Apr. 13, 2008 - Bring the Rain
I was browsing blogs this morning and I do believe that I have "had church" for the day.
If you listen to the music in my sidebar, one of the songs there is "You Raise Me Up" by Selah. That song first ministered to me years ago when I was driving down the road just feeling totally crushed by some damaged relationships in my life.
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.
As I drove on down the road that day, I just kept replaying that song and I'm here to tell you, the Lord did come and sit awhile with me. He took what I didn't think I could overcome and raised me up so that I could.
So anyway, today I found a link to this blog, Bring the Rain, and I knew that it was going to be about someone who had recently lost a child. What I didn't realize, what that it was one of the singer's from Selah's family.
I was absolutely touched as I read through the entries and this one totally stood out to me.
"Today, as I read each scripture, I was struck by something I have never put too much emphasis on before. Jesus did not return to His followers as a healed man. He had scars that told the story, that brought Thomas to belief. He was alive, fully alive, and yet, not unscathed. God chose to use these wounds to remind the world what He had overcome. It seems like if I were the writer of the story, I would heal them completely. Really show people what kind of power I had. Just make it look like it never happened...complete restotation. This isn't what God chose for Christ, and it isn't what He chooses for any one of us.
If we are called to suffer in the name of Jesus, we bear scars as well. He doesn't hide them when trouble has passed, but rather He allows our paths to cross with those who want to touch them, to believe in them, to fall into the arms of the one who allowed them to be inflicted.
This is why I write to you all.
I have prayed many, many times that the eyes that read these words will run their fingers along the wounded hands of Christ, letting His suffering tell you the depth of love He has for you.
This life is not about being healed.
It's about bearing wounds for the sake of the One who bore them for us. For you.
As a psychologist, I want to help people face these hard things. To turn them into beautiful gifts to be given back to the Lord.
It is as simple as recognizing that God has chosen your suffering for a purpose, and the splendor of His plan begins to be revealed as we trust Him to do that."
And I can't remember where I heard it, but to say it more simply - Let your mess, be your message. I'm not the same person I was years ago, but God used those times of suffering for a purpose and even though I tend to still think of myself as "a mess", I'm reminded of how Jesus bore those scars and how they testify to who He is. I pray that we're not all so busy trying to cover up our scars that we hide just what He can do - even in the rain.
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Apr. 13, 2008 - Untitled Comment
The wildlife is amazing. I'm not sure I want to know what all is in our woods. For sure I know the normal critters~raccons, possum, deer, fox. Our neighbors had a bear in their yard 2 years ago, and we think that is what attacked our cat. We've also heard coyotes a couple of times not far away. (shiver) I prefer the normal critters!
I can't remember for sure, but I think it was Dawn (my4sweetums) who said she had the $40 adoption. I'm pretty sure that was from foster care and maybe some special needs (?).
Letitia