I read a story recently about a statue of Buddha that was located in Bangkok, Thailand that needed to be moved to a new location, because a highway was being built and the statue along with it's temple had to go to make way.  The clay statue was 11 feet tall and was a precious religious symbol to the people there.  As the statue was being moved the clay began to crumble and fall off.  Suddenly,  the workers stared in amazement because as the clay fell off they saw that the statue was pure gold underneath!  Before that statue was moved it was thought to be worth about fifty thousand dollars.  Today, that golden Buddha is worth millions and because of the story behind it, is visited by hundreds of thousands of people every day.

To me this story illustrates that what we can see is not necessarily what really is.  I believe that many of us are living as clay vessels when, in reality, we are pure gold inside.  To me this gold is our dreams, gifts and talents that are yet to be discovered or have not yet come to pass.

How do we remove the clay and reveal the gold inside of us.  I think it is a process of refining as we take our dreams, gifts and talents and lay them at His feet and move forward into fulfilling the vision God has put on our hearts.  Remember, you are created with a purpose and for a purpose.  

Read Psalm 139:1-16 and 1Peter 2:9-10