Cindy, a Christian, 11/09/2006
Everyone should read this
Thank you so much for this wonderful book. I read mine as soon as I received it. The comparisons that you make are so biblically based. I WAS JUST AMAZED. I think everyone for sure needs a copy and I believe there are many others in this wide world that can appreciate the beauty of what is wriiten here.
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Sher, a Renaissance Faire Lady, 11/09/2006
Great Insights!
I have this book and it's wonderful! It really is a blessing. Everyone should have a copy. I wish you much success with this book and your next one.
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Tina, A Christian, 1/15/2007
Loved it!
I finished reading it about a week ago and I loved it! There was so much that I felt relevant for my life, but one part in particular. For example, the part where you discuss the "drying" process of pottery - I totally can reflect back on so many years of my life where I was "sitting on the shelf" in my Christian walk, and I purposely "sat on the shelf" because I saw other Christians go before me in the "firing process" and I didn't want anything to do with that... and I distinctly remember when God picked me off the shelf & decided it was my time to go in the fire - ouch! I laughed so hard at the "dung lit on fire" part - so true! That's exactly how it feels! But the part where you talked about over firing - how pots can actually crack & blow up if they're in the fire too long... that's the part that I related to most... things had been diddicult the last few months of 2006 for me... it has to do w/ my marriage... probably some of the hardest times ever... After I read that part about a piece of pottery cracking, even possibly exploding in the fire, I sat on my bathroom floor crying to God telling Him that if He didn't take me out of this fire soon, I was sure I would explode! But as you go on to say, the Potter knows what He's doing... we think we're going to explode, but the Potter knows just how much heat we need... and there are those watching us, to see how we handle this firing process... my sister in law is one who is watching... she saw first hand how difficult my marriage has been because she went on vacation with us and she had a heart to heart talk w/ me that she didn't understand how I put up with the things I did... I shared my faith with her again & how I was trusting God to change things... and I know she's watching me right now, and watching my marriage too... she's witness to my firing process & she's watching to see if I'll make it out; if my marriage will make it out... It's a daily process of quoting God's word, claiming His promises, and trusting Him for what He's doing in my life right now... The next part - about being "Strong and Fragile" is so relatable to me...Already, God has put me through fire & brought me out & I see that it was through that firing process that I am currently being used... there is no way I'd be able to have the compassion & patience that I now have in order to be a good mother, teacher, and to minister to the abused kids that I teach Sunday school to once a month... now I'm back in the fire, but I know there's a reason for it - I will be stronger for it, and more fragile & humbled for it too; there's a reason for it. Another part that was very profound was the part that God showed you about how He sees our spirit man... that was incredible to think about how God sees us - perfected in His spirit - very enlightening. Also, the part about "Changing Roles"... sometimes we think we know what God's plan is for our life & we think it will never change - but it does... We may not understand it at the time, but He knows what He's doing when He changes our role... Finally, the broken vase part at the end - how God can completely heal our cracks so they are no longer felt or visible... The firing process can crack us... life can crack us too... but God can completely heal those cracks... we just have to choose to stop dwelling & thinking about those old cracks & accept God's complete healing. These things are what I got out of your book and they were incredibly helpful to me... thank you so much for being faithful & obedient and writing this book... I know many people will be blessed by it. Thank you!
