Puppet or Clay?

We read in Isaiah 64:8 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 potter and we are the clay. We are shaped and molded by our life’s experiences. The experiences God allows to occur in our lives that make us into the vessel He has created us to be.

Notice the use of the word allow. God doesn’t make things happen in our lives but He does allow things to occur. In Job chapter 1 we read the account of Satan walking to and fro in the earth. When God asks Satan if he has considered his servant Job he basically responds are you kidding me. Job doesn’t serve you for nothing. You’ve placed a hedge of protection around him, his household, and everything around him. You’ve blessed everything he touches and cause it to increase.

Well that same hedge of protection is also around you and me. Yes things touch our lives just as they did Jobs, but these things when we come through them, and yes we do come through them make us stronger, give us a testimony to help someone else and believe it or not work together for our good, because we love God and we are the called, according to his purpose as we read in Romans 8:28.

Oftentimes when we are in the midst of going through we don’t know how we will make it through yet alone how what we are going through could possibly work for our good.

Years before my mother passed I always thought if anything ever happened to her I would not survive. We were very close. We shopped together, had the same taste and enjoyed each other’s company. We talked to each other on the phone every day.

In The last few months before her death she was in and out of the hospital. My two sisters and I took turns caring for her. We were with her when she took her last breathe. One of the last things she asked was that we keep our family together. Little did any of us know what was soon to occur. Both my sisters and I now live in the same subdivision within walking distance of each other and are closer than we have ever been.

When we allow the things that occur in our lives to shape and mold us we become stronger. Contrariwise when we allow the things that occur in our lives to adversely affect us the enemy has us just where he wants us.

Have you ever seen a puppeteer skillfully manipulate his puppets? He pulls the strings and maneuvers the puppets as he chooses. Satan tries to do the same thing with us, but he can only do what you allow him to do. It’s up to you to choose how you react to what you encounter and experience in life, whether your reaction is spiritual or carnal.

It’s only human for your initial reaction to be carnal because you are reacting based on emotion. Once the emotion has passed your reaction should be spiritual as you recognize that in the flesh there is nothing you can do.

A carnal reaction enables the puppeteer, Satan to manipulate your emotions, prolonging your victory.    

We also read in Jeremiah 18:4 and the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. The Potter is willing and able to reshape you, to smooth out the marred places, to remove the flaws…are you willing to let Him?

As we read in Galatians 5:16 this I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Are you yielding to the puppeteer or to the Potter?

 

 

Secret Thoughts: Things We Are Afraid to Say Out Loud

The Moment We Have All Been Waiting For Is Finally Here!

Secret Thoughts: Things We Are Afraid to Say Out Loud

By

Greta G. Hillman

 

What are your Secret Thoughts? What are you afraid to say out loud? Who can you trust with your deepest secrets without fear of judgment or envy? "Secret Thoughts: Things We Are Afraid To Say Out Loud" is now available on kindle. Click on the link to order your copy today for only $4.99 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L2O12KU the paperback version will be released soon. Follow my blog for the release date.

Everyone has secret thoughts. I understand the struggles experienced sometimes with sharing those thoughts. In my book I share my secret thoughts in an effort to empower others to comfortably share their thoughts as needed. You will read about secret thoughts which you may have even experienced yourself. Thoughts you would like to share, but do not know if or with whom you should share them.

This book will help you recognize who you can trust with your deepest secrets as well as when and how to release them. This practical yet powerful guide serves as a tool to provide you with guidance on sharing thoughts that may cause pain, stress, discomfort, or joy without fear of judgment, repercussion, retaliation or envy.

I pray this book will be a blessing to all who read it.

Encouraging your financial, spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing,

Greta

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s Not My Job

Have you ever gone into an establishment, maybe a grocery store or department store asked for assistance only to have someone reply that’s not my job? What was your reaction? Did you ask if the person could point you in the direction of someone that could assist you? Perhaps you became angry. Maybe you left the establishment.

There are people that are assigned certain tasks or jobs that only want to perform the tasks or jobs they have been assigned, are trained on and equipped to perform.

Then there are people that are trying to do tasks that have not been assigned to them. They have not been trained nor are they able to perform the tasks.

