May 5, 2009

Number18

VIEWPOINT

Oswald Chambers commented, “When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, or a new friendship — when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us.”

The same author also said, “If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed —you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed.”

Remember Jesus’ words:  “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life (John 12:24, 25).  Or to use another quotation:  “Before you can bless, you must bleed; before you can help, you must first hurt.”

The word “broken” is almost always negative.  However, the word, “break” can be positive.  For instance, when something good happens to a person, it is often said to be “his big BREAK.” To be broken in heart or hope could be your big break. 

Are you broken?  It may be that God is going to use you.  God specializes in broken things.  Jeremiah illustrated God’s molding of human beings by a pottery wheel: “I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel.  But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands;  so  the potter  formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him (Jer. 18:, 4).

Dreams and visions shattered, you are all broken inside
You don’t have to stay in the shape that you are in;
The Potter wants to put you back together again
Oh the Potter wants to put you back together again

What a relief to realize that as children of God, we are still in the hands of the Lord.  In his hands we find healing, deliverance and peace.  “He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). 

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Paula sent me the clever message above.  Its truth is a good reminder!  I look forward to seeing you Sunday with a Bible, a smile and a positive word.          RA

Without GOD, our week would be:

Sinday

Mournday

Tearsday

Wasteday

Thirstday

Fightday

and

Shatterday.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
      test me and know my anxious thoughts.  
See if there is any offensive way in me,
   and lead me in the way everlasting.
(Psalm 139:23, 224)