“O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You are our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8
“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved …” 2 Corinthians 2:15
Potter and Clay…
“For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved …” 2 Corinthians 2:15
thedailylily.com 
“Train yourself for a holy life! While physical training has some value, training in holy living is useful for everything. It has promise for this life now and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:7-8 (CEB)
A few hours into 2024 I have thought about our song…Change and now Train from Timothy …Sounds like a spiritual gym is needed in 2024!
We, more often than not, it seems to me, like things the way we like things. Seems a game changer named, Jesus Christ, didn’t see it that way. He starts His teaching on relationships with words telling us that he’s come to give us a philosophy of change: “Repent,”—change your mind—“for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2).
Change-train-we can often image weight change and a building up of a few muscles to show off from out summer swimsuits.
How easy is it to imagine what train and change will mean to our relationships with those in our faith community. “The Kingdom of heaven is near.” WOW! What image and action will that stoke in us? “The Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Is this saying, change our minds and accept the kingdom of God, which is what’s good for the whole?
Oooops! This is sounding, not easy at all while living in community with, “me and mine” attitude.
Maybe Hope in Truth will ring in the new since it’s only a very few hours into The new Year 2024! Blessings to ALL!
Sara, you stated and then asked, ““The Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Is this saying, change our minds and accept the kingdom of God, which is what’s good for the whole?”
I would answer, yes, that is what God’s Word tells us to do. These verses seems to affirm that and I don’t see any room for what you pointed out: “while living in community with, “me and mine” attitude.”
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.“ Ephesians 4: 11-14 NIV
And Ephesians 4:16: “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
The photo of clay/dough is from the therapy fragrance dough from this website out of Raleigh NC. It was a gift to me from my DIIL
It has great things and if you need a gift for a child you just might find a winner here.
https://ecokidsusa.com/about/
Thanks for sharing the site. They sure have a lot of interesting products that look like they would make great gifts!
I wanted to share a little from my minister’s sermon, this past Sunday. He titled it, “a Wise Approach to the Future.” One of the first scriptures I have written down, from his sermon was from Ephesians 5:15-17. (NIV) “ be very careful, then, how you live— not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” I looked at the foot notes for verses 15, 16 and this is what it says: (NLT) “ by referring to these days as evil, Paul was communicating his sense of urgency because of evil’s pervasiveness. We need the same sense of urgency because our days are also difficult. We must keep our standards high, act wisely, and do good whenever we can.” I’m not thinking of “me and mine” attitude would be “a wise approach to the future “ nor good for “ training for holy living?”
Tammy, thanks for sharing a portion of your ministers sermon. So timely and needful to encourage us. Just this am I was reading James 1, ”If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.“James 1:5 CEV
I was thinking how I need wisdom to live, pray and share in the midst of all this evil. The footnotes, “urgency because of evil’s pervasiveness” make clear how we are struggling with so many issues.
Sure grateful to hear about minister’ sermon. Thanks!
Tammy, your notes from your minister’s sermon, “be very careful, then, how you live— not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. “ I think echo Sara’s “Rejoice in the Lord” photo of sunset. And the scripture warning from John 12:35, especially the part of the verse that said: “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you.“