is using.

Salt is useful. There was an old Roman proverb that went like this: “There is nothing more useful than the sun and salt." As we look now at some of the qualities of salt, we will discover why it was (and is) considered useful.

First, salt adds flavor. Some say sodium chloride (salt) never loses its flavor, but in Jesus’ time it did. Salt was dug from the salt flats around the Dead Sea and there were lots of impurities mixed in with that salt. Rain would wash out the salt leaving only impurities that looked like salt. But the real salt was gone. The impurities ...

Have you ever thought about this statement? “We have been saved to then be sent.” 

There are people all around us who have never heard the Good News. There are innumerable others who have heard but have not surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

How do you and I then respond to the first statement – that we have been saved to then be sent? Perhaps you and I have come to the Lord for such a time as this to be world changers, or maybe we could call ourselves “salty saints!” 

In Matthew 5: 13 (NKJV) Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”

So the question might be better put to us as this: Are we living a life as a Jesus follower that is actually seasoning, purifying, and affecting others for the Lord’s sake? Are we a valuable addition to the world around us?

Let’s start our discussion by looking at how SALT was valued during the time o...

How was your week? Did you take note of the choices you made? Hopefully those choices were greatly influenced by the gratitude of your heart in all that God has provided. Let’s move on today and look at several other truths about God that should develop overflowing gratefulness in our hearts and attitudes.

Have you considered this? God is trustworthy. Is this something we can be grateful for? I certainly think so.

•  Psalm 145: 13

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and Your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does.

God doesn’t change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I don’t know about you, but this is something I can shout about! I am so thankful for His steadfastness and that I can always trust Him.

Because God is trustworthy He is also TRUE. There is nothing false about Him.

•  Numbers 23: 19 – He doesn’t lie.
•  John 14: 6 – Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
•  John 16:...

Last week we concluded our discussion with the thought about “taking the high road” in the choices and decisions that we daily make. So how do we do this? How do we develop and nurture a positive attitude when we are down in the trenches and living our daily lives?

One powerful way to influence our attitude choices is to focus on what we could be grateful for or thankful for in our life. I would suggest that we as Mothers of Nations start with God! What is it about our God that should continually cause gratefulness to overflow from our hearts and lives?

First of all, God is good. He is good ALL the time, not just sometimes.

In fact, He ABOUNDS in goodness.

•  Exodus 34: 6 (KJV)

And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth.

•  1 Chronicles 16: 34

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love (mercy) endures forever.

Because of God’s goodness He blesses those who trust Him,...

Ecclesiastes 10: 12 (Message)

Wise thinking leads to right living, stupid thinking leads to wrong living.

Ecclesiastes 10: 12 (NJKV)

The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up.

Mothers of Nations, every day you and I make choices about living our life to the fullest. One of the greatest “influencers” of those choices that we make is our attitude.

Our theme for this series of entries is “An Attitude of Gratitude.”  So first of all, let’s look at a definition of “attitude.” What is ATTITUDE?

•  A settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior.
•  Synonyms for “attitude” would be viewpoint, way of thinking, perspective, conviction, sentiment. 

Our attitude comes from our thinking, but it also comes from our heart as well. The challenges of life and issues of the heart play a large factor in the perspective of our attitude and the choices we make in our daily livin...

Today we will conclude our exploration of this topic of Great Riches. I pray that as we have considered various aspects of the great riches of God, each of us has been enriched and encouraged. Have your eyes been opened at all to the vastness of God’s blessing and provision for His children? I know mine have!

RICHES IN HIS CALLING

I believe that as we live out the hope of His calling in our lives, this is when we discover God’s true riches. True riches come in discovering who we are in Christ and what we are created and called to do.

Mothers of Nations, all that we need is found in our relationship with the Lord to fulfill our callings and ministry desires. We are reminded of this truth in 2 Corinthians 3: 5 (NKJV) –  ^“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.”

Let’s look at a few familiar Bible characters and note the circumstances of their discovery of calling and purpose in life.

• Samuel: as a boy, in
...

Let’s get started today and look at three more examples of the “Great Riches” we have as children of God.

EXCEEDING RICHES

Ephesians 2: 7 (NKJV) – “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 2: 4 (NKJV) – “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us…”

As I meditated on this provision of God’s “exceeding riches” for our lives, here are just a few of the blessings that seem to fall into that category.

• God’s incredible, exceedingly immeasurable grace toward the guilty
• God’s exceeding abundance of kindness toward us His children
• God’s incredible abounding mercy for the worst of the worst

Mothers of Nations, most assuredly you and I are living in a world that needs God love and grace more than ever. And as we endeavor to minister to others and bring the gospel to all we meet, let’s remember that we don’t have to agree with others but we do have to love, to be k...