Have you ever had something happen, and you knew God was speaking directly to you? I did today, as I heard this song on the radio. My heart was stirred as I thought about someone who I know that lives this life. I am praying that true freedom comes one day. Why would someone choose to hide instead of being set free? I guess the initial embarrassment of disclosure-the fear of being "found out", paralyzes many. Today this person realized that her wall was transparent. What a perfect opportunity to knock it down once and for all!! This could be the beginning of healing that is a long time coming. I say a few moments of feeling humbled by the admittance of sins is a small price to pay for true freedom. Don't let this opportunity pass. Be brave, my friend-Let freedom ring!
Here are the lyrics:
Healing begins
So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do
So we think that you're good
And you can't believe it's not enough
All the walls you built up
Are just glass on the outside
So let 'em fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark
Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide
Can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find
That the shame won't disappear
So let it fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
We're here now, oh
This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark
Sparks will fly as grace collides
With the dark inside of us
So please don't fight
This coming light
Let this blood come cover us
His blood can cover us
This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Broken
I had the complete misfortune of breaking my baby girl's arm yesterday. It was a horrible accident. I slipped and fell at a ball game, and because I had her arm, she was yanked down with my momentum. She cried for an hour, and was only able to calm down when we got home and she rested in her Daddy's arms. This morning I looked her over. Her arm looked fine, and there was no bruising. Then, as I watched her try to do the things she normally does, I saw that she was favoring her arm way too much. She was just not acting like my little Lily. I knew that I needed to bring her to the doctor. After a set of X-rays, my suspicions were confirmed: fracture.
It's awful to think that Lily walked all last night and this morning with a broken arm. Now that we are home, I have had a chance to process everything. Lily is still sore, but her arm is secure, splinted and on the mend. Restraining it in the splint makes her arm rest, even with all the energy of a 20 month old. This whole incident placed an interesting question inside my head. I wondered how many people just walk around broken on the inside without anyone noticing? The majority of people that we meet in our every day life look fine and seem to act the way society deems as normal. All of us, at times, have broken areas hidden deep inside of us. A death of a loved one, a relationship severed, a major disappointment...all can cause a brokenness. The rate in which we heal varies from person to person, from situation to situation. No one can put a time limit on your wholeness, but one thing is for sure, eventually, the brokenness should heal. I have recently met a woman who's brokenness has not yet healed. It has been four years since her 24 year old son was killed in a motorcycle accident. She has tried to use alcohol to cover the pain. Temporarily she finds relief, even if it is a false sense of healing. I met with her just the other day at a hospital in Seneca. She was the patient, and her husband brought her in with chest pain and heart attack symptoms. A day later, she was release with a clean bill of health and a healthy heart from what all the instruments show. It's too bad brokenness isn't a monitorable condition on an EKG. It only took me a few moments of conversing with this sweet lady to realize that she was hurting, and hurting badly. She was not able to mask it, and she wore her wounds on her sleeve. Unfortunately, there are many people who have an ability of hiding their brokenness so that it isn't readily detected as quickly as it was in my friend. I think the main reason is because it takes courage and humility to admit when we are broken, and some people find it very difficult to let their true self show. Some blame their brokenness on past experiences, using that as their eternal crutch, choosing to play the part of a victim rather than an overcomer. Others are blind to their own brokenness, and have somehow managed to deceive themselves into thinking they are fine. Our Pastor recently preached about how a deceived person is the most diffcult person to work with, because not only are they broken, but they believe they are whole and everyone else has a problem. Life is not always easy, but living life being broken and/or deceived is not the abundant life God promises to each one of us.
I have walked through brokenness many times in my life. Each instance was different, some were caused by others and some were self inflicted. I am thankful that the Lord had placed people in my life who stood by me and helped me through some of those times. Other times, I can recall when God chose to be my help Himself. The times when I didn't want to admit my brokenness, I failed to create an atmosphere for healing, and the process was slow. The times when I was able to freely say, "I'm hurting, I don't know what to do, but I desire to be whole again", the Lord made the process much more swift and bearable. We all need motivation to want to be whole. Physical pain is a powerful motivator, but often our brokenness can't be felt in the same way a broken arm can. No one wants to get hurt. No one wants to be broken. And as much as we wish they could, no one can walk down the path to wholeness in our place. The promise that we have is that we will never walk it alone, for the Lord Himself will lead us.
