Formative vs Deformative Suffering

Hi,

This morning when I read the below copied devotional from Words of Hope devotional, it reminded me of a Christian Coach Leslie Vernick's mention of "Formative vs Deformative suffering". 

Me thinks, some of us are being lumped, others are being kneaded, others on the wheel spinning, while few others are being broken as God reshapes, so HE has to get us out and add more softening agents before putting us back on the wheel; while others are in oven, ouch!!! And it gets hotter and hotter; but remember HIS hand is on the knob and His eyes are on us. When HE thinks less or more heat is needed, HE knows when to turn the knob up or down. And yet others are being seasoned before being painted. So meanwhile wherever we are placed together, it's ok to comfort and talk how painful the process is. God perhpas smiles and says that's ok, keep empowering each other. Later on you'll all be smiling in MY showcase making me and others smile, how beautifully you are shaped. Let the process be hopefully joyful even while it's painful. -KC (Kalpana) 

In the Potter’s Hands

February 14, 2021 

Read: Jeremiah 18:1-11 

Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words. (v. 2) Clay is a complex medium. One careless movement of the potter’s hand renders the vessel under formation unsightly or worthless. Clay is also very forgiving. Of course if the vessel becomes deformed, it can simply be removed from the wheel, watered and kneaded. It is ready to be remade. Unless, of course, it is allowed to harden in place. God compared his people to a lump of clay and himself the potter. For centuries, God’s people resisted their potter’s hands. Their only hope was for him to pick them up, break them down, and reshape them into a vessel worthy of bearing his love. 

We too insist on shaping ourselves. We take pride in designing our identities and dictating the course of our lives. From our perspective, we look well-formed. From God’s perspective, we are incomplete. The more set we are in our ways, the more painful God’s work is. For God to have his way, he must pick us up, break us down, and reshape us. 

The true sign of a devoted potter is his refusal to let an unformed vessel harden in place. The true sign of God’s devotion to us is that he never stops working on us. Paul wrote, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10 NIV). Our Lord is the master artist. If we let him, he will make us his masterpiece. —Ben Van Arragon 

As you pray, commit your life to the potter’s hands. Words of Hope devotional

Jeremiah 18:1-11 (NivUK)

At the potter’s house

18 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 ‘Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.’ 3 So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
5 Then the word of the Lord came to me. 6 He said, ‘Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?’ declares the Lord. ‘Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. 7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, 8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, 10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
11 ‘Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, “This is what the Lord says: look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions.”

Faith that works!

I have been pondering on this Bible story of the woman with the 12 years of blood issue. 

Matthew 9:20-22 New International Version 

20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. 

Mark 5:25-34 New International Version 

25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 

Luke 8:43-48 New International Version 

43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[a] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”   

__

Here are some great points that I see. 

She had faith.

She didn't passively accept her suffering as her lot.

She didn't blame God. 

She chose to overcome shame. 

She tried all she could to get well. 

She spent all she had to get help from EVERY physician she heard of. 

She tried all measures and cures. NO change! But...

She was not a quitter. 

She didn't give up. Then.....

She heard of this kind, caring, dynamic Yeshua, the Healer, who instantly healed people. So different, so simple, so down to earth! Ah!!!! Hope revitalized.

She decided she was going to try this. She had faith and she put it into action. 

Catch this: She didn't even think she needed to send a "messenger" to request a healing meeting. No advanced booking, no appointment needed, no $ to pay, no new diagnosis nor new prescriptions. 

She mustered up courage and went. 

She saw a huge crowd. She wondered if she will make it nearer as it's a large crowd. She plotted the best way to get nearer. 

She pressed through. Anyhow, requesting, excusing, scooting and, pushing she managed to cut through a LARGE crowd! 

She self-talked, she ONLY needed to touch the hem of his garment. 

She didn't seem to want to disturb Him or His trip. She was aware of His busyness. 

She didn't even want to be noticed. (Hmmm!)

So resolutely, she came from behind and touched the edge of his cloak. And...voila!!! 

Her faith healed her. (Woohoo!)

Wait! To top it, Jesus wanted to ALSO publicly recognize her, her faith, declare her clean and restore her standing in the society. NO MORE shame! 

Jesus was actually on His way to heal a 12 year girl and enroute, willingly chose to stop, recognized her, her faith and restored her dignity after healing. She was suffering for 12 years, each year the little girl had lived, the woman had suffered. (JESUS healed both, first the lady suffering for 12 years and then the little girl of 12) 

Many of us have spent years of time, energy, $, emotions and, reasonings etc..to get the help. We have tried to fix, our ways while God is trying to fix us through His unconventional ways! God will equip, stablish, secure and strengthen us. When fiery darts come our way, God strengthens and rebuilds our core defense mechanism to fight it God's way. Or God will take us from strength to strength. And make is a blessing to others. 

That takes me to my second point: we are taught "Don't air your dirty laundry," well, here, Jesus incited her to air her already washed up laundry.  God invites us to openly talk about the message that springs from the mess, for His glory, for our good and for the edification of others. 

