ALL things good jars…Romans 8:28
On New Years Eve this year we had some friends over and I wanted to make these jars for them. I found the idea on Pinterest and it was called an ALL THINGS GOOD jar. The idea was to have a jar to write little notes of everything good that happens in 2013 so on New Years Eve in 2014 you can read and reflect on all the good things that happened in 2013.
When I went to buy the jars I realized you could stain the glass and make them colorful! As I stood there looking at the empty jar I thought of how many of the things that had occurred for me and some of those friends last year are not things we would be quick to label good and put in a jar. In fact, some things were really hard, really bad, and extremely painful…and in that thought Romans 8:28 came to me in that ALL THINGS are ultimately used for good – even the things that we think are bad…God will use them for good.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
As I reflected more on 2012 I realized what I thought was “Bad” in that moment was actually something that was drawing me closer to God, and was teaching me more about His Truth, His Love, and His Mercy. Was it hard? – Yes!!! Was it painful? – ABSOLUTELY!!! Did I want to give up? – Yes! Yet, those really hard things brought me closer to God.
So, as I embrace 2013 – the challenge for me is to look at my empty jar as the empty jars in 2 Kings 4 waiting to be filled. Whether it is something good or bad I can put it in that jar knowing God will use it for good. Also, having that jar reminds me of His Goodness and reminds me of the perspective I need to keep as I continue this journey. Some days will be hard, but I can look at that jar and be reminded He is faithful and He loves me. I can be reminded that I am like this jar and God is filling me with His treasure, His truths … making me who I am in His power. He is helping me, teaching me and showing me how to learn to trust Him.
2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
When I went to buy the jars I realized you could stain the glass and make them colorful! As I stood there looking at the empty jar I thought of how many of the things that had occurred for me and some of those friends last year are not things we would be quick to label good and put in a jar. In fact, some things were really hard, really bad, and extremely painful…and in that thought Romans 8:28 came to me in that ALL THINGS are ultimately used for good – even the things that we think are bad…God will use them for good.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
As I reflected more on 2012 I realized what I thought was “Bad” in that moment was actually something that was drawing me closer to God, and was teaching me more about His Truth, His Love, and His Mercy. Was it hard? – Yes!!! Was it painful? – ABSOLUTELY!!! Did I want to give up? – Yes! Yet, those really hard things brought me closer to God.
So, as I embrace 2013 – the challenge for me is to look at my empty jar as the empty jars in 2 Kings 4 waiting to be filled. Whether it is something good or bad I can put it in that jar knowing God will use it for good. Also, having that jar reminds me of His Goodness and reminds me of the perspective I need to keep as I continue this journey. Some days will be hard, but I can look at that jar and be reminded He is faithful and He loves me. I can be reminded that I am like this jar and God is filling me with His treasure, His truths … making me who I am in His power. He is helping me, teaching me and showing me how to learn to trust Him.
2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
