I need Jesus just as much a Miley Cyrus does.

I'm sure by now that you have all heard the news, yesterday Miley Cyrus performed at the the VMAs and it is safe to say that her performance was very... raunchy. If you haven't seen the performance I don't suggest that you go see it, it is not worth your time, it is better to be "out of the loop" than to have this image in your mind. I don't want to get into details about the performance and I don't' want to glorify what she did but I do want to bring up some thoughts that I had after seeing this video.

When I heard the news of Miley's performance I was overwhelmed with many different emotions, but the strongest feeling was the need to pray. Not just to pray for the people who saw the performance, not just for Miley's heart broken family but for Miley. I remembered who I was before the Lord got a hold of my heart, I remembered the pain I felt, my need for acceptance and attention.

Then I was reminded

I need Jesus just as much as Miley does and so do you. I have sinned so much more than I would ever want to admit. My lies put Jesus on that cross. My envy put Jesus on the cross. My hate, anger, lust, and disrespect put him on the cross. I am a horrible sinner, but we have a great God who forgives and that is how I can call myself a new person who has started with a clean slate.

I am challenging myself and I want to encourage you all to do the same--
When you see a link, video, or photo of Miley to pray for her rather than share the link. If you find yourself having a difficult time praying for her remember who Paul was before he encountered God.

"For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to [fn] me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone" Galatians 1:13-16 

With Love,

Noelia

In the Potter's Hands

I am in awe of God's love for us. My mission trip to Nicaragua was over a month ago but God is still teaching me so much from the trip. When I was in Nicaragua we visited a potter's house, he was incredibly wise. The potter showed us/explained the process of creating a beautiful piece of pottery. 

First the clay is found in the darkest parts  of the Earth. To the normal eye this clay is nothing special but the Potter sees its potential. 

He picks out the impurities so it can be prepped for molding.   

Once the clay is ready to be molded the Potter rolls it into a ball and sets it on the wheel then he begins. 

The Potter told us as he molds the clay he can feel the impurities that are left in the clay... and they hurt his hands.

If there are any impurities left in the clay he cannot mold it in to his masterpiece.

So he will pick out the impurities and start all over again.

Once he has molded the clay the Potter checks it for impurities and picks them out.

And fills the wholes that they left behind.

Once the pottery is ready the Potter beings the last step before the fire, he paint the clay

Once the pottery has been placed in the fire it can't be changed.

And if that clay still had impurities it will show. There is no taking it back, the potter no longer has use of it.

As great as all of the previous information none of it changed my life like this next part did.

 The potter grabbed a piece of work that he had  molded, destroyed, remolded, picked, filled, and painted and dropped it on the floor. The moment the fragile piece of clay hit the floor it shattered. The whole group sat in total silence. We didn't understand why a potter would let his work of art fall a break. Before we could lose hope the potter told us clay can be molded, destroyed, remolded, picked, filled, and painted but if it has not faced the fire the potter can still use it.

The potter then picked up broken piece of painted clay and told us that he could take the clay and start the process all over again. It can be made new. 

I don't know about you, but I am a piece of clay that has been molded, destroyed, remolded, picked, filled, painted and broken. If you are feeling discouraged, if you think that the Lord cannot use you I am here to tell you that you are terribly wrong. The world may see a broken piece of clay but God sees your potential.

Something to remember:
Saul caused many followers of Christ to die, and at what some people would call a low point God changed his life and molded him into something totally new. Don't forget that Paul faced many trails in life after that, but God gave him the strength and many lives were changed because of the many times Paul was "remolded".

With love,

Noelia