Standing Strong When You Are Falling Apart
“ I am always aware of the Lord’s presence;
He is near, and nothing can shake me
And so I am thankful and glad,
and I feel completely secure.” Psalm 16:8-9 (GNT)The feeling was hard to put into words.
What once stood strong was falling apart.
As I watched the news, there was a sense of grief as I saw how much the church I grew up in had deteriorated.
Bricks were coming loose.
The church was literally falling apart.
If I close my eyes, I can picture myself walking through the wooden doors.
On the right, the nursery where I learned that famous rhyme:
“Here is the church,
And here is the steeple.
Open the doors,
And see all the people.”Straight ahead, the lower sanctuary where my Grandma would attend services once a month because she could not climb the winding staircase for worship each week.
Classrooms for all ages behind the accordion doors that separated the teens from the elders.
The window to the kitchen that went up when classes ended to reveal red punch, black coffee and sugar wafers for all to enjoy.
The narrow back stairwell that was used by the pastor and the acolyte.
So many memories.
This is where my faith was born.
Not the Steeple, But the People
As easily as I can walk through the church in my mind, I know it was not the building that shaped my faith.
It was the people in it.
Aunt Betty in the nursery.
Mrs. Heffelfinger in the primary class.
Mrs Peiffer the choir director.
Chuck, Regina and Kevin, my youth leaders.
And my pastor, Reverend Snyder, who took me through confirmation and shared the gospel so articulately without words by the humble life he led.
This was the great cloud of witnesses who shared their faith with me.
It is the foundation laid by His people that has kept me standing strong when I have felt like falling apart over the years.
Because they pointed me to Him, I know that I am never alone.
Even when things around me are crumbling, like that old church building, I know that I am secure because He has me.
As a wife and a mother, this foundation has grounded me in my moments of doubt and insecurity.
Through a cancer diagnosis, the death of my parents, and the countless other changes since I walked through the doors of that church.
He is the one thing that He remained the same.
I can look back and am aware that His presence has always been with me.
Laying a Foundation for the Next Generation
My deepest prayer is that my children know this security as well.
The one only He can provide.
That they are always aware of His presence.
I have prayed for them to have an Aunt Betty and Reverend Snyder in their lives.
The ones who could help shape their faith and build a firm foundation, so that they will be able to stand strong, even when they feel like falling apart.
And one day, if the church that they grew up in is no longer standing, I pray they will be able to thank God for the people He put into their path that pointed them to Him.
I may never be able to sit in that old beautiful church building again.
But wherever I am, I know that I can always sit in His presence.
Friends, you can, too.
He is always near.
Who are the people of faith that have helped build your foundation, either as a child or an adult?
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What Are You Grateful For?
It’s easy to complain.
Maybe too easy sometimes.
Someone cut you off while you were driving.
You had to wait in line longer than you wanted.
The outcome was not what you expected.
In reality, there is always something to be thankful for.
My kids will tell you I am like a “Positive Polly” – always looking for the good in every situation.
Truthfully, there are days I don’t always feel that way.
But in His word, we are told to be thankful and sing His praises.
God has been so good to me, I only need to open my eyes and take in a deep breath in the morning, and I already have 2 things to be grateful for each day.
And there is so much more.
So what can you tell Him thank you for today?
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening,”
Psalms 92:1-2 NLTShare this:
A Ready Heart
Matthew 13:45-46 (ESV) “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
The pearl was set between two kissing dolphins.
The perfect symbol of love.
During our first vacation together in Hawaii, my now husband and I stopped at an outdoor stand where you could pick your own pearl.
I carefully searched for my oyster.
Did you know that pearls are the only gems that come from a living creature?
I could not tell you what the necklace cost, but to me it was a priceless treasure.
That is what our heavenly Father considers us to be.
A treasure.
So much so that He sent His only Son to pay a huge price for us.
His life for ours.
In the beginning of Matthew 13, we see Jesus addressing the crowds, who had gathered on the shoreline while He was in a boat.
Jesus communicated through parables, weaving eternal truths into earthly stories.
It was through these stories that He helped to prepare the hearts of those who were listening, like preparing good soil for seeds to grow.
His disciples questioned why Jesus spoke in parables instead of just saying what He meant.
But Jesus did not look like or talk like the King that many expected.
His explanation from this version in The Message says this:
“The disciples came up and asked, “Why do you tell stories?”
He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward a welcome awakening.” Matthew 13:11-15 (MSG)Jesus knew the ones that His message was clear to were those whose hearts were ready to hear.
The ones who searched for Him, like a merchant searching for treasures.
