Monday, April 18, 2011

Broken

Broken
definition: ‘make whole into pieces’

This fallen world never stops shattering and we all break apart a bit more every day
 Falling and breaking apart over:
The house is a wreck, the boys bicker, research paper deadlines closing in, dog gets out of fence, dinner is not planned,trash is overflowing and we get  THAT  phone call…
 Feeling a bit ‘broken’ last week.We received a phone call no parent wants to ever receive. Our daughter who is in college was in an automobile accident and taken by ambulance to hospital

 An even in the lanquish, God whispers: Give thanks anyways — do this in' remembrance 'of Me.
(remembrance: something that serves to bring to mind or keep in mind someplace, person, event, etc.; memento.) 
 Why in the world give thanks?  Everything is not going my way…just got news that wasn’t expected or prepared for… I can’t even get my breath to utter a sound...
 "Just Breathe...." Kent positions himself as the natural born leader he is. Just breathe. With each exhale, all I could whisper was  "Jesus." "Jesus" "Jesus"
 IT is because when we remember how He blesses, loves us, when we recollect His goodnesses to us — our broken places re-collect. We  remember. We heal. Broken pieces brought together. A beautiful mosaic Hayley and I made years ago. 

Breathe....Exhale..."Jesus" "Jesus" "Jesus" a little louder this time
It is in the remembering to give thanks, to remember who we are in Christ and WHO He is that our broken places are recollected — they are made whole.
To remember the promise in the Word... “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that he pleases” – Psalm 115:3
… and may we please Him by giving thanks for His work alone, nothing at all to do with us,….

but us decreasing that He alone increase, all our lives magnifying the Giver of all, good and perfect

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

 giving thanks to Him who let Himself be broken to make us whole.

Breathe...exhale.."Jesus." Even Louder...Peace begins to settle in.

Our Pastors call and proclaim His Word...His Truth..His Goodness..His Promises. Segmented Body of Christ coming together.

 26During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:  Take, eat.  This is my body. Matt 26:26 MSG

17And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together) Colossians 1:17 

Breathe...exhale..."Jesus"..holding ALL things together...all things.

Jesus was broken to make ME whole. The broken, segmented, fragmented pieces of the Body of Christ were re-collected, came together, assembled to interecede for our daughter. He held our family together by the petitions and prayers of our friends, family and even strangers on behalf of Hayley. Jesus was broken to make us whole. The Body of Christ…a love body…held us together through the storm we walked through last week…in gentle strength. He loves us, he re-collected His goodness to us…our broken places…he remembered our family…He went before her (EMT/nurse/CFNI alum) and was her rear guard. He was broken..... FOR Hayley to be made whole!

Breathe...exhale..."Jesus" "Jesus" "Jesus" 

But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, maypitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12:9 Amp

A moment can be a miracle. Right where we are. We must dare to live FULLY. Before we are broken, we must be made whole in HIM. Made whole by His Word. Made whole by Who HE says we are through Him. He is before ALL things and in HIM all things hold together.

My prayer is that Jesus takesthe little I have to give…that HE blesses it and breaks me for others. Available to Him to minister to His body. Breathing, exhaling, "JESUS!"

Giving thanks right where I am in remembrance of Jesus whose body was broken for me. For you. For Hayley.

Breathe...exhale...."Jesus" Jesus" "Jesus" shouted with a mighty ROAR this time!


*One week after the head on collision, Hayley returned to CFNI classes and is continuing to walk in her healing. Jesus. There's just something about THAT Name....