And when we look back on our brokenness sitting on the fence of wholeness, we too can proclaim just as David of old, "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT)
It's awful to think that Lily walked all last night and this morning with a broken arm. Now that we are home, I have had a chance to process everything. Lily is still sore, but her arm is secure, splinted and on the mend. Restraining it in the splint makes her arm rest, even with all the energy of a 20 month old. This whole incident placed an interesting question inside my head. I wondered how many people just walk around broken on the inside without anyone noticing? The majority of people that we meet in our every day life look fine and seem to act the way society deems as normal. All of us, at times, have broken areas hidden deep inside of us. A death of a loved one, a relationship severed, a major disappointment...all can cause a brokenness. The rate in which we heal varies from person to person, from situation to situation. No one can put a time limit on your wholeness, but one thing is for sure, eventually, the brokenness should heal. I have recently met a woman who's brokenness has not yet healed. It has been four years since her 24 year old son was killed in a motorcycle accident. She has tried to use alcohol to cover the pain. Temporarily she finds relief, even if it is a false sense of healing. I met with her just the other day at a hospital in Seneca. She was the patient, and her husband brought her in with chest pain and heart attack symptoms. A day later, she was release with a clean bill of health and a healthy heart from what all the instruments show. It's too bad brokenness isn't a monitorable condition on an EKG. It only took me a few moments of conversing with this sweet lady to realize that she was hurting, and hurting badly. She was not able to mask it, and she wore her wounds on her sleeve. Unfortunately, there are many people who have an ability of hiding their brokenness so that it isn't readily detected as quickly as it was in my friend. I think the main reason is because it takes courage and humility to admit when we are broken, and some people find it very difficult to let their true self show. Some blame their brokenness on past experiences, using that as their eternal crutch, choosing to play the part of a victim rather than an overcomer. Others are blind to their own brokenness, and have somehow managed to deceive themselves into thinking they are fine. Our Pastor recently preached about how a deceived person is the most diffcult person to work with, because not only are they broken, but they believe they are whole and everyone else has a problem. Life is not always easy, but living life being broken and/or deceived is not the abundant life God promises to each one of us.
I have walked through brokenness many times in my life. Each instance was different, some were caused by others and some were self inflicted. I am thankful that the Lord had placed people in my life who stood by me and helped me through some of those times. Other times, I can recall when God chose to be my help Himself. The times when I didn't want to admit my brokenness, I failed to create an atmosphere for healing, and the process was slow. The times when I was able to freely say, "I'm hurting, I don't know what to do, but I desire to be whole again", the Lord made the process much more swift and bearable. We all need motivation to want to be whole. Physical pain is a powerful motivator, but often our brokenness can't be felt in the same way a broken arm can. No one wants to get hurt. No one wants to be broken. And as much as we wish they could, no one can walk down the path to wholeness in our place. The promise that we have is that we will never walk it alone, for the Lord Himself will lead us.
And when we look back on our brokenness sitting on the fence of wholeness, we too can proclaim just as David of old, "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!" Psalm 30:11-12 (NLT)
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
No Left Turn
When I pick Jonathan up from school there is a direct road that leads to the car line where I wait for him. If I go that way, it's just a quick left turn and I'm there. Unfortunately, there's a little matter of a sign there that says, "No Left Turn". Being the rule keeper that I am, I drive around the block so I can turn right onto the same road, and obey the law. As I am sitting in line, I am always amazed at the number of people who turn left illegally. I guess I am not too surprised by some, but the ones that have their big "JESUS" bumper sticker or their Christian fish really get to me. The other day, when I was cut off by someone making an illegal left turn, right in front of me, after I had just spent valuable time and gas to drive around the block, I wanted to punch their lights out (in righteous indignation, of course.) I found myself up on my high horse, disgusted at the infidels all around me. Sounds so Holy, doesn't it? I mean, I fully expected God himself to be waiting at the end of the pick up line to pat me on the back, and give me a wink of approval, while those who have not followed in my perfect example get their just desserts of fire and brimstone raining down on their mobile billboard for God.
