Heal the Broken Hearted

“He heals the brokenhearted…” Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

Christmas is such a time of celebration with friends and family. But for many it is a time of grief also. Many are sick, had a tragic accident, divorced, maybe separated from loved ones for whatever reason.

It has been 19 years since my first Christmas without my husband Gary. He passed away in September that year and our family started going through all the first you go through. That first Christmas sure was different. It made me stop and realize what Christmas really was. Christmas is not just lots of gifts and laughter. Christmas is a time for us to realize how much everyone around us means to each other. As we look around we may wonder if we will still be together next year. Christmas is a time to let the Lord heal the broken hearted. Christmas is a time for us to know our Lord will be right beside us, no matter what we may be going through. As the years go on it does seem a little easier but we never forget the fun times we all had as a family. We have made new traditions, the children have grown up and made there own traditions. We all have new lives. But we never forget the loved ones who the Lord took home before us.

I can still smell the cookies my Mom used to bake. I can still see my Dad freezing as he hung lights for us. I see my husband Gary as he put together the toys for the children and we laughed and loved the time we had.

As I look back I have been so blessed to have so many wonderful times with family and friends. Let us remember as we move a head this year to December 25^th to share Christ’s comfort with others. I’ve experienced God’s promise to heal my broken heart, as today’s key verse reminds us. Much of my healing has come from the love He’s sent through other people. Because of this, I keep my eyes open for those who might be grieving or sad at the holidays. I’ve found that comforting others brings me comfort. It also brings me many blessings.

This year as I anticipate the Christmas season, I’ll experience a familiar combination of emotions. Sadness will tug at my heart as I miss celebrating this special time with those who may have gone before us, but I’m excited to celebrate what only Christ can do — heal our broken heart. The comfort He brings is one of the many reasons to celebrate His birth this Christmas season.

Since that Christmas all those years ago the Lord has brought me a new life with a wonderful husband. It has not been without trials, but God has been there throughout it all. When we finally come to the end when the Lord calls us home let us reflect on how we shared our time and our Lord with our family and friends. Not only at Christmas, but throughout the year.

This year as I anticipate the Christmas season, I’ll experience a familiar combination of emotions. Sadness will tug at my heart as I miss celebrating this special time with my husband and parents and other loved one, but I’m excited to celebrate what only Christ can do — Heal our broken heart. The comfort He brings is one of the many reasons to celebrate His birth this Christmas season.

HIS FIRM TRUST IN THE DIVINE MERCY

Habakkuk 3 (New Living Translation)

¹⁷ Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
      and there are no grapes on the vines;
   even though the olive crop fails,
      and the fields lie empty and barren;
   even though the flocks die in the fields,
      and the cattle barns are empty,
 ¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
      I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
 ¹⁹ The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
      He makes me as surefooted as a deer,^[e]
      able to tread upon the heights.

When we see a day of trouble approach, it concerns us to prepare. But sometimes things happen quickly and we do not have time to prepare. We keep asking God why or what if. When we meet with the losses and crosses in our life we as Christ Followers can sit upon the heap of the ruins of all our creature comforts and even then praise the Lord.

He is the God of our salvation and we can rejoice in Him as such. Even in our greatest distresses. Joy in the Lord is especially seasonable when we meet with the losses and crosses of this world. It does not matter if it is the loss of a loved one or provisions cut off, we are supplied by the grace and comforts of God’s Spirit. This is where we will be strong spiritually and where God will really show up. This is where we will be successful in spiritual undertakings.  

Just like the prophet above who in Habakkuk began his prayer with fear and trembling, we can end with joy and triumph.

 This is where God prepares us for in every event. The name of Jesus, when we know He is ours, is balm for every wound, gracious and sincere for all of our cares. It is an ointment poured upon us as a fragrant perfume, shedding fragrance though the whole soul.

As we look and reflect on this time, in the hopes of a heavenly crown, let us set loose to worldly possessions and comforts, and lovingly bear up under our crosses and look only to Him.

 I love verse 19  “  The Sovereign Lord is my strength, He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. All of our strength comes from the Lord. All is the keyword. We can be surefooted as the deer because we trust in only the Lord in All things.

"Yet a little while, He that shall come will come, and will not tarry; and where He is we shall be also."

