Making Room for the Light

Gloria Ashby is a wonderful storyteller and my guest blogger today. Thank you, Gloria for offering your gift to us and letting your light shine.

Image courtesy of Morguefile.com

 

The child's wavy blond hair fell around her face as she peered into the hole carved into the top of the pumpkin. "Gross. Isn't this clean enough? It's icky. Isn't there enough room for the light?" she whined to her brother, who kneeled close by and bent over his own pumpkin with both hands thrust inside.

Remembering my past pumpkin carving rituals, I paused in the middle of sorting pansies to see if someone would rescue the child and finish the task for her.

"Not clean enough," the brother declared after examining his sister's pumpkin. The girl rolled her eyes, sat back on her heels and sighed, tossing her scoop to the ground. Her brother shrugged his shoulders and returned to his own pumpkin preparation. She'd get no help from him.

The girl's mom paused from leaf raking and glanced toward her children.

Ahh, mom to the rescue, I assumed. Wrong.

Mom leaned on her rake where she stopped her yard work. She encouraged her daughter to continue. "Scrape it clean — all the way to the walls. Get all the seeds and stringy stuff out."

"Why?" the child still resisted the disgusting task.

"So you can put the candle inside and let the light shine through."

The young girl cocked her head, as if considering whether she wanted a light in her pumpkin. After 60 seconds of weighing options, her wrinkled forehead relaxed. She picked up her scoop and kneeled to finish cleaning the pumpkin's icky insides.

Microsoft clip art

"Now I'm done," the child's voice drifted with the breeze into my yard. I watched the father round the corner from back of the house and walk over to the newspaper full of pumpkin goo. He inspected his daughter's work, nodded and smiled as if to say, "Well done." Then, without a word, he lowered himself to the ground and began to carve the pumpkin's face through which the light would shine.

In that moment, I understood the Father's call on my life. Only when I choose to be emptied of the goo of self-will, self-control, and self-love, can God transform me to make a difference. The more I empty myself of the goo, the more room I make for Him to fill me with His Holy Spirit. I am called to do as my young neighbor did ... to hand my life to the Father and let Him shape me into the person He created me to be.

But first, I must choose to empty myself. To make room for His Light.

"You are the light of the world...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14, 16, NIV).

For more of Gloria's story devotionals, link to her web page at http://www.gloriaashby.com/

 

 

 Gloria Ashby's passion for teaching began at the age of five with stuffed animals as her audience. Drawing from over 20 years experience, Gloria speaks with wit and wisdom to faith-based as well as professional business groups. She is a Christian Communicators graduate and contributing author to Love is a Verb, The Heavenly Company, and The Plight Before Christmas. Her stories appear in The Secret Place, The White's Chapel Herald, and several Chicken Soup for the Soul publications. Gloria lives in Texas with her husband, Jim. They have one daughter who lives close by with her husband and four dogs.
Find more of Gloria's speaking topics and reflections at her website,  www.gloriaashby.com.
Email Gloria at gloria.ashby7@gmail.com  

 

 

 

Today's Featured Resource will help you to reflect God's light in your world:

Back cover: "Christians can and ought to be the movers and shakers of social change -- 'roaring lambs' who infiltrate and make an impact on their workplace and world with their faith."

 

Stirring the Heart

In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God stirred hearts to contribute to the building of the temple. Artisans built, molded, stitched and designed beauty fitting for the place of worship.

The People responded to the stirring and brought their skilled offerings. They were stirred so much that Moses called for a halt—they had more than what was needed.

Amazing!

How often do we hear that today? Churches and other Christian organizations are dying for people to share their gifts and talents, to bring their offerings of skill for the betterment of the Body of Christ. What squelches it for us?

What causes our heart to be stilled

instead of stirred?

Often I hear people give a number of reasons. I am too busy. I don’t have time. My children are grown. I am not really that good at ____, so-and-so does a better job. I can’t teach. I’m too old. I am not good with children. My friend, these excuses are hindering the Spirit of God’s stirring in you.

No one expects you to take on something you are not suited for. But, there are things you are gifted to do—because the Word says we have all received at least one spiritual gift to be used to build up the Body.

Do you know what yours is?

 

Here are a few ideas to move you toward discovering how God has gifted you:

What topic causes you to perk up when you talk about it (education, abortion, pregnant teens, current events/news, financial planning, homelessness, healthcare, hunger, missions, youth work, human trafficking, etc)?

What group of people are you most drawn to (children, adults, singles, teens, handicapped, elderly, home bound, homeless, recovering, new families, infants, etc.)?

Do you prefer working in front or behind the scenes?

There are many resources available to help you in discovering your spiritual gift and different ways to employ it for God’s glory. The body needs you— without your special contribution they could be without an arm, or a hand.

So let’s consider how to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” Hebrews 10:24

Do you sense God stirring something in you? Do you have a skill to share?

I’d love to discuss this with you further—leave a comment with your thoughts. I am praying for us all to sense the stirring of the Holy Spirit and the discovery of our importance to our brothers and sisters of the faith. 

Jeanne

Do you want to dig deeper?

Exodus 35, 36:2-7 – Read about God's stirring up of craftsmanship

Spiritual gifts passages:

Ephesians 6:11-16

Romans 12:4-8

1 Corinthians 12

1 Timothy 4:14

 

The Potter and the Clay

 

I am intrigued by pottery classes. I remember doing a bit of pinch pottery when I was a kid and may have dabbled a little with pottery thrown on the wheel during art class in high school, but that was before I knew what God said about the potter and the clay. Now I’d love to take a pottery class as a hands-on experience, to better understand His words.

In order for a potter to create useful vessels, they choose clay that’s been taken from the mire and remove the stones and impurities. Once it’s washed and the air bubbles are worked out the potter centers the clay on the wheel. As the wheel spins, water is applied so the clay remains pliable, responding to the potter’s strong and gentle touch. Soon a vessel of the potter’s design takes shape by the consistent pressure of their hands and motion of the wheel.

This metaphor of the Master Potter is beautiful to me because I was taken from the mire and washed by the blood of the Lamb. The Potter has had my image in mind since before I was born and He began to shape me into a useful vessel in the likeness of Christ. He knows just what is needed because He knows me and understands my strengths and weaknesses. I am in process of becoming what He has in mind—beautiful.

The Potter’s hands are trustworthy. They are strong yet gentle and know just the right amount of pressure to be applied for the clay to yield. He applies water liberally—the water of His Word; it softens so the clay is pliable.

I am studying a book entitled, Soul Shaping by Stephen W. Smith. I am enthralled by my Master Potter and His touch on the clay of my life. I will post my discoveries in hope they will encourage you as well.

“Only our God can transform our clay. He places us on the whirling wheel, leans over, and shapes us. We bring ourselves to the Potter, but we can’t control the work of His hands. It’s our part to trust His process and to relax in His hands so we’re pliable and responsive.”

                                ~ Smith, Stephen W., Soul Shaping, pg 66, ©2011 David C. Cook

Yielding to the Potter isn’t easy. But as I grow in my trust of Him, I realize He only wants what is good for me so I am learning to relax a little. Jeremiah 29:11 says He has a plan for my life, not for harm, but for a future and a hope. His plan is perfect and He envisions my completed vessel and works to coax my clay to respond to His gentle touch.

Have you ever taken a pottery class? What images can you relate to how God is forming you?

Be blessed as you yield,

Jeanne