When I look back on the reason that I started this blog, Clay In The Hands, it is because I wanted a place to reflect on how Jesus molds me along this journey of the Way and I prayed that sharing my journey would somehow be used by God to mold others as well.

I am not sure how God has been able to mold others through this ministry, but I do know how God has used it to mold me.  I have been reading (as most of you know) through the book of Romans for several years now.  I have been camped in chapter 12 for about a month.  I have come to think of this chapter as the Christian Manifesto.  Just about everything you need to know to live for Jesus is in this chapter.

But today I am reminded that the molding of our lives into being more like Jesus happens when we cease to chase after the things of this world – stop being conformed to this world and its patterns – and we allow God to transform us by giving us a new way of thinking about life and love and service.

This blog is really built on the foundation that God is in the pottery business and we are in the formation stage.  Let God give you a new mind today.

Lord Jesus, mold us to be like you!

As I sat this morning in my chair and had my prayer and reading time, I looked to my right to see this sight.  The question came to my mind, “Just how many remotes does it take to turn on a television?”

I remember a day when the common statement in some households was something to the effect, “I don’t have a remote, that’s why we had kids.”  Not any more.  Now it would appear that it takes at least two remotes for each piece of equipment.

As I thought about this new reality, I began to think about the purpose of the remote.  Don’t get me wrong, it is a wonderful invention and one that would change my life if it went away.  But the whole premise of the remote is that it allows me to affect a change “remotely” – to change something without having to physically get involved.

The downside to the invention of the remote is that the premise has bled over into other parts of our lives as well.  Trying to make a difference without physical commitment has become a way of life.  I see something on television about the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and I am moved to do something – to give money and pray.

We hear about the living conditions in the local children’s home and we are moved to do something – again, give money or make phone calls.

Jesus called us to live an engaged life – not a remote life – an involved life.

How can you ditch the remote and get involved today?

Jesus told his disciples that as followers of the Way, they needed to be about caring for others and preaching the kingdom.  Is that still our calling?  I believe it is.

So what does living out these verses look like today?  I think St. Francis hit the nail on the head.  We are to live our faith in the way we love and care for others.  But don’t miss the fact that we are to share our faith verbally.  Obviously, if our life does not reflect the love of Jesus, then our words will make no difference at all.  But if we are trying to rely on our actions alone, how will anyone ever make the connection between compassion and the love that God wants to offer them.

Preach the kingdom of God today – using words and actions.

Last night we spent some time in the emergency room at the hospital with family friends whose son was in a car accident yesterday afternoon.  No one was seriously injured but our friends’ son cut his hand badly and needed surgery last night.  I was in the room when the surgeon came in and introduced himself.  When he told us his name, I knew what my post would most likely be today.  His name . . . Dr. Mulligan.  My questionable sense of humor nearly got the better of me but I was able to restrain my wit until we reached the waiting room.

For those of you not familiar with golf, and the way people like me play the game, a “mulligan” is what you call for when you hit a bad shot and you request to hit another.  In formal play, a mulligan is not allowed but the way I play, we try to keep it to one or two per 9 holes.  At any rate, a mulligan is a “do over.”

Maybe its just me, but I found it quite comical that the surgeon performing the procedure was named, Dr. “Do Over.”

However, he was excellent.  He had an immediate connection with the patient and did a great job informing and calming everyone in the room.  The surgery was a great success and his ability carried into the waiting room after the procedure as well.  He was outstanding.

Here is my thought for today: we don’t choose our name – we are born with it.  We don’t chose where we are born or to whom.  But we do have the ability to choose how we will live and what kind of difference we will make in this world.

I challenge you today, regardless of what life seems to have dealt you, to make a positive and real difference in someone else’s life before you go to bed tonight.

Let me know how that goes.

Development of a network does not mean growing the number of contacts you have exponentially.  For example, I tweet (you can follow me at @jbrianhill on Twitter).  I get a couple of followers per day who are using online tools to gain followers.  When I look at their follow and follower counts and the numbers are over 10,000, then I know that they have no desire to really connect with me as part of their network, they are just trying to see how many followers they can get. So I choose not to follow them back.  The result of my choice is that in a day or two, they quit following me as well.  But what is the point of all of that?

Development of a network should be about pouring yourself into others to develop them.  As an employee or a member of an organization, if you are not working to contribute to the goals of that organization then you really hold no value to the organization.  But as a leader, if you are not contributing to the organization by investing in those whom you lead, then you are not relevant and even worse, possibly a detriment to the organization.

What are you going to do to develop your network today?  When you take the time, the dividends are huge!

I plugged the iron into the outlet and waited for it to heat up.  And I waited – and I waited.  After two or three minutes, the iron was no warmer than when I pulled it from the closet.  I checked to see if it was on and tested the plug – still nothing.  After a few seconds, I determined that the outlet was not working.  I moved it to another outlet and – heat!

It reminded me that we are to be instruments in the hands of God – but just like the cold iron, we will be unable to do what God wants us to do if we are not connected to the Father.  I could have tried to iron my shirt with a cold iron, but I am pretty sure it would not have done much.

The same is true of us.  When we try and do things on our own power, not much happens.  But when we are connected to the source, the Bible says here that God can do some amazing things through us.

How’s your connection today?

The first thing that I would mention is that when I began this ministry, it was because I felt compelled by God to do it as a means of expressing what God placed on my heart as part of my journey along the Way.  But I counted the cost, just as Jesus said here.  I knew that committing to post 3 to 5 times per week would be a huge commitment.  I was nervous that it would cease to be meaningful and just become rambling.  But I took the step for several reasons, not the least of which was the idea that it would force me to be in the Word daily and to spend time in prayer and meditation – that has proven to be the case.

I confess, many days it may not be very meaningful to everyone, but another humbling thing I have learned is that God uses our efforts, no matter how insignificant they may seem, to make a difference in someone’s life.  I have received emails and comments on Facebook and Twitter, as well as comments directly to the blog, from people all over the world who God has touched through these simple ramblings.  So the lesson today is that each of us has something to contribute.  God does not call us to be successful, just faithful!

I sincerely appreciate all of you!  I pray that as we move forward together, that the next 200 posts will be used by God to draw us even closer into the community of Jesus followers that God wants us to be.

Be blessed today!

Our Father: reveal yourself to me not as I have imagined you and not as others have stereotyped you, but as you really are: creator of all that is, loving redeemer of all your people.  Amen

What image of God do you have in your mind and heart when you pray?  Our minds naturally try and paint a picture of abstract ideas.  Because we have not seen God, we tend to think of God in whatever image we can imagine or in a way that has been described to us by someone else.  But do we really want to know what God is really like?

Can you pray this prayer today?

She is not the normal “traditional” pastor’s wife.  She doesn’t play the piano or enjoy singing in the choir – and for me, that is perfect!  She doesn’t like being in the spotlight at all.  So some may ask, “Then how can she be the perfect pastor’s wife?”

She is compassionate and caring to a fault.  She has a quiet strength that comes out in many ways.  This past weekend, we walked with some dear friends through a very difficult time.  Kristi was right there with me, ministering to the family in the hospital and in their home later.  I am so proud of her.  The coolest thing is that she didn’t even realize that she was doing it.  It just happened out of her loving and compassionate heart!

The perfect pastor’s wife!

I left the meeting amazed and inspired by their dedication.  Thank you Elfie and Joan for your tireless dedication to our Lord and the people of Fabens and the border towns just inside Mexico.

May we all strive to live out our salvation as you do each day!