BROKEN BUT NOT DESTROYED

The sacrifices of God are a

broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O

God, You will not despise.

Psalm 51:17

An incident yesterday got me thinking about brokenness. When we first moved here to Tennessee eight years ago, there were things for the house I purchased mostly for décore purposes, but also because out of need. One of those things was a new canister set for the kitchen. I found one I really liked through a computer purchase and have never regretted purchasing it. It is ceramic in make up and colorful just the way I like it. The set has its place on a particular counter that is handy to get to and at the same time, looks nice sitting right where it is.

I decided around noon yesterday to fix myself a bowl of cereal. I took sugar out of the larger canister that sits nearest to the edge of the counter. In my haste, I lost my grip on the lid of that canister and it went flying to the floor. The fortunate thing is that ceramic doesn't break like glass. Glass shatters...ceramic tends to break in manageable pieces with lots of small chips around it. Brian came running and pretty much gave up on the usability of that poor ceramic top.

Without hesitation, I picked up the large pieces while he swept the rest of the damage up in a dust pan. Brian felt the lid was a lost cause. After he left the kitchen, I proceeded to “diddle” with the chunks and found they could be glued together and once again usable. They wouldn't look quite the same with some chips now gone but from a distance, I felt any damage wouldn't be that noticeable.

All of this got me thinking about how grateful I am now for some of the broken experiences God has allowed me to experience in my life. Many of those experiences, I brought upon myself. God and no one else had to do the breaking in many cases, but I can recall how God picked up the pieces and put me back together with His “super glue”...His amazing love.

Looking on my computer at a Bible app I often use, I looked up the word “broken.” I was surprised the things mentioned with regard to being broken. Some of them are: armies, Sabbath, some body parts, buildings, branches, ships, bread, congregations, covenants and even the broken body of our Lord. Please note that most of those broken things God used in trying to get His message across to individuals or groups. Many of those things were caused by folks and their deliberate disobedience.

Job probably spoke more personally of his broken experiences than others in Scripture. As I've looked at those things he said about the breaking process in his life, his feelings about it all feels like I have when I've gone through some breaking times. It's been a combination of not understanding the why's, while at the same time, seeing God in it all.

Often when God allows a breaking time in our lives, we don't think in those moments about being very spiritual. We know the things we ought to do....Bible, pray, confess sin, even be faithful in church attendance. If attending church, it might be just going through motions. It's as if such experiences almost paralyze us emotionally and spiritually bringing us to a stand still. And yet, if I stood still for too long, I ended up spending the time crying, fretting, stewing while feeling very sorry for myself.

The thing is that we are God's children. He loves us with a love we can't even begin to comprehend and yet, he stands ready as a perfect parent would to help put the broken pieces of our lives back together. We moms used to wipe a child's tears away, kiss the boo-boos, bandage up the hurts, allow the teenage girl to cry out her hurts on our shoulders...we did a little of it all. God heals the brokenness because He can do it like no other can. We don't need to always cry on the shoulders of others, but God does provide friends we can find comfort with, friends who will pray and lift our spirits.

Oh yes...my canister top. I tried without glue putting pieces together just to see if it could be done and it looked like it could work. Took them to Brian who is our Mr. Fix-it. He got out his super glue and got the lid put together, very nicely I must say. There are a couple of obvious places where some small open places are, but from a distance, the damage isn't that noticeable. I'll tell you though that I will take good care of that lid. It went through a real breaking process not of its doing. It's still very usable and it's beauty is only slightly marred.

It'll be the same for us. When we walk through those breaking times, pieces will begin to come together and our Father will love on us, heal our spirits and we will have learned. A caution: if we don't learn from our broken times when God intended such to be to teach us a lesson, we may have to go through the same again just to make sure the lesson “sticks” We may be left with a few scars and chips, but they will remind us of victory brought about through our Father Who never wastes a thing in our lives that is intended for our good and His glory.

Dear Father, I remember some days when I was more broken than I can even now describe. There were some dark days, but You as usual were my Light and Salvation and I learned I needed not fear. Your presence was and is still so precious. My prayer is that I will stay close to You, knowing You will do all things well in my life. In Jesus name...Amen

SEEKING AFTER GOD

Seek the Lord and His strength;

seek His face continually

Psalm 105:4

Several years ago, I gave up hero worship. There were some things I guess I had to learn the hard way. Such “people worship” is a real danger for Christians as there are speakers, leaders and authors who would love for us to fall at their feet in pure, unquestioning adoration. I do believe God brings folks into our lives who exhibit godly qualities and life styles we can learn from. However, we aren't called upon to be “followers” of theirs.

There are authors living and dead I have come to really admire and learn from. Two I'm thinking of right now who have gone on to Heaven are R.A. Torrey, a godly preacher who preached in his day like we need to be hearing in our churches today. I have several of his books and as I read from them, it's almost as if I can hear his voice.

