All The Broken Pieces...

On Sunday morning, as I was arranging a couple of fresh floral arrangements for church, a song kept playing over and over in my head. And as usual, I decided to sing along. :)

Give them all, give them all, give them all to Jesus
Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys.
Give them all, give them all, give them all to Jesus
And He will turn your sorrow into joy.

As I got to the end of the second line, I stopped. Why is this the hardest thing to let go of? The broken pieces of our lives? Why do we hold on to the hurt for so long? I didn't think much of it beyond that. But that night, my cousin led the service and talked about the Potter and the clay. How that God is the only One Who can take the broken pieces and put them back together again.

And I realized something...the only way for God to reshape us, to re-mold us, to put us back together again, is for us to bring Him the broken pieces of our hearts. He stands near His potter's wheel, ready to begin. But He waits for me to come to Him with my brokenness. He waits on me to bring Him my hurt and disappointments. My shattered dreams, wounded heart and broken toys. Only then can He take what is left of me and mold me into something beautiful to Him.

I'm so thankful that I'm in His hands and not in the Potter's field! The barren land filled with the discarded shards of other vessels is not where I belong. I may not be a truly magnificent piece of art...yet. :) But I am in His hands and I am a work of art in progress! I honestly believe this.

Did you feel, feel it break
From all the weight of your mistake?
You never knew how much it cost
Feels like your innocence is lost
So much for the perfect life
So much for the perfect day
It's like no matter how you try
Perfection's just too far away
So lift them up to Me

All the broken pieces
All the broken pieces of your life
All the broken pieces
All the broken pieces of your life

Did you hear what I said?
Did you read the words I wrote down in red?
I was broken once for you
And no one loves you like I do
And that's the beauty of this grace
It can put the pieces back in place
And shine reflections of forgiveness
In a million different ways

I can take even your greatest mistake
Every scar, every tear, every break
And I can turn it in to something more beautiful
Than you have ever seen
So lift them up to Me

All The Broken Pieces, Matthew West

Welcome to 2012! So Glad You Made It!

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.

~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book

Yesterday, I awoke to the sound of a dozen (or so) vocally talented birds outside my window. A couple of times I almost swore that the Andrea Bocelli of the group was inside my room! No lie! I was almost persuaded to get up and double check that the window and screen were intact but alas, my down filled bed was too comfy to leave it. I smiled and rolled over. Let him sing his teeny heart and lungs out. I didn’t care if he was perched on my headboard, he was serenading me. What a way to wake up on a chilly Monday morn!

The sun shines and warms and lights us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; but we ask the reason of all evil, of pain, and hunger, and mosquitoes and silly people.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

After lying in bed for another hour (I decided to go into work an hour later than usual), I forced myself to get up, get ready and leave. As I grabbed my gear and ran out the door, I went to my car and found that that Andrea Bocelli and his choir had a Poop Fest on it! No one's was defecated on but mine! I’m not talking a splat, here and there. I’m talking ALL OVER. I had to run the washer and wipers for a full 2 minutes just to get the windshield clear enough for me to see out of it!

While I was smiling contentedly and enjoying the sweet music, those suckers were doing their dirty deed! Of all the nerve! It was probably Bocelli that came up with the idea. Happy New Year in bird hieroglyphics or something.

But it made me think. I can appreciate the sweet music of life or I can look at all the crap (excuse the word) that life tends to dish out. I can enjoy the good times and just wipe the bad times away. It may take time for the bad times to be wiped out completely but then my way will be clear and free of nasty obstacles and I can enjoy the rest of the ride. Until more nastiness comes along. Then I’ll just repeat the steps and keep going!

So here’s to the Monday Morning Serenades & Poop Fests of 2012! May the serenades of your new year be filled with joy, love, happiness, friends and family! Good times and great memories! And may the poop fests serve to remind you to slow down and clear your mind of the crap that sometimes gets to be too much. Happy New Year, ya’ll!

I wish I was a glow worm,
A glow worm's never glum.
'Cos how can you be grumpy
When the sun shines out your bum!
~Author Unknown

My Top Ten

Tis the season to be thankful, Fa la la la laa, la la la la!

My faith. Where would I be without God in my life? I used to entertain the idea of a life sans God. Now the thought is foreign to me. What would I be without Him? Life without the promise and hope of Heaven and seeing His face is bleak and pointless. Meaningless. I’m so thankful for His faithfulness. No one will ever be able to understand how much I am grateful for His sustaining hand and how, no matter what I’ve done to Him or treated Him, He has never left me forsaken or crying out to Him.

My parents. I can’t imagine how much they have sacrificed over the years for my siblings and I. I can’t imagine them packing up their lives and moving from their families and home and coming to the states. I can only hope that someday I can be as sacrificial a parent as they have been.

My sister. I don’t tell her often but I love her and can’t imagine life without her. I often try to but end up making myself sad! We rarely see eye to eye but she has always been there for me! I love her.

My brother. He has always been there and even though he’s hundreds of miles away, he is still being a big bro!

My family. I get a bit chocked up here. I love my family to pieces. Extended family, immediate…all of them. J They are the craziest bunch I’ve known and I’m proud to be a Menzies-Slusher!

My pastor. There was a time, brutal honesty here, where his name may not have been on this list. I saw him too much as a man with many faults and shortcomings. I’ve known him almost all my life and knew saw him more as an uncle than a pastor. I couldn’t understand why he did what he did and said what he did. I saw him as controlling, and interfering. Then I went to God for my attitude. Every time I got to my knees, I begged God for a true and deep love and an appreciation for this man who “holds my soul”. I can’t tell you when it happened but it did. I love him beyond words can say. I can’t say that I always understand him or what he does but I have a deep respect for him and his office. He stands between me and heaven (or hell!) and if he seems to take things further than I think should be, who am I to complain?! If it’s keeping me out of Hell, thank you! (And I am not perfect, I still struggle with this at times…)

My friends! I can’t give shout outs because someone will be left out but Jennifer and Lyda keep me from doing and saying things that may make me lose my job! They always have an encouraging word for me. Jennifer is awesome. Who else could I call at 12 midnight or 8am and chit chat with? Who else would enjoy a good giggle fest at 1am on Saturday morning?! Who else could I share my dreams and emotions with? Lyda is my “oldest friend”. I met her the summer I turned 11, I believe. Oh, to be that young again! I hope to always count her as one of my dearest friends. She knows exactly what to say to make me feel better about myself.

My job. It’s not the greatest and I don’t love coming to work but I’m thankful that I have one and that throughout the Great Recession, I’ve never been in want.

Vacation time! I’m so thankful for a job (crummy as it is!) that offers me vacation time because sometimes I think it’s the only thing that keeps me sane! (along with Jesus, of course!)

My car! Speaking in faith here! LOL