Dine-n-Dash (revisited)

Here is something worth re-reading and tucking away into the folds of your hearts and minds. And as usual, I ask several questions...

Do you believe these statements I gleaned from my Bible the other morning?

But this Man,

after He had offered one sacrifice

for sins forever,

sat down at the right hand of God.

For by one offering

He has perfected forever

those who are being sanctified.

(Hebrews 10:12 & 14)

Do you live like you believe those Words are true?

And what about the following words?

But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us;

for after He had said before,

“This is the covenant that I will make with them

after those days, says the LORD:

I will put My laws into their hearts,

and in their minds I will write them,”

then He adds,

“Their sins and their lawless deeds

I will remember no more.”

Now where there is remission of these,

there is no longer an offering for sin."

(Hebrews 10:15-18)

Even though you know God tells only the Truth and your head believes these Biblical utterances, does your heart readily follow suite too?

Do you really believe that once you lay your sins at the foot of the cross, they are no longer yours to carry?

Chances are high that you have heard of the poor man's restaurant trick referred to as the Dine-n-Dash. Come with me, let's try it together.

I, the poor woman, and you the other poor folks, let's eat a feast (of forgiveness), then we will dash. We will run right out the door, dragging one another by tightly held hands, as we race to our car in the parking lot.

Wait a minute! Something is different here at the Divine Diner.

When we leave this particular eatery, we don't have to look over our shoulder in fearful expectation of the manager running after us, hollering, and demanding payment. No, quite to the contrary.

Guess what? We don't even have to beat feet or make haste in our departure.

Actually, The Boss would prefer we stay, meal after meal.

Why?

Because His Son already paid the bill. He even tipped the waitress.

Friends, His Words are true. And they are ever-so-filling. Ya know, like the stick-to-your-ribs wholesome food that your mamma used to make to fill your always-starving teenage stomach? Yeah, like that. God wants to fill you up just like that.

Go back and re-read the scripture above.

Now, do you believe those Words with your head and heart?

You should.

God does not hold onto bills. He doesn't keep I.O.U.s in a neat little stack. Once you come to His Divine Diner, you actually hand Him the receipt of your lifelong sin list before you sup of His meal of forgiveness. Once you eat, you are free. But God knows that these sins like to noodle their way back into your head and even your heart. So, look up. See that neon flickering sign? Yeah, His diner is open 24-hours.

See you there.


I will be the one licking my plate clean.

Let us humbly pray:

Father God, thank You for your platefuls of mercy and forgiveness. Thank You that we can dish up helping after helping. Lord, please be with each one reading this today. If they are still dragging a sin-bag, give them the strength and peace to finally hand it all over to You. And to fully accept that You paid the price already. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Broken

Despite the apparent flaws of broken people, amazingly God uses those fissures and cracks and breaks to shine His Light. In fact, it is those things of greatest repair that cast the most shimmering rays of hope into the darkness.

Some of the broken have fissures that dig deep through the skin and fleshy layers and cut to the heart. Others have shallow, surface cracks that cascade like webs, covering their whole facade. And a few are unrecognizable because only bits and shards of their former self remain.

Rather than brokenness being an act of ruin,

if we let our brokenness

be the shattering

of our own self-will,

then, and only then, will we depend solely upon God to make us whole.

Did you get that? We need to

let our brokenness

be the shattering

of our own self-will.

Simply put, we cannot reassemble our own vessels. We cannot tell God or a preacher or a friend how we want to look when we are healed and restored. If we think we must have that sort of say-so, we are not really ready for a complete restoration in Him.

Healing hearts and renewing minds is not about smoothing wrinkles, lifting saggy places, or plumping lips, it is about:

humble hearts

contrite spirits

and complete surrender...

to the One and only God who can make us whole. The restoration comes only after the breaking.

in the breaking-

Gideon's men shined

His saving light

in the breaking-

a widow poured

His blessing oil

in the breaking-

Mary's alabaster spilled

His righteous perfume

in the breaking-

a boy shared

His humble bread

in the breaking-

Esther's faith rescued

His chosen people

in the breaking-

our God revealed

His precious Son

in the breaking-

in the breaking-

Jesus.

