The Breaking Point ~ by robin moroney

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you."  Isaiah 43:1-2

I’m reading a book by Pete Wilson called, “Plan B.” The subtitle says “What do you do when God doesn’t show up the way you thought He would?”

If your life isn’t going the way you thought it would (or should), I encourage you to read this book. It is awesome.

Anyway, in this book Pete says that we Christians often use the phrase “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” I’m pretty sure I’ve used it. And I bet most of you have either said it or had it said to you. Pete says that this phrase is not Biblically correct. This surprised me and my friends. So we asked our Prayer Warrior Sisters to help us find in the Bible where it says that God will not give us more than we can handle. Someone found 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says:

“And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

To me temptation is a whole lot different than a heavy burden. Temptation is taking another drink when you know you’ve already had too much. Temptation is wanting to spend too much time with someone of the opposite sex who isn’t your spouse. Temptation is wanting another piece of chocolate cake when you’re already so full you have to undo the button on your jeans.

A burden, however, is totally different. A burden is getting a diagnosis of cancer. A burden is when a loved one dies. A burden is when a marriage falls apart.

Since I couldn’t find any other places in the Bible that says that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle, I was in agreement of Pete Wilson that this statement isn’t Biblical. But then I did some research. The transliteration of temptation in this verse is the Greek word, peiramos which means the following:
   Short Definition: trial, testing, temptation
   Definition: trial, probation, testing, being tried; (b) temptation; (c) calamity, affliction


So, it looks to me that if you take the transliteration of the original Greek word for temptation, this verse is, indeed saying that God will not give us more than we can handle.

As I’ve been thinking about this verse all week, I was reminded of all the times that people are truly brought to the breaking point. The times when people really do have more than they can bear ~ a parent whose child is given the diagnosis of a fatal disease; a family that’s on vacation and there’s a horrible accident and all but one family member dies. Aren’t these things that are way more than anyone can bear? What about those families that just seem to have one horrible tragedy after another following them? I think that’s more than any human should have to bear.

I’ve also been thinking of all the people in the Bible who had incredibly horrible things happen to them.

Let’s start with Job. Poor Job was moving through life, minding his own business and being faithful to God. Then up pops Satan who asks God to let him test Job. And God says “yes.” Personally, I think God is really mean here but I’ll save that for another blog. This is what happens to Job:

   * all his livestock were either stolen or caught on fire by a flame from the sky
   * all his servants were killed
   *  all his children and his oldest brother were killed when a mighty wind came up and blew their house down on top of them (these first three things all happened within minutes of each other)
   *he got painful sores all over his body. They were so bad that he took a piece of broken pottery and scraped his skin
   *all his friends sat around telling poor Job that all the things that were happening to him were his own fault
   *his wife was nagging the snot out of him and also telling him it was his own fault

Seriously, the nagging wife alone is enough to bring anyone to the breaking point. Call me crazy but I think all these things that God allowed to happen to Job were way more than Job could bear.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23-27 we’re told that Paul had to endure all of these burdens:
   * he was imprisoned many times
   * flogged repeatedly
   * was close to death more than once
   * three times he received 40 lashes minus one (I guess that one less was a big deal)
   * three times he was beaten with rods
   * he was stoned
   * he was shipwrecked three times
   * he spent 24 hours lost at sea
   * he was constantly on the move and running for his life
   * he was in danger from floods, bandits and from everyone he knew in every place he went
   * he went without sleep, food, water and clothing


Again, I think these are things that are way more than anyone can bear.

We cannot talk about having a bigger burden than is bearable without talking about Jesus. He carried the biggest burden of them all. And He knew it. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested, He said to Peter, James and John, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Matthew 26:38.

He had such a burden that He was to the point of death!! Verse 39 says: “Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.’”

Verse 42 says: “He went away a second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done.’”

In verse 44 it says: “So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.”

Jesus’ burden was so heavy that He asked God three times to take it from Him. He knew that the burden He had to carry was so heavy that He could not carry it. It was more than He could bear. God had given Jesus more than He could handle.

