Bruised and Broken

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3

 

This weekend was a wild one.  It started off great with a soul food platter for dinner and ended with a trip to the hospital.  My little 3 year old broke his little finger on Friday evening which prompted a change to my weekend plans. 

 

As my little man is resting and recuperating and we are actively praying for his healing.  As my little one is bruised and in pain, I can only have sympathy for him since I know what it is like to feel brokenness. 

 

As a born again Christian, I know what it is like to feel broken.  I know all about the heartache, the pain, the restless nights, the frustration, and loneliness.  I know what it is like to numb the pain that I am feeling with my own remedies such as alcohol, medication, music, or another person.  Or I have tried to stop the pain with many things which actually made the pain worse.  

 

This feeling of brokenness is similar to the pain my little one must have been feeling.  The sadness, the restlessness, the pain, the frustration with might have felt as a never-ending pain, and weakness.  We tried to end the pain by our kisses and hugs, medication, and our own remedies of hand soaking and ice.  Then we tried to numb the pain with distraction of movies, music, and games.  Every option that we tried didn't work.  The pain was still there and I believe our remedies made the situation worse.

We as a fallen world, we try everything to stop the pain we are feeling or attempt to numb the pain.  We try to figure out ways to take the pain away, but with every attempt our pain seems to get worse and worse.  Just like dealing with my little one's pain, the only way to end it is to seek the doctor.  With his expertise and knowledge he can tell us what is going on and what we must do to end the pain and fix the injury. 

 

Our doctor is not the man or woman in the white coat in the office or hospital, but the man who will give us a white robe and that sits with the Father.  This man understands our pain since he felt that very same pain on the cross.  This man has the power to heal every broken bone, heart, and mind.  This man is Jesus. 

 

We were eager to get my son some help and figure out what was going on.  Our guess was right that my son had indeed broken his finger.  Our hearts dropped and we were worried, but the doctor gave us instruction on how to handle the injury. 

 

One great thing about being a Christian is to know that we too, have instruction on dealing with our pain.  We must understand that first we are a sinner in pain, acknowledge our need for a Savior (doctor), repent, and ask for forgivness of trying to heal our pain ourselves.  We must understand that we are not alone in this journey called life and that we should follow the commandments or instructions (Bible).

 

Yes, dealing with pain and brokenness is hard.  To have our doctor or Jesus confirm our brokenness, and confirm that it was brought on by rebellion or in my son's case not listening to the rules about horseplay, is a big pill to swallow.  But please know that once you humble yourself to the doctor, he will take away any pain and replace it with joy. 

 

If by any chance you feel that brokenness described, the only thing I can say to do is pray and surrender to Christ.  He will listen to you and will be there for you.  If you need someone to pray for you, my email is always open. 





My Ninevah

from readingpa.gov



The content of this post has been on my heart for awhile. During the summer at church we studied and went through the book of Jonah in the Bible.  It seemed as though God had put this on my Pastor's heart to study knowing what all would conspire all over our nation during that time.  Well week and after week after church a question had been popping up in my head.  It was, "What and where is your Ninevah?"  I thought and thought and nothing came to mine.  But after prayer and really seeking out where God wants me, the city where I live kept coming to mind. 

During the summer, I had a wish that we as a family would move and find another home in another city.  One that was already established.  One that many people long to visit.  One where there was always something to do, eat, and hang out with friends.  But my plan was not in God's plan, and I Foam still living in my hometown. 

My hometown has had its downfalls.  For one, being recognized as the top poorest city in the U.S, and another being one of the dangerous cities.  This city is often looked upon as being crippled, broken, worthless, you pick a horrible name, it probably has been said. But despite some of the drawbacks, this city has its good.  Nice restaurants, rich history, beautiful buildings, and of course a few residents who long for a change in this city. 

I am one of those residents.  I would love to see this city go back to where it was years and years ago.  I would love to see visitors come by the bus loads to shop, eat, and entertain themselves.  I know many would say it is hopeless and you have to deal with where this city is and where it is going.  Well, I object.  Being a Christian, I know that at times it seems as though life can feel hopeless.  Life can be unfair and everything that could go wrong, goes wrong.  But, I found someone that I find hope in, and that is Jesus.  He came to not only go through what he did for us, but to provide HOPE!!! There are many churches located within this city, and they forget all about sharing that hope with others.  This is where I feel like Jonah being directed to Ninevah.  Ninevah was a city full of craziness.  Sin, Sin, everywhere, and people who we think don't care.  Lets be honest, we have all said at one time, "those people don't care" "they don't want to change".  Well sometimes we have to forget about what we think how others feel, and think about the things that people need.  For one, people need to know that there is hope.   