-Kalpana Christian Sharma @

Matthew 6:26 Human superiority?

Hi dear friends, 

I was wondering about this verse and how people misuse verse like this to advocate for human's selfish superiority? 

"Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?" Matthew 6:26 

I believe ALL creatures are equally valuable to the CREATOR of them all. We have the privilege of CARING for these dear ones with kindness and compassion. Perhaps the words in the Bible have been edited? Added? Changed original meaning? Or we are only taught limited interpretations and perspectives? 

I think I am getting some deeper understanding of this verse. Compared to tiny birds, one human would biologically in structure mean many general tiny birds. So humans are more capable, ability wise to not be idle but be proactive with faith yet without unnecessary worry. 

As: "Fowler argues the superiority of humans to birds in this verse is not so much one of theology, but more one of ability. Humans have the ability to farm, to store food in barns, and to plan for the future. Birds have no such gifts and their lives are ones of hard work for little reward. Despite these greater burdens birds have, they are not anxious about the future."-Fowler, Harold. The Gospel of Matthew: Volume One. Joplin: College Press, 1968

 "...birds are far from idle, having to go to a great deal of effort to gather their food. Martin Luther commented on this verse that God provides food, but does not drop it in their beaks." 

 "Fowler argues that it is because they are creatures of instinct. They follow the natural laws laid out by God without choice or deviation. If humans were equally as focused upon following the commands of God without hesitation we too would be without worry and anxiety." 

In God's compassionate grace, 

Kalpana

Informative info gathered from this link:  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_6:26

Trusting in God is a Hard Discipline

Hi there! 

these thoughts came: 

John 6: 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Happy International Women's Day - 08 Mar 2020

Happy International Women's Day:

Today, unintentionally, my egalitarian pastor's preaching on the subject of God being our dangerous MAMA bear went hand in hand on this International Women's Day 2020, March 8th. His sermon lines were to beware of dangerous associations yet be under the most dangerous association of being in relationship with God. God is a Mama bear who, if you mess with her Cubs, She is coming after you! That was his lovely, powerful message.

Now back to International Women's Day:
Here's my take: I am so glad that my pastor unintentionally ended up celebrating the feminine side of God, giving me a better frame to say this. To start first exalting and celebrating God’s feminine character!

Some people say we need to get Adam right but I believe unless we understand the divinity right we will continue to feed into the dominant unhealthy patriarchal one-sided view of God and still feel shy to mention the feminine side of God or to joyfully exalt God’s feminine side and thus look down on women as second class citizens.

Bible portrays God both as FEMININE and Masculine. Both Male and Female bear God's image.

If we read and emphasize GOD portrayed as a Lion and lamb, certainly based on God's Word, we can learn to equally emphasize God as fierce as Mama Bear protecting her cubs and gentle as mama Hen covering her brood under her wings (as Jesus stated), and as mama eagle carrying us on her wings, guiding us to fly to greater heights.

Before, I had mixed feelings saying something about this day: on one side regardless of the obstacles placed in women’s ways, God continues to empower women. From time immemorial women have been blamed, accused, marginalized and put at different rungs on a ladder, what they are “allowed” and what they are not “allowed to do by patriarchal society. Then many recognized that women do have a place in leadership. So those who previously did not consider equal, few years ago, some started considering women as equals yet found some way to keep them behind, under and beneath, with different gender roles, not penetrate boys' clubs, jobs, and learning spheres and so on…then on other side we exalt women one day, and we think women are equal yet we disrespect, ignore and marginalize women on daily basis. We have a problem and shrink back to accept feminine side of God and thus we think just a little less of women. Still many girls are not allowed to study higher, or have to give up studies to “create” room for boys to excel. We exalt the gentle side of women but not the fierce one. Aggressive men are exalted but aggressive women are looked down upon. While some men and women look down on women, I am grateful for MANY men and women who continue to empower women in their areas of interests. PC, Priyanka Chopra the famous Indian actress, the Quantico girl said her dad told her, “Why try to fit into glass slipper when you can shatter the glass ceiling?” Then she said that she learned that it’s about working hard without concentrating on the glass ceiling;

We all recognize that be it US 2016 election or 2020 campaign or certain work places or even the church arenas, women still are marginalized and not able to "shatter the glass ceiling”! So while patriarchal society continues to dominate a large % of our time, in this era also, we still can celebrate women and most importantly the feminine fierce side of God as well. Women's celebration is not just about gentleness but also about fierceness.

Yes, we need to write and hear more hymns that exalt the femininity of God, not just as Father but as Mother too or as a Parent! Did you also learn that it is lioness that hunts and provides?? Wow, so much to celebrate when it comes to feminine side of God, animals, and human beings!

So my pastor’s message on God as Mama bear gave me fuel to exalt God in that respect and then all women who are fierce mama bears, hardworking lionesses, protecting mama hens and high flying mama eagles guiding and carrying the society to next level.

