Tag Archives: Christianity

God the Master Potter

Posted on November 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

“…….”You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

The potter was working the clay and suddenly he threw it back on the bench. It was too hard and needed water, so he started all over again.  The final result was an elegant Japanese teacup which the potter put into the hot kiln for a few hours. When the teacup had been fired, one could see the image of the crown princess of Japan.

The Bible says that God is the Master potter . We, like the clay, become stubborn and resist when God is molding us to fit His design. We, like the clay, have hard hearts and  parched spirits due to a lack of obeying His Word. He may have to begin again and again to teach us the same lesson until we “get it”.When, like the Japanese image, we are held up to the light, others will be able to see the image of Jesus in us. So do not despair–the best is yet to come as long as we remain in the Potter’s hand……..    (Judy Whittaker)

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God Loves You!

Posted on November 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

“I have loved you with an everlasting love…” (Jeremiah 31:3)

The way we perceive God reflects the way we worship Him. If we visualize Him as a hard taskmaster our worship will be cold and distant.If we picture Him as a loving God, then are worship will be reverential and meaningful.

Worship is so much more than just going to church and singing hymns. Worshp is a way of life; it is what we do for God on a daily basis. It is giving glory to God in everything we do. It is praising Him, loving others, and serving Him with our whole heart.

Circumstances in our life may affect the way we perceive God, such as our relationship with our own father, listening to a priest, minister or pastor, the books we have read, our personal experiences, or the stories we have been told since early childhood. These circumstances may be positive or negative.

We can change our negative perception of God by prayer, talking to Him, and reading the Bible. If one wants to identify with a Bible character, read the Psalms. The psalms are songs written mostly by David, but some are written by ordinary people trying to comprehend who God was so that they could trust Him.

Some of God’s attributes are discovered through His Word such as merciful, compassionate, forgiving, loving, steadfast, just, truthful, powerful, etc. In order to trust Him we need to know about him; the same way you would  need to know a friend before you give him the keys to your car.

When we feel God’s love we will have a better understanding of  His Son, Jesus Christ. All of a sudden life makes more sense when we know there is a promise of eternal life in heaven for all who believe in Him.
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him will have everlasting life.” (Judy Whittaker)

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God With Us

Posted on October 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

Due to a serious illness I haven’t written a Bible message for four months. Now that I am in recovery I would like to share with you some of my spiritual reflections on my journey from illness to good health:

God strengthened me when I was so weak I couldn’t even walk. “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart…” (Psalm 27:14

God taught  me that there is a time to rest. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” (Psalm 37:7)

God brought me to the “river of living water” by a visit from a pastor friend who sang “Amazing Grace”, a Eucharistic minister who presented me with a  Gideon Bible ,and  a praise and worship band.

God showed me His love through family and friends who prayed and comforted me. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)

God inspired me with card messages, flowers, and encouraging words. “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.( Philippians 4:8)

And now that I am in recovery God sends me to bring His healing light to others and share His Word with the hurting and the lost. ” Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain. (1Corinthians 15:58)

I believe that God spared my life because my work on earth is not yet finished. I must continue to serve Him until Jesus calls me home. There is so much to do–what about you? ” Let  your light shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)   Judy Whittaker

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Equipped For the Ministry

Posted on May 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

“And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, understanding,knowledge,and all manner of workmanship…” (Exodus 31:3)

There was much work to be done! God had just given Moses detailed instructions for building the tabernacle in the wilderness, but Moses did not have the gift of workmanship. How would this daunting task be completed?

God called Moses to lead the people and not build His sanctuary, so He anointed a man named Bezaleel with His spirit of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of craftmanship so that he could create beautiful works for the tabernacle made from gold, silver, and brass. He also gave him the gift of stone cutting and wood carving so that the tabernacle would be not only functional but beautiful as well. And to balance the workload, God gave him an assistant to help with this enormous undertaking.

Has God ever called you to a position or project way beyond your human capabilities? Then remember these scriptures: “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” ( Phillippians 4:13), “…for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27), “God is my refuge and my strength, a present help in time of trouble” (Psalm 142:5). God does not call the talented; He calls the faithful. Then He equips us for the work at hand.

Sometimes God sends us a helper, as he did with Bezaleel. Through His Word, prayer, teachers, spiritual mentors, loved ones, and friends, we derive the guidance and strength that we need.

