Sunday, September 16, 2007

Here I am again.....2 blogs in 2 days....nobody faint....but I have some good news. I have finally found a name for my disciples.....if you know me, you know that when God involves me in the life of another I take it very seriously....I take her into my heart and grow to love her as my own. So the term "disciple" just sounded so....cold. So project like.


I've really thought about this. What fits? What describes them....both to me and to God? After all, they are His....entrusted to me. Big responsibility. So what do I see in them? Potential. Promise. Some of them are a work in progress when I meet them. Some are starting at the very beginning when I cross their path. While a most beautiful picture of them would be flowers unfolding in the light of God's love.....it's much different than that. It's more like the work of a diamond cutter. When the jeweler gets the chunk of metamorphic rock (it doesn't sound very pretty does it?), He begins to shape it. He doesn't send it through a diamond cutter that produces a beautiful clean stone on the other end of a machine. No, he puts on his magnifying glasses and begins to chip away at all the unwanted pieces of the rock. He slowly cuts away all that keeps the rock from showing what's been hiding in the earth...he works diligently at keeping all that makes the rock unique. Slowly but surely he chips away. Not all at once....but little by little. Eventually he designs a beautiful, clear stone that reflects the light back to his eyes. He is thrilled with his workmanship and sets it out for all the world to see.

I see these women like that. What's ahead of them won't be easy. But in each of them I see a diamond in the rough. As God continues to chip away the unwanted pieces of rock, a beautiful reflection of Him shines through. His light shines through their lives. People who knew the untouched piece of rock will now see the reflection of Light that radiates through their every move. How exciting is that to be a part of I ask you? Next to seeing my own children grow in the Lord, I have never experienced anything quite like it.

So to get back to my original thought....I guess they all start out as "disciples" but eventually I see them as Jewels. Precious, beautiful and expensive...remembering that the cost was His very life. I considered Gems....but maybe it's not quite as...precious. We never hear of the Crown Gems...or the Gem of the Nile (yeah, I know the Jewel of the Nile was really Cleopatra, not a stone but you get the picture). When it's exquisite it's a jewel. So with confidence in His promise to finish that which He starts, I already see them as precious jewels. Right now, as He has entrusted them to me, they are Judy's Jewels.....but only for a time. They are truly God's Jewels and He promises that in Zechariah 9:16 & 17:

The Lord their God will save them on that day
as the flock of His people.
They will sparkle in His land
like jewels in a crown
How attractive and beautiful they will be!


So there you are. Jewels...in the making. If you are one of them take heart. Do not be anxious about anything. You are in the hands of the Master Diamond Cutter.




Now for a run.....Judy

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

...........I pause to wipe the tears that fall...with an overwhelming sence of relief....As the beautiful passage before me rings true.......That I am being composed....of so many great things...faith..truth..obedience and direction....without one there is weakness....The ultimate goal....to do God's will.....

I am forever blessed to have an amazing leader before me (and friend)...to teach me ...one who will stand next to me in battle...one equipt with the armor of God.....

And So...to the one who protects God's jewels.....I give my Thanks.

Anonymous said...

There are now only three people that I feel have taken a geniune interest in me. My husband, my counselor and you. You all have taken it upon yourselves to care for me, love me, build me up, tear me down (in the right ways) and hold my hand. I truly thought no one cared. Even at this moment I am blown away by the fact that you three care and have invested in me so much and continue to do so. I was raised believing I wasn't so special and to get over it. Thank you for the bottom of my heart Judy, for simply caring.

...there beneath the blue suburban skies...