What do You want with me, Jesus of Nazareth? I’m just a broken vessel, the pieces of my life lie scattered over the ground.

What do You see in me, Jesus of Nazareth? a broken vessel is of no value in this world.

Why did You die for me, Jesus of Nazareth? Only miracles make broken vessels whole again.

I have nothing to offer You, just broken pieces if You want them. But I must warn You, I have tried to mend myself. I made me the biggest and the best and the most beautiful I could be. I wanted rivers of life to be poured from me. But there were cracks in my vessel and the precious water drained away. I’ve put my pieces back together so many times, Lord, that I’m weary of even trying yet again. And always, there are holes.

Can You really make me into a vessel that You can use to pour out Your love? Then do it, Lord! For I want to be whole! Make me Your most beautiful and important vessel for all to behold. And then I shall fill myself with all the wonderful things I desire.

What’s that Lord? You can’t use my vessel? There isn’t room for You? Sure there is! Oh, You want it all? No thanks, I’m happy being the biggest and the best and the most important . . .

Lord, my vessel’s cracked again, under the weight of worldly joys. Maybe I filled it just a little too full? Maybe those joys turned out to be a heavier burden than I bargained for. Can You mend my vessel?

Only if I give it to You? Then I would be Your vessel. Would You make me big and glorious? Trust You? Ok, Lord, but no more cracks, please.

I’m Your vessel now, Lord, waiting to be filled. Give me rivers of life . . .

But Lord, this is only a cup of water – I don’t understand – I want to water the world . . .

A cup at a time? Your water doesn’t leak out now but what if I run dry? Couldn’t You give me more?

A cup at a time?

Maybe I shouldn’t give it away? What’s that You say, Lord?

Your vessels never run dry? Because You are the River of Life? Because You are the Living Water?

Then fill me, Lord, just a cup at a time and I will pour it out on Your lost, thirsty people, one cup at a time.

I am just a small, unadorned, earthen vessel. That’s how You made me. You are the Potter who fashioned me for Your good purposes.

You are the One who heals all my broken cracks or uses me just as I am, in my broken state, cracks and all. After all, Your living water can pour through my many holes and cracks easily, wherever You send me, to water Your world – one cup at a time . . .

So fill me, Lord, from the river of Your living water – fill me a cup at a time, and I will be faithful to pour it out, one cup at a time.

“Jesus answered, ‘ . . . whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ ” (John 4:14)

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

“But this precious treasure – this light and power that now shine within us – is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own.” (2 Corinthians 4:7/Living Bible)

receiving and pouring out living water, one cup at a time –

sincerely, Grace Day

Happy Birthday U.S.A.! we celebrate your birth today – you’ve come such a long, long way, it’s fitting that we pause to pay, honor to you on this day.

A bloody birth, as all births are, from painful pangs new life emerged – a nation “conceived in liberty” came to be, a home for those who would live free.

A people no longer serving a king, now free to serve God – let freedom ring!

You are quite young, as nations go – still you have faced many a foe, in your short two-hundred forty-five years, you’ve overcome many enemies, persevering through tears –

the world watches with wonder at the gifts you give your citizens, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” you have purchased at great price for all those who call you home –

Oh, America – you shelter us from the storms of oppression and tyranny, you stand guard, that city on a hill, casting freedom’s glow for others to follow in your footsteps – if only they dared –

to pay the price of Freedom’s cost, many lives have been lost – given up for Freedom’s cause, today we celebrate and pause –

to give God thanks for His mercies overflowing, one nation under God all-knowing, blessed under His almighty hand, allowed the test of time to stand,

another birthday to commemorate, all that makes our country great! so let flags fly while fireworks fill a summer night’s sky, and let us tell our children why –

people travel across the sea, seeking life and liberty – wanting to call our country home, love her as if she were their own –

yes, let flags fly and parades pass by, and drum beats drum while choruses sing, the Star Spangled Banner is heard to ring –

across the country from every city and town, while flags are flying, fireworks falling down –

in wild arcs of color lighting up the sky, celebrating another year gone by.

remember the ride of Paul Revere, warning that danger was drawing near? – his call was heeded, the patriots prevailed – still today, as a hero he is hailed.

many more have followed in his path, protecting our nation against an enemy’s wrath. to keep this a land of the free, so many have been brave, fighting countless battles, our country they did save.

today the flags are flying over this land of the free, reminding us how precious is the gift of liberty. may I be like Nathan Hale, willing my life to spend, brave in the face of danger, willing Freedom to defend.

