Encouraging Women Today

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

THE BROKEN CHANDELIER



This past week we were getting three rooms ready for the carpet cleaner. I carried a Crystal Chandelier into our guest bathroom so it would be safe. As I sat it down so it would be safe, some of the Crystal teardrops fell and broke. I glued them back together, but of course the piece lost its value at that moment. Oh well, it still worked.

The next day I picked it up to move it back to its safe place. As I leaned to pick it up, all of the Crystal holders and teardrops fell into hundreds of pieces. No value at all now, only a partial chandelier, broken beyond repair.

Have you ever felt you have been broken beyond repair? Psalm 34:17 says: “THE LORD IS CLOSE TO THE BROKEN HEARTED AND SAVES THOSE WHO ARE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT.”

In Gene Edward’s book, “TALE OF THREE KINGS” he explains brokenness like this: “BY EARTHLY MEASURE DAVID WAS A SHATTERED MAN; BY GOD’S MEASURE A BROKEN ONE. DAVID HAD CHANGED DURING HIS INTERACTION WITH SAUL. HIS PERSONALITY, DISPOSITION, AND TOTAL BEING HAD BEEN ALTERED DURING THIS TIME. HE TALKED LESS AND LOVED GOD MORE. HE SANG DIFFERENTLY.”

I happened to be “just looking” at a garage sale last week and found some crystal pieces to replace those that shattered. The Chandelier looks different, has a different purpose, but that’s OK. It is still beautiful, just different.

If you’re BROKEN today, God majors in putting the shattered pieces back together. Expect to be, act and even look different, as did David and the Chandelier. That’s OK. God can put your PURPOSE, TEMPERAMENT AND BEING back together through your circumstances in life.

Monday, June 01, 2009

If you've ever thought you had a "Thorn in the Flesh" you probably have one! I was thinking about Paul the Apostle the other day telling about his "Thorn in the Flesh" in II Corinthians 12:1-10. Some thoughts came to my mind as to what "Thorns" could be in my life:
Physical infirmities
Pain
Troubles
Sufferings
Humiliation
Difficult Relationships
etc.

OUTWARD POWER WILL ALWAYS UNVEIL THE INNER RESOURCES.

Paul goes on to share with us that HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT. In fact he actually is thanking God for his weaknesses. What in the world was he thinking? But as we look at God's Word it explains the concept. Our "thorns" put us in a place where God is able to come to our rescue. GRACE is God's presence, favor and power. It is a force, a heavenly strength given those who call on God. This grace will rest on faithful believers who accept their weaknesses and difficulties for the gospel's sake.

FOOTNOTES IN MY FULL LIFE STUDY BIBLE SAY:

THE GREATER OUR WEAKNESS AND TRIALS FOR CHRIST, THE MORE GRACE GOD WILL GIVE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WILL. WHAT HE GIVES IS ALWAYS SUFFICIENT FOR US TO LIVE OUR DAILY LIVES, TO WORK FOR HIM, TO ENDURE OUR SUFFERING AND "THORNS IN THE FLESH". Drawing near to Christ, Christ will give us His heavenly strength and comfort.