Happy February to all you! I hope you share love with those around you this month especially, rather than think about it being just a couples day. Nope, it is a month of sharing the love with everyone special to us!
On to the post:
One of the things my hubby and I enjoy doing is going to antique stores and thrift/second-hand stores. We really love it. His passion is the books mostly, mine is everything else! I just love the
hunt! Anyone else??? So… yesterday as I was walking through the dishes and glassware, which I usually go to first, I found four more of the cape cod thumb print dishes that I collect! I was so excited, and they were in great shape. Well…except for the fact that they were really dirty and cloudy with what looked like scratches on them. That can make most people have second thoughts. But I have learned to look past all that because I know what is underneath. At the very moment I picked up the first dish, I felt God speak to me. He said, “You are like this dish. This dish was once beautiful and valued by the owner. They used it and set it on the table for the beauty of the table scape, as well as, so others see its beauty and enjoy it. But that owner now may not be able to use it anymore, and others don’t see the value in it and have put it in a throw box. Now, here it sits all dirty and cloudy and not very attractive. But YOU come along, and you know and see its value. You know what it CAN be. It is so valuable to you that you put it in your cart to purchase. Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, my Son, you are like this dish. I created you to be this beautiful creation. But because of the dirty, sinful nature that you were born into, you had no luster, living a bit of a cloudy life, and generally, would grow up living a life outside of My plan for you. I wanted more for you. You weren’t meant to sit on a shelf somewhere unused. So, I sent My son Jesus to give you a clean heart; to completely cleanse you from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. Jesus cleansed your heart, made you shine, and gave you the luster and clarity to reflect Me! You are a person of beauty. He made you whole. Just like you KNEW the value in this piece, I saw the value in you and sent my Son to die for you. I knew what you could become. And now, You have eternal life. You may find yourself falling back into habits that cloud your brilliance, but all you need to do is ask Jesus to cleanse you once again, so your light will shine, just like this dish will shine and reflect when you clean it. I want you to share this illustration.”
I can tell you, after that lesson, my value went to heaven and back! When I came home and washed those dishes up and saw their facets and beauty, it reminded me of what Jesus did in my life. He knew also, that I may have the tendency at times to let life cloud and distort the beauty within and around me. I need to remember to go to Him and ask for a clean up; soap me up good, so that all that residue will come right off with the water of his Word, and the Holy Spirit’s direction. It is a matter of asking in faith, and He will do it. I can sometimes go along and not even realize my view is getting dusty and cloudy, until I try to see something, or be used of God. It is then that I realize I’m off track a bit. I need a good cleaning! I’m not seeing clearly. The devil lays in wait for just a shard of space to remind me of my dirt. Does that sound familiar? Tell the devil to take a hike!! Get lost! Open your door and kick his behind out! I don’t want to listen to the wrong thing and lose my confidence in what I am capable of doing through Christ. He is my Source. He is the cleanser of my body, mind and soul. I need then, to allow Him to take me through another clean cycle whenever the Holy Spirit nudges me. He has designed me to catch and reflect the light. His light. I have begun to ask that of Him everyday. Just like we need to dust and clean our homes, I need to do the same thing in my spiritual life. Praise the Lord that He never discards us. We are always His treasure!
What a great lesson. I have constant reminders of this lesson in my china closet that I see on a daily basis. It is so fun that God will use an everyday thing to teach such a valuable lesson. The most exciting thing about drawing close to God is that He will use the things closest to our hearts to speak directly to us. I pray this illustration that He gave me to share, resonates with you and brings encouragement to you. “So let your light shine before all men, in order that they may see your holy lives and may give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16 It is well with my soul!
May God cause you to shine like crystal, and reflect His glorious light. Walking the journey with you…
journeysofmyheart.com 