Sep 10, 2008

A vessel For The Master's Use

"If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for His purpose. Your life will be clean and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work."
2 Timothy 2:21 (Living Bible)

I wrote the words to this song, my husband wrote the music, this would become the theme song for our Women's Ministries Retreat. The title of our retreat was "Vessel For Noble Use"
By the end of our retreat this song would become our prayer. It continues to be my prayer, maybe it will become yours today.

Make me A vessel

Empty and broken
I come to you
A vessel of clay
Willing to be used.

Lord mend me
And fill me
And make me into
A chosen vessel for you.

Make me a vessel
A vessel for you
To be used for your purpose
To glorify you.

Take me and fill
And make me into
Your chosen vessel
Holy and true.

A vessel of honor and strength
Fill me again and again
A vessel holy and true
A chosen vessel for you.

Copyright © 2004- 2008
Words and Music By: Larry and Lorie Yocum

God can use imperfect vessels like you and me, I often think he delights in choosing the most unlikely people to accomplish his purposes in this world. A journey through brokenness is not always an easy one, in fact it can be a difficult and painful process to go through. I have found that it was during those times that I was really able to minister to others even in my pain. You see, when the world breaks you, it leaves you beaten down and abandones you, and leaves you there, but with the Lord, he empties us of all that keeps us from being fully used for his glory. He doesn't leave us, nor abandones us. Instead he picks us up, and turns our lives around, he places our feet on solid ground. No matter who you are, if you will yield your life to God, you can become a vessel for the Master's use.

Our Prayer..
Lord,I come before you, a vessel so willing to be used for your glory. There is so much stored within this vessel that needs to be poured out unto you, past mistakes, sins, guilt, shame, pain and sorrow, you know what they are. I pray that this vessel be broken and through my brokenness everything will be washed away forever. Pour out my life so I that I may become empty and clean, for if I have to be broken, I'd rather be broken by you because I trust you to know what is best for me. Amen

27 comments:

Rev.Aaron Holcombe said...

Great post! I would love to hear that song. I am praying for you my sister. You are an encouragement to me. Be blessed in the Lord.

Nancie said...

Lorie, this is a beautiful song! You are very gifted! The wordings are very encouraging and so is your sharing. Thank God that He is our Potter and we are His clay. He is able to do a good work in us and make us useful in His Kingdom. It is so true that a journey through brokenness can be a difficult and painful process to go through but it yield much fruits as we draw nearer to God and able to comfort others with the same comfort He has comforted us. Thanks for sharing with us. It is always encouraging to read your posts. Take care and God bless!

From the Heart said...

Thanks for sharing your heart. Broken vessel, that's what I want to be for my Lord. This body that I live in is not perfect, but with Jesus in my heart, it's okay. I can still be used by Him, I just have to listen to what He is saying to me. Wish we could hear you and your husband sing.

I've been meaning to tell you that I have a cousin who writes poetry.
I guess she inherited it from our great grandmother. I told her about your site. She must have visited because I saw her name in your Guestbook. It's Brenda Wood, High Point, NC. She is the one that has been a very dear sister-cousin to me. I did not get to know some of my cousins growing up because most of us lived so far apart. But after I quit work in 1999 she and I have really become close friends. We have found that we are a whole lot alike. She has 1 daughter and 3 sons and none of them are Christians. They were raised to know Jesus but have all gone astray. She also has quiet a few grandchildren.

God bless you Lorie and thanks for all your prayers. I left another prayer request on Rachel's "Aqua Viva" post on Monday. When it rains it pours. I'm ready for something good to happen.
Thanks for the hugs,
AliceE.

Leaon Mary said...

Oh Lorie, that is so beautiful!
Anointed!
Blessings sweet friend,
Lea
Please say hello to Hawaii for me!
aloha

Anonymous said...

Love this! You are have encouraging words. You blog always touches my heart.

Debbie

Shonda said...

Beautiful. I'm so thankful God does not abandon broken pots like me. When broken and battered, I cried out and He was there. Thank You Lord!

Engrafted by His Grace-
Shonda

HOPE said...

I LOVE the words to this song Lorie...

Thanks for sharing them!

Hope you are doing well..

HOPE!

Nicole said...

Yes, I agree you are so talented. I had to hurry through it today but I will come back later to read the rest. Yes, I want to be broken, even if it hurts in the process. I want to be clean before my God. I know His blood has covered all already but there are still rooms in my heart that need cleansed!

Love,
Nicole

Kay Martin said...

Beautiful. It does not surprise me that a song with such feeling and love came from your heart.

Tomorrow night our large women's conference will begin with my favorite speaker Dr. Janice Shostran who wrote the lyrics and tune to Alabaster Box that CeCe Winans sings.

As I yearned to be in the palm trees when you "soldiers" went on retreat I will take you with me in my spirit when the music fills the air. When we are lost in the presence of God as this awesome woman leads us to Him I will take you with me in my spirit.

God bless you beautiful healed woman of God.

Ballerina Girl said...

That is a beautiful song....
thank you for sharing
BG

Rev. Brad Hurley said...

