Broken - Five Minute Friday

Here we write unhindered by fear or grammar for five minutes.  We let the words fly freely and see what comes.  We join and encourage.  Join us here for the details.

Broken

We all start out that way – broken!  The tiniest, most seemingly perfect babe – broken already.  It’s part of our nature, our being.  We ignore our brokenness and move through life with a blind eye – until it hits us.

There is no amount of super glue in the world that can put back together the pieces of our bodies, hearts and minds.  Our souls.

Then we find The Healer, the master physician whose stitches are sure and steady.  The stitching is often painful and the mending process ugly in our own eyes – but it is complete and starts from the inside out.  We aren’t left like an antique clockwork toy that looks good but no longer functions.

We aren’t only reconnected, we are EMPOWERED!  The surrender of the will to the salvation and lordship of God allows entry for the Holy Spirit to come with the dunamis* – the power of DYNAMITE.

We are no longer broken, you may see our scars, but they are stronger than what was originally there.

Time.

*Definition from Biblestudytools.com : strength power, ability

inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth

power for performing miracles

moral power and excellence of soul

the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth

power and resources arising from numbers

power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

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Sand Sculpture Theology

There is a tide that is slowly moving in and I’m seeing sand castles in danger of being swept away.  Are you humming the song “the foolish man built his house upon the sand”, because I sure am.  The thing about sand near the tide is that it’s just warm enough, we can dig into easily, it will hold its shape and we can mold it to have a comfy place to lie and get a nice tan.  It can also be sculpted into a magnificent masterpiece that makes us wonder in awe at how it was accomplished, yet it is temporary.

I see a celebration and affirmation of the self-decreed Christian life.  God’s dictates and mandates, mostly, have been eschewed for fear of the all evil LEGALISM.  The thing is, I don’t think what the rebellion is fighting qualifies as pure legalism.  I believe much is an unabashed obedience that sets a high bar.

Bandwagons are full of those shouting to love and accept and not critique everyone and everything that they do.  We claim that using unwholesome language is just the best and most accurate way to describe the broken life that they are living. 

You know what?  If you are a Christian, that broken has been fixed by Jesus on the cross.  YOU ARE NO LONGER BROKEN!  There may be ugly seams that still show, we may spring leaks from time to time.  But we are redeemed, given a NEW heart, a NEW spirit, made a NEW creation.  Live in the joy and power of that sweet sister!

Where is the living a life that is set apart?  Where is the being “in, but not of” the world?  Where is the realization that this path is narrow?  Few will find it and that we truly can recognize a believer by their fruit – not a few lines from a song that seems to speak truth; philanthropic work that reaches out to those identified by the beatitudes; or spouting out compelling phrases that speak of justice and good.

Where is the Berean attitude that encourages us to study and call out those not meeting the bar? I want to know.  As I heard one preacher say in a sermon about sexual relationships: “I don’t want to take us back to the 1950’s.  I want to take us back to the 1^st century Christian life!”  Amen!  Amen?

No one ever said that this Christian life was easy.  We will fail, miserably at times.  Praise God for grace.  As Lon Solomon has said – we must always depend on God’s grace, but we must never presume on it.  I must take this to heart daily, because I fall so far below at times – but I must be careful not to criticize those who are more unswerving.

So go boldly knowing that you have the power to make determinations.  You have a direct line through prayer for increased understanding and wisdom.  You have the Spirit for personal conviction.  Embrace them all!  Love the Lord God with your mind, girlfriends.

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.  Acts 17:11 NIV

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Present - Five Minute Friday

It’s Five Minute Friday!  The fingers are rusty and the mind is longing to be back on the warm sand with the sound of the surf in my ears but here we go.

Set the timer for 5 minutes on…

PRESENT

Pre’-sent, pre-sent’, pre’-sent.  One word with so many meanings.  All swirl through my mind and each gives me a little shudder.  The here and now is just too cluttered and undone to be appealing.  So much work staring me in the face wrapped in frustration.  That’s a present I just don’t want to get right now.

Then comes the imagery of how I am presenting myself.  I sit here in mismatched pajamas, house shoes and disheveled hair.  I need to go out, but NOT like this.  That’s more work that needs to be done.

Really all I want is my hammock to be here, clear skies, a cool breeze and a good book followed by a nap.  Profound, isn’t it?

All of the recent rush and push and pull is just weighing heavy.  At least I have a computer again with actual working software to let it all out.  Lucky you!

Just a funny shirt I saw.  Yes, I do know EXACTLY where yonder is!

Time