I do have a plan and desire of what I would to do to help bring hope back into the city.  I am praying to see if this is what God has in plan.  I know that if it is, the help, people, finances, and property would shown and God would provide.

Sometimes our plans are not what God has for us.  There are times where we might feel hopeless or useless, but we must remember, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11. 

Time to Live

I have been back and forth with the idea of blogging about my experience with Postpartum Depression (PPD), and I have tried to write up potential posts, however it has been hard to complete.  I thought and thought about how to write the posts but none of them were ever completed.  And I was unsure why they were not coming together.

Back at the beginning of the month, I have attended the IF: Gathering that was held at my awesome church.  I was looking forward to going to this event ever since I have registered back in January.  Well, all I can say is that the word that was shared on those nights were GREAT!! (In my Tony the Tiger voice)  The Holy Spirit convicted me and gave me my 2015 word of the year.  LIVE!!!

One of the speakers asked the question, “What dead things are you holding on to?”  That spoke volume.  I have been holding onto my illness far too long.  I have been blaming my illness on my lack of trust and faith in God.  I have been allowing my illness to control me!  This illness has hurt my family, drove me crazy, and even drove a wedge in my relationship.  While the speaker was speaking and praying, and while the Holy Spirit was convicting me, tears were shed.  Of course, these were happy tears and tears of joy!  I have been praying about how to deal with this illness, but not asking God to heal me from this illness.  I have been asking God how I can share my experience with PPD, but forgetting how I can share to others how God can heal and deliver those who are suffering from PPD. 

I am so glad I decided to attend and I am so glad that I can actually live! I can bury Postpartum Depression and live.  I know that this will not be an easy task but you know what dealing with postpartum depression wasn’t a walk on easy street. 

I know that only way to live is to turn my focus onto Lord.  The only thing I need to be dwelling in, is the Lord.  He got me through this horrible stage in my life and dwelling in him and praising him is the only way I can say thank you!!

Rather than deciding how to share my experience with a deadly disease I need to LIVE!!! I need to share my faith and how God is a healer, deliverer, a friend, a savior!!

"The Shack" book review

range from $2.55-$6.75 on Amazon

Powerful book!  Mackenzie "Mack" Philips, father, took his children on a family camping trip.  While on the trip, his daughter was abducted and  murdered and her body was found in shack that was located in  the middle of nowhere.  This painful loss had affected Mack's family even the other children.  One day a suspicious note was sent (from God) requesting Mack to come back to the shack.  Mack questions to go back to that painful place, but he eventually decides to go.  

"The Shack" answers the question most people ask, "Why me, God"? The portrait of God the father, God the Son, and God the Holy spirit has been portrayed in a way that you may not believe or imagine.  Mack questions regarding faith and hope are answered in the end of the book.  Mines were answered too!! 

When I read this book, I didn't relate to the fact that I lost a child, but I was related to the fact that God is omniscient and omnipresence and he knows all, sees all, and is everywhere I am.  

If you are going through some trials and may question God, this is a must read!!

Book Review on "Daughters of Lancaster County"

Another book review!!  Well I enjoy reading Amish fiction books for a couple of years now.  Most books that I have read were by the author Beverly Lewis. ( I have The Fiddler review on this blog also.)  I have decided to check out another author who writes Amish fiction, Wanda Brunstetter.  Her writing is similar to Beverly Lewis, ( which includes Bible Scripture, Amish language or Pennsylvania Dutch or German. 

Also her characters are personable and they draw you into the story.  I have read all 3 books from this series, "The Storekeeper's Daughter", The Quilter's Daughter",  and "The Bishop's Daughter".   These books in this series correlate to each other and you must read the 1st book to get to know the characters and what is taking place. 

This series starts out with an dysfunctional family, lost in the death of their mother.  It seems that all is lost with their family and while the family tries to move passed their mother's death, it seems as though there is trouble on every corner.

The several characters in this series, faith is tested and must rely on the Good Lord to get them passed all of the hurt and trouble that they have faced.  Many characters in this series bring hope to each other, but to the reader as well.

I have read the book 1 and book 2 within a week, that I have received them from the library.  When it was time to get the 3rd book, it was checked out.  But one thing I can tell you is that once that 3rd book was checked back in, I quickly got it and read it in 2 days. 

This is a must read series, and I am ready to read another series from this author.