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The Master Carpenter

  • Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Ps 133:1 KJV

    Wood, I grew up around it. Often I was carrying it, sawing it, nailing it or pulling the splinters from my hands. My dad was a carpenter for 55 years, so I grew up with woodworking and I have always enjoyed building things. I find that it is a valuable skill in our everyday life and am thankful for those years that I spent working with him.

    He always started the project by picking the right lumber. Dad would go through the whole pile to find one piece that was straight. Then he would take that piece and cut it to the perfect size, fit it into place, nail it down and then smooth the rough edges out with sandpaper. The end result would be beautiful.

    The Lord Jesus uses a lot of these same skills that He learned on us. His dad Joseph was a carpenter as well. God will search through thousands of people until He finds the right one. Then He will draw you to Himself (John 6:44), cut away your past baggage (2 Cor. 5:17), fit you into your place in the body (Col. 3:15), nail you to your own cross (Gal. 5:24), and then He breaks out the sandpaper. The first part of being drawn to Him is pleasant, much of the rest is not, especially the cutting, nailing and the sanding.

    To accomplish this, He will often place people into our lives that we need to help shape and smooth us. We hate those irritating people and would like to avoid the friction and scraping, but we also cannot see our own rough edges on our own. It is natural to want to separate from the friction but if you do you will retain the roughness that God is trying to smooth out, and He will bring coarser sandpaper next time. You can and will get through this, and when He is done you are going to be one smooth work of art, hand crafted by the Master Carpenter.


