Broken things

Good morning to our church family,

Jin Lin took this beautiful photo of a DOUBLE RAINBOW which beautifully appeared over our church building after the Young Adults met last Saturday!   

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Genesis 9:12-13  

” God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant 

which I have established between Me and you 

and every living creature 

that is with you for all successive generations; 

between Me and the earth.”  

    *    Thanks to all who prayed for Chris Baxter’s job.  He was not one of the many who were let go!  Continued prayers for Christopher as he endures other struggles, but we thank God that he has his job!

    *    Giving much thanks that Margaret is doing well and finally driving!  Praise God and such an answer to prayer!

    *    Thanks to the Young Adults who continue to get together encouraging one another and Praising the LORD!   They have grown to a group of 20 now (several new people are joining from other congregations which is  just incredible!   Today they will be going to Mystic Seaport and Village.   Thanks again to Zach and Tori for their commitment and dedication! 

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Congratulations to our new sister in Christ Molly Medling who was baptized on Monday!  The angels are singing and rejoicing over her decision to follow Jesus!   Be sure to introduce yourself to Molly and welcome her to our church family!

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*    Karen Ohrenberger’s parents are still not doing well.   Prayers for Karen and her siblings as they work together to care for their parents from afar, and Aunt Myra, her Mother’s sister as well. 

*    Donna (Murphy) Blankenship a former member here at Trumbull asked for continued prayers as she deals with melanoma.  She is scheduled for surgery September 19th at the UK Cancer center.  Before the surgery they will be checking her lymph nodes.  She’s asked that the surgeons caught the cancer in time before it had time to spread.  

*    Prayers for Tracie and Jim Walkup’s son and daughter-in-law  John & Vanessa as she is in her last month of pregnancy.  Prayers for all to go well!  

*    Continued prayers for Ray’s brother Mike Fernandes who continues to struggle with physical illness and sadness over his wife’s passing.  Their mother Eva is also in need of prayer as she just got out of the hospital.  

*    Prayers for Tori as she starts a grueling few weeks of band camp this weekend.   

*    Leah’s co-worker Maureen’s Mother recently passed away.  Maureen is someone whom we prayed for when she was going through chemo last year. 

*    A friend of ours  Michelle Rajpolt who is only 20 years old had a heart transplant yesterday at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York.  She’s had heart issues all her life, and recently became in decline, even to the point of the heart surgeon saying he’s not sure if she will make it through a heart transplant.  After further testing, he gave the green light for the transplant and a heart came through shortly thereafter.  The surgery was all day yesterday and thankfully a success. As of last night she had her new heart! Such an incredible thing.  Her family is beyond grateful for all of the prayers offered on her behalf.   Continued prayers for her recovery.  (This photo was taken before the surgery).  In this photo is her sister Amy who is also her best friend and is away at school & face-timing her.  

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God uses broken things for HIS glory!  And sometimes He needs to break things in order for Him to work.    

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In Judges 7:18-20  we read about Gideon who defeated the Midianites.   Gideon gathered 32,000 Israelites to fight the huge Midianite army of 135,000 men.  The Lord commanded Gideon to reduce his army to only 300 men.  Gideon obeyed, and his small army of 300 surrounded the Midianite camp at night, and at a signal, smashed jars, blew trumpets and yelled. 

“Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands.  The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. ”  

Gideon won the battle by being obedient and trusting in God’s power!

Mark 14:3-9 “While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper,  a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar, and poured the very expensive perfume on his head.”    Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume?  It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.”

“Leave her alone” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her?  She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them anytime you want.  But you will not always have me.  She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.“

Matthew 14:13-21 is the biblical account when Jesus fed the five thousand.   In  verses 35-37  “He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gve them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basket fulls of the broken pieces that were left over.“

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1 Corinthians 11:24  “For I received from the LORD what I also passed on to you:  The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took the bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you: do this in remembrance of me.”   

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And the world was saved!

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One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that God only uses perfect people.   The Apostle Paul shares that we all are flawed and we all sin….

Romans 3:23 – “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.“

God uses broken things for His purpose.   Our brokenness brings us full circle back to rely on God’s grace and mercy alone.  Our brokenness makes room for our hearts to be molded and shaped for His Glory!

Thank God for His gift of mercy and grace.

Thank God for Jesus Christ, who took the fall, for each of us.

