In the Potter's Hand

Polish pottery is hand made and the artist's signature or piece number is stamped on the bottom. God's signature is written all over your life and all will be blessed as you display His handiwork.

If you have never experienced shopping for Polish pottery in Poland, it is like nothing you've ever experienced! Many women who have experienced living in Europe while working for the U.S. military or being married to someone working for the military have fallen hopelessly in love with Polish pottery. I'll just go ahead and confess... I fell prey to the Pottery bug!

Upon walking into one of the pottery stores the first time it is totally overwhelming and a sensory overload of colors, styles, and choices. There are more styles of coffee cups than I ever imagined. Then there are dishes, spoons, regular cups, platters, casserole dishes, napkin holders, wall decorations, cabinet knobs and so much more. Did I mention the many different patterns that abound for everything that I've just mentioned? Just as you begin to adjust to your surroundings someone mentions grades and 1st-4th qualities! What makes this pottery so special? Polish pottery has a reputation for its exquisite craftsmanship, vibrant designs, and exceptional quality. That's the main thing but the other half is taking trips with friends to purchase it it Poland! This is how I got hooked... just a group of girls from church on a weekend trip.

Polish pottery is meticulously crafted by skilled Polish women or men. Each piece undergoes a labor-intensive process that involves hand shaping, hand painting, and hand glazing. Now they do produce with molds but the hand painting and glazing makes these pieces once of a kind. Many women visiting Poland for the pottery enjoy taking a class to make a piece- oh how proud they are of their masterpieces! The meticulous concentration to pain it, the thought process of picking just the right colors and the joy of a beautiful creation means oh so much to these creative women.

I'll spare you lingering on and on by moving on to the greatest Creator- the Creator of everything. Those special, hand-created pottery pieces are nothing compared to the handiwork of our Creator! Isaiah 64:8 says, "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter: we are all the work of your hand." Sister, when God created you he picked colors, size, personality, emotions, cellular activity, and yes, even down to the number of hairs on our head (Matt. 10:30) among other things. I'd say that makes you pretty priceless!

Polish Pottery is priced according to the amount of time required to paint the piece. The primary elements that determine this are the specific shape and size, the number of colors in the design and its intricacy. Many designs now days are painted entirely using stamps, which are quicker to apply. Think about the imagination that God must have to make each and every one of us different! Even identical twins have different fingerprint patterns and hair whorls, even though they share the same genes/ DNA. They also often have different personalities, interest and preferences- all created by God. Psalm 139 (which I have mentioned in previous blogs) assures us that God planned every single detail about us before we were ever formed in our mother's womb (Jeremiah 1:5). He not only created each of us in a special way, but He charted our course of life designed to bring Him glory! Oh, how special each and every one of us are to Him.

There are times when we mess up, we are broken or due to circumstances our design gets a little "smudged" but every time those "mistakes" or "flaws" come up, we need to remember that just like that Polish pottery, those are the things that God continues to use to set us apart and use for HIS glory. Ephesians 2:10 and Jeremiah 29:11 assures us that "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..." and God has plans"... to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". As silly as it sounds, the creators of Polish pottery pieces have a plan for each pottery piece that they form. That's why they take such time pouring into making the pieces. My sister, God created you in His image for His purpose in His time. Embrace your flaws, relish your uniqueness, and give praise that you are wonderfully made in the precise way God wants you.

I took speech therapy for many years as a child and even today I really have to think when forming some words. It was very hard for me to begin to fathom speaking in front of ladies to share God's Word but as I trust God, He continually makes a way to cover my imperfections using me for His glory. Give Him full reign in your life to complete the work that He has begun in your life. Trust me when I say He will do a much better job in making your life beautiful than any of us could trying to be in control of our lives. Give Him the brush and let Him finish what He has begun in painting the masterpiece that He created you to be. Let God turn your flaws into the fascinating finishing that He has planned for you! Pray that you will not only hand the brush back to God today but that you will resist the urge to take the brush back into you own hands again. I promise, His masterpiece (you) will be a stunning story weaved into His story as He completes His plan for your life. A grade "A" quality 1 that will shine stunningly for Him as well you weather Satan's attacks. Let others see His Signature on His creation as you walk through daily routines in your life and praise God for His wonderful creation!

Verses to meditate on: Psalm 139; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 1:5, 29:11; Matthew 10:30; Ephesians 2:10

`Live sent