A Letter to a Friend....

I have a friend an ocean away, yet still very close. This letter is for her and is a paraphrase of 2 Corinthians chapter 4.  It contains the first passage of Scripture we ever memorized together, and the Lord took me here tonight! I miss you dear sister and this is my letter to you....

Sister,
God's mercy has given you a ministry. This ministry looks foolish to the world, but their eyes are veiled. You are a light bearer in the darkness. You have a treasure you hold in your clay jar of a life. This jar looks normal, ordinary, and of everyday use, but in it is the treasure of the Gospel. This jar is special because He chose it.

This jar is dropped, it's pressured, it's chipped, it's used, it's been glued up, put back together, and held together from the inside out.  The treasure inside prevents this jar life from ever being useless.  This jar has Kingdom purpose. This jar knows the treasure it holds only by the suffering it has endured to keep it safe.

This treasure burns like holy fire in the jar, exposing cracks and imperfections, but also purifying and strengthening from the inside! The treasure fills all the cracks of life the jar has earned and eventually no room inside the jar is left.  The treasure of the Gospel spills over the rim of this life and is poured out. The life jar pours out word soaked action for the good of those who are close enough to catch the splatter!

This beaten and bruised jar is firm and sure of its place- as  life as a treasure bearer. This life is wasting away on the outside, but inside the light of the treasure it hold reveals newness. The treasure illuminates the fleeting suffering by showing the guarantee of eternal glory.

So the jar continues to pour out and the life continues to proclaim the treasure with eyes fixed on the unseen yet all to real promise of eternity....then the temporary becomes the journey to that place....and it becomes worth it all!

I love you dear sister. You are the chosen jar/life continue to pour and partake of suffering and life.  You are a treasure bearer and a light shiner!!

Love,
Holly