The Seeker of Shards

Three edged sharp, the shard is almost hidden in the shadows.

Just one piece of many, the Seeker carefully places it with the others.

All shapes and sizes, the fragments seem to have no rhyme or reason, yet the Seeker knows what the Father can do with broken pieces...

Small slivers caused by

promises not kept...

harsh words...

and disappointments...

Larger pieces with sharp edges that cut deeply brought on by

broken homes...

diseased bodies...

wayward children...

and questions not answered in the here and now...

Why, God?

Nothing makes sense...

What did I do?

What didn’t I do?

Are You even there?

Do You really care?

And the shards shatter wild with hope falling to the ground and

Immediately,

the scarred hands of the Seeker gather them tightly and His blood covers all...

The Seeker looks at the newest shard...the one created at a hospital bedside...from a mother’s heart bleeding out every ounce of love she had in the hopes that gushing fountain would heal her boy until it just pumped dry and brittle and was completely broken...

The world is full of broken heart shards...

This very second, someone’s heart is coming apart...

In this imperfect world that offers no hope...

hope is offered by perfect love...

It is our choice whether to accept it or not...

Shepherd, Seeker, Redeemer

The Seeker of the Shards gathers every single piece of brokenness and lays them before His Father...

And the Father, with His bottled tears and numbered hairs, takes the countless pieces of the shattered heart and begins to smooth the sharp edges...

Healing begins with the Heart Maker

Gaps between the cracks are filled with His glorious grace that is sufficient to hold the pieces together until the final step of restoration when our eyes see His face and our heart is complete...

What was once in pieces, will be restored.

I am sick at heart. 

How long, O Lord, until you restore me?

Psalm 6:3 NLT

The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 28:7 NLT

He Said His Name was John

He said his name was John the Baptist...

In a hospital wing filled with waiting families and faithful friends,



this “John” sits...alone...loudly declaring His appointment by God to be a voice crying in the wilderness...of 21st century Rome, Georgia...

Sideways glances and feet shuffled are the responses...as thoughts run the gamut of “is he crazy” to “what is he going to do?”


Louder cries and voices change as threats ring out to all nearby...



The men in blue arrive...and escort the prophet outside while clenched muscles relax and quiet chatter resumes...as the battle for John’s mind and soul rages on...

Never put down your sword

*********************

He said His name was Jesus...the name above all names...

In a small church filled with faithful saints and waiting sinners,



she sits in a pew...a battle raging...a decision to be made...


THE decision to be made...

Her heart beats louder with every second passed as the preacher urges ears to hear and feet to walk...so lips will confess as eternity gets closer and closer...

He said His name was Jesus...and with eyes closed she sees Him and knows that this Person...this Name...is the One she has been waiting to meet...

Down the aisle and at the foot of the cross, she places her heart on the wounds in His hands...and His heart’s blood washes her white...

Anyone can speak a name...

but not every name can speak

and

chains break

sickness heal

brokenness repair

sins erase

and death run...

The name of Jesus -


there’s not just something about that Name...

That Name is everything...

There is no way to be saved from the punishment of sin through anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.

Acts 4:12 NLV

Because of this, God lifted Jesus high above everything else. He gave Him a name that is greater than any other name.

Philippians 2:9 NLV

STUCK...

You know those times?

Caught up in a flurry of activity

So much to do that a proverbial bovine birth looms on the horizon...

Sticky stuff

Between wedding bells...

This MOG still doesn’t know what she is wearing...I am NOT kidding!

Tax deadlines...

Was there a time warp between 3 months to get it done and 3 DAYS!

Dust Bunnies...

They are upstairs and bringing relatives! 

And everyday life...

You KNOW what I’m talking about!

I have been juggling priorities and dropping every other one...

repeatedly...

So what does a distressed daughter need?

A discarded, worn out recliner...on the side of I-75...

and behind it?

Still waters...

A hug from my heavenly Father

Random sighting?

I don’t think so....

You, LORD, are my shepherd.

   I will never be in need.

You let me rest in fields

   of green grass.