So why does God give us more than we can handle? Why does He let us get to the breaking point? I think it’s because those are the moments that we realize that we need God more than ever. Those are the times when we lean on God like never before. I haven’t done a survey but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the vast majority of Christians came to Christ because of a tragic or difficult time in our lives. And it was probably a time when we were at the end of our rope and couldn’t take it any longer. A time when we were at the breaking point and had more than we could bear. It certainly happened that way for me. Because if we didn’t get taken to the breaking point, would we really need God at all? For some of us, the answer is probably “no.”

When you think about Job and Paul and Jesus, besides their overwhelming pain, they all have something else in common . . . . they never gave up on God. They all leaned into Him and leaned on Him even when they wanted to give up.

Even in the midst of Job’s horrible pain and sadness, he praises God and gives Him glory by telling Him, “I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2. And then we are told, “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” Job 42:12

After Paul had gone through all those horrible, painful things, he said, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9. Paul was actually excited and thankful about his pain and suffering.

And Jesus, even though His soul was sorrowful to the point of death, still gave all the power and faith to God by saying that even if the cup couldn’t be passed from Him, He was willing to accept God’s will, not His own.

I think that sometimes God does give us more than we can bear. But if you look at the second part of 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says, “But when you are tempted (tested, afflicted), He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

I know that this is not always comforting when we’re in the midst of our darkest times. During those times, it’s ok for us to feel sad, confused, hurt, scared and even angry. But the important thing for us to remember is that during those times when we have more than we can bear, the only One who can help us through it is our Heavenly Father. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Somehow, He will carry us through our darkest times and carry our heaviest burdens.

When we turn to God and trust Him, does He always take away our burden?  Unfortunately, the answer is "no."  The rest of Paul's life was filled with one trial after another.  And Jesus still had to endure an incredibly painful death.  But miraculously and supernaturally, God provided a way for them to stand up under it.  And He'll do the same for you and for me.

So when we are at the end ~ when we can’t take it any longer ~ will we turn to drugs or alcohol or other addictions? Or will we turn to the One who can take away all our pain?

Will we hold onto our hurt and anger and let it grow and fester until it turns into hatred and bitterness? Or will we hold onto our Father’s hand and let Him walk us through our darkness?

When we are so confused and lost that we don’t know where to go or what to do, will we turn away and surround ourselves with people and things that we hope will make us feel better and that we hope will fill our lonliness? Or will we run into the loving and outstretched arms of our Father, Abba, and trust that He will fill our every need?

I know from experience that it’s so very hard to get out of those dark places. But I also know that the only One who can lead us out is God. So, please lean on Him and trust Him to put you back together when you feel like you are breaking. He is there and He wants to make you strong in your weakness. And He has the power to do it.

Remember: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Lord, we know that Your plans are not to harm us but to prosper us and give us hope. But we also know that for whatever reason there are times when we are brought to the breaking point. Times when we are given more than we can bear. Help us, Lord, to trust in You during those times especially. During those times, help us to see You and hear You in ways that we’ve never experienced before. Forgive us for the times that we are so hurt and angry that we turn from You. Please don’t give up on us as we work through our pain. But hold us tightly in Your strong and comforting arms. Even though we may have a hard time seeing You and hearing You in the mist of our sorrow, we know that You are there. Teach us to trust You and to let You lead us through our darkest times. We love You so much, Father. And we know that You love us. Our strength comes from You alone. Thank You for Your strength and love. ~robin

Good Enough ~ by robin moroney

Scripture:
“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

“I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. It was not the result of your own efforts . . . God has made us what we are.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NCV)

Points to Ponder:
As a child, I was taught that I had to be good to please my parents. The problem with that is that I didn’t always know what good was. And I never seemed to be good enough. If I made A’s and B’s on my report card, I was asked why I didn’t make straight A’s. And since there was a different set of standards for my brothers than there was for me, there were times that I would get in trouble and I didn’t even know what I had done wrong. Or the slightest “infraction” brought horrible punishment and consequences.