If God calls you He will also equip you—but only if you remain faithful to His call. (Judy Whittaker)

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The Lord–My Strength and My Song

Posted on May 17, 2012 | Leave a comment

“The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” (Exodus 15:2)

Frank had a terminal illness and gave his life to Christ a month before he passed away. He had always loved to sing, and one day he sat up straight in his Hospice bed and belted out the song, “Amazing Grace”. The hospital staff was amazed at his strength because two hours later he passed into the arms of Jesus. The Lord became his strength and his song.

Moses and the Israelites sang a song after their victory over Egyptian slavery, and one of the lyrics was, “The Lord is my strength and my song and he has become my salvation.” (Exodus 15:2) They all sang with timbrels and dancing for this glorious victory!

When the Lord is our strength and our song we have a reason to celebrate as He gives us joy in the midst of sorrow. Who is your strength and your song? (Judy Whittaker)

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Come to Jesus

Posted on May 3, 2012 | 1 Comment

Jesus said, “Come to me all who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

When we come to Jesus wonderful things happen!

One Sunday morning about 20 years ago I was fidgeting in my church pew trying to decide whether to respond to an altar call. Suddenly I broke down and cried, thinking I wasn’t worthy enough to go receive my salvation because there was too much sin in my life. The lady next to me (a total stranger), put her hand on my shoulder and said to me, “Jesus wants you to come to him just as you are. Come to Jesus.” I got up from my seat and with shaky legs walked to the altar, knowing that I would never be the same again.  I came to Jesus that day and received forgiveness for my sins. He still lives in my heart today.

A woman who had a bleeding problem for 12 years came to Jesus, touched the hem of his robe, and was immediately healed. (Matthew 9:20-22) This woman came to Jesus and received a physical healing.

Crowds of hungry people came to Jesus and he fed them because he had compassion on them. (Matthew 14:14-16) These people came to Jesus and received a provision.

Peter came to Jesus and was able to walk on the water-until he took his eyes of Jesus and began to sink and Jesus had to rescue him. (Matthew 14:28-29) Peter came to Jesus and received a miracle of faith.

The lepers, the lame, the blind, and the deaf came to Jesus and he healed them. (Matthew 15:31) They came to Jesus and were healed of their physical handicaps.
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Little children came to Jesus and received love. (Matthew 19:13-15)

Mary Magdalene came to Jesus and he cast out 7 evil spirits from her.  (Luke
8:2)  Mary came to Jesus and received deliverance. and was the first to see Jesus in His resurrected body! (Mark 16:9)

Jesus meets us where we are at, but this doesn’t mean that if we come to him that we will receive what we desire—–only if our request is in accordance with His will. To God, our spiritual healing is much more important than our physical healing. Will he heal our ailments, provide for us, deliver us, etc. ? Maybe, but He is under no obligation to do this. After all he is God and His ways are a lot higher than our ways.

When we  come to Jesus, we will always be blessed in some way. What is your blessing? You’ll never know unless you come  and see! (Judy Whittaker)

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Reflections of His Light

Posted on April 26, 2012 | 2 Comments


Before we knew God we lived in darkness (sinful nature), but when we follow Jesus we live in God’s Light. How can that be?

The Bible says that Jesus is the light of the world and those who follow Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. (John 8:12) Light dispels darkness.

Jesus tells us that not only do believers have His light inside of us, but that we are called to be  the light of the world! (Matthew 5:14) This is a pretty difficult command since the world wallows in darkness—sin, greed, lust, and unbelief. Yet we are called to reflect the light of Jesus, the same way the moon reflects the sun’s light.

We become light reflectors by staying close to God, doing good works in Jesus’ name, and developing the character of Jesus. Even our suffering causes us to see the face of God more clearly so we can be better reflectors of His light. “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Our light shines brightest when our sins have been confessed and forgiven. Any unconfessed sin casts a shadow on our light, and if our sin remains we may return to the darkness. “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness.(1John 1:9)

Those who come to the light desire truth. In Jesus’ time many people did not respond to His light because their deeds were evil and they loved the darkness.

Making a decision to follow Christ is not easy. It will cost us something, just as it cost Jesus everything. But it’s worth it—isn’t it?  (Judy Whittaker)

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Playing Church

Posted on April 12, 2012 | 1 Comment

“Nevertheless, I have something against you because you have lost your first love.” (Revelation 2:4)


What happened  to the church with the impressive brick and ivy-draped exterior——but whose interior resembles “dry bones”?

