one of the songs
i have had on repeat
in this season is
“way maker”
…
i really love
the cover by caleb + kelsey
b u t
the first time
i heard this song
was the last time
i was at church
[ the physical-building kind of church ]
…
i think we will all agree
that a lot has happened since then
a n d
church is still a thing
as the body of Christ are virtually-gathering
b u t
in this season of physical distancing
there are some truths here for discovery
there is new way-making and world-shaking occurring
you are here,
moving in our midst
i worship you
these lyrics
could not be more simple + true
he is here
even in the midst of this
he is moving
one of my favourite questions to ask people is
“what is God teaching you right now?”
…
it seems like a simple, cop-out spiritual question
however, it really requires us to have a teachable spirit
to be open to learning + growing in God
…
when i was asked this the other day
words poured out of my heart
sometimes when we speak
we hear things from within ourselves
for the first time
…
when we find a safe space where we can share
there are depths + discoveries to be had
as i began to articulate,
i started to speak of the shaking:
the world has been shaken by this spirit of fear
there is paranoia brought by a pandemic
a n d
in the shaking, there is breaking
the breaking down of strongholds in society
the destruction of idols of worship
you are here,
touching every heart
i worship you
in the shaking, in the breaking
there is way-making;
while the world is shaking,
that which cannot be shaken is revealed
those who follow the way-maker find:
there is a kingdom
that cannot be shaken
there is a love
that cannot be shaken
there is power
that cannot be shaken
…
those who follow the way-maker find:
that perfect love casts out fear
a n d
in place of a spirit of fear, there is a
spirit of power, love and self-control
you are here,
healing every heart
i worship you
so many of us, myself included, live in a state of hurry
b u t
in this season we are being forced to stop, to stay home
be still my soul
in this stillness, we find the world-shaker
he is still
he is here
he can move, he can shake
but his gift is one of grace
u n d e s e r v e d
he brings us to this place
deliverance into peace
where are hearts are homes of worship
you are here,
turning lives around
i worship you
he is transforming
our patterns of living, our ways of being
there was so much
that needed breaking, that needed shaking, that needed destroying
so that his way-making
could be known
his moving, his healing
he is transforming
you are here,
mending every heart
i worship you
i believe
that we are created
with a heart of worship
…
i love the lyrics of this song
because they remind us
that who we worship
is powerful
…
there are many idols in our culture
that can creep into our heart
that we value
that we elevate
that we worship
that we depend on for security
and all of these
can be shaken
…
this pandemic has exposed
many of these
that which promises
to provide stability
but can be shaken
y e t
in the midst of this
there is one
who cannot be shaken
you are
way-maker, miracle-worker, promise-keeper
light in the darkness
my God, that is who you are
the way-maker
is here
the miracle-worker
is moving
the promise-keeper
is light in this dark world
…
he is not exposed
but exposes
he is not shaken
but shakes
he is worthy of all our worship
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at your presence
as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil
to make your name known to your adversaries,
and that the nations might tremble at your presence!
When you did awesome things that we did not look for,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him.
You meet him who joyfully works righteousness
those who remember you in your ways.Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;
in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
There is no one who calls upon your name,
who rouses himself to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.
But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
[ keep reading in ISAIAH 64 ]
did you notice the imagery:
quaking + trembling
[ world-shaker ]
a n d
the desire of our way-maker for us:
+ to look for the awesome things he has done!
+ to hear + perceive him!
+ to wait for him!
+ to joyfully work righteousness
+ to remember him in our ways
+ to ask after our salvation
+ to call upon his name
+ to know him as our Father
+ to be like clay
we too can see this season as one of:
looking, hearing, perceiving, waiting, joyfully working,
remembering, asking, calling, knowing + being.
a n d
in the revealing + exposing of that which cannot quake + tremble
we encounter
our miracle-worker as a maker
our promise-keeper as a potter
our way-maker + world-shaker is also a clay-shaper
we are like clay
…
our creaturely states come to light
how grounding it is, to be created
…
only the other day
did i have my first experience making clay
it is humbling
…
two of the things i learnt about clay the other day:
…
1. the art of kneading:
before you can do anything with clay, you need to first spend time going deep. you knead to press into the needs. you move around the surface, unfolding, refolding, allowing your knuckles to smooth out the knots, to soften the clumps. the heart moves with the hands, as you let the clay collapse before collecting it together again. there is the gentle uncovering + discovering of kneading through needs. bringing air and light to that which was buried in the dark. once you’ve kneaded for a sufficient time, you’ve enabled the conditions for creating + transforming the clay.
…
2. the art of shaping:
once you’ve kneaded + brought the needs to the surface, you can now being to make meaning, to give life + form to the clay. this is the creating, the shaping. there is intention, there is preparation. it is a process of gentle crafting, carving, strengthening, smoothing. as i was making my clay in the dark, there was an added element of focusing on form, not on the flaws + cracks. of course, once you bring the clay into the light, you need to spend time focusing on these flaws + adding dabs of water to the clay to create a smooth consistency for ensuring there will be no further breaking.
it is humbling
because it takes time, it takes patience, it takes intention
a n d
with a teachable spirit
this clay-making process
enables me to learn something
of the nature of God
and what he is truly saying + revealing
when he calls himself our Potter
a potter uses clay to create a work of art
if we are to be kneaded + shaped
we need a posture of submission
as subject, as art
into the trustworthy hands
of our clay-shaper
he, as Potter, is patient with us
as our clay-shaper,
he is identifying the necessary kneading of needs
the creation of conditions for us, his clay, to change
he sees the opportunity for specific shaping
to make us who we are
WORKS OF LOVE
we are but earthlings
made from the dust
yet also made in the
image of greater Love
so if the Father calls himself our Potter
we can trust that we
as the works of his hands, as his children
are his creative masterpieces
carefully crafted
with intention + with purpose
…
for our way-maker + world-shaker
to also be a clay-shaper
means that the works of his hands
his creation, his creatures
have all been created + shaped for the Way
even when i don’t see it, you’re working
even when i don’t feel it, you’re working
you never stop, you never stop working
we may not see this Shape
n o w
or with our physical eyes
b u t
the Spirit is shaping us
more + more
into the likeness
of a greater Shape
a greater Clay
J E S U S
he is the image of the invisible God
for by him all things were created
in heaven + on earth
visible + invisible
whether
thrones + dominions + rulers + authorities
all things were created
through him + for him
he is before all things
a n d
in him all things hold together
[ COLOSSIANS 1:15-17 ]
so for us to be the Potter’s clay
means we must allow our Potter
to lovingly shake, break + shape us
that He might continue to create + make
working His way in this dark world
a n d
the hope we have as clay
is that we have this greater Shape
a n d
in him
all things
hold together
…
…
…
can i get an amen from anyone who has worked with clay!
ensuring the clay does not crumble + crack is crucial!
all else
that we fill our hearts with
will leave us broken + empty
…
all else
that we fill our lives with
can be taken today, tomorrow
…
all else
can be shaken
...
all else
can be broken
…
but he is:
the way-maker, the miracle-worker, the promise-keeper
he is the light in this dark world + these dark times
he cannot
be shaken
so to finish, in this season, be encouraged:
our world is shaken
b u t
we have a way-maker, world-shaker + clay-shaper
who is working all things together for our good
a n d
his Way is good
because HE IS GOOD