So I grew up thinking that God was the same way. That there were different levels of good. That the only way for me to please God and to get into Heaven was to be good ~ all the time. And there have been times in my life when I thought that I did something so bad that there was no way I was good enough to get into Heaven so why even bother trying?

Even now there are times that I am so afraid of doing something wrong or disobeying God because I’m afraid I’ll get punished. And I wonder how many times this fear of retribution and punishment has stopped me from obeying God because I’m afraid of the punishment that could happen if I get the message wrong or do the wrong thing.

I remember when I was in about kindergarten, or first grade, I accidentally opened a gift that was for one of my brothers. I was yelled at and told that I was selfish and greedy because I didn’t stop and read the tag. I was a child . . . . I probably couldn’t even read at that age!!! But I got in trouble anyway. I didn’t measure up. I wasn’t good enough.

I think a lot of those instances shaped me into a person who could be paralyzed with fear to not make a move because I could get punished if I make the wrong move.

I know that God loves me. And I am learning that He loves me no matter what. I’m also learning that even when I make a wrong move, He will pour out His grace and love on me, gently take me by the hand and lead me the right way. Not because I have to be good or good enough. Not because of what I do or don’t do. But only because I believe Him and believe in Him and because He loves me beyond anything I can ever imagine. It’s that simple . . . He loves us and washes us with His grace because we believe Him and He loves us that much.

When we have Jesus with us, we don’t have to be good enough. Because there is no way we can ever attain that very lofty goal. How can we ever be good enough when we don’t even know what good enough is?

Thankfully, we don’t have to be good enough. Because Jesus died for us and that was good enough for all of us. No matter what we’ve done; no matter how far we stray, He will always love us. Because our journey to His Kingdom cannot be attained by how good we are or how much “good” we do. It’s only because God loves us so much that He sacrificed His only Son for us. It is by Jesus’ blood and God’s grace that we are invited into His Kingdom. And that is good enough for me.

Father, I thank you so much for the amazing and undeserved gift of Your grace and love. Help us to stop comparing our good deeds with others. Help us to stop striving to be good enough and to just do what we know is right. Help us to understand that You do not love us because we’re perfect. You do not love us because we’re good enough. You love us because You chose us to be Yours. Forgive me for those times that I’m so focused on the being good and the doing good that I miss You. Thank You, Father, for Your Son, Jesus, who sacrificed everything so that we could have a path to You. We do not deserve it. And that’s what makes it so special. Teach us to just be with You and let You be with us. You are awesome, Jesus!!! And we give all that we are and all that we have to You. Amen   ~robin

A Conversation with God ~by robin moroney

I told a friend recently that I’m not waiting for God, I’m waiting with Him. I have this vision in my head of a big, iron gate in this beautiful forest. I don’t know what’s on the other side, but I know it leads to something awesome because God is taking me there. I’m standing there waiting with God. I was thinking today that while I’m waiting we've had a few conversations.  One went something like this:

Me: So . . . . . come here often?
God: Yes. You and I have been here a few times haven’t we?
Me: Whatever.

Pause

Me: So, I’m thinking of a color. What is it?
God: Red
Me: I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 1 million. What is it?
God: 13
Me: Dang! How did you know that?
God: (with a raised eyebrow) That’s your favorite color and your favorite number. And I’m God. I know everything.
Me: Yeah, but I thought I could stump you just once.
God: raised eyebrow
Me: So, what’s up with the kangaroo? That’s one funky looking animal. What happened to their front arms? Was that supposed to be a joke?
God: It did make me smile when I created them. They are awesome creatures. They can jump six feet high ~ straight up.
Me: Yeah, but why?
God: Because it’s cool!
Me: Yeah that is pretty cool.

Silence for a minute or two

Me: So . . . . I’m sorry I don’t obey You right away and always ask for constant affirmation and re-affirmation. And I’m sorry that I get so frustrated sometimes.
God: I can take it. And I like it that you have spunk. I gave you that. I am delighted that you are so spunky.

