On Tapestries and Pots

In this Biblical Thinking UPGRADE, Dawn says Christ-followers may not understand the mysterious workings of their sovereign God, but they must remember He is also a loving Heavenly Father—and His children can trust Him.

I love this picture. Two objects in the photo above are vivid pictures to me of God's loving, sovereign rule, and of my need to rely on Him.

Look with me a few minutes at these two objects:

1. The Tapestry

Tapestries are beautiful, traditional works of art. This one pictured above is a famous one, "The Lady and the Unicorn." * Tapestries inject great touches of style, personality, texture, and color into homes.

Some are simple designs. Others are intricate. But they all have something in common.

The backsides of tapestries are often a knotted mess.

Even if all the knots are neatly clipped, it's still can be challenging to distinguish the creator's design from the backside.

Unfortunately, we only see the backside of our lives.

God always knows the design He is creating in and through us—the Creator makes no mistakes, and His plan for us will be accomplished. But we may not understand all the whys of His working.

We are not omniscient—all-knowing like our God.

Besides that, His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways—they are far above and beyond our own thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Because He is God and we are not, we need to trust Him in the processes and outcomes of our lives.

2. The Pot

The second object in the photo that reminds me I need to rely on God is the pot next to the couch.

Pottery reminds me of God's sovereign rule. In the story of the Potter and the Clay (Romans 9:19-24) we're reminded that God can do with us as He wills. (See also these scriptures.)

It's a simple but profound concept.

God is the potter; we are the clay. God is the Creator; we are the created.

In a broad sense, God is the Potter and humanity is a lump of clay; and from this lump God makes various vessels.

It is His right to do with the clay whatever He desires, and He makes sovereign choices.

The giant lump of clay is dirty and flawed, but God pulls from the lump to create beautiful vessels of honor fit for His service.

And He makes vessels of dishonor that also serve His holy purposes.

(I know this scripture passage is controversial, and I won't go into all the ramifications of Paul's words here—but clearly he says God has the right to do with us as He wills.)

Paul makes the case: Who are we to "talk back to God"? Who are we to say that God is not just and fair? We're lumps of clay!

The point I want to make here is:

We humans have so much pride, tremendous arrogance, when it comes to God's sovereign rule. 

It's foolish that fallen, flawed creatures think they have a right to question and pass judgement on their Creator's actions. We have no right to demand explanations from the sovereign ruler of the universe! He owes us no apologies.

In an attempt to understand, we can ask questions of God as His creation and His children—David did; Mary did.

But we must not question God as judges.

Biblical Christians realize their desperate need for a savior, and that the Savior is Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, an irreverent attitude toward our Creator and our Savior can manifest itself even after we have received God's salvation. (That's why believers through the ages were told to fear God—to reverence and obey Him.)

Some Christians believe that once we are Christ-followers, we deserve "special treatment" from God. In other words, we have a right to never suffer, to never face tough circumstances, etc.

That is not biblical thinking.

We should expect trials and suffering, and in them, God calls us to cooperate with Him as He purifies us to make us vessels for "nobel use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work" (2 Timothy 2:20-21 RSV).

God has bigger plans for us than we can imagine.

And so, just like the potter smashes and reworks clay, the Heavenly Potter may purify us by:

• smashing some of our dreams,
• crushing some of our plans,
• and reworking the "clay" of our lives to better fit His purposes.

Becoming a smashed pot is painful, but it is necessary, because the Father who loves us wants to conform us to the image of His dear Son (Romans 8:29-30.).

I love to address God by the phrase "Father God," because it reminds me of who He is—not that it encompasses all He is, but that it helps me understand His working in my life.

1. He is my loving Heavenly Father. His purposes in and through me are for my growth and good, and for His glory.
2. He is the sovereign God of the universe—powerful and majestic, all-knowing, just and wise. Nothing takes Him by surprise, and nothing is outside His control.

Knowing these two great truths brings me peace, no matter my circumstances!

In a book promo for Heaven Rules by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, I read these words:

"Heaven is ruling, always ruling. That doesn't mean that we won't experience distress, but it does mean we can find a refuge by looking upward and letting His peace rule in our hearts." **

Though He owes me no explanations, I believe my Father God will someday help me make sense of the messy knots on the backside of my life tapestry—the abuse, the struggles with sin, the cancer. And I believe my Father God will use me for His purposes, as the Potter designs and uses the clay.

My Father God does this to make known the abundance of His mercy and the riches of His glory. And His gracious providence leads me to worship Him.

It also leads me to trust Him. As I look at the photo above, I imagine sitting down on that couch and relaxing in the midst of my tough circumstances. How can I do this?