Throughout the Bible God used broken things, like bread and lanterns and alabaster flasks, but more than that, He used broken people. And He continues in this manner today, using the broken to shine His greatest light of glory & love & redemption & healing & salvation.

Are you ready?

Are you willing?

Have you set your own self aside?

Have you endured the sharp places long enough?

Come. Come to Christ with a humble and contrite heart. Whether is is barely cracked or it is completely shattered into dusty hunks and sharp shards, bring it. Bring all of your broken parts.

Now, give it up. Every single little piece. God wants to meet you there, in the breaking. In the already broken. He has been waiting for this time with you, dear one.

Have you noticed that candlelight not only illuminates a dark room, but when it shines forth from a cracked glass jar, it bounces and shimmers and dances? Have you seen this? It is this sort of flickering light, shining through fissures and even cascading web-like cracks, that brightens rooms with unique beauty.

You there. Yes, you. You, be that that beauty. I am here to listen. And pray. Please leave a note in the comment box or just go on your silent way. Just know that I have covered you in prayer this day.

Let us humbly pray:

Father God, oh how I come to You with a heart that wants others to feel and know and breathe Your healing and restoration. Whatever caused their brokenness, set that aside and continually whisper Your Truth into their ears. Fill them with Your beauty. Your love. Your freedom. Shine Your light into all their nooks and crannies. Use the willing and the ready to shine Your light into and onto others who desperately need and seek Your healing. Lord, lead the broken to Your feet just as You did with me. Let Your love shine through all of our broken places. In Jesus' name, amen.

Truths:

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—

These, O God, You will not despise.

~ Psalm 51:17

For thus says the High and Lofty One

Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

“I dwell in the high and holy place,

With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,

To revive the spirit of the humble,

And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

~ Isaiah 57:15

Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and He will lift you up.

~ James 4:10

For all those things My hand has made,

And all those things exist,”

Says the LORD.

“But on this one will I look:

On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,

And who trembles at My word.

~ Isaiah 66:2

* brokenness quote in bold credit: Brokenness, Surrender, Holiness by Nancy Leigh DeMoss p. 44

* all scripture taken from NKJV

* Darlene's "in the breaking" poem inspired by "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman;

Oct. 15 reading

* image: taken by me (aka A Simple Country Girl)

Beautiful Truth

"Finally, brethren,

whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble,

whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure,

whatever things are lovely,

...

meditate on these things."

~ Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

make for yourself

an alone place

with empty space enough

to reflect

and to pray,

for this is where He seeks

your upturned face,

perhaps glistening wet with tears

because you felt His gentle

and loving embrace.

in the silence

of this day,

open your heart

to hear

what Truths He has to say,

for it shall be

in such a way

that healing flows

swift with

His bountiful,

merciful,

beautiful

grace.

Friends, please forgive me for neglecting this place, this sacred space. Although my heart, my mind, and my focus wavered and fluttered, my faith has stayed the same. I am forgiven. I am free. I am a new woman in Christ.

And I desperately want to share this gift with you.

Your healing matters to me.

I know not the plans or the route or the fellow travelers on this journey. The only thing I am certain of is His presence.

His forgiveness.

His strength.

His mercy.

His grace.

His heart.

Him.

That ole nasty enemy would like discouragement and confusion to reign, but I am praising God and asking for His Truth to fall from the heavens and water our searching hearts so we can blossom fully into the beautiful women He created us to be.

Let us humbly pray:

Father God, turn each woman's heart to you this day. Fill any voids with Your Truth and mercy and love. Pour Your thoughts into these hearts so that they spill over with Your love. Grant every woman some quiet time each day so they are able to fully grasp Your gifts of forgiveness and freedom. Focus each mind on what is beautiful and True, both in them and in You. In Jesus' precious name, amen.