The other author, a godly lady now in Heaven, is Corrie ten Boom. The history of World War II has always fascinated me along with human incidents resulting from that time. I was fascinated with the life of Anne Frank, but Corrie is the author of Christian books, books that have spoken to me in wonderful ways. There are times I've been encouraged by her grit and toughness and yes, her humanity and humility. Her faith was so strong in latter days that it seemed she had Jesus all to herself.

Today, I read just about everything Anne Graham Lotz writes. I have followed her life not just because of her being Billy Graham's daughter, but because of the depth of her faith. She has in recent months gone through treatments, chemo and radiation, for cancer. It would seem that such would put her on a shelf, but she made the best of the time to write and do some other things of service until able to be speaking again.

In a recent interview, I read where Anne was questioned about what was next in ministry for her. She made a statement that convicted me more than I can say. She said during that interview:

“My hearts aim all my adult life has been to be where God wants me to be. I'm pursuing Him, not ministry and I want to be where He is.”

That is such a profound statement that should be true in my life and perhaps in yours as well. I think of the times I have pursued ministry...teaching, choir, church pianist/organist, ladies ministry among them. I've done my best to do God's work well as I feel He deserves my very best, no matter what my service for Him. However, there have been times when I allowed God to get lost in it all as I engaged in all of the busyness. He waits for me (and you) to give Him some well-deserved time out of all the busyness.

I have to ask myself how much time I give in seeking God, of not just seeking position, but wanting to be who, what and where God desires of me. Am I giving as much personal time to my Heavenly Father in prayer and in His Word as I am with being busy with activity even though the activity is spiritually healthy? I know God appreciates what we do for Him, but wonder in the process if He isn't neglected by us when it comes to a more in depth relationship with Him.

As we walk closer with God, He has ways of leading us to just the right places and ways of service. As we make it a major thing in our lives to be “seekers”, it doesn't mean casual treatment of the Scriptures. It will mean time spent reading, praying through those things that convict and challenge us and allowing in unhurried ways for God to minister to us and our communing with Him.

Think of the things we seek in this life. Some things are necessary, but many are not. We are good at seeking things and even people who make us feel good. Very often, I'm afraid, God isn't even on that list.

I pray our hearts desire as God's people is that we will desire to love and seek Him in all our ways...that He might become THE priority in our lives. We live in a culture that is seeking to silence people of faith. Their efforts are becoming more and more a reality and we are going to need all the spiritual strength we can muster. God stands ready for our seekingHim.

He's always available!

I love those who love me;

And those who diligently seek

me will find me.

Proverbs 8:17

Dear Father, forgive me for doing my own thing so often, many times not even seeking your will regarding ministry. I want You to be first in my life. I want to walk with You, learn from You, and seek You in all things. I long to be closer to You in every way. I pray for Your empowering for there is nothing I can do on my own spiritually that can count for much. Thank You for Your Spirit in me and for Jesus who came and made it all possible. It's in His name I pray...Amen

THANK YOU, MY FATHER

For you have not received a spirit of slavery
leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of
adoption as sons by which we cry out,
“Abba! Father!”

The Spirit Himself testifies with our
spirit that we are children of God.
Romans 8:15-16

We were nervous to say the least as we entered the Cook County courthouse in Chicago, Illinois. In hand Brian carried a new diaper bag and I carried the new baby girl we had received for adoption just one month previous to that day. We had to appear in court in order to get legal custody of her. I dressed her in a pretty yellow dress that had been given as a gift.

The court room was unusual. It didn't look like anything on TV. There was little seating in the court room area. The wall to the right of the room was of glass. This was obviously Family Court because behind that huge glass I saw rocking chairs, changing tables, play pens, cribs of various sizes and adults with children mostly age four and under. It was a happy place.

We were called in to appear before the judge. He looked so like a grandfather with his gray hair and warm smile, but with the black robe. He had some introductory remarks for our lawyer while Brian and I stood in front of his bench. Jennie was asleep, her little tummy cozied up to me, breathing as a sleeping baby does. Her face was nestled in my neck at the moment. The judge addressed Brian and me regarding our responsibility in adopting Jennie. He reminded us that she had every right as if she were our naturally born baby. He said she had every right to physical provision and protection, education opportunities, the right to bear our name, the right to inheritance...all this even if we had future birth children. No difference could be made in the children in our family.

When all of that was laid out to us, we had to verbally agree to those things even though we knew those things prior to that time. Surprisingly, the judge looked at Jennie who was still sleeping soundly, and said, “Jennie, do you want to go home with these folks and they be your mommy and daddy?” Suddenly, Jennie let out one of those baby sighs that only babies can when they are sleeping. The judge smiled and said, “Well Jennie, that's good enough for me.” By law Jennie couldn't be ours for another six months, but we knew from that court experience that she was ours.

