Brokenness as a GiftSo guess what? Sometimes it seems as if a hurricane has come through and swept away everything. But in the middle of it all, is the gift of seeing His miracles, His plan, purpose and provision.
Strains of "White Christmas" filled the air earlier tonight as on the way home from somewhere, I noticed a whole street, cul-de-sac and another street, teeming with lights. People were walking, looking and talking with the most generous expressions among deer, elves, Christmas Nativities, Santa’s and trees wrapped from top to bottom with lights of brilliant color. The many people groups who now live in Southern California made up the faces represented there, all sharing the lights, sights and sounds of Christmas.
Taking in the scene, the people strolling sharing a very cool California night, with a starry sky overhead, I couldn't help but know again, that Jesus is the light of the world. I thought too of this scripture: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17. (Tony P., if you read this blog, I remember your mandolin solos and our worship team being blessed as we raised this verse up to the Lord in worship.)
Out of the crisis points of our lives come opportunities to see the reality of His love for us and for the world. John 3:16 says it all, doesn’t it?
Losing Steve, my husband, companion, lover, best friend, confidant, for thirty five years to a sudden heart attack, (four years ago) has brought me to a place of numbness, pain, tears and more, only to turn to the source of everything for my life. God is the God who is there when no one else is or can be. I would have never chosen this place for myself or for anyone else. It is one of the most difficult of events to lose someone you love and depend upon. Tears have been an unwanted companion for far too long at times. But, I am here to tell you that healing, renewed confidence and yes, JOY can be found as we surrender all to Christ.
Over the radio, listening to a local Christian radio station, I heard a song come one with the phrase, "sweetly broken" in it. Well, it just stopped me in my tracks as I tried to wrap my mind around it. It makes me think of the crushed rose whose fragrance fills the room at its crushing. Perhaps this phrase, sweetly broken, describes better what happens as God places a life on His wheel and we are on our way to becoming more of His creation than the creation of our own minds and hands.
I remember my mama singing with her beautiful crystal soprano voice,"He washed my eyes with tears, that I might see... the broken heart I had was good for me... He tore it all apart and looked inside, to find it full of sin and foolish pride. He took away that things that made me blind and then I saw the clouds were silver lined." Some would question the phrases of this old Christian tune, but wiser heads won't. For every word has been proven in millions of lives around the world.
The good news is that Jesus came from the Father’s heart of love. He came bringing light for all the world to see the way to go. He came bringing healing and hope for our broken places. And, for all of us standing staring at a deep starry night and the lights of Christmas there is Peace on Earth, Good will to men.... He is the everlasting, all powerful light of the world and He is the healer of those who surrender to Him.
Sweetly broken,
K.T.
John 3:16
