THE CRACKED POT By Sandy Warner Sandy's email: swauthor@usa.net www.thequickenedword.com

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"I WAS ARGUING WITH THE LORD. . . I TOLD HIM I WAS WEAK AND TOTALLY UNQUALIFIED!"

SOUND FAMILIAR? THEN YOU NEED TO READ . . .

THE CRACKED POT By Sandy Warner Sandy's email: swauthor@usa.net www.thequickenedword.com

2/2/02

Hi Loved Ones [from Sandy Warner, author of "101+ Ways to hear from God (see above)],

In the Word the Lord gave me for 2002 about Gideon there was a section about Him using weak instruments to defeat our enemies, and part of that was a broken clay jar. Here is a quote from that post for a reminder:

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“WEAK INSTRUMENT - A BROKEN CLAY JAR

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The instruments that the Lord used to defeat these Midianites are amazing. They carried hidden fire inside clay jars which they brought into the enemy’s camp. It was not until these jars were broken that their torches blazed. Of course the jars of clay are us and the light is Jesus Christ and His fiery passion within us. When we are broken and vulnerable before the Lord and before our enemies, we are in the place where God wants us to SHINE. (Judg 7:19-22)

“And yet, LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all formed by your hand.� (Isa 64:8-9 NLT)

{end quote}

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"I ARGUED WITH THE LORD ON THE WAY TO CHURCH"

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I would like to share with you a story that was read at church a couple of weeks ago. On the way to church I was arguing with the Lord. I am sure the Lord was loving me with a twinkle in His eye, as I was busy pouring out my heart. I am sure He listened very carefully, but He said nothing. I told Him I was feeling weak and totally unqualified for something He had called me to do. I was reminding Him of all the mistakes I had made. As I found my place to sit in church, the following story was read the first thing, even prior to worship!

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THE CRACKED POT

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A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it and the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his house.

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THE POOR POT WAS ASHAMED!

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Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments which was perfect for the task for which it was created. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts."

The water bearer replied, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path. Do you notice that there are flowers only on your side of the path but not on the other pot's side?�

“That is because I have always known about your flaw. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you have watered them. For two years, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without your being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

{end of story}

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A BRIEF PICTURE VISION

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Have you ever had someone tell you a great story but you guessed the punch line ahead of time? At the beginning of the story above, just as I realized that the pot was only delivering a portion of its water, I had a word of knowledge and I saw all these flowers in its path. I think the Lord wanted to emphasize to me that He was answering all my complaints about how I was not measuring up. This story so hit me between the eyes, I am still thinking about it 2 weeks later and the Lord certainly had something to tell me.

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OUR CALLING COMES FROM A SOVEREIGN LORD—

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When we have His calling upon our life, we forget that He is Sovereign and He perfectly lines up what we perceive as failings, with those who need to hear them. Once we really accept that, it releases us from all expectations except just to cling to Him.

I perceive that there are many, many people who have a calling upon their life and they have yet to understand it or receive it. They are actually running from their callings and a large portion of the reason is because of their weakness and failures. They feel unqualified or disqualified. We are all called to be His witnesses and He uses everything we give Him.

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.� (2 Cor 4:5-7 NKJV)

And so as the angel told Gideon, “Go in the strength you have.� (Judges 6:14) (I Pet 4:11, Acts 11:29, Matt 5:15-21)

Lovingly,

Sandy

THE QUICKENED WORD: Website: www.thequickenedword.com Sandy’s Email: swauthor@usa.net

Sandy's books, including "101+ Ways to Hear from God" can be found at: http://theelijahlist.safeshopper.com/125/cat125.htm?656