Aloha my Sister,
Thank you for continuing to be faithful I saw the prayer tent and with Aaron's name, What a awesome thing to do. Forgive me for not posting or responding sooner, have been very busy for the Lord.
Your latest blog was excellent, remember that as God empties that vessel from all it's inpurities the Holy Spirit then fills it with the blessings of God. We must continue to allow God to pour us out like a drink offering to quench the thirst of those that are thirsty.
God Bless you and your husband and your ministry
Brad

jhunnelle said...

I always want to be in God's presence broken, and that always been my prayer, everything that I have, talents, gifts, resources, abilities. I surrender to Him. I let Him break it, sanctify it, recreate it and give it up to me in a way He chooses or wants it to be.

I would love to hear this song. I know that you are a gifted and anointed writer/song writer.

I'm sure that a lot of people will be blessed by this song.

Hugs and kisses
jhunnelle

Renna said...

That is beautiful, Lorie!

cinnamongirl93 said...

Your words are so true. We never think the Lord would use someone like us? Thank God he love us just the way we are. Even if our pots are all cracked and broken. By his spirit we get cleaned up and look shiny again. All for His Glory!

Becky said...

Larry and Lorie... that is too cute!

Your song is awesome. Simple and true, I love it! Thank you.

Joyfulsister said...

I enjoyed writing this post, I guess it's because it's so close to my heart as well. I'm just so blessed to know it's not about perfection, but a willing spirit, and heart. This is what keeps me thriving and striving to do the best I know how to do, with all that he equips me with to do it. I am also blessed to have all of you as brothers and sistah's in the Lord who continue to be such encouragers and prayer warriors. I thank the Lord for all of you!!

Hugz Lorie

HOPE said...

Thank you Lorie for you sweet comment and encouraging note! You always have such uplifting words to make my day!

Do you have a clip of that song so we can hear the tune?

Have a wonderful weekend..

HOPE!

Debra said...

Hi Lorie!
I have been out and about and working on projects that need doing at home before winter sets in. So I have missed going to all the blogs I usually read.
I miss my blogs!!! I love connecting to people, and I always am refreshed when I visit you.
That is a wonderful song-I wish I could hear it! But the words are awesome...
Much, much love.
Debra

Chel's Leaving a Legacy said...

Lorie, this song is beautiful! I wish I could be there to worship with you and your Sistahs.

But I do have a very special friend who needs to read what you posted, so I'm sending a link to her right now. You are such a beautiful person.

(((hugs back!!)))

Pastor A. A. McGhee said...

Wow!!! You are tremendously gifted by God and have blessed me so. Thanks for sharing your love for Jesus with others.

Sonya Lee Thompson said...

I am so glad that God uses the imperfect vessels! He is the transforming One. I love Him!

Thanks for sharing this beautiful song.

God Bless,
Sonya

marine's words said...

wow! wish I could hear the song I already love it!!

I can't speak portguese however I can more or less make up what they are saying my grand parents are form mexico we grew up speaking in spanish. Oh, well maybe you can tell me what that name is on my award that name I could not get ")
thank you, I have a friend she is our age and she was born in Portugal and came to the US when she was 8 years old. marina

No wounder you are so pretty ")
love,
marina

From the Heart said...

Lorie, You are so nice and say the sweetest things. I too am glad we got together.

I'm sorry I told you the wrong place to go for the prayer request. It was on Rachel's Monday blog. I copied it and am going to paste it here for you.

I have another special prayer request. The old saying "when it rains, it pours" seems to be happening in my family. The sister of our niece, who just lost her twin son, has a granddaughter (about 9 or 10)actually she's 13. is scheduled for open heart surgery Friday morning at 7:30 am. After she was born she had to be taken back to the hospital for heart surgery. She had an artery that was pinched. The doctor said that when he clipped the artery it fell into place and she has done well until her last checkup. They had been told she might have to have further surgery when she was older.
You've heard of athletes suddenly dropping dead in the middle of a game, that is what this girl, Megan, has. It is very serious and needs all the prayers she can get. She is such a sweet girl who goes to compete in horse shows and is a great artist. Thanks to everyone who have stood by us these past few weeks and I need you once again.
May God richly bless all of you,

She had the surgery, it went well. The artery on the left side was supposed to be on the right side. They had to stop her heart and put her on the heart lung machine while they moved the artery. They put her heart back in and did just fine. Her dad called my husband this morning and said she was in a regular room (instead of ICU) and was sitting in the recliner. Praise God everything turned out okay. I really believe she will come home by Monday. Again, I'm so sorry I sent you to the wrong place. Sometimes I get confused.

Thanks so much for your concern and prayers and I always pray for you.
Blessings and hugs to you also,
AliceE.

Joyfulsister said...

Dear Alice..
There is no need to aplogize, I just wasn't sure where it was but I knew you would let me know if I couldn't find it. Thank you for taking the time to write it here so I could read and intercede y in prayer with. Alice continue to keep the faith and I'm believing with you that something good is going to happen !!
The best is yet to come my sistah.

Hugz Lorie

Sharon Brumfield said...

This is a great song. And how cool that you have someone who could put some music to it for you.
When I was young we used to sing a song in our camps called Vessels For the Masters Use.
When i saw the title it brought back those memories.
I tried to come yesterday and read and comment but I could not see the post.
Glad it was working today.

God Chaser said...

Now you know I was going to love this one. "broken vessels"

Kathi said...

Thank you for your encouragement, Lori. Hugs, Kathi