I found this as part of a post on a blog I frequent. It was so profound I could not share it.
"We look to Jesus as the standard we are seeking to emulate
and then we put up no resistance,
whatsoever to the influence of the Holy Spirit, so that we become a
completely malleable lump of clay in the Lord’s hands, one that can be easily
manipulated by Him and made to exactly conform to the standard we are looking
to. A broken heart, then, is a heart that has completely submitted itself to
the transforming power of the Holy Ghost, putting up no resistance to becoming
like Christ.
The word emulate
means “to strive to equal or excel (another); to imitate, with a view to equal
or outdo; to vie with; to rival; as, to emulate
the good and the great.” Jesus taught,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I
do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my
Father.” (John
14:12)
Thus, the gospel is that we “strive to equal or excel” Christ, doing even
greater works than He did, which is one of the reasons why it is called the
more excellent way of Christ. In other words, the doctrine of Christ really is a doctrine of emulation.
Emulation, or the “ambition or endeavor to equal or excel; rivalry”, gives
glory to God because through the atonement of His Son, God does the impossible,
taking nothings
(us) and making us somethings greater than even “the greatest
of all” (D&C 19:18.) This miracle shows forth
God’s matchless power and marvelous ways, causing all things to “shut their
mouths” in dumbfounderment and give glory to Him. But the impossible can only
be made possible through
the right ways of the Lord. Otherwise, this transformation into a
new creature remains an impossibility."
When God chisels the dead weight out of our lives it can be quite painful. In this new high quality, remastered version of their most requested skit, Tommy and Eddie give a very creative look at a typical believer having to go through the process of discipline.
The writer of Ephesians says “For we are God’s workmanship” (Eph. 2:10). Elsewhere we’re described as a “poem.” God views us as being his original masterpiece.
The purchase of this video includes media slides and study guide.
A transcription, as best as I could do: (Done by my friend Antau L'jn)
Broken Vessels Transcript of an interview of Ian McCormack [Laughter and stuttering omitted.]
Ian: Well, the Holy Spirit, one of the fruits of the Spirit is love and peace and comfort. So it's the kind of glory that... The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. And so I've met many different spiritual entities in my pursuit for truth and gone down many different paths There's unclean spirits, lying, deceitful, adulterous. Um. You know, I mean all kinds of different spirits that would lead you into different forms of bondage, really. But Jesus said, “I'll set you free.”
And then the Spirit of God comes at a very personal and very tangible way, and he is the third person of the Trinity. And he can come as light. He can come like a dove. The Holy Spirit can come like oil. But such a tenderness, like a blanket that just closed you, covers you, but goes deep inside the heart of hearts.
Many of us are unwilling to open up that area and allow him to go into what I call the heart of hearts. But when you allow that to happen, that brings a tenderness and a security which protects you from the evil of this world, and the darkness that tries to undermine us and rob us.
Other person: So it's a real inward, it's letting God touch you at the most core of your being? Is that it?
Ian: Letting God control. One of the biggest issues I've seen is self control. But it's self control that can actually take on different manifestations. People can be so insecure and fearful that they want to control their environment, control individuals, control situations so that they feel secure. 'Cause when they're in control, they feel secure that no one can harm them.
One of the most incredible things that to be vulnerable enough to actually be open and transparent, to be potentially hurt. But you can also be healed. That's a... people go, "Self control is the fruit of the Holy Spirit," but I meet a lot of Christians who are actually self-righteous self-control.
Other person: What's the diff... Tell me about self-righteous self-control.
Ian: Okay. Well, it appears to be control, but it's not. The Holy Spirit gives Liberty to free you from being in control, but he becomes in control. You actually find your identity in him. Unless he falls to the ground and dies. In other words, you've got to, you find yourself and died to yourself at the cross.
Many people, they've got a lot of insecurity and, so, because of their insecurity and fears they try and hold their emotions. They try and hold their friendships. All in a certain order. They don't let people just be free to be themselves, so it's a form of self-control which affects their friendships and relationships. Everything must be in order. They control their children, their relationships. Every area is in control. Now, what I find is that that emotional suppression can really blow them up. It can eat them from the inside out. It can cause mental problems. It can cause emotional anxiety and sleeplessness. And I think even forms of depression can come from that. I've watched people who are very, maybe live very good lives but never allow to be opened up.
Other person: And was it a process for you to go through that?
Ian: Well, I think what happens when you've been broken, and when you've lost confidence in yourself and you hit the self-destruct button, and I think you can't get much lower, I think you can only then be rebuilt.
The trouble is when someone thinks they're actually intact and quite whole. That's a much more difficult person, it's much easier for God to take the Humpty Dumpty that broke in pieces and make something good out of it. It's like he goes to the potter's field and finds all the broken shards of that vessel and puts them together again. The hardest thing is when you think you are intact, you are the giver, to allow the Lord to crush you, to bring you down to nothing.
Other person: Sometimes, that can be like a process of years, or it can be uh...
Ian: Or it can be instantaneous. Something which happens that breaks you.
And I do think that many. The hardest things that Jesus found to reach were the people who thought they were okay. Much better to take a broken vessel, 'cause then you can make something good out of it.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
It is my understanding that Christ is the word that was with God in the beginning. Nephi in seeking to understand his father's vision received this revelation.
25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God. (1 Nephi 11:25)
With that thought in mind go and read the vision of the tree of life that Lehi had and the interpretation Nephi received. (1 Nephi 8, 11-15)Whenever the iron rod is mentioned think of Christ as the rod. How does that affect your perception of the vision?
In all things we should rely on Christ. When we do so he can safely lead us to the fountain of living waters or to the tree of life. He will lead us back to our Heavenly Father.
The Iron Rod
1. To Nephi, seer of olden time,
A vision came from God,
Wherein the holy word sublime
Was shown an iron rod.
(Chorus)
Hold to the rod, the iron rod;
'Tis strong, and bright, and true.
The iron rod is the word of God;
'Twill safely guide us through.
2. While on our journey here below,
Beneath temptation's pow'r,
Through mists of darkness we must go,
In peril ev'ry hour.
3. And when temptation's pow'r is nigh,
Our pathway clouded o'er,
Upon the rod we can rely,
And heaven's aid implore.
4. And, hand o'er hand, the rod along,
Through each succeeding day,
With earnest prayer and hopeful song,
We'll still pursue our way.
5. Afar we see the golden rest
To which the rod will guide,
Where, with the angels bright and blest,
Forever we'll abide.