Me: Yeah, but sometimes I can take that spunk too far. There was the time that . . .

God: Uh-uh. No. We aren’t going to talk about that again. We’ve already talked about it and worked through it. You are forgiven. It is forgotten.

Me: Yeah, but. . . . .

God. No. It is done.

Silence

Me: So, that whole children’s ministry thing was quite a surprise. That came out of the blue. I didn’t see that coming. And quite frankly my friends and family are a little more than shocked that I’m actually choosing to spend time around little children.

God: (with a smile) That’s how you know it was from Me. Thank you for obeying.

Me: Yeah, but once again, it took me a while. You had to practically hit me over the head.
God: It’s that neon sign/burning bush thing you’re always asking for.
Me: Yeah. Sorry about that.
God: smile
Me: I didn’t anticipate being so blessed by those precious children. They make my heart thump.
God: That’s what happens when you obey My calling. And you got a pretty decent blog out of it too.
Me: The gift that keeps on giving. That’s pretty cool!

Pause

Me: So, what are we waiting for?
God: Ah, that’s not for you to worry about. You just need to wait with Me, persevere, don’t give up, and believe Me.
Me: Yeah, we both know how hard that’s been for me. This could be a long wait. Thanks for waiting with me.
God: I’ll wait as long as it takes. I’ll never, ever leave you. No matter how long it takes . . . . or how many questions you ask Me.
Me: Thank You for all You do for me. I know it can’t be easy sometimes.
God: Yes it is easy. You are my beloved child. I love you with an everlasting love that knows no bounds.

For once I am speechless.

His Delight ~by robin moroney

“For the Lord takes delight in His people” Psalm 149:4

A few months ago, a request went out at church for volunteers for children’s ministry. When I heard this request, I looked around the church to see who was going to come forward and volunteer. Because I knew it couldn’t possibly be me. After all, God gave me one child for a very good reason . . . I’m not good with children. But God kept prompting me to volunteer. And as is all too common for me, I tried to pretend I didn’t hear Him. But He wouldn’t let it go and so I finally gave in and volunteered.

When I filled out the application, one of the questions asked what Spiritual gifts I have that might help me in this ministry. I felt that I should be completely honest so I wrote that I honestly didn’t know what gifts I had that would help me to work with children and, in fact, I was pretty sure that God had me confused with someone else. I thought for sure that would close the door to this ministry for me. But it did not. They must have been desperate for volunteers because I was immediately called to duty.

On my first Sunday I discovered that I was assigned to be in the room with the “walkers” ~ two and three year olds. That seemed pretty good to me because at this age, they couldn’t talk back. I went into the classroom very nervous and prayed the whole morning that God would help me with this task. God must have been sleeping in that morning because this experience did not start out well at all. The first child, Isabella, came to me screaming. I had to pry her fingers off her mother’s shirt to get her in the classroom. This was not good. I took Isabella and tried to distract her with all the cool toys that are in the room. Thankfully, she calmed down pretty quickly.

The second child to come in, Roman, was even more upset than Isabella was. Roman came to me crying so hard that he was hiccupping. Great, big heaving sobs were coming from that poor child. He was not happy one little bit. And he was not easily distracted. As other children came in, I had to continue to hold Roman and walk around so that he wouldn’t scream. He kept crying but, thankfully, he was no longer screaming. And thankfully eventually two helpers came into the room to help with the other children. Of course, during this time I prayed the normal prayers: “God, please help me calm this child.” “God, please tell me what to do.” “God, I could use some help here!!!” Finally I prayed, “God, please give this child courage to be away from his parents.” BAM! He stopped crying. (Yeah, I know! It was a great prayer. I will use it often. Feel free to use it too.)

And then, the fun began!!! After Roman calmed down, we were able to get on the floor and play. And, man, did I have a great time. It was awesome!!!! Children that age think everything is so cool. The simplest things thrill them. Bouncing a large beach ball as high as it will go is amazing to them. Pretending Elmo is talking lights up their faces. There is this toy in the room that looks like the front door to a house. It has a door that swings open, a porch light that goes on and off and a doorbell that rings. It’s a really cool toy. At one point two of the boys were on one side of the door and I was on the other. They would open the little slot for the mailbox and I’d put my hand in there. Then they would open it again and my hand would be gone. They thought that was the best trick ever. And it filled my heart with joy every time I saw them smile and heard them laugh.

