The Handmaiden - VESSELS - Inspiration Teachings

Microwave Warning
Beware of Super Heating

One of The Handmaiden's readers sent out a warning about microwaving water. Her son was heating a cup of water in the microwave. When he took it out, he looked into it, and the water literally blew up in his face resulting in second degree burns. The emergency physician has seen this common problem and recommended that a tea bag, a wooden stir stick -- something should also be in the cup.

She also researched the problem with a science teacher...

"I have seen this happen before. It is caused by a phenomenon known as super heating. It can occur anytime water is heated and will particularly occur if the vessel (cup) that the water is heated in is new. What happens is that the water heats faster than the vapor bubbles can form. If the cup is very new, then it is unlikely to have small surface scratches inside it that provide a place for the bubbles to form. As the bubbles cannot form and release some of the heat that was built up, the liquid does not boil, and the liquid continues to heat up well past its boiling point. What then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred, which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to rapidly form and expel the hot liquid. The rapid formation of bubbles is also why a carbonated beverage spews when opened after being shaken."

Now, you might ask yourself why I chose this for an inspirational story.

The Tender Heart of a New Believer
The brand new "cup" can be likened to a new believer. Through their confession of faith and the blood of Jesus, they have been made new. The past is washed away. I have seen many "new" saints, in their exuberance, do or say something that was not acceptable to the "old" saints. As a result of the correction, their joyful bubble was burst. I have literally seen the light depart from their faces. Many never returned to church or fellowship. Sometimes the wounding we give, though unintentional, can have a lasting effect... a boiling point. Beware of the religious spirit, dear saints.

Learning to Deal With Anger
As the science teacher said, if the cup is an old one with surface scratches, the bubbles have a place to escape. I am reminded here about dealing with anger. As we mature in our walk with the Lord, we realize that anger is displeasing to Him and let's face it, it never really makes a point anyway. When we recognize our progress in "letting it go", "cooling off", or simply "holding it in" until it subsides, those little cracks help our anger to dissipate and we don't reach "the boiling point." Little by little, step by step, as we take our troubles, our judgments, our wounds, our needs to Jesus, He will sooth and straighten, and teach us His way. Soon, anger can't find a place in us ... it's been covered in the Blood and hidden under Grace.

So... What's in Your Cup?

A lion or a kitten?

There's Sludge in My Pond!
by Mary Puplava, 5/2001

My husband and I are renting a house that came with a fish pond, 2 koi, 4 goldfish, and 2 waterfalls. I have thoroughly enjoyed the water feature these past three months and dropping pellets every day is no trouble. I've even begun to tell the fish apart. The big orange koi always gulps two or more pellets at a time. The white koi, true to its name, always seems a little bashful. Of the 4 goldfish, the smallest one has been interesting to watch. It pops out of the water like his brothers and sisters, but never seems to catch the pellet on the first try.

We've had a rainy winter and the pond was quite full. About a month ago, I noticed that the water color had started to turn greener. I had remembered the owner telling me that the pond would change as it started to warm up. I was having difficulty seeing the fish and decided to take a water sample in to a local pond shop. I was told that the filters were working fine, but I should consider a cleaning down the road.

The pond water was getting progressively greener and I noticed scum on the sides. When the waterfalls were turned off, the scum would colonize like lily pads on the surface. By now I'm worried. I called the shop two weeks in a row and left messages. The third week I made a point that it was my third time and I really needed help. I received a return call and finally have an appointment set for cleaning this week.

I need to digress... Three days ago I suffered a slight hearing loss in my left ear due to a very low pressure system. I assumed it was due to some sort of allergy and congestion. Although my sinuses seemed fine, there was pressure built up in my Eustachian tube. What was so strange was the fact that I could hear "background" sounds as clear as day... air conditioners, motors, even the water in my neighbor's pipes! Jim encouraged me to take Friday off. I did and it was wonderful to sleep in. Since I had some backyard time, I went out to study the pond again. I could have kicked myself when I realized that I hadn't added fresh water for quite some time. I had just assumed that the heavy rains had filled it enough. Well, it's a black bottom pond and with the green water, I just didn't realize how low it really was. So, I added some water and noted some dark guck in front of a rock. I moved the rock and oh, boy, you should have seen the black sludge that came out from under it... gross! Now I panicked. I've made it worse! All I could do was to offer a prayer that the fish would live for another week.

So what's the point of this story?