My Heart

Readers, if there are any of you remaining, please forgive me for my unexplained absence here in this place of ministry. Although I have been gone from this site for a bit, you have been forefront on my mind.

Are you continuing the post-abortion study with Jennifer and Lelia? Here are some important Surrendering the Secret links:

week 1 Jennifer

week 2 Jennifer

week 3 Jennifer

week 4 Jennifer

week 5 Jennifer

Here is some of where I have been. Writing about surrendering my secrets...

* Guest post at Katdish's blog: A Simple Country Girl (by Darlene)

* Guest post at Jennifer Dukes Lee's blog: On Being Me (A guest post by A Simple Country Girl)

If you have an idea or request or comment, please do leave a bit of your heart here in some typed words. I am listening and wondering and praying.

Thank you for your understanding. Sometimes we all have to figure out the next step whilst we are sitting off to the side, alone, all while seeking God. And listening...

that their hearts may be encouraged,

being knit together in love, and attaining

to all riches of the full assurance of understanding,

to the knowledge of the mystery of God,

both of the Father and of Christ,

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

For though I am absent in the flesh,

yet I am with you in spirit,

rejoicing to see your good order

and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

~ Colossians 2:2-5

Let us humbly pray:

Father God, please touch each person reading this message. Grasp them fully in your grip of forgiveness and grace and redemption. Make them whole in You. Lead each of us this day, this week, in our thoughts & words & deeds. Let us bring glory to Your most precious name. And Father, give us each the strength we need to meet the challenges and opportunities You set before us. In Jesus' name, amen.

Unclenching

Earlier today I saw this video clip and as I watched the man at the chalk board, the person I actually saw was me. What about you, who do you see?

What are you clenching so tight in your fist today?

Is it worthy of your sweaty grip? Really?

Are you ready to uncurl every single thing that squeezes your heart?

Are you willing to let go so that you can let God in?

Sometimes the sin and shame and guilt and unforgivenss become so much a part of us that we no longer recognize them as not belonging. Did you get that? Not belonging. I carried my sin and shame and guilt in not only clenched hands, but in a clenched heart. It is true, the more I clenched my heart, the less I let out.

But the contrary is also true. My unyielding grip to my unsurrendered secrets also prevented God's healing and renewing from coming in.

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.

Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us...

~ Acts 17:24-27 (NKJV)

Sin and shame and guilt and unforgiveness do not belong to you. Friends, it is time to open your fist and join hands with someone in prayer. Friends, it is time to open your heart and mind so Christ's redeeming blood can freely pump through your entire body, cleansing you from the inside out.

...the very points on which you refuse to surrender will become "enemies" that rule over you...

For those of us who are followers of Christ, any resistance to the will of God will keep us from enjoying and abundant life and will create barriers in our fellowship with God.

Christian surrender means that a person lifts his or her hands and says to God, "Here I am; You take over; I belong to You!"

~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss; Surrender,

book included in A Revive Our Hearts Trilogy

entitled Brokenness, Surrender, Holiness;

Moody Publishers, 2008

What about you, did you see your reflection in that video clip? I pray it was in the part of unclenching.

Let us humbly pray:

Father God, we come before you this day with obedience to Your will for each of our lives. And in doing so we ask that You help us open our hands and hearts and minds so we can trade our burdens for Your freedom and Truth and forgiveness and love. We want to live surrendered lives that bring glory to Your name. Lord, I ask that you give each of us the strength to do so. In Jesus' name, amen.

* Please, check out these posts by Jennifer, one of our Healing Hearts, Renewing Minds sisters.

- week 1

- week 2

Also, stop by here with Lelia for more insight on Jennifer & Lelia's current book study, Surrendering the Secret.

* For my story and to see how God placed this ministry on my heart, please go here.