This must be how God feels when we delight in something He does. When even the simplest things like a butterfly or the warmth of the sun can thrill us, God’s heart must swell with joy. When I breathe deeply to smell fresh cut grass or rain, I bet God smiles with pleasure. I wonder if He created such beautiful things just so He could see the joy and excitement on our faces. I wonder if God created these things not just for our pleasure but for His too.

I think God created beautiful things on earth to remind us of His love. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.” An “everlasting love.” That means it never ends. No matter how hard our life may be, no matter how sad or lonely we may feel, we can be assured that God is there and that He will always, always love us.

When I was playing with those precious children in the nursery, not only was I reminded of God’s delight in us, I was also reminded that He will always give us what we need when He asks us to do something. Even when He asks us to do something that seems ridiculous and impossible, He will provide us with just what we need, right when we need it. The children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years. It must have been hot, tiring, and not a fun place to be. It was hard work. But God provided them manna from heaven, a cloud by day to keep them cool and a fire by night to light their way.

In looking back over the last several years of my life, I’m pretty sure I’ve been wandering in the desert. And I realize that God has given me so many things to help me on my journey. He’s given me a peaceful house of my own and wonderful friends to fill my heart. He has provided for me so that I can pay my bills and go on an occasional vacation. And He has given me three pretend “husbands.” One helps me make electronic decisions like which TV to buy. This husband also helped me when it came time to refinance my house. I also have a husband who helped me when my window was literally falling out of my house. And then there is the husband who helps me with my car. As I’ve wandered in the desert, God has provided all sorts of things to help me along the way. And just when I think I can’t take this journey anymore, He has given me the strength and the courage to keep going.

When life is good, it is easy to see God and know He is there. But we can have confidence that even in the darkest times, when things don’t seem to be going the way we thought they would or when we’re wandering around in the desert thinking we’re lost, God is there for us. He never, ever leaves us. In Hebrews 13:5 God assures us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” And again in Philippians 4:20 we are reminded that “God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

God loves YOU!!! He takes great delight in YOU! He will never leave you. He will provide for you. So show Him today how much you delight in HIM.

Remember: “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:19

Precious Father, we thank You for the simple things in life that delight us. Things like butterflies, beautiful flowers, the sound of thunder and the smell of rain. Thank You for giving us these things that bring such joy to us when times are good and especially when things don’t seem to be going the way we would like them to. We praise You for the wonderful things You give us each day. Thank You for stretching our faith by asking us to do things that we don’t think we can do. Thank You, Father, for always being with us and for lighting our way in the desert. We delight in You. And we are so grateful that You delight in us. Amen   ~robin

Under Construction ~by robin moroney

“For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.”  Hebrews 3:4

When my marriage was falling apart, I felt like I was a box of Lego’s that someone had taken hold of, shaken violently then tipped over scattering me into a million pieces on the floor then left me there to figure out how to put the pieces back together again.  But I couldn’t put the pieces back together by myself.  I was in too many pieces and they were scattered all over the place.  Thankfully, though, God is the ultimate builder.  And if He is the ultimate builder, He is also the ultimate re-builder.

Jeremiah prophesied about the destruction of the nation of Israel.  The book of Jeremiah is full of the gloom and doom of the Babylonian takeover.  But it is also full of the power of God’s rebuilding.  Over and over again, God reassures Jeremiah that He will bring His children back together and He will rebuild them and their lives.  If, after 70 years, God can bring the entire nation of Israel back together and restore them, then He can rebuild you too. 

Why did God let His children get so shattered before He rebuilt them?  I think it's so that they would know Him and know that their rebuilding could only come from Him.  Sometimes we are so stubborn and prideful that we are sure we can fix things on our own.  And those are the times that I think we need to be crumpled into a million little pieces before we’ll know that God is the only One who can rebuild us.  I know it seems harsh.  But for me, it’s the only way He could get my attention.

