THE POTTER AND ME

He picked me up as lump of mud from the gathering of surface clay and placed me on a flat, smooth, cleanable work surface and I was excited to see myself that clean up when He told me He just started. He took me into His hands and kneaded me for days until I became very soft and pliable, I started letting go of past hurts and pains, forgiving, forgetting and restraining myself from each place of muddiness. The massage was enjoyable then it became intense with the used of rolling pins, I screamed from the pains, yeah! I was hurt again and again and I thought of backsliding yet He caught hold of me and formed me to small pieces as a rectangle into a cylinder, pinching and smoothing the stubborn edges of my life together. I felt so relief! Before I realized what was going on He said to me, ‘am preparing you for crushing’. The crusher breaks up the large chunks of clay and passes it to conveyors heading for the grinders. I jolted at the thought of going through all these temptations to victory, but He assured me He will go with me telling me that the grinders will pulverized me to a fine consistency so that challenges will become bread for me. As a pulverized material I passed over a vibrating screen in which fine materials pass through to the next step and the coarse materials- the ancestral curses, the sinful nature that I was born into, the weapons of darkness that where fashioned against me- is returned to the grinder to be crushed and reground-by the blood of Jesus that speak better things about me purifies me. Up to this point, the Lord held my hands, once I was screened, for spiritual maturity, I was sent to the pug mill where I will be tempered to make a homogeneous plastic mass with the same nature and kind of Christians from Zion ready for shaping in the required form to carry out the vision of the mission. The pug mill consisted of chambers that houses one or two revolving shafts with blades rigidly attached, which thoroughly mix the material. I went through a windmill spinner and I screamed that I can’t go through this transformation, I can’t adapt to these changes but the Lord kept saying am not through with you yet, I am with always! He taught me the fruit of the spirit. Water was added-Grace, to provide the proper plasticity-Virtue and materials-Resources, such as manganese-The Infilling of God’s Spirit, added to change the body color-My Personality. The next step is burning or firing the green brick. He said I needed to Burn and Shine! I pass through a long length of the kiln on a continuous procession, moving in speed (with excellence) much like a small railroad train. The continuous tunnel kiln employs a combination of vertical and horizontal drafts, -a continuous declaration of the word of God, speaking in tongues and making power available. The preheating, burning and cooling in zones varying in temperatures up to 2,000 degrees. It built in me the spirit of boldness. In this type of kiln, closer temperature control is possible and less handling of the green brick results in better quality products. He told me that after this I can make power available, that His words where shut up in my bones waiting for me to create my world. When the green brick enters the kiln, the manufacturer determines the type of firing required to produce the desired range of color. If the clear burn color is wanted, a straight burn from start to finish produces the desired result. He explained to me that the word that is required for every situation I will face is in His Books, if I catch the Rhema, I can declare it and my desires will be granted. The only color variations being the extremes of dark color nearest the fire or in the crown on the kiln and the light color at the bottom where the brick have the lowest temperature. The remainder of the brick will have medium tones. He said the only thing that will limit me is the knowledge of and the application the word. However, if the kiln is designated to be flashed, the dampers are regulated at the end of the burn to cut off the air and subject the brick to a reducing fire, thus bringing out the blacks, blues, browns, etc. which make up a flashed range. And He kept explaining that everything in life works by faith, in doing the word, in becoming a sower, giving my tithes and offerings and being a partner with Him. After exiting the kiln, the brick is allowed to cool prior to handling. Proper sorting ("dehacking") and packaging of the brick after burning is extremely important. Broken, twisted and otherwise mechanically defective brick are discarded at this stage. Brick color and range is carefully monitored to assure a quality product. The finished product is packaged and banded into cubes of approximately 500 brick, inventoried by lots and distributed to customers. Yes! The Lord repackaged me; he transformed me from a lump of clay to a golden vessel onto His use. Yes! I am a Brand New Person in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!!