You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.  Psalm 139:1

When I was this little girl, little did I know!

Little did I know how it would feel to have a broken heart; how it would feel to have a friend betray me; or how it would feel not to find my prince charming the first time I thought I was in love!  When I was this little girl, there was a sweet innocence in not knowing what I would face in the years to come.

When I was this little girl, I could not have  imagined the hurts and disappointments I would experience in this journey called life.  I could not have known of the brokenness I would experience, when I was touched inappropriately.  I could not have known that because I would need to wear glasses that some  would make fun of me and diminish my self-esteem.   When I was this little girl,  I could not have known that one of my closest friends would believe a lie told by her boyfriend.  How could I know this would end our relationship for good even when she realized she had been lied to?  How could I have known of the verbal and mental abuse I would endure in my first marriage?

When I was this little girl, how could I have known that the man my mother said was my father, would never return to see me?  How could I have known  my mother would deliberately try to keep me from knowing anything about this man?  How could I know she would pass away when I was 49 years old and take all she knew about him to her grave?

When I was this little girl, my grandmother told me about a man named Jesus! My  grandmother taught me to pray at an early age.  When I would get ready for bed each night, she would have me repeat the words to the Lord’s prayer after she said each line.  I had so much love and respect for my grandmother, that I did not even question the existence of  Jesus.  I believed because my grandmother believed.

Now that I am no longer this little girl, I have come to know Jesus on my own. I appreciate what my grandmother shared with me, but I had to get to know Him for myself.  I had to experience some brokenness so that I would talk to Him every day.  I had to go through this journey called life, so that I would know to give Him praise even before I got my breakthrough.  I know He has been my protector.  I know He has heard me crying and wiped away all of my tears.  I  know my strength comes from Him.

 

The LORD’S Prayer

My Father, who art in heaven, I honor your name! Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Give me this day my daily bread.  And forgive me my debts, as I forgive my debtors.  Please lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen! (Matthew 6:9-13)

When I was this little girl, He knew I would be broken only to 2B restored! He is my Father and He calls me daughter.

Remember when we were in elementary school and we would write on notebook paper:  “Do you love me? Check the box yes or no” ?  How anxious we were hoping the response was going to be yes!  Oftentimes we would hand the note to a friend to give it to the person because we were too shy to hand it to them ourselves.  (I know someone will remember doing this!)

Sometimes the response or the lack of a response could be so disappointing!  That one little check mark could cause so much anguish because the one you were crushing on was not crushing you back.  And then, sometimes we would just continue to pass the note around until someone was willing to check the “yes” box.

When it comes to the love of God, He will always check the box YES!  There is no disappointment in knowing how God will respond to  us.  We don’t have to ask Him more than once.  We don’t have to wait for Him to read a note.

The love of God is wonderful and amazing!  He does not expect us to look a certain way before He will love us.  He will love us in good times and in bad times.  He will love us first, even before we return the love back to Him.

The Bible tells us:

  He will love us forever. 

 1 Chronicles 16:34   Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever! 

He forgives and forgets because He is good!

 Psalm 25:7  Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.

He knows when we are struggling and when we hurt.  He does not turn His back on us. 

Psalm 31:7  I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.

He loves us even in spite of our brokenness.  His love will never fail us. 

 Psalm 6:4  Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.

He loves us so much that He gave us the most precious gift of all.  He gave us Jesus! Jesus died on the Cross so that we might live.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

He checked the box, YES!

  As we celebrate this day of love, let’s  remember to show love to someone who might be alone.   In addition to giving something special to your sweetheart,  think about taking a bouquet of flowers to the woman whose  husband has passed away or to the woman whose husband walked out on her.  Perhaps there is a man who has lost his wife; why not give him a card that just simply let’s him know that you and your family are thinking of him? Also, don’t forget the children who may feel alone because of the loss of a parent.  Just imagine what a small box of chocolates might do to lift their spirits.  There are so many ways we can celebrate this day beyond what is normal and what is expected.  I encourage you to show the love of Christ to others.  When you know the love of Christ, it really is not that difficult to check the box “Yes” !

¹ This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: ²“Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” ³ So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel. ⁴ But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.  Jeremiah 18:1-4

Take a minute and reflect  back on what may have been one of your darkest moments.  When and where did you experience your brokenness?  It may have been the loss of a loved one, the end of a tumultuous relationship, the loss of a job, or a financial hardship.  Could it have been a health issue, drug addiction, depression or eviction from your home?