A few months ago as winter approached, one of my coworkers asked me if I had covered my water faucets outside to prevent my water pipes from freezing.  I’m from Florida, what do I know about frozen pipes and covering faucets.  But as we talked, I thought that if my pipes burst and my house flooded, it could mean the possibility that I could finally get rid of my downstairs carpet and get wood flooring.  And if the walls got damaged, that meant a new coat of paint.  Of course, I don’t want my house to flood.  But for a second, it didn’t seem all that bad.  When our houses are damaged and have to be repaired, I bet most of us would like to take that opportunity to fix a few things and make them better than they were before. 

God works that way too.  When our hearts and lives are shattered or when our relationships fall apart, God can rebuild us and put us back together.  Since He is our Builder, He also has our blueprints.  So He knows us.  He knows what we are meant to be.  And in the rebuilding process, He can make us better than we were before.

God knows us better than anyone else knows us ~ better than we even know ourselves.  Isaiah 49:15-16 says:  “See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.”  Matthew 10:30 says, “And even the very hairs of your head are numbered.”  And Psalm 139:13-14 tells us, “You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” 

So God knows who we are and He built us to be that person.  Who could be better equipped to put us back together than the One who built us in the first place?  When we are broken, no one can rebuild us like our heavenly Father can.  Because no one else knows how we were made in the first place.  Only the original Architect knows.  Only the ultimate Architect has our blueprints.

God also uses the people around us to help rebuild us and teach us.  Nehemiah used all the Israelites in Jerusalem to rebuild the wall.  He put each person to work on their section of the wall.  And they rebuilt the entire wall in 52 days.  Nehemiah was given a task by God, he believed that God would make it happen and He did.  God rebuilt the wall.  And in doing so, He rebuilt the relationships of the people of Israel even though they had been scattered throughout the land for 70 years.  God not only rebuilt the wall, He rebuilt His family.

Some relationships are not rebuilt.  Some relationships are broken beyond repair.  But that’s not because God wanted it that way.  It’s because of sin and the bonehead decisions we make.  God didn’t want His children to be scattered and torn apart.  He wanted them together.  Relationships are not meant to be broken.  They are meant to be nurtured and built stronger.  Ephesians 2:22 says “And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”  God wants us to be in community with each other so we can be strong for Him.  So that we can stand together and be filled with His Spirit.  Together.

God is our builder.  He can rebuild us no matter how shattered we are or no matter how shattered our relationship seems.  If we are willing, God can rebuild us and our relationships.  There is no heart or wall too broken that God can’t rebuild.  My marriage was not rebuilt.  But I certainly have been.  The pieces of me that I thought were lost forever, God brought back together.  He rebuilt me.  And I hope I'm a better person than I was before.

If your heart is broken or if you feel like you’ve been torn into a million little pieces or if there is a relationship in your life that has been torn apart, don’t give up.  Hold on to the knowledge that God can rebuild everything and everyone.  If we are willing to let Him, there is nothing that He can’t rebuild.  Place your broken, shattered life in His capable hands and watch Him rebuild you into a mighty fortress (or a cute little duplex).  

Remember:  “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.  I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt.”  Jeremiah 31:3-4

Father, I thank You for the loving and powerful hands that knit us together.  I thank You for loving us so much that You have engraved our names on the palms of Your hands.  Thank You for knowing us so intimately that You even know the number of hairs on our head.  I ask, Father, that You would wrap Your strong, loving arms around those who are broken; around those whose lives and hearts seem shattered.  And that You will rebuild them.  And I ask, Father, that You would rebuild shattered relationships.  That you will gather those people together like you did with Jeremiah and You will rebuild their relationships to be strong, mighty fortresses for You.  I thank You in advance for what You will do in their lives.  Bring them back together, Father, as only You can.  We love You and we give all the glory to You.  Amen.  ~robin