   You lead me to streams

   of peaceful water,

and You refresh my life.

   You are true to Your name,

   and You lead me

   along the right paths.

Psalm 23:1-3 CEV

Broken and Mended...

As he flexed my arm and measured the range of motion, the doctor spoke the words today that I had been waiting to hear...

Your bones have mended...

After months of being a lefty instead of a righty, my broken bones have healed...

I am thankful tonight that I know my Healer.

Whether it’s broken bones or a broken life...

By a progression of events or instant restoration...

Through the hands of a physician or a touch of His robe...

Jehovah Rophi is the Mender of the Broken

...for I am the Lord who heals you...

Exodus 15:26 NLT

I'm linking up with Joan at Reflections of His Grace 

for 30 days of Thanksgiving.  

You can check out the specifics here.

But He Didn’t Cry...

He was hurting...

But since real men don’t cry -

He didn’t.

And the unshed tears hid deep...and pain subsided for a season

Life came with another deep cut...

Loose bandages hid the wounds but did nothing for the pain...

But He didn’t cry.

And the reservoir of grief rose higher...

Later heartache came to visit...

Its stilettos danced with punctures deep...

Now scarred and full of anguish,

He wants to cry out...the dam is at the bursting point...

And then...

He sees the bottle.

God’s bottle…

The one with his name on it...resting in one mighty hand...while the other hand is extended towards his sea of tears...ready to number and carry each drop...

And the levee of pride shifts...

as the sandbags of self sufficiency begin to fall...

The teardrops slip faster and faster through the cracks...

and the healing begins...

Restoration...

Peace...

You keep track of all my sorrows.
     

You have collected all my tears

in Your bottle.
     

You have recorded each one in Your book.

Psalm 56:8 NLT

The Impenetrable Heart

He sees the child

His child...

The one He loves so much

His child is hurting...so He hurts, too...and waits for the words...

But the words do not come...

They are in the child’s heart, but the heart is barricaded within walls of stone...built with the rigidity of self-sufficiency...and the cry can not break through...

He places His hand on the chisel...

Gently and lovingly, He begins to tap on the side of the wall...

Slowly, a fissure forms...

Tenderly, His hand continues to carve as the rocks crumble...

And then, the unbreakable wall ruptures...

And the cleft of that once impenetrable heart, molds itself perfectly to cleave to the Rock of Ages...as the words tumble out...

HELP ME, GOD!

Even before they call,

I will answer;

while they are still speaking,

I will hear.

Isaiah 65:24 HCSB

Those words He longs to hear burst forth, even as His mighty hand grasps the weaker one...

and the child is safe...

and rests...

securely...

as pure love flows...

unobstructedly...

HEART TO HEART

Don’t be afraid,

for I am with you.

Don’t be discouraged,

for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up

with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

WFW – The Lord will Rebuild

@ The Internet Cafe

Jerusalem, you are sad

and discouraged,

tossed around in a storm.

But I, the LORD,

will rebuild your city

with precious stones;

for your foundation

I will use blue sapphires.

Isaiah 54:11 CEV

The Fern That Flourishes

My thumb is...brown...

No green peeks from amongst the stubby nails or the wrinkled knuckles.   And although I love things that are green - lush and productive plants are never a guarantee in my yard.
 
Except for one...

The ferns...



Inherited years ago from my green-thumbed mother-in-law, ferns and their proper care are the only assurances I seem to carry over from year to year...

She told me...”Plenty of shade...fertilize twice a month...and water every day until it drips out the bottom”...

Simple...

Basic...

Easy care...

So each summer morning, I step onto my front porch and begin the ritual. 

What is interesting, is that some days, each fern drinks in about the same amount of water...while other times, #1 will gulp down 24 sips, while #3 will only sip 5 or 6...but they are always supplied the right amount to meet their needs to the point of overflowing...

What is your watering schedule?

If you are like me, some days you need a massive amount of the Word to quench your thirst...then pour on some good music that sets your heart singing to Him...read a few devotionals...and the water starts to drip...

