February 12–Diamonds Out of Us

It’s Tuesday and yesterday I learned all about Diamonds—cut, color, clarity, carat, credit and cost as well as types and settings. It boggles my mind but I’m trying hard to learn it all. I was a bit surprised to find out how many different kinds there are. 


All the while, that little song ran through my mind: 

“He's making diamonds, diamonds

Making diamonds out of dust

He is refining and in His timing

He's making diamonds out of us”


But even through the dust and the ashes and as I learned today, intense heat, the diamonds that are us are all different, too. Each of us are unique individuals with gifts and abilities in a plethora of areas. Paul tells us that we are the body of Christ and every part of the body is necessary. 


“All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:27-31‬ ‭NLT‬‬


Are we all a princess cut? An emerald cut? A round solitaire? Of course not! We have each been called to a work and the work you have been called to is different from the work I’ve been called to do. And because we are all prepared to do different things, we are all vital. Even those who have been called to preach are all different—some to small congregations, some to large and some to be youth pastors and some to be senior adult pastors. Some are called to foreign fields, some are called to Oklahoma. Most of us though are called to niche positions—teaching 2nd grade girls Sunday School, providing meals for those who are sick, mowing yards for the widows, or coaching little league. We all have a calling and all of us are vital to the body of Christ. 


Dear Lord of Heaven, we worship you as the One with all power in the universe. Thank you for making something beautiful out of the ashes we bring you. Putting us under pressure, you mold us into the diamonds you’d have us to be, each with our own specific characteristics to be used by you where you have called us. Forgive us for failing you and forgetting to find you in your Word, and neglecting to seek you in our daily lives. Break us, then make us what you’d have us to be. We praise you for your great glory and grace; your love amazes us. Amen and amen.


Love you dear one, 

Pam

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

January 17, 2020

Happy Friday. It’s the end of another week and we have had more opportunities to share the love of Christ with those around us and sometimes that takes quite a bit of effort. I don’t know about you, but I’m not always anxious to embrace others and really listen to them or share with them (especially those who I don’t know well). Sometimes, I just look at them and think “Are you for real?” I don’t always agree with people over politics, sports or of course, religion. And let’s face it, we’d rather spend time with people we like and mostly agree.  And then I read my Bible. God hasn’t called us to sit in our little groups with only those we naturally gravitate towards, but to love people—all people, even those who aren’t necessarily loveable. In this passage, Paul writing to the people of Colosse remarks on how wonderful it is that they truly love others. That love must have really been something over and above the normal and he tells them that it is evident that it comes from the Holy Sp
Read more

January 15, 2020

Happy Wednesday to you. I hope your week is going well. Yesterday, I went to Sams. I was out of things like trash bags, toilet paper, and chicken, so off I went. I like going to Sams because there is always lots to look at and the isles are nice and wide. Everytime I’m there, I am amazed at how much stuff and everything from diapers to TVs to mangos to beds. It just seems incredible that so many things in such quantities are all under one roof.  King David never saw a store with as much stuff aa Sams of course, but he did see countless miracles and understand that God has plans. He knew from creation and history that he was serving a God of miracles and he know that God loved him and his people and would take care of them. He was amazed and awe-struck by the fact that a God who had done such great and mighty things not only cared about his people but that He loved them with such a great love.  “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can co
Read more

January 9, 2020

It’s Thursday and I woke up to the blowing wind! Lots of it—I’m dreading Boomer waking up and having to go outside with him. That harsh, bitter wind seems cruel and almost evil. But I’ll wrap myself up with a fe layers and boots and brave it all.  Sometimes I think we try to do that with things we know aren’t right—things that are evil. We try to wrap ourselves up and just wade into it, but Paul tells us we should reject it—stay away from it. “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:20-24‬ NIV When he wrote this he’d been in Berea and the Christians there diligently searched the scriptures to make sure everything Paul said was in line. Paul here is encouraging the Thessalonians to
Read more