“He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:9 (ESV).
Each of the parables Jesus shared pointed to eternal value.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13: 45-46 (ESV)
The pearl in ancient times was thought to be one of the loveliest gems.
Surely it made sense that one would want to possess something so beautiful.
Just like the pearl, Jesus is the priceless gem coming from a living God who wants nothing more than to welcome His children into His kingdom.
The way into His Kingdom is through His Son.
The pearl of great value.
If our hearts are ready, we recognize the value of this indescribable gift.
And like the merchant, would surrender all for something more valuable than any earthly treasure.
Jesus gave everything to pay the price for us.
A perfect symbol of His great love.
His Kingdom is precious and worthy of total surrender.
The cost of not surrendering our all to Him is spending eternity without Him.
Is your heart ready?
Father God, we are so grateful for the indescribable gift of Your Son, Jesus. The pearl of great value. Ready our hearts and help us to recognize that the things of this world pale in comparison to Your immeasurable love for us. Help us to surrender our all to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
A little extra : Natural pearls are formed without human intervention. Cultured pearls are created by human methods. They often are substituted for natural pearls because while they still appear beautiful, they cost less. Jesus’ Kingdom is precious and comes at the cost of our total surrender. When have you substituted His genuine love for something of less value because it cost you less?
How easy it is to want the reward that comes quickly or to attach ourselves to what the culture deems valuable. There are times that I do not always want to give up my comfort and control, surrendering all to Him. But I know in my heart that nothing in this world has lasting value or compares to what God has given us.
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His
Sometimes we are recognized by our position or roles in life.
“This is so and so’s girlfriend.”
“Aren’t you so and so’s mother?”
“You were my 10th grade teacher!”
We even define ourselves this way.
But did you know that the Creator of the universe knows you by name?
God simply calls you His.
Years ago, I ordered a coffee mug with His on it.
Because you can never really have enough coffee mugs, although my husband might disagree.
When it arrived, it had a chip on the rim.
It was broken.
That mug has lived on the shelf in my family room ever since.
It’s a beautiful reminder that even though I am broken, I am still His.
God is not concerned with any of my titles or my perfection.
He has already called me His own.
Above all other titles or positions, that truly defines who I am.
Even though I love being known as John’s wife and Jon and Dan’s mom, I hope that is how you recognize me.
As His.
Friends, regardless of how others see you or how broken you may feel, remember this:
God knows you by name and calls you His.
“But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob, the One who got you started, Israel: “Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end— Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.” Isaiah 43:1 MSG
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Pass It On
My son, Dan is working at Summer Camp now that his semester has ended at college.
The thought of camp makes me think back to my own experiences during childhood with camps and Vacation Bible School.
Snack time and crafts.
Meeting new friends.
But it is the music that stands out in my mind the most.
A song written by Kurt Kaiser will forever be embedded in my heart.
Pass It On.
As an adult, I realize now that it was also laying the foundation for what we are all called to do: share His love.
Once you have experienced it, you do not want to keep it to yourself.
Here are some of the lyrics:
“It only takes a spark
To get a fire going
And soon all those around
Can warm up in its glowing
That’s how it is with God’s love
Once you’ve experienced it
You spread His love to ev’ryone
You want to pass it on.”Have you experienced His love?
Who can you pass it onto today?
It only takes a spark.
Share His love.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 NLTShare this:
His Love
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The Least of These
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Wonders of Your Great Love
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He Holds All
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The Depths of Love
As I ascended the stairs of the apartment, I had only one thing on my mind.
I couldn’t wait to throw my arms around my son.
He turned his face toward mine, and I felt a sense of relief that I had not felt in over a month.
Squeezing him for the first time in 34 days, I may have let my countdown calendar slip.
“Mom, you have really been counting the days?”
Was this really a question?
Of course I had!
As I soaked up his presence, I wanted to know the details of his day to day life.
There was nothing my heart wanted more than to know everything.
Friends, this is how our Heavenly Father feels about us.
He cannot wait for us to turn our face toward Him so He can wrap His arms around us.
In His presence is where He longs for us to be.
Even though our Creator is all knowing, there is nothing His heart wants more than for us to share everything with Him.
God wants to share with the fullness of His love as He makes His home in our hearts.
“May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!”
Ephesians 3:17-19 AMPC
Standing in the apartment gazing at my child, I wondered if he would ever understand the depth of my love for him.
But more importantly, I want Him to know the depth of the love his Heavenly Father has for him.
My prayer is that you know that same love, too.
He is waiting for you to turn to Him.
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