Tuesday 1 July 2008

The Potter and the Clay

I took these photos at the crafts bazaar sometime back.This is called blue or chinhat pottery, unique to our state.Its made with a special clay, then glazed and painted.It is exported all over the world.

Look at the young man with his works of art. These objects of beauty were at one time on the potter 's wheel as clay-clay that yielded to the potter 's hand.

What happened? That lifeless clay was under the hand of the potter, and as the wheel of circumstance turned he molded and made them into vessels that stand on display.
We are like clay in the hands of the Master Potter.He can make us and shape us according to His will.
The Bible says in Jeremiah 8:4

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter;so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it."
What Dr J Vernon McGee says is true,"I do not believe that life 's big decisions are made in a church sanctuary. I believe they are made out in the work-a-day world-in the office, in the school, in the workshop, at the crossroads of life-there is where the Potter is working with the clay. There is a place He is working with you my friend."
A few years ago I tried my hand at pottery in a hobby class in the school where I was teaching and I loved it. I made a few mis-shapen works of art and I photograph them and show them to you.
__________________________
Its been raining constantly , we 've had no sun. its hard to dry clothes. I have a semi-automatic washing machine, maybe your grandma 's had them.Its twin tub with a washer and dryer.It doesn 't dry the clothes completely so you have to hang them out on the line.
The fully automatic machines use a lot of electricity, washing powder and water. So to save all that and to be environmentally friendly I use this kind.


Please pray for my Mama she is not well.Suffering from acidity and can 't hold down anything.I got her apple juice and cream crackers. She can have a little of that.


17 Fertilize my soul:

Julia Dutta said...

Dear Amrita,

Yes it is such a nice post from you. I loved the pots and it is true that we are mere clay in the hands of God who isa shaping us all the time to His Will.
Pottery is a very fine art and has therapeutic effects on a person....sitting there, one's mind focussed totally on the wheel and the clay taking shape, gradually but surely.....the mind comes to a single point of concentration....very relaxing indeed!

Your washing machines remind me of my stay in Shimla. I had to do what you are doing to dry the clothes and then place them near the heater to dry up completely.

How are you Amrita?

warmly,
Julia

Anonymous said...

Lord, i pray for amrita's mom. i pray for your healing touch to be upon her. i pray, Lord, that she would start feeling better. thank you for hearing our prayers. in Jesus' name, amen.

Gudl said...

Amrita, I just said to my daughter, that you are a Saint.
I will pray for your Mom and you.
The photos of the pottery are very nice, so colorful.

Carol-Ann Allen said...

Thinking of you today, Amrita.
I loved Julia's remarks about the potter's wheel bringing the mind down to a single, fine point of concentration.

We know life has change dramatically for you, dear one. You come to mind so often through the day -- and Prem also! This has been such a year of change and pain for your whole family.

Hugs from us!
Bruce, Carol-Ann and Kinza

Tori Leslie said...

Oh I'm so sorry about your mom, I'll try to remember her in prayer.

Those pottery photos are wonderful, I love the colors.

We have a combo washer dryer like that in Croatia and our dryer doesn't dry either.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Dick said...

Colorful pictures and a very nice washing machine. Tha best wishes for your mom.

Donetta said...

Hi Sis, Try pickled plum paste if you can find some it is very alcilyn or pure maple.
I missed you. Nice to see you back.
I hope your doing alright. I know it must of been very hard for all of you to let go of Sybil. Hold on.
I hope that your clay be supple and your day be smooth

Shari said...

I remember making a bowl in art class in grade school. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures.

I will pray for your mom.

the mother of this lot said...

Beautiful pottery Amrita. I hope Mama is feeling better today, and that you are holding up as well.

Kate said...

How is your mother coping with your aunt's death? Is her stomach upset due to stress? I have some trouble with acid stomach - how would she do with a little papaya, maybe?

I had a (we called that a) spin dryer when I lived in England, and they were pretty efficient; although, as you say, not so much when the humidity was high.

Angie said...

You are precious. Love this post. I remember a song...Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me...

Those pieces of pottery are beautiful art. I have a thing for bowls.

Hoping your mom gets better soon.

Ash said...

Hope your mother feels better soon. Sending lots of prayers and good wishes your way....

The pottery is colorful and cheery. Nice washing machine too!

Prem said...

Dear Amrita,
Thank you for the beutiful potrayal of the potter and the clay found in Jeremiah ch 18.As the potter molded and shaped a clay pot on the potters wheel defects often appeared.The potter had the power over the clay,to permit the defects to remain or to reshape the pot.Likewise God has the power to reshape a nation to conform to his purposes.We should be willing and receptive to Gods impact on us.As we yeild to God,he begins reshaping us into valuable vessels.Make me and mould me after your will Lord.This is my prayer that i will be fully yeilded compliant to the work of the Holy spirit in my life.Amrita through all the pain we have gone through He is in the process of making someting beutiful in His time.Through it all we can depend upon His word.Please ask all your readers to pray for RUAN who is undergoing Chemotheraphy for Cancer.His faith is so strong and he is so cheerful,we are praying for a miracle.Pray that by His Stripes he IS HEALED.
Prem

Renae said...

Amrita, Dr. J. Vernon McGee is one of my favorites. :-)

Yes, we are like that clay. And I have to remind myself that in order to mold the clay into something beautiful, the potter has to apply pressure. Our lives are the same, aren't they?

Dear Father, Please be with Amrita's mother, and help her to be well. Please give Amrita wisdom in knowing how to care for her. Thank you for this dear family.

In Your precious Name,

Amen

Saija said...

i love the pottery ... it is beautiful ... and yup, it all started out as a lump of clay first!

re the washing machine, when we were first married - i had a wringer washer - all it did "automatically" was bounce the clothes around ... i did the rinsing and putting the clothes through the wringer to get the water out ... wash day really meant a work day!

blessings on you - and may your mom find some physical comfort ...

Saija said...

i love the pottery ... it is beautiful ... and yup, it all started out as a lump of clay first!

re the washing machine, when we were first married - i had a wringer washer - all it did "automatically" was bounce the clothes around ... i did the rinsing and putting the clothes through the wringer to get the water out ... wash day really meant a work day!

blessings on you - and may your mom find some physical comfort ...

nvittal said...

Great photos! Especially the one where the dude is surrounded by all the stuff - it certainly has captured the moment.