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43 comments
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Uwalaka Dorathy
Uwalaka Dorathy Father, do unto me what so ever seemeth pleasing unto You. Holy Spirit strengthen me in Jesus Name Amen.
April 13, 2015
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Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you!
April 13, 2015
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Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield My dad was as carpenter too--and a postman, plus he worked in a car parts store (whatever the heck they are called) He worked 3 jobs just so my mother and he could have "stuff"--and more stuff.When he had a heart attack at a rather young age, my mother blamed me, because I became anorexic at 14. Nice family, huh?
April 13, 2015
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Mary Williams
Mary Williams Amen Amen
April 13, 2015
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Deborah Alexander
Deborah Alexander What an on time Amazing message to start one's day, Thank you Pastor Todd
April 13, 2015
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Paula Andrews
Paula Andrews Amen. Praise God!
April 13, 2015
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Valerie  King
Valerie King Amen! Thank you Jesus. 
April 13, 2015
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Mark Cain
Mark Cain My dad also work with wood as well as well as chopping for our woodstove. He also was a postman and ,with my mom, raised four children! God is still working on me and molding me. Thank you for this message
April 13, 2015
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Martin Snyder
Martin Snyder Good message. I am a carpenter, of sorts, and your analogy is spot on. I do have to add one thing, though; sometimes I feel more like a piece of steel than a piece of wood - like when I get thrown into the fire to be hardened (all the impurities burned out).
April 13, 2015
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kylie dempsey
kylie dempsey My eldest son wants to be a carpenter...occasionally I'll drop the comment that Jesus is a carpenter...my two boys are agnostics like their dad. Jesus is the master builder...we just hand over our will and let Him go to work :-D
April 13, 2015
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Jeremy Lytle
Jeremy Lytle I love to paint on wood. Recently my roof was being redone and there was a pile of pallets and scrap wood. I searched through the stack and found one long skinny piece. The roofer asked, "what are you going to do with that rough piece of wood.' I said - "It is GOD'S wood and I plan to turn it into a beautiful fish." Almost done. I will share it with you all when finished. May all of U have a blessed and safe week ahead.  J LYTLE - THE LOVE ARTIST
April 13, 2015
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Sheri Stewart
Sheri Stewart finding your buoyancy through life's storm can be difficult, but with God as our anchor Faith as our compass we will sail into and out of the light over and over again never loosing sight of the fact we are unconditionally loved and forgiven.
April 13, 2015
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Dion Todd
Dion Todd He is also the Great Refiner... :)
April 13, 2015
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Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt I love this, God is not finished with me yet.
April 13, 2015
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Audry Reddy
Audry Reddy thank -you! I needed this reminder!!  :)
April 13, 2015
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Carol Pady
Carol Pady Thank you for your reminder. I have dealt with quite a few "sandpaper" people in my life. I  have found that God uses them to refine me. I am tested by how I deal with them. I have found that if I pray and give these people over to God, they become less abrasive. I  am called to love them as Jesus does. I find it easier to do this with God's help. In return for my prayers and my loving those who rub me wrong, God blesses me, every time.
April 13, 2015
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Theresa Smith
Theresa Smith Thank you Jesus for all that you do, not only are You the Master builder, You are also our Master planner. 
April 13, 2015
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Sylvia Schmidt
Sylvia Schmidt Yup, lots of pruning going on in me. thank you. Pastor, I always like your metaphors you use in your stories and bible teachings. Gets the point across for me and I feel immersed in the story. thank you.
April 13, 2015
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Anthony Kulbicki
Anthony Kulbicki I like it..reminds me that not all of the irritations in life are meant to cause us harm, but some for the pruning and molding and sharpening that we need in order to be what He needs us to be. 
April 13, 2015
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Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd Amen, Carol, that's never easy to deal with, and prayer is the best thing we can do!
April 13, 2015
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Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd That's a great analogy, too, Martin!
April 13, 2015
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Joseph Krell
Joseph Krell Be blessed as you are a blessing to others!
April 13, 2015
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Sylvia Todd
Sylvia Todd I really think that probably most of them are meant to shape us :).
April 13, 2015
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Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler Agree..He will:)
April 13, 2015
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Cheryl Wilson
Cheryl Wilson Amen!
April 13, 2015
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Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelli My Son is a carpenter and growing in Christ.  Him and his wife were baptized October 2013 and both continue to grow....I am so proud of them both :)
April 13, 2015
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Anna Eriksdotter
Anna Eriksdotter I just want to runaway from My work... Prayed about it and that father would take me somewhere else and now I Will be where I really don't want to be and the list goes on!!!!! So... I just surrender... IF he wants me there I Will be there... Doing the best. So thank you again! 
April 13, 2015
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Charisse English
Charisse English Father, your will be done.  
April 13, 2015
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Yvette Cantrell
Yvette Cantrell Wow! I'm smiling Reeeeaalllyyy Big. Thx Rev Dion for this analogy 
April 13, 2015
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Nell Neathery
Nell Neathery Praise the Lord for the Master Carpenter.  I would like to say "rest in peace" to my husband who passed away in 2008.  He became a carpenter in our marriage, and he let me be his carpenter's helper.  And my first husband was a carpenter also, and he is still living at almost 70!
April 13, 2015
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Steve  Card
Steve Card Dion I really enjoyed this message. My sweet wife Nova told me that after she read this message she said that your Dad sounded like me. I may go through 30 or so 2x4 to find one straight one.  I did drywall for over 40 years and I am very fussy. I've built a couple additions and I've worked with wood a lot. I even built a speed boat. I now am starting to build toys for my Grandson. May The Lord Bless you and your family. Steve
April 13, 2015
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Steve  Card
Steve Card I'd like to share this about a Very Special Carpenters Son. We wrote this song For God's Glory called Who Is This Man?  Who is this Man? Who is this Man? Isn't He the carpenter the carpenters Son? Yes but He is much more yes much more than that to me. He is The Rock yes The Rock of my salvation. and in Him yes only in Him I have put my trust in Him...
April 13, 2015
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Dion Todd
Dion Todd That is great Steve, there is nothing like starting with the right stuff. Much like cooking, it all begins with the ingredients :)
April 13, 2015
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J D  Williams
J D Williams I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER FOR SHAPING AND MOLDING ME INTO THE LIKENESS OF YOUR BELOVED SON MY LORD,MY,SAVIOR,AND MY SOON TO COME KING JESUS IS HIS NAME.......
April 13, 2015
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Vicki Stone
Vicki Stone My Father has been doing a lot of sanding on me lately :) I will Love Jesus forever!! <3
April 13, 2015
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Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thank you!  Lord help me to be still and let you work on me.
April 14, 2015
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Penelope Rhome
Penelope Rhome Amen
April 14, 2015
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Pam Ivins
Pam Ivins Thank you for this message, Amen!!!
April 14, 2015
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Crystal Johnson
Crystal Johnson Amen!
April 14, 2015
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Ruth Martin
Ruth Martin Wow, I really love this!
April 14, 2015
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Rosemary  Sambrano
Rosemary Sambrano Amen! The LORD's still working on me! Great message! GOD bless you Pastor Dion Todd and your family!
April 14, 2015
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Richard Mondello
Richard Mondello AMEN!
April 15, 2015
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Nancy Cavataio
Nancy Cavataio What a blessing your devotionals are Pastor Dion! Thank you. That was beautiful.
April 26, 2015