Shattered Places

I gathered notes together for a Sunday sermon recollecting so many things God took me from. Places that many times left me shattered… Time and time again! There was no escaping.

I stood in that place of the beaten path. Beaten from life that was nothing but addiction, affliction, confliction and every other creation of my own world. This place left enough room for God to move the only way He could in a situation like that.

Break it…

Before it breaks her.

What once was “well put together” eventually became a huge dismantlement.  So I am left reflecting of that place. As much as I thought I was well, inside I was dying every day. Thank GOD He stepped in before I would have never returned.

My world was completely shattered.
Until God began building me back together.
He is taking every shattered piece.
And He is using it for His glory.
For He knew I needed to be broken.
AGAIN!
So this time the rebuilding would include
Just Him.
God is over everything.
God is my source.

“God is in the midst of her
She shall not be moved.
God shall help her
Just at the break of dawn.”
Psalm 46:5

~Excerpt from Rebuilt: Beginning The Ending

I wait to share the release of this book with the world. So many people are asking for it. I am about to start my second book even before this first gets published called, “The Rebuilt Church.” When I look across the faces of many as I share deep words that helped for my healing, I am moved with compassion. The tears streaming down the faces and inside you know they are shouting.

On the inside of us is where so much activity takes place. It is a constant war. The message I shared was on “The Parable of the Sower.”

Consider this: A farmer went out to sow seeds. As he cast his seeds some of it fell along the beaten path and soon the birds came in and ate it.
Mark 4:3-4 [The Passion Translation]

We learn by verse 14 that the “Word” is the seed and what falls on the beaten path represents those who hear the word, immediately Satan appears and snatches it from their hearts.

So many of us come from “a beaten path!” Where there is no growth –no progress –no healing –no victory. Those are the ones that have had shattered lives. It could be from their upbringing, past relationships, a violent act that occurred, abandonment or some other past pain that is stopping them from moving forward. They are held captive and prisoner to their past because the wounds are that deep. Inside they want to heal… they want help and deliverance but they just don’t know how! It is like this constant inner turmoil and battle within. All they can translate is that “it hurts.” So we put up this huge fortress to protect ourselves.

Problem is—now nothing can get in. Not even the healing because we blocked all things, hardened the heart and mind from receiving anything new. Where there is a wound, there is a place of vulnerability and most people don’t like to be vulnerable or weak. It is a sign of defeat to most. However, if the one in that state turns to God…He can heal that broken, shattered and torn heart and make it right.

That is the one that must be willing. You cannot help someone that doesn’t want to be helped or that doesn’t allow for any form of help. This is where true intercession takes place and we bring these things before God to make our heart willing and able to receive the seed that is sown in those beaten paths of ours. Those beaten paths were once shattered places where most wont even want to talk about or visit.

It hurts too much.

I know.

But we have to be in a place where those walls come tumbling down so that God can begin to do the work that He know is best to get us better!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He gathers up the outcasts and brings them home. He heals the wounds of every shattered heart. He sets all His stars in place, calling them by their names.
Psalm 147:2-4 [The Passion Translation]

Listen, my friend! Growing up in many aspects of my life, this left me in shattered places. I was able to freely share those things with people, in writing and even on the pulpit. I thanked God for that message. I said to myself, “Okay, let me find these visuals Lord!” By the time I found the vase, I walked outside and dropped it on the concrete. A big clashing sound broke the air and all the pieces went flying all over the place. What a mess!

That is what it is like when we have gone through devastating losses and disheartening situations. I can tell you this—it was not easy to pick up those shattered pieces all by myself. I had to be extremely careful. It took time! The same way healing takes TIME!!! This is the time you give to God.

Then this thought came to me…. You shouldn’t have to be the one to pick up the pieces!

This is where God comes in!

We need to stop trying to pick up the pieces of our shattered mess… We really need to turn this over to God completely, so that this rebuilding can make us whole. When we try to do the fixing ourselves, on the outside we may look kept, but internally we are still a hot mess.

Let’s turn this huge assignment over to the Author and Finisher of our faith! Let’s turn these shattered places over to the King of kings and the Lord of lords! He knows what’s best during these delicate times. He will always handle with the best care ever.

Trust Him.