Someone recently mentioned to me how much life hurts and
breaks, destroys slowly (or quickly) and leaves us damaged. All this happens
even if our life isn’t particularly hard, but the carnage left after a major
accident or incident is brutal. We are left a mess.
Even the daily-ness of parenting can tear us apart. We feel
like we’re losing ourselves, always putting others first, no longer having time
for self. Perhaps even forgetting what kinds of things make us, “Me.” The
repetitive nature of life breaks us down.
Nonchalant words can maim, not to mention purposefully mean
ones.
Other times it’s loneliness or isolation. How easy it is for
Satan to waltz into our thoughts and break down our confidence when we feel
like no one is there for us in our need! “No one likes me” turns into “I’m
unlovable.” “Oh, another blemish” turns into “I’m completely disfigured.” A simple lapse in patience turns into "I'm not a good mother."
Life is rough. It’s tough and it hurts us, which in turn
damages our hearts, unless we are constantly floating in the ocean of God’s
unfailing love.
When we are swimming in love, going straight to the source
of light and healing, it is possible to witness the miracle of ugly mess
transformed into marvelous masterpiece. Beth Moore words this concept
beautifully, “God hopes that we’ll turn to Him to heal us from the ravages of
natural life and make us healthy ambassadors of abundant life in an unhealthy
world.”
Isn't that exciting? Not only does God
want to heal you and make you beautiful, He wants to use you as He transforms
others! I don’t know about you, but I want to be an ambassador. I want to
assist in changing my children’s, family’s, and friend’s lives from broken messes
into works of art!
So, let’s be turned, transformed. Let our prayer be, “O Lord, you are our Father; we are the
clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8,
ESV). May we rejoice as the process of refining begins so we may celebrate when
we all, “sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown” (Zechariah 9:16, NIV).
Zechariah tells us, “How attractive and beautiful [we] will be!” (v. 17). A
beautiful mess: “ugly-beautiful,” as Ann Voskamp pens it. God’s piece of art;
transformed by love and eternal vision.
May we find ourselves returning to wholeness “by
deliberately and daily receiving the lavish, unreasonable, unfailing love of
God all the way into our marrow” (Beth Moore). “Satisfy us in the morning with
your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:16,
ESV).
- Bethany Tippin, MOPS Mom & Publicity Leader
Bethany Tippin is a wife and mother of 2 children, ages 3 and 5. She is a musician, teacher and writer. She joined MOPS very soon after moving to Sheridan and regularly finds blessing in her participation. This, her 6th year, is her 1st year in a leadership role. Serving as the 2013-2014 Publicity steering member is a joy and a challenge. She is massively excited about all the ways Christ is evidently moving in her life and community!
Dear Bethany - Blessings be upon you. Love, Gram BL
ReplyDelete