We are all broken

Broken definition: 1 : violently separated into parts : shattered
2 : damaged or altered by breaking: as a : having undergone or been subjected to fracture of land surfaces : being irregular, interrupted, or full of obstacles c : violated by transgression

Every human being born is broken, and everyone (with the exception of Christ) was born broken.

Looking at Chupa's leg is a reminder. Something happened that broke her leg, and had it healed properly it would have been fine, all she needed was a cast. Something to correct the healing process. But since it went untreated, the only way I see her leg being fixed is to first re-break it. That way it can truly heal this time.

This is the way it is with us. We can chose to allow God to heal us the right way from the beginning. Realizing He is "the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him"
By doing so, we allow ourselves to begin to heal correctly.

When God is our focus, He surrounds us, covers our wounds and heals us.
He has the power to heal us: Luke 1:37 Luke 18:27 Ephesians 3:20

He doesn't want to you be hurting and sick, broken:
(Deuteronomy 7:15)
(Exodus 23:25)
(Psalm 107:20)
(Psalm 103:2)
(Psalm 34:19)
(Jeremiah 30:17)
(Psalm 30:2)
(Psalm 147:3)
(Psalm 34:10)


Yet sometimes, we, stubborn and stiff-necked refuse to allow Him to heal us right away, thinking we know what is best. And so we will limp along until we chose to turn back to God. But we will have to be broken again, molded, reshaped. It is a painful process. Like the prodigal son, we must except that we are poor, without anything, and return to the Father who loves us and wants to give us good things.

“AND WHENEVER YOU STAND PRAYING, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)

For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion …”Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills … But indeed, O’ man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay …” (Romans 9:15-21)

God's word makes it clear that life will be painful and hard if we do not allow Him to heal us.

Lord, my Savior, Healer, help me to remember that I can not heal myself. I need You. My heart desires You, Your healing, and the peace that only You can bring. Allow me to be satisfied in You. To turn to You in every circumstance for healing, love, acceptance...and only You. Help me to put You as the center.
With love, to Love, Amen.

Toddlers is the perfect name...

Whoever decided to call the stage after being a infant, "toddler" was very smart.
(The definition of toddle is: "to walk with short unsteady steps, as a child does when learning to walk")
It is so funny to see Alexa walk, because 70% of the time she is wobbly and trying to balance herself. My niece fell down today after my brother growled at her. It was very funny (since she was not hurt of course!)Also it kinda amazes me how much little kids run into things. I mean its almost as if they don't realize they can't go through certain objects. (And well, to be honest I still run into things a lot too! haha).

I think that also is a good way of looking at the Christian life. Even after we learn to walk, we are still fairly unsteady most of the time, either because we run into things, get scared or just don't have the confidence to stand a long time. We forget that God is right there and if we start to lose our balance we just look to Him for support. After all He is the one showing us how to walk, it just makes sense to look to Him for help doing so. I mean babies don't learn to walk watching cats, gribbles, birds or fish. They learn by seeing those around them walk, by being stood up over and over and over and over and over again.

I hope to be able to walk, and steadily too. Lord help me to look to You, and only You as an example of how to do so.
With love, to Love. Amen

"I'll put it to you, and I'll leave it to you."

I sometimes think it would be nice if we had an off switch for certain emotions and thought sequences. I think it would help.
But then again, maybe not having an off button is to allow us to grow more?
That is my question of the night (and yes I do have at least one question a day, I just can't always remember them by the time I have time to write on here...if I have time to write on here).

Lord, You created us to think and feel. Help me to think more of You and of what You want for me, and of Your word. Help me to feel more love for You and those whom You have called me to love.
With love, to Love. Amen.

My niece cracks me up!

This conversation happened on the way to Ikea, its the best I can remember it so if I messed it up a little, please tell me to fix it Elise.

"Peanut Head. Mother can I squeeze the Peanut head?"- My niece, asking if she could squeeze her little sister's head.
"Umm Peanut head?- my sister with a very confused expression
"Yeah, you said I could call her Peanut head if I said it nicely"- Niece
"I really don't remember that, but I guess its ok, only if you say it with a sweet attitude"- Still my sister is very confused.
"Its because her head is so tough, its hard!" Then she starts singing "Peanut head, peanut head" while patting/slightly squeezing the 10 month-old's head.
The baby this whole time just keeps looking from me and my sister in the front, to her sister in the back...I guess she was confused at where peanut head came from as well. If she was, she didn't seem to mind it or the squeezing of the head.

I think those two fit in very well with the whole family. =)

Baby steps

I think it is very appropriate to describe the Christian life in terms of a baby.
We are reborn, and then grow in the way of Christ...the way we were meant to live, giving glory to the Lord.

As I have watched Alexa (one of my beautiful nieces) learn to walk, I begin to realize that it is not that she lacks the ability to walk, but rather she lacks the confidence.
When she is near things to grab on to, she is much more likely to try to stand and walk than if she is in the middle of a room.
I think Christians are much the same. We have the ability to do great things for God, but the lack confidence and trust that no matter how many times we fall down, He WILL pick us up again. God doesn't just let us fall and then say "oh you can't walk yet? You failure. Oh well I guess you are on your own".
NO, God says "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28).
We have every reason to be confident in God, in what He has called us to do.
And as we grow in that, as we really believe and have faith that it is true that we can "do all things through Christ who gives us strength", we will realize that
"Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble" (Psalm 119:165) and we will begin to take baby steps, growing in confidence, until we can finish the race strong.

Lord, help me to really believe and have confidence only in You, Your grace, Your works, Your love. Help me to know how You want me to run the path You have set before me, and to do so joyfully. Help me to learn how to take baby steps that I may learn to run to You.
With love, to Love, Amen.