Daily Thought for Monday, August 15th

August 15, 2011

Artistry

Today’s Thought:

“A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament.  Its beauty comes from the fact that the author is what he is.  It has nothing to do with the fact that other people want what they want.”  – Oscar Wilde

Today’s Quotes:

“Art attracts us only by what it revels of our most secret self.” – Jean-Luc Godard

Today’s Question

Have you ever given consideration to the idea that: “Art, unless it leads to right action, is no more than the opium of an intelligentsia?” – W. Somerset Maugham

Today’s Bible Verses:                     Jeremiah 18:1-6 & Romans 9:20-24

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“True art is the intermediary between man’s ordinary nature and his higher potentialities.”– E. F. Schumacher

“Empty and broken, I came back to Him:

A vessel so unworthy, so scared with sin:

But He did not despair; He started over again:

And I bless the day; He didn’t thro the clay away.

Over and over, He molds me and make me:

Into His likeness; He fashions the clay:

The vessel of honor that I might be today:

 Is all because Jesus didn’t throw the clay away!”   - Gene Reasoner (lyrics from ‘He Didn’t Throw The Clay Away’) 

Some say beauty is in the eye of the beholder: as Christians we need to realize God sees beauty in each of His creations.  He is the Master Artisan and Creator and it is His hands that make the vessel more than ordinary and/or applies the luster to the paints on the canvas of our life that bring the true beauty to who we are.

The thing we have to do is surrender ourselves to the Master’s hands.

Our hearts cry should be:

“Beautiful Lord, Wonderful Savior:

I know for sure all of my days are held in your hand:

Crafted into your perfect plan:

So, Take me, mold me, use me, fill me:

I give my life to the Potter’s hand.”  - Darlene Zschench (lyrics from “The Potter’s Hand’) 

Today’s Prayer:

Father, may I become the work of art that you desire me to be.  May I surrender to your hands and allow you to create your artistic work in me.