America, may your dream remain, the hope of so many to attain. Let all be free who enter here, may Freedom flourish another year! Let every voice be heard without fear – all equal in God’s sight, it is God who gives us our unalienable rights.

today let flags fly in celebration, like the flag at Iwo Jima, let them fly in commemoration – of tragedies and triumphs along our history’s bumpy road – always may Freedom’s story with clarity be told –

today, let the flags fly, let our banners wave – may God grant this land remain home of the free and the brave.

today, let the flags fly, let Freedom’s light burn bright – let patriotic chorus echo long into the night.

Happy Birthday U.S.A., may we celebrate and cherish you well – may we never forget your birthday, nor the story your birthday tells.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12)

sincerely, Grace Day

Water was washing over the sides of the boat as the waves rocked it every which way. The people in the boat were scared, panicked really. This storm had come upon them so suddenly, the sea had been calm only moments before. But now they were all afraid for their very lives. Except for the one who was asleep in the stern. The storm didn’t seem to bother him. Had the rocking of the boat rocked him to sleep? No matter, if the storm didn’t wake him, the others in the sinking boat would. And so they cried out to him, “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?”

His response? “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” (Mark 4:39) The reaction from the other passengers in the boat? “They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!’ ” (Mark 4:41)

Seems like they didn’t know their sleeping passenger as well as they thought they did, since they were now questioning His identity. And well they should question who he was. After all, each one of them had just recently left everything to follow Jesus and become His disciple. They had heard Him teach. They had watched Him heal a man with leprosy and a paralytic who got up and walked after Jesus forgave his sins. Then there was the man in the synagogue with a shriveled hand, whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath. This had created quite the controversy among the current religious leaders, really rocked the boat, so to speak.

And now they found themselves in a literally rocking boat with Jesus. Why would the wind and the waves obey this man? Because He created them! “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3)

The disciples did not fully realize who Jesus was at this time or they wouldn’t have asked the “who is this man?” question. But they did and Jesus’s response to His disciples was, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Maybe it is easier to have faith when the sea is calm and no one rocks the boat. But when the storms of life come, as they inevitably do, our faith is tested. The disciples had witnessed Jesus doing miraculous things. He had rocked their world and nothing would ever be the same again. But as their boat filled with water, their faith seemed to blow away with the winds of the storm that rocked their boat. Still, they had what mattered most – Jesus presence with them.

Jesus was with them in that storm, He was right there with them in their boat. They were not alone! I need to remember that when times grow dark for me and I know I am in the middle of a storm, tossed about – my boat, my world, rocked every which way. But – I am not alone. I have my Heavenly Father’s promise of His presence which says,

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

The disciples were not alone that day in the boat in the storm, but they felt like they were. They felt like Jesus didn’t know about or care about their imminent predicament. He was sleeping through their time of need! Or so it appeared. I confess – I guess I sometimes feel that way, too. In the middle of my storm, when it looks like the waves are winning and my rocking boat will capsize, I call out to Jesus like the disciples did, wondering – don’t You see what’s happening to me, Jesus? don’t You care? I think I know how the disciples felt in those moments of overwhelming terror. Remember, they asked much the same thing of Jesus, saying –

“Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38) The answer is a resounding, reassuring, yes, God cares. He cares about me and about you, dear reader. And He’s on duty twenty-four/seven.

“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:2-8)

When circumstances cause choppy seas to rock my boat, I can know that Jesus is in the boat with me, just as He was in the boat with the disciples and just as He was in the furnace with Daniel’s three friends. My boat will be rocked often in this life. I thank God for His presence through it all.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43:1-2)

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)

“God is our (my) refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

sincerely, Grace Day