You may have felt like giving up and running away from your situation.  Maybe you were tempted to drown your troubles by drinking  some wine or some other alcoholic beverage.   Or did the temptation of doing drugs try to lure you back in for a temporary fix? Perhaps  you were tempted to call someone who could only bring more misery and destruction into your life. Did you get so broken that you even considered taking your own life?

Now take a look at yourself today!  Do you see how God sustained you and covered you so that you could be restored? Although you might have felt alone and empty, He did not ever leave you and He surely did not forsake you.  Even in your brokenness, it was God who kept you from taking a drink from the bottle.  Even in your brokenness, it was God who did not allow you to succumb to a temporary high from drugs.  It was God who kept you away from the person or persons who would be of no good for the plans God had in store for you.  Your life was and still is in His hands!

There have been a “few” times in my life, where I was ready to give up.  I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel and I would become more discouraged day by day.  It got to the point, I did not even know what to pray for.  I would just say “God, I am still here”, but I would feel so tired and worn down.  I would try to smile on the outside while all the time I was a mess  on the inside.  Then God started to show me how He was moving in my life.  He moved me from one location to another.  He put new people in my life; people who did not mind telling me they were praying for me even if they did not know me! Then there were some people who had to be moved out of my life; the ones that thought they knew me.  The ones who would speak negative things over my life and try to steal my confidence and rob me of my joy.  Well, God took care of that, too! Sometimes just as quickly as He will move someone into your life, He will allow relationships to come to an end. Even in the brokenness that we experience, God has a way of restoring us and elevating us to a new place in Him.

Imagine the joy and freedom I felt, when I  started to realize that God was working things out for me.  He was restoring me even in the midst of my brokenness.  My restoration did not come suddenly; it was a process.  A process similar to the clay on the potter’s wheel before the pot is finished! During this process, I learned how my brokenness was making me stronger.  Today, I can proudly say, I was broken to be restored.  I give God all the glory and praise for what He has done in my life and for what He is getting ready to do.  You see, even in my brokenness, He was already making me into a better person for Him! I am restored!  Thank you, Jesus!

*******

Dear Lord, I pray for those who may be experiencing a brokenness.  I pray they will call on the wonderful name of Jesus.  Set them free, dear Lord, from the situation that has broken their hearts and broken their spirits.  Set them free from the addictions, from the depression and from the bad relationships.  God create in them a clean heart and restore them to be who you have purposed them to be.  God, I ask that You show them how mighty and wonderful you are.  God, I pray for healing in the mind, body and soul.  Where there is lack, I ask that you supply their every need.   God, I thank you for the restoration even in the midst of their brokenness! Amen.

Happy New Year!

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)

The New Year is officially here! What plans have you made to embrace the days and months ahead?

 Could it be that some of the things you did not accomplish in 2011 was because you did not go to God for guidance and clear directions?

 In all that you do, seek God first! Before making any decisions, big or small,  go to God.

 As you celebrate this first day of January, take some time and tell God thank you! After all, He did bring you through another year.  No matter what your circumstances may have looked like at times, He brought you through. No matter how your finances may have been, He brought you through.  No matter what the doctors might have told you, God brought you through. And, no matter how friends and family may have treated you, it was God who brought you through the year.

This year, will you spend more time with God and acknowledge His presence in your life?

Will you take better care of yourself in 2012? Do you need to start an exercise plan and/or change your eating habits?

Do you need to walk away from some relationships? Take time to think about how your relationships affect you and how they affect the work God has for you.  If there is constant negativity, gossip and continuous pity parties in any of your relationships, is it time to walk away?  You should spend your precious time with those who lift you up and encourage you.  You should not waste your time with those who leave you feeling defeated and depressed.

Do you go to church? Is it time for you to establish a fellowship with other believers in your community?  Seek God first and He will lead you to the place of worship where He wants you to be.

If you are attending church, what are you doing to serve God? Is there a ministry in your church that you want to participate in?  Sometimes we sit back and wait for others to ask us to join the choir or the usher board.  I challenge you this year, to be bold in the name of Jesus and join the choir, join the usher board or join the ministry that you know you will be a blessing to God and a blessing to others.

2012 is here.  There is no going back to 2011. We can’t undo what was done last year but we can make a change this year. We can strive to do better and to be better.

Will you work on strengthening your relationship with God? Take more time to read His word and apply it to your life.  Talk to Him more this year than you did last year.  Listen to Him and be obedient to what He wants you do to. Increase your level of worship to give Him more honor and more praise.  And, if you should stumble along the way, ask Him for forgiveness and keep striving to get it right.

