BREAKING POINTS! It would have been so much fun to run little
May Day baskets around the neighborhood – filled with spring flowers and
homemade goodies. Instead we found
ourselves peering out the windows exclaiming over the huge snowflakes dropping
to earth and rapidly covering the growing green blades of grass. They piled on top of each other as if in a
contest to see who would end up on top of the growing icing that swirled the
surfaces of everything visible. It was like Spring hurried to don her cap
before she got too chilled and too wet!
Long before darkness fell we knew that even the weather forecasters had
fallen short of what this snowstorm had in store for us. Hour by hour and inch by inch … the depth of
snowfall rose until in morning’s light, some “official person” measured it for
the record: an astounding 17
inches! Pretty? Yes.
Welcome? Not really. It is May Day, after all! Destructive?
Most certainly! I asked my sweet
husband to give me a short little tour around town right after work to see all
the downed branches from those huge, stately trees. It’s hard to believe. They seemed so strong, so able to withstand
anything that came their way. But an
accumulation of snowflakes resting on their branches and limbs snapped them at
their weakest points, as if struck by lightning or tornado-force winds. And there they lay … all over town. And then the thought struck me. We drive by people every day. We pass them along the streets. They look strong and functional - as if
nothing could take them down. They seem
to resist swaying in the winds of adversity.
They seem to rise above the high levels of stress. They weather all kinds of storms: loss, lack, sadness, sickness, deadlines, rejection,
demands. They just keep on going. Nothing seems to deter them; they’ve stood
strong and tall through it all. To this
point. This day. And then “the unexpected May Day storm” comes
and piles the burdens on in record-breaking heaviness. Without much warning, they begin to bend
beneath the weight. But this time, they
do not bounce back. They snap. They break.
They fall. Will others drive by
as if touring and assessing the damage – but not stop to help and pick them up? Thank God, there is a difference between
trees breaking and broken people! We
cannot restore broken tree limbs and put them together again. Crews come with chain saws and cut the large pieces
into firewood, and the small twigs and broken splinters are gathered and taken
away. After the clean-up, what remains
is the gaping evidence of freshly revealed tree rings where the tree was
fractured and ripped apart. I believe it
is our job and our privilege as God’s children to be the “restoration crew”
when we see others breaking apart at the most critical stress points in their
lives. While a part of them looks strong
and may be strong, there are other parts that are close to being split apart. Their weak parts are wearing dangerously thin,
and any unexpected, added weight of heartbreak or turmoil may cause them to be
only a portion of what they once were.
Broken, stripped, beaten, vulnerable and visible for all to see. This is where we are to shine with the love
of Christ! We need to run to them and
offer splints of strength and hope and hands-on help as we pick them up
again. We need to remind them that we,
too, have been broken and fragmented, and show them the proof of God’s
faithfulness as they see that our scars have made us stronger in character, and
more valuable to God’s Kingdom work. We
now can come along side with our rescue tools and give out doses of genuine
compassion and generosity along with the promises of God. Our restored hearts and limbs stand ready to
share with strangers … testimonies to God’s amazing power! Wanna see our “before” and “after”
photos? Soon we will be taking theirs …
what was broken is now beautiful again.
What was fractured is now healed.
They look better after … than before the storm. Who can do such a thing? Only our God!
And this weekend is the perfect time to practice our rescue skills as we
come alongside a stranger, one we’ve never met.
A young woman, stabbed to within a heartbeat of her life, running for
her very life with two small children in tow, somehow God miraculously spared
her. She’s down, but not out. We get to be a part of helping pick her up
again, and if she does not know Jesus, our prayer is that she will see Jesus in
us and come to know Him as her Savior and Restorer!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
A SPECIAL
WELCOME to each of our several visitors who came to worship with us for
the first time! May God bless you!
OUR HEARTFELT
THANKS to Hazel and everyone who helped with the most amazing VINTAGE
TEA for the ladies and girls!!!
SUN, MAY 5TH:
10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP/COMMUNION
10:30 A.M. – KIDZONE CHURCH
WED, MAY 8TH:
3:00 P.M. – RE:FUEL YOUTH w/Pastor D
7:00 P.M. – MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDIES (Wed/Thu)
SAT, MAY 11TH:
9:00 A.M. – LADIES PRASE & PRAYER / MEN’S
FELLOWSHIP / BARABAS TEAM MEETING
ELEVATION NORTH SPOTLIGHT!
At the close of this Sunday's service, we have a young man who will be with us to stand in the gap for the young woman in our area who you heard about in the news - stabbed to within a heartbeat of her life. We may not know her like he does, but we sense that God is asking us to come running to help rescue her and bring her hope in her recovery. We know that what was meant for harm can be used of God to bring much good to her - for His glory in her life!
REMEMBER . .
. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are
crushed in spirit.” ~ Psalm 34:18
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