OK, by this time, I either have you laughing, or angry (depending on which car you might have been in), but I'm sure I have gotten a reaction. As a Christian, let me be the first one to say Christians can be so...annoying! No wonder there is a world out there that wants nothing to do with God. Look at his representatives. Sheesh. Don't get me wrong, I think it is right and good to follow rules. I believe obeying laws is something that God expects us to do. Even the so-called "little" rules, like FBI warnings against illegal CD copies, regardless of being "poor folk", or telling 349 of your closest friends "what's on your mind", on company time. (Thank goodness facebook wasn't around when I worked...I am sure I would have succumbed to THAT temptation once or twice!!) But here's the thing. Why do we feel so much pride when we do something right, and condemn others around us who are doing wrong? I mean, I really puffed myself up in that car there for a while, until God decided to burst my little bubble of pride. I guess we forget that all sin is equal in it's ability to separate us from God. Even disobedience. Even pride and self-righteousness. It's no wonder that life's snares and entanglements all boil down to three areas: "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." (1 John 2:16). Lust, more lust and pride.
When we become Christians, we suddenly become residents of glass houses, and you know what they say..."People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Think about it...who are the WORST critics of smokers? Ex-Smokers! I know some people who have committed sins, and I'm talking some serious, heinous acts, and they are some of the most critical people, especially of the same exact sin that they once committed themselves. I am very grateful that the Lord has the ability to forgive (1 John 1:9) AND forget (Psalm 103:12) all of our sins when we ask for forgiveness and turn away from that sin. But, I am equally glad that He, in His infinite wisdom, has NOT given us the ability to forget our own sin. Not for the sake of beating ourselves up over and over again, but to always remember from the heights we have fallen, and of the mercy that God has extended to us. The Bible says that the person who has been forgiven much, shows much love. (Luke 7:47)
I admit that I choose to sit on the judgement throne way too often at times. I am thankful that the Lord is quick to point out to me that I am in the wrong seat, and usually I am quick to respond accordingly. Lord knows some people make it harder to respond than others, but that's all part of how God uses those around us to show us how imperfect our prideful hearts really are. The beauty of all the difficult experiences, the failures and the disappointments is that they clearly points us directly to the cross and our need for a Saviour. It's impossible to walk straight, when we our gaze is everywhere else but on the path that lies ahead. Jesus never called us to be the plumb line for humanity. That's a standard only He can raise. Our place is to represent Him well, and point people to Him.
OK, by this time, I either have you laughing, or angry (depending on which car you might have been in), but I'm sure I have gotten a reaction. As a Christian, let me be the first one to say Christians can be so...annoying! No wonder there is a world out there that wants nothing to do with God. Look at his representatives. Sheesh. Don't get me wrong, I think it is right and good to follow rules. I believe obeying laws is something that God expects us to do. Even the so-called "little" rules, like FBI warnings against illegal CD copies, regardless of being "poor folk", or telling 349 of your closest friends "what's on your mind", on company time. (Thank goodness facebook wasn't around when I worked...I am sure I would have succumbed to THAT temptation once or twice!!) But here's the thing. Why do we feel so much pride when we do something right, and condemn others around us who are doing wrong? I mean, I really puffed myself up in that car there for a while, until God decided to burst my little bubble of pride. I guess we forget that all sin is equal in it's ability to separate us from God. Even disobedience. Even pride and self-righteousness. It's no wonder that life's snares and entanglements all boil down to three areas: "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." (1 John 2:16). Lust, more lust and pride.
When we become Christians, we suddenly become residents of glass houses, and you know what they say..."People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Think about it...who are the WORST critics of smokers? Ex-Smokers! I know some people who have committed sins, and I'm talking some serious, heinous acts, and they are some of the most critical people, especially of the same exact sin that they once committed themselves. I am very grateful that the Lord has the ability to forgive (1 John 1:9) AND forget (Psalm 103:12) all of our sins when we ask for forgiveness and turn away from that sin. But, I am equally glad that He, in His infinite wisdom, has NOT given us the ability to forget our own sin. Not for the sake of beating ourselves up over and over again, but to always remember from the heights we have fallen, and of the mercy that God has extended to us. The Bible says that the person who has been forgiven much, shows much love. (Luke 7:47)
I admit that I choose to sit on the judgement throne way too often at times. I am thankful that the Lord is quick to point out to me that I am in the wrong seat, and usually I am quick to respond accordingly. Lord knows some people make it harder to respond than others, but that's all part of how God uses those around us to show us how imperfect our prideful hearts really are. The beauty of all the difficult experiences, the failures and the disappointments is that they clearly points us directly to the cross and our need for a Saviour. It's impossible to walk straight, when we our gaze is everywhere else but on the path that lies ahead. Jesus never called us to be the plumb line for humanity. That's a standard only He can raise. Our place is to represent Him well, and point people to Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)