Many people try to perform the tasks or the job of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent to be our comforter, our teacher, our guide, our protector.

How many times have you tried to perform the tasks of the Holy Spirit? How many times have you tried to carry burdens that you could not bear? How many times have you tried to fix a circumstance or situation only to end up with less than desirable results?

The Word of God is very specific when it comes to what we are and are not capable of handling. We read in Ephesians 6:12 for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

This scripture has a twofold meaning. 1.) Don’t wrestle with your own flesh. Your flesh is enmity against your spirit. The two don’t and won’t agree. Your flesh will lead you to do one thing while your spirit may tell you to do something completely different. 2.) You should not wrestle or fight physically or verbally with others. The battle is not physical it is spiritual.

Oftentimes our desire for change within our own lives or in the lives of others will put us in a place where we become engaged in situations over which we have no control. Try as we may without the Holy Spirit we cannot change anything as we read in John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing, and we certainly can’t change anyone.

Several years ago I was in a no win situation. I couldn’t fix what I wanted changed. I talked until I didn’t know what else to say. I cried until not another tear would fall and I prayed until I couldn’t think of anything else to pray. My final prayer was God I can’t do this anymore. I give it to you. I gave it to God and didn’t take it back. In His time and in His way He fixed it.

Many of us are trying to do a job that we have not been trained nor are we capable of performing. The next time the enemy interjects thoughts into your mind of a situation that you know you can neither control, change or should even get involved in remind yourself as well as the enemy that’s not my job! Give whatever it is to God and allow Him to take care of it.

 

From Crisis to Christ

Crisis can be defined as a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person's life. It is when we are in crisis that we sometimes forget or lose sight of what keeps us balanced. But this is the very time that we need to dig deep, grab hold of our faith and rest in the assurance that God is in control, all things work together for our good, no weapon formed against us shall prosper and we are victorious.

If you think about it, someone around you, someone that you know or maybe you yourself may be in crisis at this very moment. When those that we love or care about, even those with whom we may have had only a brief encounter are in crisis we may be impacted. If it’s someone that is close to us we share their pain. If it is someone we know we may be empathetic. Either way we are concerned.

Crisis affects us in different ways. Our first reaction may be disbelief. We ask, how could this happen? We wonder why me. Even if the crisis has occurred in the life of a loved one, we still ask why me? Why did this happen in the life of someone that I love. It’s not as though we would prefer a crisis occur in the life of anyone else, but we still ask why me?

As difficult as it is we must depersonalize the crisis. As long as we are in the moment, we cannot think rationally. Crisis can immobilize. You may have the strongest support system of people that love you unconditionally, but when crisis hits God is the only one that can provide the comfort needed for you to emerge. He may speak directly to you, He may speak through someone in your support system or He may use a complete stranger. It’s not until He gives you exactly what you need to hear that you will be able find peace.

Don’t put yourself on a timeline. Healing for one person may vastly differ from healing for another. It is important however that you do heal. No matter how tragic the event healing is imperative to recovery and growth. Seek counsel. Find someone that you trust. Sometimes you just need someone to listen. Do not hold onto whatever is causing your pain.

I believe no matter how tragic an event your ability to share your emotions, struggle and healing will benefit you as well as someone else who is facing the same traumatic event. It may be uncomfortable in the beginning but each step you take brings you closer to healing and rediscovery of the peace God wants each of us to have.

Some people become bitter, angry and even turn away from God in crisis, but it is imperative that your crisis be what draws you to Christ instead of away from Him. Don’t allow the enemy to use crisis to destroy you. As we read in John 10:10 the thief cometh not for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

It is not Gods desire for us to experience crisis or the damage that comes with it, but it is His desire for us to have the abundant life that He has created for us.

Now What?

We have all heard the following sayings. It’s always darkest before dawn, every dark cloud has a silver lining and your breakthrough is right around the corner. All of these words are spoken to encourage us from giving up when we start doubting that God’s promises for our life or those that we love will ever come to pass.  But happens while are waiting? What do you do? You have heard a word from the Lord. You may have even received confirmation. You’re excited. You wait patiently. Then your patience wears thin.

