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Psalm 31:12 – I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. (NKJV)
A broken cup. That is what I saw when I asked the Lord to show me what had happened to my life. Sick with an illness, possibly a viral attack, which robbed me of my life and for which doctors had no answers and no treatment, I was able neither to carry on life in ministry, nor to look after four small children and our home. I was a broken cup. But then, I saw clay. With gentle hands, a bowl was formed, and in that bowl, He placed the pieces of the broken cup, creating a most beautiful vessel! He said, "I am enlarging you for bigger things." I was cast off, in the dumpster. But I was meant for more, broken as I was. And it was true. Through His healing touch, and by His grace, I did recover to go on with life, raise my family, and continue working in His service.
Glory to Him who is able to take the broken pieces of our lives and use them to His glory! All of us are broken in some way, needing the hand of the Potter to clean us up and reshape and restore us, if we give ourselves to Him. There is forgiveness for repentance, beauty for ashes, and joy for mourning. I also understood then, looking at others in their brokenness, so much more of what God sees. Too often, I was ready to criticize or dismiss the broken. Not any more!
Jeremiah 18:4-5,6b – And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!" (NKJV)
Psalm 103:2-3 – Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases. (NKJV)
2 Corinthians 4:7-8 – But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. (NKJV)
Romans 3:23-24 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You see us in our brokenness. We bring the pieces to You that You may remake us. Help us to look with Your compassion on the brokenness of others and be to them as mere beggars showing other beggars where to find bread. Amen.
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Saturday, April 20, 2024 – In Niger — We had some wonderful cool weather through January and February which was a real blessing as we approach the hot season in April/May. We welcomed three returning students who had been delay due to the coup d'état. Pray for a resolution to the coup, and for endurance during the hot season and power cuts. Pray for the salvation and growth of our students.
Housing: "Update April 18, 2024: The judge granted the father 4 extra days of visitation per month. T is..." 
Amen.
Thanks Nan for the encouraging word.
Thank you, Nan, for a very touching devotional and a great challenge.
Enjoyed your writing write again.
(ON)
Thanks for a good word today Nan.
Blessings.
Thank you, Nan, for sharing your story and encouraging words.
(Texas)
I have issues too and right now it is a struggle.
Thanks for encouragement.
Nan,
Thanks for sharing this powerfully tender devotional and beautiful prayer.
A lovely contemplation with which I will now ease into this new day.
Blessings.
What an inspiring devotional, Nan. It made me think of the weekly meal we share at church (for several years now), and how, when we sit and eat as one, sharing our brokenness and God’s blessings, we feel the beautiful Hand of God, the majestic Potter, at work.
Thank you.
And may God continue to use you mightily as you serve our Lord and tend His flock.
Blessings.
Hi Fran,
Good to see one of your devotionals this morning. There are indeed times when we feel that we can function no longer and then through the grace of God we are given an opportunity to carry on.
I love that passage from Jeremiah. It is such a clear indication that when we feel there is no hope the Lord can reshape and remold us.
Blessings.
Dear Nan,
Thanks so much for your devotional this morning! What an amazing testimony of God’s grace!
“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. Isa. 55:8.
I am so glad that we can trust Him even when we don’t understand His ways.
He is always faithful and always wants the very best for us and His kingdom purposes. His ways are so much higher than we can ever imagine!
May God continue to bless and keep you always in His great love!