I am so excited about 2012! I pray that you are, too and that you are ready for an amazing year.  Blessings to each of you this January 1, 2012.

Happy New Year and happy days ahead!

 Remember, this is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

Luke:2 (NIV)

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

As Christmas day approaches, you may have a list of people you intend to bless with gifts.

You may even participate in a secret gift exchange with a group of friends.

You’ve probably been checking the sales and going from store to store trying to get just the right gifts.

Today there’s even the convenience of online shopping and you can order gifts from your laptop.

  Or perhaps you have been so kind as to make donations of toys or food to a family in need during this holiday season.

In Luke 2:10 the announcement of the birth of Jesus is described as an event that would bring great joy to all people.

 The angel was very clear in the declaration that the birth of Jesus would not only bring joy to those who were living during those times  but His birth would bring each one of us great joy!

There was no making lists with names, there was no pulling names from a hat,  and there was no searching to find what particular family was in need.

 The birth of Jesus was and still is a gift of great joy to all of us.

 What an awesome gift!

 All you have to do is accept it and say thank you, Lord.

 The gift was lying in a manger and was wrapped in swaddling clothes.

 There was no elaborate wrapping paper, but yet it is the best gift anyone could receive.

In good times and in bad times, treasure your joy because it truly is a gift from God!

This Christmas season, I am praying you all have a blessed time with family and friends.  I pray you are safe in your travels.  I pray you are happy with the gift of joy that has been so graciously given to each of us.

Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Joy to the world!

 ( Psalm 121: 1-2)

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help! My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth!                             

Where is your focus? Do you constantly look at your situation and try to figure out how you can fix it? Change your focus! Stop looking at your problem and look to the Lord! Psalm 121 tells us to look up to the hills and we will see where our help comes from. Our help comes from the one who made heaven and earth!

If we truly believe God created the heaven and earth, then surely we can seek Him in times of trouble.  We can look to Him for guidance.  We can look to Him for comfort.  We can look to Him in our brokenness and He will be our present help.

Knowing He is the Creator of all, it should come natural to take all of our cares to Him.   For some, that is easier said than done!  How many times have you prayed over a situation, said you were giving it to God to handle and then within a few minutes you have taken it back? Although the prayer has been said, you are not completely letting go and letting God.  Change our focus!  You are too busy focusing on your problems and not focusing on the Lord.  How quickly we are to  cast our cares on Him and say He is our burden bearer.  Then we allow negative thoughts or doubt to kick in and we get distracted from God.  We start to worry over the very thing we said we would give God to handle!

Remember to look to the hills from whence cometh your help!  Look up towards the heavens and know that God is always there.  You are never alone.  Whatever path you are on in life  and no matter how bad things may seem, look up, trust God and let it go!  Trust Him with your family. Trust Him  with your healing. Trust Him with your future. Trust Him with everything! God will take care of all your needs.  He can fix all of your problems.  He can heal your brokenness and restore you to new heights in Him.  Change your focus!

God does not see things as you do.  He already sees you are victorious and He already knows you will be delivered from your brokenness.   Your problem may not resolve itself overnight, but there is a new hope when you turn your problems over to the Lord.  There is a peace that overcomes you when you know God is working things out for you.  Change your focus and look to the hills.  Your help is on the way!

Prayer

Dear Lord, I look to you! I trust you with all that I am going through.  When there is worry, doubt or fear, I will look to you. When there is  lack of confidence, frustration, anger or despair, I will remember to look to the hills from whence cometh my help. I will remember that you created the heavens and the earth. I will remember you are working things out for my good and that you will never leave me or forsake me.  God, I will change my focus and look only to you! You are my help today and always.  I give you all honor and praise! In the wonderful name of Jesus I speak these words unto you and say Amen!

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving,

and tell of all thy wondrous works.  Psalm 26:7

Whatever God has brought you through, isn’t that enough just to say, Thank you!, Lord? With each new day, we are given new chances, new opportunities and new assignments in life.  When we could have given up and thrown in the towel, something was pulling at us to keep going. That was God’s grace and His mercy!

Have you overcome addiction or depression?

Be thankful!

Have you survived an abusive relationship?

Be thankful!

Have you been able to restore a family relationship that was broken?

Be thankful!

Have you been healed from a sickness that left your doctors in awe?

Be thankful!

Does your heart still ache because of the death of  a loved one?

Be thankful for the time you had with them and the precious memories!

Have you been forgiven of your own transgressions and disobedience? 

Be thankful!