By being baptized IN CHRIST, our sins are covered by JESUS BLOOD and we then become heirs to the throne of God  John 1:12

We are His Masterpiece –  Ephesians 2:10

We are Justified –   Romans 5:1

We are set free – forever – from condemnation from God  – Romans 8:1

We are adopted into His family – Ephesians 1:5

Our citizenship is in Heaven –  Philippians 3:20

We belong to God –  1 Corinthians 6:20

We will never be separated from His Love –  Romans 8:35

We have everything we need to get through this life!  –  Philippians 4:13

Every trial is tailored to bring us closer to GOD!  – 1 Peter 1:7-9

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No matter how broken we are, there is true HOPE in JESUS CHRIST!  He makes us whole!

Nick Vujicic is currently a motivational speaker who travels around the world and shares the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Although we differ doctrinally with Nick, his story is quite amazing.  

Nick was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of arms and legs.  As he wrote in his autobiography, his mother refused to see him or hold him immediately after his birth; instead she and her husband left the hospital.  Nick was his parent’s firstborn child.  In his autobiography he shared that “no one sent flowers to his mum when he was born.  This hurt her and only deepened her despair.  But over time, his parents had come to understand that God had a plan for him!”  

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Nick endured an emotional battle most of his life.  “For the longest, loneliest time, I wondered if there was anyone on earth like me, and whether there was any purpose to my life other than pain and humiliation.”   Nick’s faith in God has been the central source of his strength throughout his life and he shares that “once he found his own sense of purpose – inspiring others to make their lives better, he found the confidence to build a rewarding and productive life without limits.”   

Nick created a foundation called ‘Life Without Limits’, spreading the message of hope and resilience.  “His life is a testament to the human spirit’s incredible capacity to overcome adversity. To find strength in our struggles and transform them into triumphs.  Central to Nick’s message is the power of positive thinking.  He advocates the belief that anything is possible with faith and perseverance, a mantra he has lived by.  Speaking in various countries, he shares his life experiences, imparting lessons on overcoming obstacles and embracing life’s challenges, regardless of their nature.”

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As Nick travels all over the world teaching people about Jesus Christ, he said “I often see incredible suffering that makes me grateful for what I have and less inclined to focus on what I may lack. Suffering is universal and often unbelievable cruel, but even in the worst of slums, and after the most horrible tragedies, I have been heartened to see people not only surviving, but thriving. I’ve been to the poorest slums in all corners of the world, but I am struck by the joy and happiness radiating from my audience.  My life has  rarely  seemed so blessed.  I gave thanks that their faith lifted them above their circumstances as I told them how Jesus has changed my life too!”

“We have a choice – either to be angry by what we don’t have, or be thankful for what we do have”  says Nick.

Once Nick began changing his narrative and his mindset, he was able to start drowning out the bullies lies, with the voice of truth.  He stopped believing that he wasn’t good enough or worthy enough, and started believing HE WAS!  He learned to embrace himself and his circumstances and to let the rest of it go.  And when he’s faced with adversity, he chooses to keep going.  Even if it means he will fail, time and time again.  After all, you only lose when you stop trying.  There are some things in life that are out of your control that you can’t change and you’ve got to live with.  The choice we have though is either to give up, or keep on going!  Life becomes worth living when you find purpose!”

Nick Vujicic is not able to hug his family, but Nick IS ABLE to HUG with his heart… and be hugged back!

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Broken things, and broken people are the result of sin in this world, but God can transform us into something better and beautiful!   

Jesus’s broken body on Calvary made it possible for our broken humanity to be reconciled with God; we are healed and made NEW!

God’s ways are higher than our ways and His plans for us are good and true.   Isaiah 55:8-9

God can take our messes, and create a beautiful tapestry each uniquely designed to reflect US!  Ephesians 2:10

God is our Potter.   We are the clay.  Isaiah 64:8

God molds us, and sculpts us into a new piece even after we’ve been broken and useless.  He re-works the hardened bits of clay and forms them into something exquisite! Through all of our cracks, bumps, bruises and infirmities, HIS LIGHT SHINES through!

When we allow Him to mold us, shape us, over and over, we are a work in process.

Change my heart, O God.

Make it ever true,

Change my heart O God,

May I be like You!

You are the Potter,

I am the clay;

Mold me and make me,

This is what I pray.

Change my heart O God,

Make it ever true,

Change my heart O God,

May I be like You.

Blessed Assurance – A Cappella Hymn

Jesus loves all of us in spite of our brokenness, and continues to impact us all positively for the Kingdom of God.

Jesus helps us look beyond our infirmities, our sins,  our past failures, and brings us to the throne of His Father, GOD ALMIGHTY. 

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Keep on Keeping on everyone!

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In His Precious and Holy Name,

Bruce & Paula