Other days, a single scripture starts the rush...a chorus from a hymn from days gone by plays in your head and the waters rise...and one touch from Him...floats you down that river...

What is your watering schedule?

The Living Water is always there...poised and ready...to make you flourish...

So drink deeply , my friends...

Anyone who believes in Me

may come and drink!

For the Scriptures declare,

‘Rivers of living water

will flow from his heart.’

John 7:38 NLT

Thankful Thursday – Not Forgotten

with Laurie @ Women Taking a Stand

My deck is HOT!!

No bare toes allowed on these blistering planks...

Scorching heat indexes make the indoors a welcome retreat...

Forty one days until Fall and counting...

Remember the potted plant on my deck that withstood the storm?

Although heat tolerant and hardy, this particular pot of lantana requires more water than the others. When the mercury hits 90 or above, these little blossoms must be watered twice a day...

And so I had errands yesterday and FORGOT to water my plant until later in the evening...by then the poor thing was wilting and drooping all over the place.

A quick drenching of water and the leaves immediately perked up...

I am so thankful that when the soil of my heart becomes parched, my joy dwindles, and my hope weakens...His Living Water saturates me until I am submerged in the pool of El Elyon’s love...and I am refreshed and revived...in an instant...

This flow is never ending...

And I am never forgotten...

Jesus replied,

“If you only knew the gift

God has for you

and who you are speaking to,

you would ask me,

and I would give you

living water.”

John 4:10 NLT

Word Filled Wednesday – I Don’t Let Go

It’s a fact of life...

Relationships fail...

Families fall apart...

People let you down...

It’s the truth...

He never fails...

He restores...

He never lets go...

Jesus said,

"I am the Bread of Life.

The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.

I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me.

Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me.

And once that person is with me,

I hold on and don't let go.

John 6:35 The Message

@ The Cafe

Simple Joys - Recognition

The simple joy I am sharing this week is about a tiny little thing...

It is so small, that without close scrutiny, one might actually miss seeing it ...

I nearly missed this one...

This...

tear...

Not enough of them to spill over an eye lid or drip off a lash...but enough to catch just a glimpse in two glistening baby blues...before a head is turned...

Not just any tear...

This one didn’t happen because of heartache or happiness...but from an encounter with the One who places such high regard to our tears that He counts them, treasures them, and stores them in a bottle...

Not just any tear...

This tear...so pure and sweet...from a soul that believed that “real men” don’t cry...was a simple joy...that meant so much...because it affirmed what I already knew...

God can touch

the coldest heart and

ignite a flame...

of love

and hope

and recognition of His glory...

If you would like to share a simple joy from your week, please visit Jan @ Simple Joys in Our Life.

Thankful Thursday – A Pancake

The dogs and I shared a pancake this morning...or pantycake as my nephew used to call them.

Perfectly browned on the outside, fluffy and moist on the inside...not soggy or dried out...

Pancakes are very simple to make...just a handful of ingredients that are mixed lightly and poured into a skillet.

Nothing hard in that...one can expect perfection each time...

Unless...

The skillet is not hot enough...

A cool or lukewarm skillet produces either a flat and soggy pancake, or a tasteless and dry disaster...the dogs would turn up their noses if I served them either one...well, maybe not Scruffy...he eats anything...

The simple batter must be prepared in a hot skillet to create the perfect pancake...

I want to be like that pancake...

When God created me, He added the right ingredients, mixed them up in accordance with His perfect timing, and is ready for this child to show His likeness and fulfill His purpose...

So into the fire I go...at His desired temperature for me...

It’s hot...almost to the point of burning, but it does not...

My composition changes...

Rawness becomes healed...

Formless becomes shaped...

Inside, I rise up to glorify my Creator...

filled to the max with His love and grace...

Things are good...

Then I am flipped to the other side and the process begins again...

Today I am thankful for that fire of the Lord that changes me into what He wants me to be...

So go be a pancake...

The LORD himself has promised to be a protective wall of fire surrounding Jerusalem, and he will be its shining glory in the heart of the city.

Zechariah 2:5 CEV