Well, I've been asking the Lord to take the "black stuff" out of my heart... those yucky thoughts about people or circumstances that really aren't Christ-like. I knew those thoughts had no place in a vessel of God, which is supposed to be fit for the Master's use. As I was talking to Him about it this morning, He reminded me of the sludge in the fish pond.

Our hearts are kind of like this pond. There needs to be a certain level of water (love) for it to circulate properly (love flowing in and flowing out). The waterfalls (Holy Spirit urges) stir the water and cause it to move (ex. don't let the sun go down on your anger), keeping the pond fresh and the fish healthy. On the surface (what the world sees), everything looked fine -- a little green perhaps, but basically fine. But when I lifted the rock (hidden sin), scum and sludge (unforgiveness, spite, disappointment, etc.) came out, making the pond water darker still with the gunk just uncovered.

How does one treat a dirty fish pond?

1. The fish have to be removed to a tank filled with pond water.
The Holy Spirit wants to keep me safe, but set me free from besetting sins. He convicts, not condemns.

2. All the water must be drained from the pond.
The best way for me is to pour out my heart and expose it to His examination.

3. The concrete and rocks must be thoroughly scrubbed.
Those areas that need work will need prayer, the Word, and perhaps some fasting.

4. Add fresh water to an appropriate level.
Once cleaned, the Holy Spirit will fill me again with His anointing.

5. Add a few drops of chemical to dechlorinate and stabilize the water for the fish.
The Blood of Jesus... all we need is one drop.

Prevention from Further Sludge & Scum

1 Install an ultraviolet light to kill bacteria.
Develop a daily exposure to Jesus' light.

2. Add clean water regularly.
Daily washing by reading the Word.

3. Add some "bottom feeders" fish that thrive on algae.
Trust that God will add the grace needed for purity.

One closing thought. Remember the miracle of the loaves and fishes? The disciples could only find a few of each. And yet, after Jesus had blessed them, there were enough to literally feed thousands, with leftover baskets to boot! In the natural, I really want my inherited fish to live and prosper. But in the spiritual, it would be the "ultimate" delight, if in me, there was even one miracle that would bless people and glorify God.

So, what's under your rocks?

Beaten Gold
by Bryan Hupperts
Wednesday, October 25, 2000

Job 23:10 "When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." While I am not a metallurgist, I have been reading about how gold is refined and then hammered into usefulness and have gleaned a few truths to share.

BANG! The iron hammer of the smith is raised and brought down on the lump of freshly mind gold. Soon the gold begins to suffer many things at the smiths' hands. The gold, very malleable, is squashed a bit, contorted, misshapen, and is soon hit again. And again, and again. The gold is on an anvil, a hard place, where it is beaten torturously and in great agony until it takes on a shape it was not. It is pressed beyond endurance, beyond it's limits, beyond it's natural threshold of pain until it is no longer recognizable as a lump but only as gold. The very crystalline structure of the gold is changing, hardening. The metalmaster continues to rain blow upon blow on the gold hammering away seemingly without mercy. The gold can only feel the pain, feel the unfairness of the circumstance, feel the sting of the hammer. The goldsmith, through eyes of faith, can see the thing of beauty and service that he is making one crushing blow at a time.

Gold is a biblical symbol for God. He says that the gold and silver are His - gold speaking of deity and silver speaking of redemption and salvation. Many places in the Bible use a peculiar phrase "beaten gold". The only gold used in the construction of the Tabernacle was beaten gold. It is only beaten gold that enters into divine service. Beaten gold was made by hammering gold into very fine sheets which were often folded over and beaten again and again until the were made to the consistency required by the goldsmith. The smith works seeing the end from the beginning. While his eyes can see the lump of gold before him, in his mind he is seeing a vessel forged into a vessel of honor fit for the Kings service.

When we come to Christ, we are like a new lump of gold. We are born again and filled with His Spirit. We walk with God a bit when suddenly trials and tribulations begin to hit. We begin to suffer losses and learn to live a new kind of life, a divine life where we are forged into the image of Jesus. Blow upon blow seem to hit us from every direction and we wonder why this perceived judgment of God has come. "Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered." (Heb. 5: 8). It is only through picking up our cross daily and following the Lord do we become beaten gold. Much is written upon the refinement process where the gold is placed in fire to be purified and the dross removed. When the smith can see his reflection, the gold is perfect and ready...for service? NO! Ready for the anvil, the high place of sacrifice and death.

