Jars of Clay at GFA...

Tuesday night is truly one of our favorite nights of the week. That is the night GFA has prayer night for 2 hours and we get to be a part of it by being able to stream it from the computer to the TV. We so enjoy our time to just "be together" with our GFA family and I cannot begin to tell you how many times we have been encouraged by the message and just the ultimate focus on prayer that is the center of Gospel for Asia. Well, this past Tuesday night was absolutely no exception (and funny that many of our friends at GFA have posted this on their blogs too - guess it made an impact on a lot of us!).
John Beers, one of the leaders and main speakers at GFA shared this week. One of the things that made such an awesome impression on Dave and I when we were there for our interview week was how "open and real" the leaders at GFA are and it is very apparent whenever we have the privilege of hearing any of them speak. I just wanted to take the time and share a little of his message.
All day long I’ve been thinking this thing: “John, remember who you are.” Your stories are all different. Whoever you are, maybe the most highly skilled person in the world – but you were lost and headed to Hell, and Jesus saved you. We are all lost, we are clay pots that’s all we are. And you know, clay isn’t a very precious metal – it’s dirt. We are dirt and water. The only good thing is that the Lord fills us. None of it is us. If He gives us good things – that’s His. That’s what this is all about. I just want to encourage you. Tonight when you go home, ask the Lord to show you who you are. Who you are is a great thing, praise God, but never forget the work in your life. And when you are tempted, remember what you were. Let these be your stones of remembrance. Sometimes I think the longer we have been a Christian, we sometimes tend to forget who we really are without Christ. I am nothing without Jesus! He is my reason for living and my Savior! It is my prayer that we all keep this attitude of humility, knowing that whatever good thing we receive is simply given to us by an awesome God who loves us and knows each and every detail of our very being and wants to bless us (I am not speaking of temporary blessings in this world that have no meaning but of eternal things that will last forever). He chooses to give these things to us just because He loves us but yet He desires for us to know Him so intimately and completely that we realize that we can do nothing apart from Him and ultimately will rely on Him for ALL things.
I pray this encourages you as it did me and that it would move us to a closer and deeper relationship with our creator - that is my prayer.
John 15:5 -- I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.