 Lord as I pray to you today I pray for all those who feel they have lost. We have not lost, it has just begun. We do trust in you, in All things and I ask a special Blessing on the ones I Love so dearly in You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen

GOD IS IN OUR FAILURES

He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Matthew 8:26 (NIV)
I have  failed in so many things in my life. Made so many bad choices and mistakes.

As I look back at my 45+ years as a wife and mother and career woman I again look for my passion and what I really want to do when I grow up. I am sure many of you have and are there. No matter what age we are.
I failed so many times at being the wife that is portrayed in Proverbs 31: 10-31. How perfect is this woman. I know as I look back I absolutely did not meet that mark. But God was there with me.

I also failed at being the mother I should have been. Proverbs 31: 26 says She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. How many times I should have used wisdom with my children as they were growing up. Again God was there with me.

Then there were all the jobs I have tried and not succeeded at. Trying to find my way as a career woman.  What is a career woman anyway? God again was with me.

Yes, I failed at a lot during those years where I was trying to figure out what to do with my life. At the time each of these things felt like the worst that could have happened. Now, I think they were the best worst things.

Had these things been successful, I would have never discovered the joy of knowing the LORD as I know HIM now. Of serving HIM in capacities only the LORD can do for us.  Such as the passion of blogging.
I see this same theme woven throughout many stories in the Bible.

In Matthew 8:23-24 we find Jesus getting into a boat with His disciples. “Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat.” Worst thing.
But in verse 26 Jesus got up and rebuked the winds and waves and things turned completely calm. The disciples were amazed. They had been fearful. Best worst thing.

In Acts 5:12 we find the apostles being arrested and thrown in jail. Worst thing.
But in Acts 5:13 we find an angel of the Lord opening the doors of the jail and bringing them out. Later we find them with so much confidence they boldly proclaim, “We must obey God rather than men!” (v. 29) Again were they not frightened?  Best worst thing.

I don’t understand why we have to go through the things we do sometimes. And I certainly know there are many worse things to go through than what I’ve mentioned here. Been there with those also.

We live in a broken world full of broken people. But isn’t it comforting to know God isn’t ever broken? He isn’t ever caught off guard, taken by surprise, or shocked by what happens next. God always knows what is ahead for us and what will be next. God is never taken by surprise.

He can take our worst and add His best. We just have to make the choice to stay with Him and keep following Him through it all. Even if it takes the rest of our lives we must trust the LORD for all we have and be thankful for what we do have. The times we are in now will grow us for what is ahead of us. With GOD that will only be the best.

Deuteronomy 1:29-30

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁹Then I said to you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
    ³⁰The Lord your God Who goes before you, He will fight for you just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
  
Dear Lord, I know only YOU are capable of taking my worst and turning it into Your BEST. Show me this truth anew today. Refresh my spirit. I want to follow You through it all. As the scripture says above, do not be afraid.  In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

OUT OF THE DARKNESS

John 4: 8-10 (The Message) "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through him. This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God's love for us in sending his Son to be the way to take away our sins."

Trusting God begins and ends with the fierce love of God. Trusting God really is all about wrapping our hearts and minds and lives around the reality of God's love. He loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins so we can have an abundant life - now and eternally.

You may find yourself in a frightening place filled with darkness and doubt. Your fragile heart may be wondering if God knows where you are or if He even cares. He does. Many of us are there right now. Just living each day trusting God and nothing is happening.

You think that because you cannot see the hand of God or sense His presence it means He is not working. Nothing could be further from the truth, girlfriend. We may not understand or even like His process but let me assure you that God is always at work in our lives. In my office I use to have a sign that said.” When you are down to nothing God is up to something.” This means God is always walking ahead of us in our lives. Sometimes it is very hard to see His hand at work. We keep asking what is the Lords plan?  If you are there right now just ask God to show Himself. He will let you know He is at work in our lives.

He will always love you. He will come through for you and you really can trust Him. He will always be there to carry us through.

Let's Pray
Father, I want to know You and trust You with my whole heart and life. Thank You for loving me even when I doubt Your love. I praise You for being faithful even when my faith is small. Teach me how to walk by faith and not by sight. Lord as we walk into the day let us walk only with you and trust only in you.
In Jesus' name we pray