I can't tell you how often I think back to that judges admonition to us. I can't even explain all the red tape we had to go through to finally be handed Jennie's adoption papers. She just became a part of an earthly family. With God, it is different...no red tape, no jumping through hoops to become a member of His family. No visits to CPS, lawyers office or court rooms. We have the say regarding our own adoption into His wonderful family. He becomes the best Father any of we human beings have ever had or ever will have.

We have a book, our Father's Word, where He gives us every promise of His watch care and provision. He will teach and train us. Unlike any earthly parents, God has been total provider. He has protected me when in danger. He has also chastened me as a loving Father would do and that's been a real education. I also have an inheritance reserved for me in glory with my name attached to it signed in the blood of Jesus who made possible my adoption into God's family.

Just as we promised to be the parents Jennie needed, I think of the myriad of promises God gives to me personally in His Word:

For I am the Lord your God,
who upholds your right hand,
Who says to you, “Do not fear,
I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:13

And my God will supply all your
needs according to His riches
in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

My earthly father couldn't be with me at all times, but I have the promises of my Heavenly Father that He will never leave me or forsake me because His presence through His Spirit abides in me and will be a constant presence in my life on this earth.

I have the privilege of calling God “ABBA ...Father” and to extend to Him my personal HAPPY FATHER'S DAY as lovingly as I can.

Thank You Father for all You are in my life. The list is too long to write out but I love You dearly more than I ever could any earthly individual. Forgive me for those times I disappoint you because of my sin. Just know I love You and am grateful for Jesus and Your Spirit for all You do in blessing my life. In Jesus' sweet name....Amen

IN LOVE WITH THE WORD

All Scripture is inspired by God

and profitable for teaching, for

reproof, for correction,

for training in
righteousness;
so that the man of God may be
adequate, equipped for every
good work.
II Timothy 3:16,17

There is no way I can count all the Bible conferences I have attended in my lifetime. I remember returning home after those “mountain-top” times with the Lord. Some meant more in my life than others did, but sure each one contributed a certain amount of spiritual growth for me at the time. Through the years, those conferences moved from being with high school student / student retreats. Those two were life changing.

For women, there are any number of retreats and conferences available they can participate in as often as they would like to. Some people attend those things because they are enjoyable and give a quick shot of spirituality. For others it may mean a salvation experience or re-dedication of a life that has perhaps run off of spiritual tracks. I like to think that these experiences are beneficial in a more mature way than when in high school. As an adult, the stakes are really high when it comes to our spiritual growth. More people count on our spiritual influence than we can consider.

Brian and I just returned from a wonderful five-day seminar at the Billy Graham Training Center (The Cove) where we were taught by Dr. Woodrow Kroll who for several years was the president and daily teacher on the Back to the Bible radio broadcast. Our topic was to do with do with experiencing the power of God's Word.

The first few session really blew me away. They didn't seem to deal with the Bible at all. We started out with our belief in God, how we know there is a God, how God speaks to us and how God spoke through His Son. I must say to you that it's been a very long time I thought in these elementary ways, especially talking about how we felt about God. What DO we think about God? I don't mean just listing His attributes. Person to person, what do I think about Him and how engaged am I with Him.

These times would lead us through many phases of looking at the Bible...what it is, what it does and how did we get it in the first place. I know it all seems Sunday school-ish but we got down to some things I hadn't thought of in years.

For instance, our leader held up is Bible and simply said:

“This is the only book God ever wrote.
I think He would be happy if we would read it.”

Another thought he had to share was that of our concern for people in distant countries who have no access to the Word of God; and yet, in many Christian homes, the Bible is the main decoration on coffee tables that are never read. Better to be without a Bible than to have one or more in our possession that is never read.

With that we were challenged to consider that our Bibles are the only way to know God and not reading it is going to affect how we feel about God and how well we know Him. We also heard over and over that the Word is God's spoken Word, actually words from His mouth to the prophets and others in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, He spoke through His Son and Spirit. We're not talking about mental telepathy in the formation of the Bible. God spoke verbally, word by word, what He wanted His Word to say, using Godly men to receive the words, doing what writing God wanted. but spoken words that make up the precious book we call the Holy Bible.

I have a renewed appreciation for this precious book I so often take for granted, but at this point want to take it in a more personal way...God's spoken words through others straight to me. When I get to Heaven, I'm convinced a question could possibly be asked of all of and it could be: “What did you do with My Word? Did you read it and follow my commands? Did it you make a habit of reading it or did it just sit on your bookshelf?” I believe God will hole us accountable for our treatment or mistreatment of His Word and how we made it a part of our every day living and loving.

Father, I'm so grateful You SPOKE the words of Your book. I recognize it's the only book that tells me about You. Your book is THE source of my knowing You and learning from You. Thank You for your Holy Spirit, Who teaches all you want me to know. May I be willing to walk in obedience and love as I know You desire. In Jesus name....Amen