It is knowing exactly where to hit, Not the size of your hammer,. There are many cleaned up lumps of gold in Christ's kingdom who will not submit to the hammer. The refuse to be altered on the altar of the anvil. Thank God they are in the kingdom but they are of no practical use to the King. It is ONLY after gold has been made pure that it can be first beaten into an unrecognized shape, flattened out into a thin sheet, and then made finally into a vessel of honor. You cannot enter into your destiny in Christ until you have said, "though he slay me, yet will I serve him," and laid your life on the anvil, His will be done in you. If we are to follow Jesus, we must daily follow him to the Cross. It is through many tribulations that we enter into the kingdom of God. We must lay our lives as a living sacrifice upon the anvil of God ready to die to our lumpy self and be hammered into the golden, glorious image of Jesus! Gold, the coveted King of metals, must be hammered and humbled before the King of Creation. It is one thing to desire to be used of God. It is quite another to be willing to die to self and be forged finally into a useable vessel.

The difference between being a beautiful little lump of gold and a golden goblet that can hold the King's new wine is the willingness to die to self and willingly face the hammer and anvil. In Christ you are precious gold in the eyes of God.

Now, would you be a beautiful little lump before His throne, or a finished goblet at His banqueting table?

GOD USES YOUR LIFE
by Undrai Fizer

It is so amazing when the Lord uses your life. Being a vessel of the Lord and used by Him is more than perfecting the "rituals" of believership. He is not using us because of our studytime everyday and fasting daily, even though these things are vital in our growth with Him. He is using lives that simply love Him beyond their own faults. People that simply crave His existence in their lives. People that have come to just know Him as "Father." God uses our lives, not our rituals. He uses our daily pursuits to activate and enhance His will in the earth.

He uses our love for Him to produce the good pleasure of the Kingdom. He uses our lives. It's so good when He uses your life. He uses your existence to build His plan in others lives. He uses your life to create destiny and life in others. God uses your life.

And when we continue to know Who it is we are giving our lives to, He will use it more. Yes, we pray and do personal consecration to keep us in pure fellowship with the Spirit of God. Yes, we cleanse ourselves of the filthiness of flesh and spirit, to present ourselves Holy before the Lord.

To some, this has become ritual. Consecrating without faith is "body burning" (I Cor.13:3). There are times when our "rituals" can become the thing we seek, instead of the Face of God. We can become perfected in the "how to's" instead of the Father's pleasure! God uses lives that will love His Life...

Prospectors & Jewelers
By Coleen Reid
col.reid@nsw.bigpond.net.au

It does not take a prophetic gift to see sin in peoples lives, it takes having eyes. It does not take being profound to see problems people have, it takes a critical spirit. Most of us see the dross and carnality of people (and the church), but deep down I believe God can see more than that.

Most of us would tread on a diamond, jewel, gem stone or gold in their natural states and not even know that we had trodden on something of value (that's another side issue). A prospector knows what to look for. He sees past the dirt, mud and conglomerate and sees diamond. We just see gravel. He looks for diamonds.

Then there's the jeweler who gets the rock in it's natural state. They look at it from every angle and in their mind's eye see the finished gem. They see a solitaire, or marquises or pear shape, it's size etc. They have the picture of the finished product in their heads. They know that they have to cut, shape and polish (getting rid of the sin and junk) before they reach their goal but it's just part of the process. Their focus is not on the current condition of the rock but on the goal. It's easier to do 'the work' (cutting and polishing) when you've got a goal in mind.

We carry with us the wonders we seek without us. ~ Sir Thomas Browne By looking at each person God puts in our paths, and asking Him to show us the finished 'gem', it will be easier for us to deal with the junk in their lives that needs to be dealt with before the gem shines and reveals it's true value. Rather than being repulsed and becoming weary of the sin - we can picture the Master Craftsman using His tools (us) cutting, shaping & polishing natural diamonds into rare and beautiful jewels.

By seeing the finished picture it will also help us to understand what sort of tool we are in God's hand. Are we the rough saw that cuts away that first unwanted rock, or are we the final polishing cloth. Knowing our function in a persons life may speed up the process. God puts many people in our lives to help us along the path, each one has a slightly different function. Seeing the final picture would help us work more cohesively together.

By focusing on the finished product we are encouraged & motivated to keep dealing with the sin, never overlooking the sin and always acknowledging that it needs to be dealt with. Our motivation is to see the jewel sparkle. And just as a diamond perfectly cut reflects light in spectacular ways, so a human diamond cut perfectly will reflect God's light in spectacular ways.

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