January 1, 1999
Dear Friends,
Is this really the first of the year? . . . Is that possible? . . . The last year of the twentieth century? . . . The last year of the second millennium? . . . Wow! . . .As a child I pondered life in the new century . . . It seemed so far away. But, look! . . . It's almost here !!!!. . . . Where did the years go? . . . (sigh) . . . Where did they go? . . . What can I show for them? . . . There are still many items on the "to-do" list for my life. And, speaking of my life . . . it doesn't look Anything as I imaged it would.
This past year has been a year of many challenges. I could - if we had the time - tell you all about them. This past year has been a year of many changes. We don't have time for me to go into that, either. (Smile) This past year has been a year of endings . . . It has been a year of beginnings . . . The past year has been one of blessing . . . of self-growth . . . of maturity . . . of revelation, and more, much more. The past year has been a year of meditation . . . of study . . . of reflection . . . of introspection . . . of praise . . . of worship . . . of surrender and ultimately . . . of a closer walk with the Lord. This past year, I have come to understand more clearly that my to-do list is not important . . . what is important is what God wants me to do . . . His will for my life.
"But I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me."
(John 6:38 NIV)
The prophet Jeremiah speaks of his visits to the potter's house (cf. Jeremiah 18: 1-6). Jeremiah observed that the potter has a purpose in mind for each vessel which the he makes: ". . . shaping it as seemed best to him" (Jeremiah 18:4 NIV). Whether for cooking, for storing, for food or for drink, each pot was made specifically for its intended purpose. Each of us has a purpose in life. A task, a work for which we were created. No one else has the ability to do our work in the way we can. We were handcrafted by the Master for this specific purpose. We each have gifts (cf. I Corinthians 12, Romans 12: 4-8) and talents, skills and abilities which are our tools for our work. Guided by the hand of the Holy Spirit, we can achieve the purpose for which our lives were intended.
"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work" (John 9:4 KJV).
In the Master's Love,
The Preacher,
Rev. BWilliamsWaters
email: Preacher.The@usa.net
Copyright: Brenda Williams Waters
All Rights Reserved
Rivers of Living Waters Publishing
John 7:38