The Potter's House

Tonight was a very special night because the choir from the Walter Hoving Home came to sing and share testimonies. This is a home that takes in women, rescuing them from the streets, pimps and prostitution. They also have programs for alcohol and drug rehabilitation and to help theses women get their GED and a new start in life through life skills, computer training, career assessment and most importantly the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As these ladies sang you could fell the presence of the Lord. In between every song a lady would step out and share her testimony. Many of the ladies shared their stories of abusive relationships and substance abuse and how they felt they were all alone and that nobody really cared for them or loved them. Many have to be rescued and hidden from pimps that would try to kill them or anyone that gets in their way.

One lady shared how her mother was on drugs and they took her from her mother. She was forced to move in with her grandmother and ran away from home at 13 years old to live a life on the streets. She did whatever it took to survive. She was addicted to drugs and alcohol. She was involved with gang violence and people used her for sex but in the midst of all her pain God had a plan for her life. One day her mother was in her small apartment and she found her mom naked and hanging herself with a belt. She was trying to commit suicide. She ran over to her mother and tried to help her. She got her mom dressed and said crying, “Mommy, you got to get help.” Her mother looked at her smiling and said, “You don’t know how bad I need another fix of drugs.” That would be the last time she would see her mother again. She got a call that her mother overdosed and died that night.  This lady fell to the floor crying out to God, and a voice spoke to her and said “If you don’t surrender you life to Jesus and change, you will be dead in a week just like your mother.” She then gave her life to Jesus and Jesus forgave her, washed her clean of all her sins and gave her a new life! She is free by the power of God!

After a few more songs, I got up to share. I talked about the potter house and how the potter does not throw us away but he takes the vessel that is scarred and marred and he works with it and when it is done it is a vessel of honor. The ladies all stood and clapped and cried as the power of God filled that church! I went on to tell them that only God could visit a valley full of dried bones that the world has forsaken and forgotten. Only God could see the value and purpose of a life so broken and scattered, so bitter and dry. But when the word and the wind of the Holy Ghost hits that graveyard there was a noise, there was a shakening and all the broken scattered pieces began to come back together bone to bone! All of a sudden there was an explosion of Holy Ghost power that hit that church! People were crying and shouting! The Spirit of the Lord took over that church! Rev. Hamlet was supposed to preach but he just shared a few testimonies of the power of God and gave an altar call and everyone came running! The anointing was high! All of these ladies from the home were at the altar and the power of God hit them all! They were falling out under the power of God, talking in tongues, crying, and rolling. It was unbelievable! The power of God was in the church! Many people got saved and delivered tonight! The Spirit of the Lord moved mightily and with great power! After the service all the ladies from the home came over to me, thanking me for the word and for prayer. They shared, “You don’t know how much we needed this touch from God! This is just what we needed. God sent you here just for us and we will never be the same.” They have a home base in New York and asked me to come and minister in their church on campus. Well we did not leave church till about midnight. Kids were sleeping on the church pews and people had to be helped to their cars. Some were still talking in tongues as we left the building! God was truly in the house.

I just want to encourage you today, no matter where your life is to stay in the potter hands. The Potter is God, you are the clay. Don’t try to fix everything on your own but learn to trust and depend on God. He cares for you and He loves you. He has a plan for your life and if you let Him make you and mold you, I promise you that He will make something beautiful out of your life.

God bless you

Rev. Melvin L. Sanchez