You talk to God. Lord I know I heard from You and I believe You are going to do what You said you would do, but when? You read about Joseph and all he endured at the hands of his own family. You read about how he was falsely accused, spent time in jail, forgotten about by someone he was trying to help, and through it all how the favor of God was always on him. In your frustration you say to yourself but that was Joseph, what about me?

You read about Job and how he lost everything. How his friends questioned if he was somehow at fault for what occurred in his life. You wonder if there is something you may have done to cause you to be stuck; not moving forward in what you truly believe is Gods desire for your life. You try to help God out, taking steps that you think may move you towards your destiny, but do not achieve the results you expect. Your frustration builds. You feel a mixture of emotions. You’re disappointed, sad; you may feel inadequate even though deep down inside you have not given up hope. The words of encouragement from those that believe in what God is doing in your life seem to fall on deaf ears.

Those standing on the outside that are supporting you don’t have a clue as to how you really feel or what you are going through you say to yourself, forgetting about the countless times you have been the encourager as opposed to the one that needs encouraging.

So what do you do? As difficult as it may be, you continue to do what you are doing. You wait patiently on the Lord. You tarry until He manifests His promise.

When Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane he took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. He asked them to wait while he went up to pray to God. When Jesus went back to the disciples he found them asleep and asked if they could not watch with Him an hour. He left them a second time and returned only to find them sleeping again at which time He said the spirit indeed is wiling but the flesh is weak.  The third time that He found them asleep He told them to take their rest because the hour was at hand.

I believe we can apply this to our time of waiting on the Lord. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. Our spirit is saying yes Lord, I know this is You, yes Lord, I will wait, yes Lord I will trust in You, yes Lord I will do what You want me to do, but oh that flesh! The flesh wants to lean to its own understanding. The flesh wants to rely on what it can see, hear, feel and imagine. The flesh tells you it’s not going to happen. The flesh tries to convince you to give up. The flesh brings doubt and makes you ask what do I do if it doesn’t turn out the way I expect it to?

Whoa! Hold on! Stop it right there! Why in the world do we listen to this corrupt flesh that is so weak as Jesus said to his disciples that it enters into temptation, which in the case of our waiting is becoming doubtful and weary?

There is a God that has not, cannot and will not lie. He has made you a promise. We read in Habakkuk 2:3 for the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

During this time of waiting take your mind off of yourself. Encourage someone else. You may not be where you want to be but you are not where you were when you started. Help someone else get to where you are now.

I’m not saying it will be easy. What you are feeling is real, but remember what we read in 1Peter 5:10 but the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.  Many of us get stuck in the suffering, but what we don’t realize is that it is the suffering that will perfect, establish and strengthen us. Once we have this understanding we become settled in Gods promise and even this ole flesh can’t persuade us otherwise. Hang in there! I’m waiting for your praise report.

 

Gods Refining Tools

There are various phases that we encounter throughout our journey called life. It is during this journey that our purpose or calling is made clear to us. I think sometimes we make the discovery or unveiling of our purpose more difficult than it really has to be.

Everything that we experience. Everything that God allows to occur in our lives happens for a reason. Sometimes we become so bogged down trying to figure out ‘why me’ that we forget that our experiences are Gods refining tools for our lives and they are ultimately for the benefit of others.

When we persevere, as difficult as it may be at times, through the storms that beset us it is not just the victory that is our testimony it is also the storm itself.

While in the midst of the storm we sometimes ask ourselves ‘how did I get here?’ If we are honest with ourselves we may admit that it was our own decisions that placed us in certain situations. Recognizing our part is what gives us strength. It helps us to understand choices come with consequences whether good or bad and whatever the consequence we must learn from it and grow.

Many times we become anxious, desperate for change, we get tired of waiting. So rather than seek God and acknowledge Him prior to making a move we lean to our own understanding and move on our own.

Sometimes it works in our favor and sometimes it does not. Either way it is a learning opportunity. We must assess our situation, repent if needed seek direction and move on.