Catch this, even as I type this on my laptop, I hear a Christian radio read today’s proverb chapter:8 Lady wisdom cries out.. I will write just few verses you go finish reading the rest of the Proverb 8.
1 Does not wisdom call out?Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way,where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gate leading into the city,at the entrance, she cries aloud:
4 ‘To you, O people, I call out;I raise my voice to all humanity.

Blessings!
KC aka Kalpana Christian Sharma
(Guarded by mama bear like God, Hidden and shielded under the protection of mama
Hen like Jesus, provided for by Mama Lioness, guided and carried on Mama eagle's wings)
(No part of this may be reproduced without the prior permission of the author)

Veg/Vegan- Adzuki beans (Desi Chori -Indian) and Spinach burgers Patties

Veg/Vegan burgers - Adzuki beans (Desi Chori) and Spinach burgers.

9 Ingredients

• 0.75 cup, Aldi's Chef Cupboard--bread Crumbs--plain
• 42 g, Oil
• 1 lemon yields, Lemon juice, raw
• 1 tsp, Salt
• 1 tsp (15g), Green Chilli Paste

• 2 tbsp, Ginger Garlic Paste
• 1.33 cup (85g), Frozen Chopped Spinach
• 1 cup, Chickpea flour (besan)
• 0.50 cup ( 44 g), Chori Beans

1. Soak Adzuki beans in warm water overnight. I kept it for 24 hour so it became like 3 cups. 

2. Drain most water and grind it in a blender. Do not grind fine but keep the texture coarse. 

3. Add garlic-ginger-green chilli paste, salt, lemon juice, thawed spinach (make sure all water is drained) and Chickpea flour as needed slowly so it forms like a dough to form into round patties that will hold well. 

4. Form into patties like burgers. In a separate plate, spread bread crumbs and roll each into bread crumbs and then pan fry using just a little bit of oil spray with each patty. Cook well on both sides on medium low flame. 

5. When done, remove from the pan, onto a paper towel and let it cool. Use as needed or refrigerate/freeze for use later. 

PS. 1. You can mix and match any vegetables you like with any beans in this manner and make either sausage shapes or round patties and enjoy as you like. 

2. You may deep fry which will add a rich taste but lots of calories. 

Copyright@Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.)

Nutrition Facts
Servings 16.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 97
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4 g	6 %
Saturated Fat 0 g	2 %
Monounsaturated Fat 2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg	0 %
Sodium 329 mg	14 %
Potassium 124 mg	4 %
Total Carbohydrate 12 g	4 %
Dietary Fiber 2 g	8 %
Sugars 2 g
Protein 4 g	8 %
Vitamin A	2 %
Vitamin C	3 %
Calcium	3 %
Iron	6 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Veg/Vegan Croquettes

Vegetarian/Vegan Croquettes

16 Ingredients

• 1 cup, French Green Beans chopped
• 340 g, California Medley (Aldi) vegetables chopped Cauliflower, carrots and broccoli. (I removed broccoli but you may use it)
• 0.75 cup (85g), Sweet Garden Peas
• 2 medium, Potato, chopped
• 100 grams, Onion (1/2 cup)
• 1 medium, Tomato
• 1 Tablespoon, Salt
• 0.50 tsp (9g), turmeric powder

• 1 tbsp,Ginger,Garlic, green chilli  Paste
• 10.00 g, Dhana jeera Powder (ground Cumin/Coriander seeds)
• 0.25 cup(s), Oil - Vegetable, canola
• 4 tbsp(s), Rice flour, white
• 0.50 tsp, Baking powder
• 2 cup, Chickpea flour (besan)
• 2 cup (8 fl oz), Water
• 1 cup dry, Breadcrumbs

Chop all vegetables small and wash. (keep onions and tomatoes separate from the rest veg.) 

Put a little oil (2 tablespoons or so) in a pan and add chopped onions, let it cook for a while and add chopped tomatoes. When mixed and cooked in 2 or 3 minutes, add all the vegetables, and spices (salt, turmeric powder, garlic-ginger-chilli paste, dhana jeera powder and let it cook, Add a little water if needed to soften. When ready, mash it coarsely so the peas get mixed well. Let it cool. 

Add rice flour, and baking powder, and form into long oval shape cylinders like sausages. 

In a separate bowl add besan flour, 2 cups water and a little garlic if you like and make a batter. This will be used to coat the croquettes. 

In a separate plate spread breadcrumbs and roll each croquette in it. 

You can deep fry or pan fry as you like and let it cook on all sides before removing from the pan. Eat it with a sauce/chutney of your liking or put it in a hotdog bun and eat as a veg version of a hot dog.  

@Kalpana Christian Sharma (Mrs.) 

Nutrition Facts
Servings 16.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 124
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4 g	7 %
Saturated Fat 0 g	2 %
Monounsaturated Fat 2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg	0 %
Sodium 78 mg	3 %
Potassium 212 mg	6 %
Total Carbohydrate 17 g	6 %
Dietary Fiber 3 g	13 %
Sugars 3 g
Protein 4 g	9 %
Vitamin A	10 %
Vitamin C	20 %
Calcium	12 %
Iron	3 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.