Broken pieces shine bright

 

While sharing on the passage from John 9, I was reminded of how God takes the broken pieces of our lives and creates something beautiful from the mess. Each stain glass window that is lovingly made, requires the artist to use glass that has been broken and then they use their skill to create a wonderful picture.

We may not feel great at the moment, or we may even feel that life is a bit of a mess, but I urge you to entrust your life to Christ. Ask Jesus to fit you into the grand design of his making. 

Psalm 31 says:

I am ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot. (v12)

But I am trusting you, O Lord,
    saying, “You are my God!”
15 My future is in your hands.
    Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
16 Let your favor shine on your servant.
    In your unfailing love, rescue me. (v14-16)

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Check at your reflection in the water - Lent #25

Looking at your reflection in the water (on a calm day), or even in the mirror, can be very telling. We can notice things that may surprise us - more wrinkles, less hair, more grey hair, dark rings under the eyes, shining teeth, sparkling eyes, stubble, clean shaven - the list is endless.

However the real test is that sometimes our outward reflection can reveal the state of our heart. That is scary. Have you ever had someone come up to you and say, "what's wrong?" The question catches you by surprise, but you realise that people have seen beyond the facade.

"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects a man." - Proverbs 27:19

"Just as water mirrors your face,so your face mirrors your heart." - The Message

In the end, Jesus was able to tell what was happening in Judas' heart. Judas managed to cover it up for the rest of the disciples, but Jesus could see right through his mask.

This Holy Week I urge us all to take a deep look into our hearts - what is being reflected there? Are there some things that need some changing?

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Mirrors

Do not be mistaken - I am not a massive Justin Timberlake fan, but his new song 'Mirrors' has some interesting words:

"You were right here all along
It's like you're my mirror
My mirror staring back at me"


Of course the Bible speaks about mirrors in a number of places too:

Proverbs 27:19 - "Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart."

It is often true that people can use our faces to look into our souls - it is as if our faces act like a mirror reflecting what is happening deep within.

James adds something more challenging to this conversation. He points out that God's word is simple enough for us to hear it and then obey it. However, if we only listen to the teaching of Jesus and then we don't live it out, then we are like vain people who look at themselves in the mirror without remembering what we look like!

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." - James 1:22-24

If you take a look into a mirror sometime today (and the chances are good), then ask yourself, what the mirror is revealing about your heart and soul?

Living in Grace

D3LM3