Jeremiah 18: 4 ” And when the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hands of the potter, he made it again another vessel as seemed good to the potter to make it.” Most clay was dug from fields, then trampled by foot by workers to make it more flexible. When the substance was the right consistency to be used by the potter, he used a disc of stone or wood, which rested on a larger disc below. Then the clay was placed on the disc and rapidly whirled around as the potter shaped the vessel with his hands. A …
Potter’s Vessel Becomes Marred
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3: 23 I was born first of ten children to my parents over one hundred years ago, and though I was a wanted child, and loved very much by my family, soon my young life became tainted by sin and I would not live an easy life. When about eighteen months of age, a sister was born to my parents and they must divide their time of caring for me with a second child. Then almost two years later, a third little girl was added to our family; so our parents were responsible for the …
Reshaping A Marred Vessel
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3: 16 Though I am not familiar with pottery making, after doing research and writing a book titled God is not Finished with Me, I became more aware of how pottery is made, and during past months of my life truly I have experienced some ways a vessel becomes marred. In fact, my life became …
Achievements of Other Potters
Ephesians 2: 8-10 “For by grace have you been saved through faith, and this is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest no one will boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Though God is the Great Potter, He blesses His children by allowing them to share in His work. As early as the time He placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, he gave him work to perform. His first job was naming the animals, and one of man’s …
No Two Vessels Identical
Psalm 139: 13-16 a “For You formed my inward parts: You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You: for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, and intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance in every one of them written in Your book…” Perhaps you have heard it said after God made her, He threw the mold away. That statement is intended to be derogatory, but is true: for no two individuals are identical. No …
Least Vessel of the Potter
1 Corinthians 15: 8-10a Paul wrote: “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle: because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain… ” I can relate to those last words of Paul saying because of God’s grace, ‘I am what I am’. That is not true only in Paul’s life and mine but in every believer’s life. For I shudder to think what my life at one hundred …
My Stroll Down Memory Lane
Memories of a Centenarian Scripture: “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the surface of the earth…” Genesis 1: 1-2 One October morning Doris Mitchell Lisemby sat at her desk and looked out the window of the apartment. As the sun cast its first radiant rays across a small lake beyond the apartment, the sun appeared beyond tree tops in the distance. While viewing that impressive and almost breath taking scene, I wondered where the time had gone! It seemed only yesterday that I was a young woman with my life and dreams before me. It was an unusually beautiful morning with …
We Begin Our Stroll
Memories of a Centenarian Scripture: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: because You are with me…” Psalm 23: 4 I opened the front gate, and began my stroll down a narrow trail which meandered through majestic pines and deciduous trees in the forest. I noted nature was beginning to clothe herself. Former bare branches were now decked with vibrant green foliage. In the distance, I saw a gnarled old dogwood tree adorned with pretty white blossoms, which added to my enjoyment. Stepping briskly over a trickling stream, I enjoyed the alluring fragrance of wild pink …
Continuing My Stroll
Memories of a Centenarian Scripture: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness.” Psalm 23: 1-3 Continuing my leisurely stroll, I marveled at God’s Omniscient ability to decorate my awesome environment with amazing beauty and tranquility. I wondered if the Garden of Eden had been more beautiful than my woodland paradise. Beginning to feel a bit fatigued, I sat down on a log near my trail. Soon I heard rustling of dead leaves on the ground, and looked up just …
Interruptions during Stroll of Life
Memories of a Centenarian Scripture: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me.” Psalm 23: 4 While continuing my stroll, I decided to rest on the log. I felt something on my hand, and gently tried to brush aside a tiny ladybug. The ladybug was reluctant to leave the security of my hand. Soon I realized its hesitancy to leave its place of security. Hiding behind a clump of bushes was a black and white animal with ability to raise his tail and spray assailants with a foul substance. Since a skunk’s menu includes insects, perhaps he had …
Time: Another of God’s Blessings
Memories of a Centenarian Scripture: “Redeeming the time: because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5: 16 Returning our thoughts to my seat on a log in the forest, while sitting there I had been so enthralled with the superlative beauty of God’s splendor around me, that time passed rapidly. And I remembered that at age one hundred plus, I am completing my next book titled “Making Life Count”. Though I have not lived a life of fame or fortune: God is leaving me on earth for some purpose, and although advanced age brings some limitations, God has continued to bless me with an alert mind and an ability to use …
Reflections on Earlier Life
Memories of a Centenarian Scripture: “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23: 5-6 While I sat and meditated, thoughts of my earlier life filled my mind: I was the oldest of ten children, lived on a farm and been raised during difficult times. 1918, the year of my birth, influenza caused more deaths than the war being fought. Thankfully, our family was spared. As I reflected on those days, I am thankful for loving parents. With a large family, …