The Scar

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. It was a sweet day. Bill and I spent time together and he cooked me a wonderful steak dinner. I'm still amazed at God's grace and his miraculous healing of our marriage...total miracle.

From the first time I heard Point of Grace's "Heal the Wound but Leave the Scar" I have loved the message therein. It's because I so strongly identify with the song, that I get totally immersed in it every time I hear it. The words ask God to heal the wound, but leave the scar, because it's a reminder of "How merciful you are". I love that.

I'm so grateful for God's mercy in my life and in my marriage. He has healed the wound that was much too great for me to overcome without Him; without his grace and mercy. I am still in awe of that kind of mercy and I am so grateful to be a recipient of it. For that reason, I am blessed that God healed the wound and I'm grateful that he left the scar.

The "scar" is the testimony I have to tell of his goodness, grace and mercy. Without the wound, I wouldn't have the scar. The scar is on display as a witness of his healing power; as a witness of the power of prayer; and as a witness of his goodness. I don't want to ever forget what my God has done for me and I want to share it with others so they may experience his mercy also. I want to be able to look at my life and know what my God has brought me from; what he has redeemed. The wound is healed and the scar is a beautiful reminder of how merciful YOU are!

Some people have tatoos. I'm proud to have a scar that tells the story of God's mercy.

Here are the words to the song. Nicole Nordeman was one of the writers.

"Heal the Wound but Leave the Scar"

I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
Then I could just pretend
I never knew me back then

I used to pray that You would take this shame away
Hide all the evidence of who I've been
But it's the memory of The place You brought me from That keeps me on my knees
And even though I'm free

Chorus :
Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don't take pride in what I bring
But I'll build an altar with The rubble that You've found me in
And every stone will sing
Of what You can redeem

Don't let me forget
Everything You've done for me
Don't let me forget
The beauty in the suffering

The Party Master

It's the first day of 2009....Happy New Year! We ushered in the New Year at a Celebrate Recovery New Year's service here at Heartland. It was great to be thanking God for the grace and goodness of the past year and asking him to keep his hand upon us for the upcoming one.

One of the songs we sang last night was one of the Passion songs that says, "We're gonna PARTEEEE........I was dead, now I'm alive! It's the best New Year's party I've ever been to. Those of us that have a relationship with Jesus know that there is much to celebrate. I pray that I don't become complacent this year and forget that God's goodness is worth celebrating every day.

We had an added blessing last night because songwriter and singer Sarah Kelly and her "yummy" (her words) husband were our guests. She sang a couple of songs that were incredibly moving. One was a song that she wrote while in the midst of a very long and troubled time in her life. It is called, "Just about Midnight" and she sang about calling on God to help her out of her troubles. The other was her version of "Amazing Grace".

All I can say is WOW....God was at the party! Sarah gave Bill a new nickname that gave everyone a chuckle. I think it'll stick for a while. She called him the "Party Master"! If the Party Master is the one that loves Jesus with all his heart and invites everyone else to join the celebration, then I'll have to agree - that's who he is.

I hope you celebrate this year. Join the party. You always have an open invitation.

Blessing to you in 2009!

I finally have a Chia Pet!

Do you remember those funny little Chia Pets? Were they from the sixties, maybe? I can remember they were different than anything I had ever seen. I didn't have one, didn't even want one at the time, but I was intriqued by their uniqueness.

That brings me to the present. My husband and I can laugh at anything, and often do. I wouldn't dare recount all the bizarre things we find funny. Someone would want to commit us! However, I will share a little laugh we had last night because the image just keeps giving me a chuckle. So, humor me, okay?!

Bill has always had nice hair, but lately, his previously dark soft locks have been evolving into something akin to a steel wool pad - increasingly grey and wirey . Gel helps to camaflouge a bit, but when that dries or gets "slept" away, we're looking at a brand new "animal". A porcupine comes to mind.

Last night Bill looked in the mirror, then said to me, "I need a haircut.... whatta ya think?" I glanced over at him and flinched a bit at the sight I beheld. Grinning at my reaction, he said, "My hair doesn't grow long anymore. It just grows out!" Putting his hands out to the sides of his head to emphasize the obvious, I suddenly had a flashback to the sixties. I laughingly exclaimed, "You've become a Chia Pet!"

I guess you had to be there, maybe, but we're quiet easy to entertain. I don't care what you say, but to us, it was funny! I still chuckled throughout the day, today, as I remembered the sight of my husband; my very own Chia Pet. I also started to think about an analogy that could be extracted from my husband becoming a Chia Pet.

Here's my analogy. Bill used to be someone that did not yield any growth. He was like a Chia Pet, still in the box. Without care and cultivation, he was not ready to morph into what he was intended to become. But now he's something quiet different. He was "bought" by a Saviour that transformed him as he showered him with his love, grace and truth. As he continues to grow, I am grateful that I finally have a Chia Pet. I'll say, some things are worth waiting for!

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

A Personal Paraphrase of "My Psalm" - Psalm 18

I had been introduced to you, my God, as a young child, but I never really got to know who you were and appreciate how much you love me. In my ignorance, I walked along what first seemed like a beautiful white beach, but became increasingly more like a quicksand that steadily began to engulf me. As I sankfurther and further into its murky depths, I could almost sense the battle for my redemption. Invisible, but strangely present claws were grabbing me by the ankles, trying to pull me completely under and boast about my demise. Yet, every time it seemed like I would disappear into the darkness, strong wonderful arms and wings like soft feathers would lift me up into a soft warm glow to keep my head above the abyss. Each time, my heart, my very soul could not resist the beauty and warmth that drew me into the light of salvation. You were so patient with me, Lord; allowing me to stumble down a dirt-trodden path that waited to cover me with the filth of its unclean, crooked landscape. You knew that I could have well sank to my death and been completely defeated while I was still in my state of oblivion. You continued to whisper softly, yet firmly, to me and I heard your voice and came to recognise it. You kept assigning a mighty army to take down the very real enemy that was snarling at me and had me nearly within grasp. And when I called upon you, you released all the powers of heaven in my defense. I cried to you and you came to my rescue. You gave me strength and life. Suddenly, the darkness turned to light and hope sprung alive as you brightly exposed the truth through your spirit within me. My enemy had no chance of winning this round. My Saviour held me in His arms and I felt that He had moved heaven and earth on my behalf. My shaking knees could no longer withstand the tremble that transcended the physical and spiritual worlds. I willingly bowed to you. You didn't just stop at my rescue though; you continued to teach me and answer my prayers. My life, my husband's life, and our marriage are among your most profound miracles. You have reminded me that the battle is not mine and that you will always be with me. Yet, you still give me armor and remind me that I must put it on daily to be protected from intentional arrows that always seek to steal the victory you've given me. You set my path straight before me and put your Spirit within me. My trust is in you, my God, and I am eternally grateful for your unfailing kindness, grace and mercy.