#stepintothepottershands
As I was cleaning a beach house one Sunday, God used a piece of clay to grab my attention. I was unloading the dishwasher to find the footprints poem beautifully painted on a clay coffee mug. I almost missed the words as I scurried to put the dishes away. I received this as a God wink and took a moment to allow this interruption to bring me great joy. The footprint poem derives from Psalm 77:19 NIV “Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen”.
This poem has become words I cherish since my Dad lost his battle to Pancreatic Cancer. Early on in his diagnosis, he heard God speak this poem into his heart one morning as he walked his dog Baylee. For the first time since his death, I realized that same God that carried him through his cancer journey is the same God that is carrying me and my family through our grief. Just like a clay pot can be molded and remolded, grief strikes, and I am like a piece of clay cracked with sorrow, watered with tears, and remolded with God’s grace.
It was God’s perfect timing to present this song to me this week, “In the Hands of The Potter” by Casting Crowns. Some of the lyrics sing; “But now sorrow beats down on me, waiting for you to come through. I’m all alone with my questions. I’m dry and cracked open, I thirst for you. And as I fall apart, come flood this dessert heart. Fall like the rain, living water. I know your way is best, Lord help me find my rest. And I’ll be the clay in the hands of the potter”.
There are angry days where I could throw that coffee mug till it shatters in million pieces. There are joyful days that I find myself smiling at my coffee cup, sipping as I reminisce. Whatever emotions come my way, every day I have the choice to step into the potter’s hands and let him continually mold me. We read in Isaiah 64:8NIV “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand”.
Grief could be so many things. Like the loss of a dog, a broken marriage, the death of a love one, or the guilt we often impose upon ourselves. Whatever grief you find yourself in today, intentionally start each day by stepping into the potter’s hands. He is waiting to hold you in the palm of His hand.

In The Hands of the Potter by Casting Crowns

#anxiety #worry #waterwalkinggirls
On Sunday I made my first post on anxiety and worry and then drove to a nearby Walmart. Walmart pick-up is one of my biggest blessings! Although I was out of town, I trusted that picking up groceries would still be a breeze. As I pulled into my parking space I decided to turn off my engine in case it took longer than I was accustomed to. Shortly a young lady came out and loaded the groceries in my car and went on her way. I fastened my seat belt and pushed the button to start my car. Nothing happened. I took a deep breath and tried again. After my third try I realized the battery must be dead. I have to admit, normally I would have gotten upset. I was not in my hometown, I didn’t know anyone, and my husband was 2 miles down the road without a vehicle to come help me. I began to pray and God immediately reminded me that the words for the week were anxiety and worry and we were not going to let Satan win this battle. I took a deep breath, called my husband Clark and then texted several friends and ask them to pray. When the young lady came back out of the building to help another customer she was surprised to see me still sitting there. I explained what was going on and asked if she or someone else had some jumper cables and could jump off my car. She said she would go check. She was gone for maybe 5 minutes but it seemed more like 50. The entire time she was gone I was battling with Satan so I would be able to stay calm and not get upset. When she returned she told me another employee was pulling her car around. As the car pulled around I praised God for kind people. Out stepped another young lady who handed me a box of brand new jumper cables and said, “These are for you!” I initially thought she just meant that she wanted me to open them for her as she opened the hood of her car. She then said she was going to switch places with the young lady who initially helped me because she knew more about this kind of thing. The next process took at least 20 minutes as my battery was apparently dead as a door nail. I sat in my car praying that this would work and at the same time thanking God for these Good Samaritans. Finally my car started! As we put down the hoods of the cars I rolled up the jumper cables and tried to hand them to the young lady. She said, “No, you keep them. She bought them for you to have in your car.” Tears came to my eyes and I wanted to hug the young lady, but as you know, I couldn’t because of Coronavirus. I was overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness. As I got in my car I took a picture of the parking place I was in so I could later share with you my battle with anxiety and how the kindness of strangers helped me in a time of need.
The Message version of Proverbs 12:25 reads: “Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.” Every single person has their own battles going on today. Every single person struggles with anxiety or worry at some point. Right now our world has so many troubles that affect us all and can cause us anxiety. How can you and I help pick others up? We can be kind. We can share cheerful words. I know at this time we are not out and about or around others which makes it harder to impact others. We have to think outside of the box to be intentional. So today, brainstorm ways you can help lift the weight of anxiety that others are carrying. Send a cheerful text. Make a phone call and share kind words. Write an encouraging note and mail it to someone. Make a positive and uplifting post on social media. Let’s you and I help one another with the battle of anxiety and worry. “Fear not” is in the Bible 365 times which indicates how prevalent this battle is for each of us. Listen to the words of this song called “I will Fear No More.” May these words be uplifting and strength giving for you today.
I Will Fear No More by: The Afters
Side note #1: I once had jumper cables in my car and after years of having them they broke. Apparently we had never replace them.
Side note #2: As soon as I returned to our Airbnb house Clark took my car and bought a new battery.

#Liftmeoutofmypit
It is so easy to get stuck in a routine that I fall into a pit. Get up and have devotion. Pack lunch and go to work. Go for a run and come home to cook. Do a little homework and watch TV. Go to bed and it is the same process all over again tomorrow. Before I know it, I find myself in the pit. It becomes easy to focus on the fact that my house is still for sale or that COVID19 is ramping back up. While I am in that pit, I find that Satan’s voice becomes louder than the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, I have God to pull me out of that pit. In Psalm 40:2 NIV “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand”.

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#words #waterwalkinggirls
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
Words are important. Google “words” in scripture and you will see how much importance is put on our words. Timing, tone, and word choice are all addressed in scripture. There is a time to speak up and a time to be quiet. Proverbs 31:8-9 tells us: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” while Proverbs 21:23 instructs: “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” Bottom line: words are important.

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#liveyourlifeinhim
Have you ever pictured Christ building us up in him? Recently while running, I noticed this tree being held up by a piling. I immediately pictured us as the tree, rooted in him and the piling as Christ, strengthening us in our faith. We read in Co 2:6-7 NIV; “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

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#voiceoftruth #waterwalkinggirls
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
The writer of scriptureand.blogspot.com wrote: “There is a choice repeatedly laid before mankind. Choose to listen, obey, and trust God’s voice or listen to other voices (including your own). “ This week as I have read about and meditated on the word truth, Satan has been at work whispering lies in my ear and trying to sway me from the real Truth and trying to get me to listen to my own voice. Every now and then I would lose my focus and allow anxiety to sneak in and upset me. Rachel Hollis says, “Anxiety is fear of a made up future.” Therefore when Satan is wagging his tongue and trying to induce anxiety we must stop letting the wheels of our brain turn and turn thinking about all the what ifs. Instead we must listen to the voice of truth. Where can we turn to hear the voice of truth?

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#way #turnnorth
We as God’s children have a renewed life under His blessings. For generations to come we continue to see His provisions. Today, this week, this month, or even this year you may feel like you cannot hear or see those blessings and provisions. Think of how the Israelites felt after wandering for 40 years.

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