The Lord uses us in His own special way!  Let's remember to always be
waiting eagerly upon Him.

In His Hands,
    Cindy
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THE CRACKED POT

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a
pole
which he carried across his neck.  One of the pots had a crack in it, and
while 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 master's 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 full of water to his master's house.  Of course, the
perfect
pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was
made.  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 a 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."

"Why?" asked the bearer.  "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load

because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back
to
your master's house.  Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this
work,
and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his
compassion
he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the
beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the
sun
warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this
cheered
it some.  But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had
leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for
its
failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only
on
your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side?

That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage
of
it.  I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while
we
walk back from the stream, you've watered them.

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to
decorate
my master's table.  Without you being just the way you are, he would not
have
this beauty to grace his house."

Each of us has our own unique flaws.  We're all cracked pots.  But if we
will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table.

In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.

So as we seek ways to minister together, and as God calls you to the
tasks
He has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws.

Acknowledge them, and allow Him to take advantage of them, and you, too,
can
be the cause of beauty in His pathway.

Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength, and
that
"In Him every one of God's promises is a Yes."

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