Saturday, May 4, 2013

God the Potter


     This beautiful pottery planter was made by our son, Anthony.  I love the rich colors in the glaze and the whimsical spirals in the design.
     When Anthony fashioned this piece, he took a lump of clay which he then pressed, pounded, and rolled with his hands.  He intentionally added small amounts of water to make the clay more pliable so that he could shape and mold the clay as he desired.
     The first chapter of Genesis describes the creation of the Sun and the stars, the earth and the seas, the animals that creep on land and the fish that swim in the ocean deeps.  Most of the verses in Genesis 1 begin with “God said “Let there be,,, and there was....”  All of these things were created by God speaking them into being, right up until verse 26.
     Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
     So God created mankind in his own image,
  in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.  ~Genesis 1:26  
    Here is how God made man:
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.  ~Genesis 2:7
     God did not speak us into existence.  He formed us with His hands.  God took the time to put His hands in the dust; to pick up the clay and shape us in His image.  The Hebrew word translated “formed” means to press, mold, work with, fashion and shape like a potter.
     Isaiah captured this image when he said:
     “…O, Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand.”  ~Isaiah 64:8 
     And Paul said,
     “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  ~Ephesians 2:10
     We are God’s workmanship.  We are His work of art created in love for a relationship with Him.


I am flattered to say that this post was featured at:  Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy!
Inspire Me Monday

9 comments:

Foursons said...

Beautiful pottery and I love how you tied it into Genesis. God is beyond amazing.

Love Bakes Good Cakes said...

Lovely post - and love the pottery :) New follower on Pinterest from the Let's Get Social Sunday! Thank you so much for joining us last week - I'd like to invite you back again this week - the party starts at 6 am Eastern time! Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes

Anonymous said...

There is a gentleman who is a potter at our church, and he travels around the country with his wife sharing about this particular Scripture and weaving in his personal testimony.... it's a moving experience. You reminded me of him with this post.

Unknown said...

Thank you for the beautiful reminder. Found you through Tell Me a True Story. How important it is to remember we are His handiwork and make especially for Him. - Penny Lane @ Sisters Raising Sisters

a joyful noise said...

Your pottery is such a special gift from your son Anthony. The colors are happy and remind us of Spring. Thank you for sharing your story at "Tell Me a Story."

caryjo said...

I try to be the clay, but so often I start battling the potter. Hope my personality will eventually turn to the Potter 1000% of the time. [And, I didn't mean 100%... I knew what I was doing.]

Neat sharing.

Laura said...

This slays me every time I consider it. This, and that he calls us his masterpiece. Lovely, Donna.

Ren said...

Wonderful post!

What Marty Sees said...

Beautiful reminder of how God shaped and formed us. May your day be blessed!

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