I took the day off from work and spent most of the day sleeping. I have been getting less sleep recently and I think exhaustion caught up with me. As I write, I feel very refreshed and thankful. God is so good to me!
Psalm 146 begins today … “Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, O my soul; I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live.” So part of my day, I did go into my music room to sing praise to God. I am again, blessed to be asked, to fill in musically at Mass this Sunday, just me and my piano to lead our congregation in praising God.
The Gospel passage today is from Matthew 13:47-53, which again, talks to us about what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. I, like most of us writing and reading Christian blogs, want to go to Heaven. Jesus tells us … “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age.” I used to read passages like this in the most negative of ways. I, because I know my sins, would look at myself as the bad fish thrown away. Now, because of a deeper relationship with Jesus, I have come to know of His great mercy and His desire for me to repent of my sins and continue to come back to Him fully.
In today’s first reading from Jeremiah 18:1-6, what is written I believe to be true and a saving grace for me personally. The words spoken are … “I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased. Then the word of the LORD came to me: Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done? says the LORD.” Cannot the Lord take the sinful man that I am, made of clay, and reshape me into the Holy man I was created to be? Yes! I think that I am that work in progress. We know as believers, that by ourselves, it is impossible, but all things are possible with God. I will put my faith and trust in Him. Alleluia!
Seeking To Reflect Jesus 
Reblogged this on The True Light.
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A wonderful post, Mike. Yes, we can be shaped into the person God wants us to be if we allow Him to do so. Glad you are feeling better!
Steve
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Thanks Steve!
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Enjoy your day/weekend, Mike!
Steve
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You also Steve!
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We are all works in progress, Mike, and we will spend our lives sinning and turning back to Him because we are human, and because He is a gracious, forgiving and loving Father.
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Thank you Susan! It is always good for me to be reminded of the Father we have. We are truly blessed!
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If you’ve ever watched a potter on an old fashioned potters wheel, you can really see this picture. I love this analogy of how God works in our lives probably more than any other. The clay has no power in itself – it is only by the guidance and manipulation of the potter that the clay takes shape. And the potter works hard, with all of his capabilities to make that happen. It’s fun to watch, and even moire exciting to think God works that hard on little old me! Praise the Lord!
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Thanks Pete, praise the Lord!
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