On Sunday morning the preacher preaches to a captive audience, quoting bits and pieces from the Bible, skillfully averting any passages that may offend someone in the pews. Ears are tickled with funny stories and intellectual “aha!” moments, and the congregation is entertained. But where is the transforming power of the gospel? How did they lose their first love—-the passion of Jesus Christ?

There were so many programs and wonderful church picnics, something for everyone to get involved in. Why they even gave some of their offerings to feed the poor with enough money left over to pay for one of the best worship teams one could imagine! So many works done in the name of the church, but the name of Jesus was rarely mentioned. When did the church of Jesus Christ become the church of good works? When did they lose their first love?

In the book of Revelation Jesus reprimanded the church of Ephesus . Although they were doing good works in Jesus’ name, they lost their first love–the love of Jesus. He told them to repent or they would be excluded from future blessings in heaven. (Revelation 2:4-7)

Does this description fit your church? If it does, then do not be afraid to stand for the sake of the gospel. The apostle Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation….” (Romans 1:16)

The blood of Jesus must be preached (the cross), because the Bible tells us without the shed blood of Jesus there is no forgiveness of  sins. (Hebrews 9:22) And without the gospel being preached there is no power. When we get to heaven, I doubt if God will be asking us what works we did—only what works we did in His name.

This is serious, my friends.  Take a stand and make a difference in your church. Know your Bible and if a doctrine does not line up with the Word of God, lovingly challenge the preacher who misquotes it. Respect people of different faiths who do not agree that the Bible is their authority, but if someone is preaching untruths from the Bible, then it is time for the church of Jesus Christ to stand up. Will you be one of the first in line?  (Judy Whittaker)

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Unforgiveness—The Enemy Within

Posted on April 5, 2012 | Leave a comment

“….forgiving one another even as Christ has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Joseph was his father’s favorite son of his old age and was hated by his jealous brothers. So they decided to kill him. One of his brothers showed mercy and convinced the other brothers to spare his life and throw him in a pit with no water instead. Arab traders came along, rescued Joseph from the pit, and sold him to the pharaoh of Egypt’s captain of the guard.

Years passed and because Joseph loved the Lord, God raised him up through many trials to be second to the pharaoh in governing Egypt. Due to a harsh famine in Israel, Joseph’s brothers came to him to beg for food. They didn’t know he was Joseph but Joseph recognized his brothers. He forgave them for their cruel conspiracy against him, gave them food and land, and said, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” (Genesis 50:20)

Forgiveness is a process. We can’t forgive by ourselves, but with God working through us we can. Unforgiveness is like a cancer that attacks our spirit, generating hate, resentment, and bitterness in our soul. When we forgive, we are free from the bondage of sin. Yes, according to the Bible, unforgiveness is a sin. “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:26)

On the cross, after being brutally beaten, Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) If we want to be more like Jesus we must learn to forgive, even if the other person doesn’t apologize. When we do not forgive we hold something against someone—as if that person owes us something. Andy Stanley, a noted theologian, pastor, and author wrote, “The essence of forgiveness is a decision to cancel a debt.”

Forgiving someone does not mean that all the breaches in the broken down walls of the relationship have to be restored, setting ourselves up for possibly more hurts and disappointments. We don’t want to allow ourselves to be doormats either. It simply means letting go and moving on if necessary.

When we forgive, we are forgiven. It is as simple and as complex as that. (Judy Whittaker)

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The Second Mile

Posted on March 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

“Whoever shall compel you to go a mile, go with him two.” (Matthew 5:41)

During the Roman Empire, when a Roman soldier wanted a Jewish boy to carry his pack for a mile, the boy would .have to obey. However he would never be required to carry the pack for more than a mile. That was until Jesus’ radical teaching  required those who were compelled to go one mile now  go two!

Jesus tells us to go the second mile. Not literally  in our culture, but symbolically, meaning for us to do a little more than what is expected. Jesus knew we couldn’t have an abundant life without going the second mile. The blessing that comes from it leaves a deposit of happiness on our heart. Also by traveling the second mile we influence others to do so as well.

God went the second mile when He gave His Son Jesus. God had created a perfect world with a guidebook that showed how to live it, but man turned away from God. So God sent Jesus to die for us.He travels with us on our second mile.

The next time we are asked by God to do something, let us do it wholeheartedly,then wait and see what happens.There is a blessing in heaven waiting just for you!  See you on the second mile……(Judy Whittaker)

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