Have you ever wondered why it seems like this world is so full of pain? Have you ever wondered why you seem to suffer more than your share of hardships and trials? Have you ever wondered why you always felt broken in pieces till no one could ever pick you up and put you back together again?
You're not alone.
And yet, really, is being broken something we should fear? Do we not sing the song, "Take My Life and Let It Be" and feel like we are ready to give up anything and everything to serve Him more? Why then are we surprised when the winds blow, and the rains pour down, and we feel like we'll never see the sun again? Is not this what we have asked for?
What if He can't use us till we have been broken? What if the best way to make us into His image is to send us trials and teach us to lean more heavily on Him? What if it is through being broken that we are blessed the most?
"His hands they're calloused strong but gentle, as He holds me to His breast.
His eyes they are lifted to the heavens as He asks that I be blessed.
But then I feel a ripping pain, I sense the blood burst from my veins,
and I wonder how this could possibly be love.
Hardly daring I glance into His eyes, and it is then I start to realize:
I’m blessed and broken, as a token, of a love I can’t deny.
I’m torn in pieces, by my Jesus, the only way to beautify.
Though the pain be bittersweet, this transformation He will complete.
I’m blessed and broken, for only brokenness can heal.
His fingers hold my broken pieces as I struggle through my tears.
His heart it's throbbing right beside mine as I overcome my fears.
And just when I feel at my end, one final thing He must still rend,
And I wonder how this could possibly be love.
Hardly daring, I glance into His eyes, and it is then again I realize:
I'm blessed and broken, as a token, of a love I can't deny.
I'm torn in pieces, by my Jesus, the only way to beautify.
Though the pain be bittersweet, this transformation He will complete.
I'm blessed and broken, for only brokenness can heal.
His arms it reaches for my pieces, as I wrestle with the pain.
His hands they give me to another that my life I might regain.
With another's pain above my own I find healing that I've never known.
And I start to see how this could possibly be love.
With a smile, I glance into His eyes, and it is then I fully realize:
I'm blessed and broken, as a token, of a love I can't deny.
I'm torn in pieces, by my Jesus, the only way to beautify.
Though the pain be bittersweet, this transformation He will complete.
I'm blessed and broken, for only brokenness can heal."*
Dear friends, will you let yourself be broken by the hands that love you? Because maybe it's only through being broken, that you can be blessed.
(Blogpost written by: Harmony M.)
* Song by: Glesni Mason. Used by permission.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1y6hU5MDVo
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Chosen of God Youth Ministry
Before we start posting a lot of posts on this blog, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the purposes of this blog.
This blog has arisen out of a youth ministry called Chosen of God. We are a youth ministry for girls, ages 12-21. In Isaiah 43:1 God says, "I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." As today's youth, we believe we are Christ's final and chosen generation, appointed to turn this aging world upside-down. Do you sometimes wonder how God can use you? The members of Chosen of God Youth Ministry are seeking to, through various means, encourage one-another in their relationships with Jesus, for knowing Christ is the first step in sharing Christ. Christ has promised to be our teacher, and so we are seeking to learn of Him and apply His methods.
“He who serves under the blood-stained banner of Emmanuel often has that to do which calls for heroic effort and patient endurance. But the soldier of the cross stands unshrinkingly in the forefront of the battle. As the enemy presses the attack against him, he turns to the Stronghold for aid; and as he brings to the Lord the promises of the Word, he is strengthened for the duties of the hour. He realizes his need of strength from above. The victories that he gains do not lead to self-exaltation, but cause him to lean more and more heavily on the Mighty One. Relying upon that power, he is enabled to present the message of salvation so forcibly that it awakens an answering chord in other minds.” {GW 16.2} Some of us young people don’t know what specific work God is calling us to, but we can be sure He does have one. Right now we need to use every opportunity granted us to better fit us for whatever that work may be. The “every-day” trials we face, are training us for the greater tests ahead. Right now, we need to make Christ our Stronghold and ingrain those promises of His Word in our minds. If we wait until the crisis to strike up a friendship and store promises, it will be too late. Let’s prepare for the battle now. We hope by this group to encourage other young girls in their relationship with Christ and their quest to find God’s plan for their individual lives.
Members of this group do several different things together.
1. We are reading through a book (currently - Christ's Object Lessons) together--a section each day. Then, once a week, we share our thoughts about what we read, with each other through a group email system.
2. Chosen of God members each have another girl assigned to them as a prayer partner. Each prayer partner team will correspond with each other as often as possible, and share devotional thoughts, prayer requests, and pray with each other.
3. Each week, members also commit a Bible passage to memory together. There's no better activity than hiding God's Word in our hearts!
We seek through this blog to share with you devotional thoughts, mission updates, object lessons, and other encouraging posts written by our girls. We pray you will be blessed!
This blog has arisen out of a youth ministry called Chosen of God. We are a youth ministry for girls, ages 12-21. In Isaiah 43:1 God says, "I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." As today's youth, we believe we are Christ's final and chosen generation, appointed to turn this aging world upside-down. Do you sometimes wonder how God can use you? The members of Chosen of God Youth Ministry are seeking to, through various means, encourage one-another in their relationships with Jesus, for knowing Christ is the first step in sharing Christ. Christ has promised to be our teacher, and so we are seeking to learn of Him and apply His methods.
“He who serves under the blood-stained banner of Emmanuel often has that to do which calls for heroic effort and patient endurance. But the soldier of the cross stands unshrinkingly in the forefront of the battle. As the enemy presses the attack against him, he turns to the Stronghold for aid; and as he brings to the Lord the promises of the Word, he is strengthened for the duties of the hour. He realizes his need of strength from above. The victories that he gains do not lead to self-exaltation, but cause him to lean more and more heavily on the Mighty One. Relying upon that power, he is enabled to present the message of salvation so forcibly that it awakens an answering chord in other minds.” {GW 16.2} Some of us young people don’t know what specific work God is calling us to, but we can be sure He does have one. Right now we need to use every opportunity granted us to better fit us for whatever that work may be. The “every-day” trials we face, are training us for the greater tests ahead. Right now, we need to make Christ our Stronghold and ingrain those promises of His Word in our minds. If we wait until the crisis to strike up a friendship and store promises, it will be too late. Let’s prepare for the battle now. We hope by this group to encourage other young girls in their relationship with Christ and their quest to find God’s plan for their individual lives.
Members of this group do several different things together.
1. We are reading through a book (currently - Christ's Object Lessons) together--a section each day. Then, once a week, we share our thoughts about what we read, with each other through a group email system.
2. Chosen of God members each have another girl assigned to them as a prayer partner. Each prayer partner team will correspond with each other as often as possible, and share devotional thoughts, prayer requests, and pray with each other.
3. Each week, members also commit a Bible passage to memory together. There's no better activity than hiding God's Word in our hearts!
We seek through this blog to share with you devotional thoughts, mission updates, object lessons, and other encouraging posts written by our girls. We pray you will be blessed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)