My God is in control—and He loves me!

Do you flinch at God's workings in your life? How does knowing God loves His children and is powerfully designing their lives for their good and growth, and for His glory, help you trust Him more today?

Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Today, is a speaker and author, and the creator the blog, Upgrade with Dawn. She is a contracted researcher/reviewer for women's teacher and revivalist, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth at Revive Our Hearts, and is a regular columnist at Crosswalk.com. She and her husband Bob live in sunny Southern California, and Dawn has traveled with Him in Pacesetter Global Outreach. They have two grown, married sons, three granddaughters and a rascally maltipoo, Roscoe.

* The traditional woven tapestry in the meme, "The Lady & the Unicorn" is available at Art & Home.

** Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Heaven Rules: Take Courage. Take Comfort. Our God Is in Control, Moody Publishers, 2022. (Quote is here.) 

Waiting in Hope

Joanie Shawhan is an overcomer. Her belief in God's Word and trust in her Savior, Jesus, informs her choices about the struggles of life. It also teaches her how to wait in hope for the God who is in control. In this special Christmas UPGRADE, Joanie approaches the celebration of Advent with the desire to encourage each one of us to "wait in hope.""Mom could no longer manage another winter in her house," Joanie said. "We decided to sell her home and move her into assisted living by Christmas."

My husband and I (Dawn) and his extended family went through something similar with my husband's parents in 2021. It wasn't easy. There were so many challenges—opportunities to trust God. But through it all, we learned a lot about trusting God's timing, and waiting for Him to show Himself mighty. Like Joanie, we learned to "wait in hope."

How does this relate to Christmas?

Joanie continues . . .

Several buyers walked through the house, but they shook their heads. The house needed too much work.

I feared it wouldn’t sell.

Doubt and worry had whittled down my hope and left me exhausted.

A friend reminded me, “You only need one buyer.”

As I prayed, I sensed the Lord nudge me to declare “Jesus is Lord” over our situation. I prayed as God directed. I felt enveloped in a blanket of peace.

Once again, I engaged in the waiting process. But this time accompanied by a new faith and hope.

As I pondered waiting in hope, I was reminded of the Christmas story.

The Long, LO-O-O-ONG Wait!

For centuries, the Israelites waited and watched in hope for the coming of the promised Messiah. Even when they endured persecution and exile, they waited in hope. Against all odds, they believed God would fulfill His Word.

‘“The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6 NIV).

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV).

Even though they trusted in God’s Word, did they understand these prophecies concerning the arrival of the Messiah?

It would be 700 YEARS LATER before the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary.

“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:31-33 NIV).

Even Mary didn’t understand the Angel’s message. How could the words of this angel be fulfilled since she was still a virgin?

But Mary believed God. Little did Mary know how her “Yes” would not only change her, but would transform the world.

Mary's “yes” acknowledged the Lordship of God as she waited in hope.

When I declare “Jesus is Lord” over my situation, I acknowledge God’s sovereignty as I wait in hope. Even when I don’t understand God’s plan.

How does my declaration of  “Jesus is Lord” help me wait in hope?

• I replace my doubt and unbelief with faith.
• I surrender to the will of God by confessing, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
• I relinquish control of my circumstances. God is in control.
• I acknowledge that when I obey His Word, I am not responsible for the outcome of my situation. God is.
• I express my love for the Lord through my obedience.
• I worship God for who He is and not just for what He can do for me.

Even when I wait in hope, the answer to my prayers is not always the answer I desire. Sometimes I don’t understand why a loving God would allow His children to suffer various trials.

I wonder if Mary recalled Simeon’s words when the Romans nailed her beloved Son to the cross.

“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” (Luke 2:34-35 NIV).

Mary didn’t understand God’s plan either. Only later did she see the glory of God.

We may not see God’s glory in our situation on this side of eternity, but as we walk with the Lord, we trust He will be glorified.

Advent is a liturgical season of waiting. A time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

The first of the four candles of advent is the candle of hope. Hope—a light shining in a dark place.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV).

We can wait in hope because God is faithful.

How are you waiting in hope during this advent season?

Joanie Shawhan shares true-life stories, offering her reader an eyewitness view of the action. Her Selah Awards Finalist book, In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer, reflects the value of “Your story plus my story become our stories.” An ovarian cancer survivor and registered nurse, Joanie speaks to medical students in the Survivors Teaching Students program. She co-founded an ovarian cancer social group: The Fried Eggs—Sunny-Side Up. Publishing credits include: Guideposts Divine Interventions, Snapshots of Hope & Heart, Wit, Whimsy & Wisdom, Life Repurposed, and We May Be Done But We’re Not Finished. Follow Joanie at www.joanieshawhan.com.