Tomorrow most of us will celebrate Thanksgiving with loving family and friends. We will give thanks for all the blessings God has bestowed upon us and the blessings bestowed upon those that are dear to our hearts!

Unfortunately, there will be some who will not have the benefit of being in the presence of family and friends and enjoying a delicious dinner. There will be some who will feel they are all alone in this world.   As we enter into this holiday season, there will be some who will entertain thoughts that are not of God.  They might even ask themselves, why should I be thankful?

My prayer is  they will find themselves in the presence of the Lord.  I pray that negative thoughts and despair will not overcome them.  I pray they will find hope in knowing tomorrow will bring them another new day. I pray they will yield unto the voice of God and be restored from their brokenness.  I pray they will fall on their knees and be thankful even in spite of how their situation might look to them! I pray God’s grace and mercy will be upon them and keep them safe.  I pray they know they are never alone!

I pray they will come to know and understand what is written in Jeremiah 29:11-13. This scripture states “For I know the thoughts I have for you”, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me, and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

As you gather with your family and friends, please remember to pray for those who may not feel as blessed and thankful as you feel.  Let’s thank God for what He is about to do in someone else’s life today.  Someone’s tomorrow will give them new hope!  Someone is broken and is about to be restored! Let’s intercede on their behalf and be thankful because we  know what God can do!  In Jesus’ name, say Amen!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Find your hope in the Lord!

If you are in the midst of a struggle, please don’t speak that  your situation is hopeless.  Know that your hope is in God.  The word hope means to desire with expectation.  I encourage you to pray and have hope for an expected end that will make you stronger and draw you closer to God!

Psalm 62:5 says “Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

my hope comes from him.”

When I was in my brokenness and did not know how things were going to work out,  I still had hope in my heart.  I had hope that better days were in my future.  I refused to let go of knowing that God was working it out for me.  I was expecting  something from God and I knew my hope was in Him and Him alone.  Much like a child waiting for that special Christmas gift, there was always hope and anticipation.  Just like watching the sun go down in such beauty and splendor and hoping you will get another opportunity to see another beautiful sunset.

Part of my brokenness was in the relationship I did NOT have with my own mother.  I wanted to have a good relationship with her but for some reason I did not feel she shared the same desire.   When I became a mother myself, it was even more difficult for me to understand why my mother and I could not get along.  As I grew older and closer to Christ, I still had hope that before one of us left this earth He would make things right between us.   I began to ask God for three very specific things.

* I wanted to know that my mother loved me.

* I wanted my mother to know that I loved her.

* I wanted to know that I would one day see my mother again!

Maybe my mother was experiencing some brokenness when it came to her relationship with me.  After all, she had a child that died at the age of 6 just a few years before I was born.  Perhaps I was too soon a reminder of what she had been through after losing a child.  Shortly after I was born my earthly father ended his relationship with my mother.  Perhaps as she watched me grow older, I was a constant reminder of what could have been.  Perhaps I was a reminder of the pain she felt in her heart when he walked away and never returned.

As the years went by, I tried to act like the “brokenness” between my mother and me did not matter.  But deep down, I continued to hope that one day we would work things out.  There were many disappointments along the way.  This is when I started to pray more for me.  I asked God to heal my heart.  I knew I could not change my mother.  I could only hope  He would change me so I could be more loving towards my mother even in spite of the many disappointments.

My mother passed away earlier this year.  I  praise God for giving me the desires of my heart.  God restored our relationship.  During her illness my mother kept telling us that she loved each one of us.  She kept saying, ” I just want my children to know that I love them!”  I thank God for the times she was able look me in my eyes and tell me she loved me.  I truly thank Him that I was able to look right back into her eyes and tell her I loved her, too!   At each visit with her, before I would leave, we would join hands and pray together.  That was my assurance  we would one day see each other again! There was a shared hope between us that I can’t began to explain.

Where is your hope?

 Find it in the Lord!

I was Broken-2B-Restored

***********

Dear Lord, there is someone hurting and feeling their situation is hopeless.  God, we pray they will find their hope in You!  Dear Lord, we know that with hope in You comes peace, joy and restoration.  God, heal their brokenness.  Where there is a relationship that needs to be restored, we ask for forgiveness and healing.  Where there is a discouraging medical report,  we ask for healing in the mind, soul, body and spirit.  Where there is the loss of a loved one, we ask for peace and comfort with each passing day. Restore in your people a new hope for better days ahead. Give them a heart of hope that will allow them to rest in Your presence. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

IN LOVING MEMORY

Rosa Lee Meredith