Month: August 2014

Broken Pieces

Have you ever come to the end of some portion of your life and looking back felt a sense of accomplishment that you had done well? A sort of Apostle Paul confession, “7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)

Although, by the grace of God I have managed to finish one or two things in my life, it is almost never with a cry of victory. It is usually with a whimper and a sigh, with more gratitude for having managed to survive the experience than triumph. Frequently lately, I have been reminded of the following favorite devotional written by Amy Carmichael: John 6:10-12 NIV

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”

Have you ever felt at the end of the day that you had nothing to offer but ‘broken pieces’ of things?

“In the morning we put our day in the Lord’s hands. Then we began to do His work, but we were not able to do nearly as much as we had hoped. Interruptions came and broke up our plans, and the evening finds us a little disappointed. ‘I hoped to do so much, and I have done nothing worth bringing to Thee’—and that is how we feel. I have been finding new comfort in the two words, which are used by the four evangelists in telling the end of the story of the feeding of the Five Thousand. They speak of ‘broken pieces’ and the same words are used by two in telling of the later miracle. There was nothing left over but broken pieces, and yet of those fragments our Lord said, Gather them up that nothing be lost. Even so, our dear Lord cares for the broken pieces of our lives, the fragments of all we meant to do, the little that we have to gather up and offer, and He will use even these fragments. He will not let even the least of our little broken things be lost.” Amy Carmichael from Edges of His Ways

I am staring down at my bits and pieces, tonight, thinking that there is not much left of my pathetic little lunch I offered to the Lord. Still, I have more pieces than I did when I first gave it.

Father, please gather the broken pieces of my offering so that nothing (no one) will be lost.

When my son and his wife were running the Los Angeles marathon to raise money to dig wells in Africa, I spent a lot of time looking for inspirational quotes to pester them with while they trained. You know, on one of those apps that speak your likes and words to them while they run. I found a common theme running through the quotes:

Everyone who finishes a marathon is a winner whether they come in first or last! Anyone who undergoes the discipline to train, endures the weather, traffic, aches, pains, and stays with it all the way to the finish line has accomplished at least a victory over himself or herself. They have attempted what others avoided. They have finished something, even if it is with a whimper.

The winners say, “Not somehow, but triumphantly!”

I guess I am more in the category of “not triumphantly, but somehow”.

So how can I go forward? I have to believe-Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”

Every morning I reach out for a larger portion of the Lord’s love and mercy, which He says, will never run low. Every morning there is a new supply. It is GRACE! Ravi Zacharias often quotes this poem although the original author is not known:

A New Start

He came to me with a quivering lip,

The lesson was done,

Have you a new sheet for me, dear teacher,

I’ve spoiled this one.

So I took his sheet all soiled and blotted

And gave him a new one, all unspotted

And into his tired heart I cried,

Do better now, my child.

I came to the Father with a trembling soul,

The day was done.

Have You a new day for me, Dear Master,

I’ve spoiled this one.

So He took my day all soiled and blotted

And He gave me a new one, all unspotted.

And into my weary heart He cried,

Do better now, My child.

—from an Elementary School Teacher

Mercy!

All week long as I have followed the events in Gaza, Iraq, and Syria, my heart has been calling out, “Lord have mercy!” As my country mourns the loss of a man known for his humor, and yes, his kindness; I have prayed God’s mercy for those I know who daily square off against the demon of depression and with great courage, choose life. As my sister and members of my church family endure the next round of chemo…God have mercy!
David prayed for mercy regarding his sins, which were many. Psalm 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love, according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Certainly, that is the first vital step to restoring our broken relationship to God, but that has not represented my heart’s cry this week. This description of the Kyrie Eleision (Lord have mercy) as understood from the Greek Orthodox tradition, comes closer to where my heart has been dwelling.
“The word mercy in English is the translation of the Greek word eleos. This word has the same ultimate root as the old Greek word for oil, or more precisely, olive oil; a substance which was used extensively as a soothing agent for bruises and minor wounds. The oil was poured onto the wound and gently massaged in, thus soothing, comforting and making whole the injured part. The Hebrew word, which is also translated as eleos and mercy, is hesed, and means steadfast love. The Greek words for ‘Lord, have mercy,’ are ‘Kyrie, eleison’ that is to say, ‘Lord, soothe me, comfort me, take away my pain, show me your steadfast love.’ Thus mercy does not refer so much to justice or acquittal a very Western interpretation but to the infinite loving-kindness of God, and his compassion for his suffering children!” (Kyrie Eleison to read more.)
Jesus loves the little children; we used to sing in Sunday school. ALL the children of the world! I firmly believe that every child who loses their life here on earth is instantly taken into the loving arms of the Father God.
Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
2 Samuel 12:23 “But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Still those left behind with aching arms are in desperate need of that soothing oil of mercy. How can this mercy be poured out then in these remote places of the world and even to those in darkness around us who do not know of the Father God who loves them?
We who know the way, must go to the source of mercy: Hebrew 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
We must be filled with mercy and grace like a treasure carried in a jar of clay: 2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”
We then have a God-given responsibility to pour out that mercy to others: James 2, “8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well… 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Practically speaking, I cannot go and rescue all the children in harm’s way around the world. I can pray however for mercy to be extended to them from whatever means God can use! I can start much closer to home giving mercy and not judgment to my family, neighbors, church community and especially to that person from another part of the world that God has brought to my doorstep so that He can love them through me.