broken before blessed

For me to be fixed, I first must be broken.

I have to be disciplined before I can be used. I can’t be prideful or arrogant or rebellious or stubborn or resistant or selfish. I must have humility and be obedient and be repentant and to grow and become equipped for His service. I have to totally yield and surrender my life to Him, or He can’t use me.

There are many pathways to brokenness. It may be because of sickness, it may be because of sin, it may be because of death, it may be because of sorrow, it may be because of poverty, it may be because of a strong self-will, it may be because of anger, it may be because of trials, it may be because of difficulties, it may be because of hard circumstances.

Just what’s it going to take to break me before the Lord?
I must bow humbly and broken before God.
Yes, the Lord blesses broken things!

God is most glorified in us when we are most broken before Him.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:17 NIV

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 NIV

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Hebron Rock Colony - near Boone, NC

shhhhhhh...

Lately, I haven’t taken much time to be silent before God. It’s hard to hear Him speak when I’m not still before Him. There’s not a single reason or any sorry excuse or anything else to blame why I haven’t. When I get caught up in day-to-day things... yes, things. Is there anything or anyone or anywhere that is more important? Nope.

And, Jesus died for my sins and He knows my name and He cares about me and He is my salvation and He loves me and He blesses me and He hears my prayers and...

When I read these words today, I felt a warm and comforting embrace. My Father welcomes me into His arms and covers me with His love. For these precious moments, I sit by my Father and rest at His feet.

Let Your God Love You

Be silent.
Be still. Alone,
Empty
Before your God.
Say nothing.
Be silent.

Be still.
Let your God
Look upon you.
That is all.
God knows,
Understands,
Loves you with
An enormous love.
God only wants to
Look upon you
With Love.
Quiet.
Still.
Be.

Let your God –
Love you.

by Edwina Gately (from There Was No Path but I Trod One)

quick quotes

What can you ever really know of other people’s souls – of their temptations, their opportunities, their struggles? One soul in the whole creation you do know: and it is the only one whose fate is placed in your hands.
~CS Lewis

God loves you as though you are the only person in the world, and he loves everyone the way he loves you.
~St Augustine

You are accepted. You are accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you don't know...simply accept the fact that you are accepted. If that happens, we experience grace.
~Paul Tillich

consider it pure joy

In living day-to-day, I often find myself focused on myself. I dwell on me. I think about my struggles and my physical pain and my troubles and my misery and my circumstances. I have my very own ‘pity party’. I’m too occupied with myself and I’m too self-absorbed. Good grief, do I really think I have problems? Do I really think that ...?

Wake up Liz! STOP!

I have no reason to dwell on the miniscule ‘problems’ I think I have. My life is blessed, I should be thankful and appreciate that my problems are so small.

Instead, God can use me just the way I am. I don’t have to understand it. I don’t need to question it. I just need to let Him have all areas of my life. The more I pray and the more I study God’s Word, I lean on Him more and more. The closer to God I am, the more I am strengthened. It’s hard for me to be happy about my problems, but there are reasons to be so.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:1-4 NAS

oh what fun it is!

I'd forgotten just how much fun it is to cut donuts in the snow!

I'm a little rusty, but I'm rather proud of the 'art' I left behind!

(you gotta love empty parking lots:)

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