Before understanding my purpose in life is to encourage others to live victoriously by knowing, understanding and receiving Gods love and applying His word to their lives I thought I was a misfit. I didn’t understand why God gave me a heart to understand the plight of others. As a matter of fact I thought it was a curse. I thought I was ‘too understanding’. I now know that was the enemy doing what he does best, trying to distort the gift God placed in me.

Did I make unhealthy decisions? Yes. Do I still make them? Not as often, but what I have come to realize is that when I do lean to my own understanding I have an advocate with the Father. He teaches me from my decisions and helps me to understand how my decisions can help someone else.

What’s important for me to remember is although I can share my experiences with others they may or may not take heed. They may still choose to take a path which will take them the long way rather than directly to where God wants them to go, but this is part of their journey.

I encourage you to seek God, understand who you are, whose you are and what it is that He has placed in you to do. We read in Jeremiah 1:5 before I formed you in the belly I knew you. Embrace who God created you to be. As I have said many times ‘no one can do what you can do exactly the way that you can do it’.

Are You Following God’s Plan or Your Plan?

We read in Genesis chapter 12 the account of God providing Abram with the following instructions:

1.    Get thee out of thy country

2.    And from thy kindred

3.    And from thy fathers house

4.    Go unto a land that I will shew thee

Abram was instructed to follow Gods plan for his life to reap the benefits He desired for him. Abram would be made a great nation, God would bless him, make his name great; and enable him to be a blessing. He would bless those that blessed Abram and cursed those that cursed him and through Abram would all the families of the earth be blessed.

Why did God give Abram specific instructions? Why was it important for Abram to leave his place of residence, leave all of his family, leave his father’s house and go to a place he’d never been before?

Sometimes in order for God to bless us with the magnitude of the things he has in store for us He has to take us away from everything we know and everyone that knows us. When we are in a familiar setting, have all the resources we need why do we need faith? We may believe we can achieve our desires because we ‘know what we are doing’. How often have you said you can do something with your eyes closed because you have done it so many times?

What happens when suddenly you are moved from your comfort zone or are required to do something you have never done before? You are no longer able to depend on your own abilities. You have to seek assistance. God wants to be the assistance that you seek.

Abrams father worshiped idols. Maybe you hail from a Christian family and maybe you do not. Either way just as with Abram, God wants you to look to Him for guidance. He didn’t want Abram following in the path of his father. Have you ever had family members try to convince you to do something their way, or the way it’s always been done? God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He wants you to do things His way.

Who have you taken with you that you should have left behind? Abram was told to leave his kindred yet he took Lot with him on his journey. As we read further into the book of Genesis we read of strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and Lot’s cattle which caused Abram and Lot to separate. We also read of Lot and his family being taken captive and Abram rescuing them.

Many times we want company on our journey. We are afraid of being by ourselves, we think we are unqualified to do what God has called us to do so we hang on to someone from out past, a security blanket, or we may take someone with us because we are trying to help them out. God is blessing us so we want them to be a part of the blessing.

First, let me say whatever God has called you do He has also equipped you to do and anything you cannot do He will bring people into your life to assist you.

Secondly, if God sends you out and tells you to leave others behind there is a reason. He knows our future just as He knows the future of all those around us. A friend of mine was told of a new job by a friend of his. My friend being the go getter that he is applied for the job, did what was required and was hired by the company. His friend however did not do what was required. My friend constantly pushed his friend, even providing him with money for a class which was needed for employment.

Finally my friend realized as much as he wanted his friend to be hired by this company it was his friend’s decision to do what was required of him. He also realized his association with his friend was impeding his success on the job.

God has blessed each of us with gifts and He will use His gifts as He sees fit. It’s important for us to remember just as God has gifted us He has gifted others. Our gifts differ just as the use of our gifts differ. You and someone close to you may both be gifted musicians. Your gift may be to travel the world and your friend’s gift may be to teach music in a small town. Both gifts are from God and one is not any greater than the other, nor will the reward for one be any greater than the other.

Follow Gods plan for your life. You cannot be someone else and someone else cannot be you. Leave your comfort zone. Become comfortable with the uncomfortable. Allow God to take you to that land that He will show you, where He will bless you, your name will be great, and you will be a blessing.