It is true that God uses shattered things. How do I know? When a gauzy or twiggy thing is blown apart by the wind, bits of it can be seen woven into bird's nests. Doesn't matter how useless the bit of an item might be for us, an enterprising mama bird will swoop down and collect it, fortifying her little family home with that feather from a down pillow that blew back from the garbage truck, or that sliver of a bill ground by a paper shredder.
I wrote a poem a few years ago about how, though we are shattered and scattered, Jesus puts us back together. The scars remain. Somehow they make us His. They remind us that we cannot put a foot on the floor in the morning without His fortifying presence. If we start to put those feet down on that carpet without his guiding hand, something will happen to shepherd us back into the Christ dependency fold. It's sure to happen.
I have had many a quiet time lined with a firm assurance of God's protection, his guidance. I was absolutely going to conquer giants on that particular day! Fifteen minutes after closing my Bible the gates of Hell open and I am sucked into a battle that has me operating not in the Spirit but fully in the flesh. And that ain't a pretty sight. Then the tears flow and repentance floods me. It's a vicious cycle.
Growth happens when we finally, as completely as a human being can, lay down our pitiful weapons and learn to abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I like quick fixes. I love to fly into an emotional tailspin, pulling every lever I can find to bring drastic action to a frustrating situation. The problem with this is that many deep-seated, super-difficult situations require time for resolution. Some will never be resolved and must simply be accepted. I am not an accepting person! I want action, resolution, success!! And I want them yesterday! Sometimes my motives are entirely pure. Other times they are less so. Doesn't matter. God's will, and his timing are perfect. He will do what He is going to do.
Do you remember the cartoon character known as the "Tasmanian Devil?" I don't remember much about him except that he whirled about maniacally. That's what I look like when I am trying to force a crisis to change someone's behavior or to get others to bring resources to bear in a particular situation. I create a lot of anxiety for those around me, I succeed in stirring the waters, but I don't always bring about lasting remedies. There are definitely times when forcing a crisis turns a tide, but in a lot of cases, patient sifting through of options and implementation of gradual change work best, especially when accompanied by quiet prayer and meditation. The latter arena is where the Lord is taking me to school. I am in the front row right now and my knuckles have been rapped again and again as I jump from my seat, attempt to change the syllabus, interrupt the Lord's work so that I can "help" him with the lessons, etc. He has been unfailingly patient with me in light of my misbehavior. The end result is that I am going to have to be still and let him work, let him fight my battles.
I wrote a poem a few years ago about how, though we are shattered and scattered, Jesus puts us back together. The scars remain. Somehow they make us His. They remind us that we cannot put a foot on the floor in the morning without His fortifying presence. If we start to put those feet down on that carpet without his guiding hand, something will happen to shepherd us back into the Christ dependency fold. It's sure to happen.
I have had many a quiet time lined with a firm assurance of God's protection, his guidance. I was absolutely going to conquer giants on that particular day! Fifteen minutes after closing my Bible the gates of Hell open and I am sucked into a battle that has me operating not in the Spirit but fully in the flesh. And that ain't a pretty sight. Then the tears flow and repentance floods me. It's a vicious cycle.
Growth happens when we finally, as completely as a human being can, lay down our pitiful weapons and learn to abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I like quick fixes. I love to fly into an emotional tailspin, pulling every lever I can find to bring drastic action to a frustrating situation. The problem with this is that many deep-seated, super-difficult situations require time for resolution. Some will never be resolved and must simply be accepted. I am not an accepting person! I want action, resolution, success!! And I want them yesterday! Sometimes my motives are entirely pure. Other times they are less so. Doesn't matter. God's will, and his timing are perfect. He will do what He is going to do.
Do you remember the cartoon character known as the "Tasmanian Devil?" I don't remember much about him except that he whirled about maniacally. That's what I look like when I am trying to force a crisis to change someone's behavior or to get others to bring resources to bear in a particular situation. I create a lot of anxiety for those around me, I succeed in stirring the waters, but I don't always bring about lasting remedies. There are definitely times when forcing a crisis turns a tide, but in a lot of cases, patient sifting through of options and implementation of gradual change work best, especially when accompanied by quiet prayer and meditation. The latter arena is where the Lord is taking me to school. I am in the front row right now and my knuckles have been rapped again and again as I jump from my seat, attempt to change the syllabus, interrupt the Lord's work so that I can "help" him with the lessons, etc. He has been unfailingly patient with me in light of my misbehavior. The end result is that I am going to have to be still and let him work, let him fight my battles.
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