Dr. Richard Blackaby is posting to his own weblog, where he writes about God's activity in BMI, as well as his own spiritual reflections as he spends time with the Lord.
Please continue to pray for Henry’s health. His blood sugar level has continued to be close to 300. Doctors indicate when his pancreas begins functioning again that should go down. Henry is scheduled to videotape the new Experiencing God videos in Nashville beginning February 6. He is then scheduled to travel to South Africa to do some teaching. Both of these trips are important but his health must improve if he is to do them. Please pray that his pancreas will begin functioning properly, his pain will completely subside and his strength will return. Pray also that he will have wisdom whether to go to Africa at this time or not.
The family thanks you for kindly lifting him up in prayer. Rather than calling his office for updates, please feel free to visit this website in the days ahead. Whenever we have an update on his condition, we will post it here.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
God Looks for Clay
"O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! (Jeremiah 18:6)
God knows how to bring salvation to your family, your friends, your community, and your world. Accordingly, He looks for those who will allow Him to shape them into the instruments He requires to do His divine work. Clay has no plans of its own, no aspirations for service, nor reluctance to perform its given task. It is just clay. Moldable, pliable, totally submissive to the will of its master.
At times we excitedly announce to God: “I’ve discovered my strengths and gifts, and now I know how I can best serve You!” At other times we inform Him, “I am aware of what my weaknesses are, so I know which tasks I’m not capable of doing for You.” Yet this is not characteristic of clay. God is not limited to working with our strengths (2 Cor. 12:9–10). He can mold us into whatever kind of instrument He requires. When God’s assignment demands humility, he finds a servant willing to be humbled. When His work requires zeal, He looks for someone He can fill with His Spirit. God uses holy vessels, so He finds those who will allow Him to remove their impurities. It is not a noble task, being clay. There is no to it, nothing boastworthy, except that it is exactly what almighty God is looking for. Compliant, moldable, yielded clay.
If your tendency is to tell the Father what you can_and cannot do for Him, submit to His agenda and allow Him to shape you into the person He wants you to be. Like clay.
Measuring the Worth of a Year
by Henry T. Blackaby
Life is very short, at best. It passes quickly, and it is uncertain at all times. “It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). David understood this all too well and pleaded unto the Lord:
"Lord, make to know my end,
"And what is the measure of my days,
"That I may know how frail I am.
"Indeed, You have made my days as handbreaths,
"And my age is as nothing before You” (Psalm 39:4-5)."
