I'm a Cracked Pot

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck.  One of the pots had a crack in it, and the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.  For two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house.   The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.  But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfections, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what the cracked pot perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.  "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."  "Why?" asked the bearer.  "What are you ashamed of?"  I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house.  Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work and you don't get full value for your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

 As they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.  But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path but not on the other pot's side?  That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it.  I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them.  For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table.  Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

I found this story on the internet the same week I was challenged by Romans 9:20-21 which reads, “20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "^[a^] 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”  For more years than I care to count I have struggled with self esteem issues.  These issues have affected many areas of my life but none more than in my relationship to God.   

I have spent my life as a cracked pot who wished to be the perfect pot.  I have been the clay vessel that has openly looked at the master and asked why he made me the way he did.  But just like the cracked pot I was looking at my version of the perfect pot and not the masters.  My usability by God has been hindered because of my lack of appreciation for the vessel he made.  This deeply saddens me to think of the ways that I have not been able to serve because I was so caught up in my self.  Over the last few weeks the Lord has shown me that I needed to open my eyes to who God made me to be and to appreciate the beauty within myself.  

Recently I was at a family function.  A member of my family commented on a picture that they still have of me from 15 years ago.  He referred to this picture as being from the time when I was at my prettiest and how great I looked all slim and trim.  Can I say huge OUCH!  This comment threw me for a loop.  My first instinct was to try to figure out what I could do to recreate my “prettiest”.   How could I get thinner, quickly?  Should I cut my hair to re-create the same style.  I was then  reminded of what my focus should be.  I need to happy with who I am, right now!   If I let the thoughts of insecurity creep in and consume me then I would be taking away from the time when I could be watering the Masters flowers.   I cannot change the way the potter formed me.  Psalm 139:13-14  13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

As I now read these verses I read them with a new appreciation.  I was not just a mass that came into being by an accident of chemistry.  I was knit together.  Think of the image of someone knitting and the painstaking effort it takes to make sure each stitch is right.  That is what the Lord did when he made me.  He knew before I came into being that I would have a crooked front tooth and that I would struggle with my weight.  He knew that and so much more and knit that all together to make me the vessel that I am.  The vessel that He has created for a specific purpose and plan.  I need to focus on the job he needs this vessel to do rather than just if the vessel is pleasing to the eye.

My prayer is that as you read this you will ask the Lord to help you accept being a “cracked pot”.  I ask that you lift me up in prayer as I work on claiming victory over this area of my life.  I desire to be usable vessel in any way the Master wishes.

Mama said there'd be days this!

Have you ever felt overwhelmed and under-appreciated with your position as the family CEO???  Have you ever thought how much easier it would be to work a 9 to 5 rather than a 24/7?  Do you ever have days when you feel as though all that you give really isn’t making a difference in the lives of your family?  I think at some point all who are nurturing a family go through these feelings.  So why does this happen?  Is it your husband’s fault for leaving his socks and clothes on the floor again??  Or because all your children do is ask, ask, ask and never thank???  The answer is that it is no ones fault than our own!

Ouch, was that as hard to hear as it was for me to type??  Before you get totally disgusted with me and stop reading, let me explain. 

Who’s strength do you go through your day with??  Who’s strength do you use when you have to pick up those socks again or when you are working with your children to have a heart of gratitude?  If it is your strength that you are using, than the bad news is that those feelings of disenchantment will continue to be with you.  However the good news is that we do not need to use our strength.   I love Philippians 4:13.  It reads “I can do all things through Christ  who strengthens me.”  Our strength is imperfect and limited.  His is perfect, never failing.  Wrap your brain around that.  We can use His strength to get through our day.  That means that the next time you reach down to pick up those socks you can do it through the Masters Hands.  2 Corinthians 12:9 reads “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

The last part of that verse really hits me hard.  “I would rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”  I hate to talk about my weaknesses, let alone boast about them.  But if I can admit and boast of all my weaknesses to the one who can give me perfect strength than I can tap into that power daily.  If you are currently struggling in this area, wrap your arms and brain around the fact that He desires to strengthen you.  He wants to give you a dose of the Masters Hands for you to work through.  

Ephesians 3:16 promises, “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.”  If you are a child of Christ you have His Spirit in you already, all you need to do is ask and the power is there.  The strength is there.

Colossians 1:11, “Strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously.”  What a promise that we can work for our family with patience and joy.  Woo Hoo, I want a huge dose of that!  I desire to show the Master through my actions and service to my family and I LOVE the fact that he has promised me the ability to do just that.  All I have to do is pray and focus on “doing life” through His strength and NOT my own.

I hope that you will grab hold of the strength that He has promised to give, TODAY!  

My new Favorite Website

In my search for the best way to get everyone my recipes and meal plans I stumbled on a website called Meals Matter.  http://www.mealsmatter.org/index.aspx  The whole purpose of this website is to aid you in your planning meals for your family.  They have nutritional helps, personalized cookbooks, pages of recipes, as well as a feature that helps you plan your meals and send the ingredients needed directly to a shopping list.  This site will help you set up a cooks pantry in your home to eliminate the need to run to the market every-time you want to make something new.  Can I just say that I love love love it!  I hope you will take a few minutes to check it out.

I have started to set up my online cookbook.  I will continue to add recipes so feel free to drop back at any time to see if there is anything new.  All the recipes for the monthly menu's will be posted to this cookbook.  

http://mealsmatter.org/cookbooks/ctmhmama/everyday/

This link should take you directly to the cookbook.  Please let me know if you have any issues with the link.  Over time I will try to post the individual links for each meal  in the calendar section.  We will see how that works out???

I hope you will enjoy!

So What's for dinner???

I have found the use of a meal plan so very helpful.  It takes some time and a little effort but it is paying off in enormous savings each month in our grocery budget and it is saving my heart from clogged arteries due to eating out too often.  

So how to get started.  I recommend beginning with a 2 week plan.  Open up your calendar and see what the next 2 weeks are going to bring for you and your family.  Are there nights where you will barely have time to eat??  Will you be entertaining??  Use these cues to help you plan the meals that you and your family enjoy.  Put easy recipes for the busy nights and ones that take a little more time on the evening that you are entertaining.  Compile the recipes and formulate your shopping list.  That really is all there is to it.  It takes a little time and a little discipline and you will reap the benefits.  I have been using this method for quite a few months and can testify to its benefits.

Many of you have been asking for my meal plan as well as for the recipes.  I am going to try to help you out.  Remember my meal plan as well as my families tastes and schedules will not always jive with yours.  In those cases just adjust the plan to what works best for your family.  All the recipes can be found at my online cookbook.  I will post the link so that you can go right there and print off the recipes that appeal to you.  Please let me know if you have any questions for me.  Also, please feel free to share any of this info with friends who you think may be interested. 

Stay tuned for what is on the menu for this month.