Christmas Graphic adapted, courtesy of TerriCnuddle at Pixabay.

Being a Light in a Dark Election

Morgan Farr is a woman of faith with courage to speak up for the Word of God. In this special, insightful  Election UPGRADE, she encourages biblical responses and behavior before, during and even after the upcoming election.

“I have a confession to make,” Morgan says. “I am a bit of a current events junkie. You wouldn’t know it to look at me, but I love politics, civics, and the law.”

I (Dawn) am too! And I have found Morgan to be a woman of faith with strong opinions—and those opinions are rooted in powerful, positive principles of truth from scripture.

Morgan continues . . . 

I strongly believe healthy discourse and debate about these topics—politics, civics and the law—is a crucial aspect of being a good citizen.

In the craziness that is 2020, I have had to take a break from engaging in debates and discussion about politics and, in some cases, even following current events, because I just cannot take the hateful darkness on all sides of the political spectrum. 

The amount of name calling—even from mature Christians—in this election cycle has been appalling. Hateful memes and comics are frequently shared by people claiming Christ’s name.

People are railing against political parties and ideas while forgetting that the people that they are talking about are made in the image of God—just like us.  

So, I am going to share with you how to be a light for Christ before, during, and after the 2020 Presidential Election. 

BEFORE the Election

1. Do Your Research: 

Learn as much as you can about each candidate so that you can make an informed choice.

A small caveat here. Keep in mind that the presidential election is ONE of the elections happening on November 3rd. There are 470 seats in Congress up for election this go around. That is 35 Senate seats and 435 House seats. Be educated and prepared! 

2. Be Wise:

• Share what you learn about the political candidates in a way that honors God. Check and double check your facts before you post anything about another person, political or otherwise.
• Remember that each of the candidates are human beings made in the image of God, treat their names that way.
• Share positive articles and posts about the candidate that you decided on rather than posting all the negative things about the other candidate. Do not engage in the mudslinging nonsense. 

This is where people often say, “But Morgan, the other side is bashing our candidate, so we have to tell what their candidate is doing wrong!”

To which I say, “Nonsense!”  

Proverbs 12:16 says,

Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent quietly shrug off insults.

Let them say whatever they are going to say.

You are not going to change anyone's mind on social media by arguing or posting ugly comments or sarcastic memes. No one is won over that way, and all it does is make you (and the church body) look foolish. 

DURING the Election

1. Do Your Part

Titus 3:1-2 says,

Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God’s people should be bighearted and courteous.

Get out there and be helpful! 

These are a few simple things that you can do to help on or near Election Day regardless of who you are voting for:

1. Help get other people registered to vote ahead of time.
2. Volunteer to be a poll worker. 
3. Bring supplies (water and snacks) to people in polling stations.
4. Find out if anyone in your church or community needs help getting to the polls on November 3rd.

Examples of that fourth point:

• Help the elderly, who may not be able to drive.
• Help mothers of small children—babysit so the children don’t have to stand in line at the polls.
• Help first-time voters who may be intimidated by the process. 

2. Vote Well

Do not just vote for the person with the most advertisements or the person that your pastor, dad, spouse, or employer told you to vote for.

Vote according to your conscience after careful prayer and study. 

AFTER the Election

If Your Candidate Won: 

That is great news! Handle it like a good sport.

Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out (Colossians 4:5-6).

Do not alienate people with boasting or trash talking after the election. All that does is cause strife.

Instead focus on bringing out the best in the people around you since that is where you will have the greatest impact. 

If Your Candidate Lost: 

I am sorry for your disappointment. Handle it like a good sport.

Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So, live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear (Romans 13:1-3).

Do not then allow that setback to impact your testimony as a Christian by behaving in a manner that would blemish the reputation of Christ.

Whoever gets elected is not a surprise to God.

God is in complete control even if we do not like the outcome.

Finally, let me remind you that the leaders of the country are hundreds or thousands of miles away from most of us.  Do not allow political affiliation to determine how you treat the people in your community. 

If someone votes for Trump, respect their choice. 

If someone votes for Biden, respect their choice. 

Ultimately our allegiance is not to the Democrat Party or Republican Party, or even to the United States. Rather, our allegiance is to Jesus Christ and His ultimate authority as the Son of God. 

What can you do to bring light to the election process for 2020?

Morgan Farr is a Texas-loving, succulent-cultivating, book nerd. Stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this Army wife is learning to love her husband, developing her four children, and tackle the homeschool life while moving all over the country. Morgan writes about her transition away from feminism and into biblical womanhood at The Forgiven Former Feminist.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Hannah Edgman.