My Heart's Mosaic

Some people run from the past as soon as it's created.
I guess I have a different approach.

If my heart were a very large room filled with stained glass windows,
One of them lay in front of me in pieces.

As I stand and look at the shattered glass before me,
I crouch down to look more intently at each piece.
I hold each one up to the light.
Those pieces too marred to let light shine through,
are tossed aside.
But as I sift through them all,
I find that there are so many pieces still intact,
each one encompassing a different beauty,
still brilliant in color and transparency.
These I hold onto.
These I hold dearly in my hand.
But as I continue to sort,
I see that my hands are filled.
I realize that my small hands can't hold them all,
and I need a safe place to set such fragile pieces.
As I look up, hands are extended toward me.
Strong, gentle hands,
big enough to hold every piece.
In one hand the marred, and in the other the unscathed.
I sit down beside Him, and we start to design.
laying out each piece into a beautiful work of art.
But before I know it, EVERY piece is used.
Even those I deemed blemished beyond redemption.
I start to see that He sees things much differently,
and I now see the beauty in every detail,
every finishing touch.

Sweeter Than Honey

Those words that brought healing to a place that held pain, unbeknown to me.

My love to Him is sweeter than honey. And honey has been redeemed.

You see...

Last year, while questioning a friend in an act of ditching me, he responded "honey is sweet, but too much and ....." it ended there with a wound inflicted far deeper than I had realized.

But now, over a year later, another friend, speaking words from my Father, directed truth to this lie. My heart, the love I have toward my Father is precious to Him, and sweeter than honey.

"It's a Good Day to Die..."

This phrase is said time and time again in a t.v. series that I've been watching online.

To go on a tangent... I've been watching Robin Hood. I love how there is something about it that echoes our life on this earth, living in the kingdom. A group of outlaws, taking small strides for their king while their country is currently in the hands of corruption... PLUS... their is no swearing or inappropriate scenes... AND Robin takes a stand against oppression, giving people hope. Love it.... anyways...

One of the characters, Little John, whenever the group of renegades risk their lives for their cause says, "Today is a good day to die" Which has been a recurring theme for me in the past month.

Several dreams of me teaching what it means to lay down ones life...
Feeling the challenge to die to myself in small ways with family and friends...
Hearing it from the pulpit this Sunday...

I feel the invitation to whatever this may look like,

whether it means:

letting my little brothers use the computer when I'm in the middle of something "important"
biting my tongue and not retaliating with anger when being wrongfully accused,
keeping my heart open when I've been wronged,
taking the first step toward mending a broken relationship,
... etc.

It's on! Because this war that we are fighting is not one of flesh and blood, and our weapons are not weapons of the world but have divine power to demolish strongholds. (ref. eph 6:12 and 2cor10:4) And sometimes these weapons look like death, death to ourselves so that love can take it's place.

Today is a good day to die.

¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other. (John 15)