Thought for the day - Sunday 2 August

Thought for the Day – Sunday 2^nd August

‘“I had become like a broken pot but you heard my pleas when I cried out for help. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and he saves those who are crushed in spirit. He mends the broken in spirit and tends their wounds.’ (Words from Psalm 31, Psalm 34 and Psalm 147)

Ask yourself this – what would you do if you smashed an ornament you truly treasured?

I suppose your answer would depend on the extent of the damage but if it is was such a treasured ornament I am sure you would try and pick up the broken pieces and then try and glue them all back together again.

Here’s another scenario – what if this time what you dropped and broke was a simple clay flowerpot, what would you do then?

Chances are you would probably just sweep up the pieces and throw them in the bin without giving it another thought!

It seems it is only when something means a lot to us that we even attempt to repair it.

Which brings us to these words for today from the Psalms.

Like David, the author of these words, we too at times can feel battered and broken, maybe even feel we are shattered beyond repair. At times like this we may think to ourselves can God possibly care enough about me to take time to rebuild my life, is it even possible for him to put all the pieces of my broken life back together?

Sometimes because of the way are feeling, we may think it is impossible, that there is no way God could ever put me back together again!

However, that is precisely what God does do!

However, long it may take, however painstaking the whole process of mending may be, God is always looking for ways to heal us, to renew us, to make us whole once more – and he has all the time in the world for us - because he loves us so much.

So, no matter how broken we may feel, no matter how many pieces we feel our shattered life to be in we can be assured that God will never discard us; we are never beyond God’s restoring touch; never beyond his desire for his children to be whole in body, mind and spirit – no matter how long a process that may be.

Prayer

Loving God,

You ache to heal the broken-hearted and to bind up the wounds of the lost, the rejected, the broken and shattered of this world. Such love leaves us speechless, but you gave it human form and shape in the person of Jesus who sought to bring healing and wholeness to all. Come Lord, into our lives and heal our broken hearts, bind our wounds, mend our shattered lives that we may be healthy and whole in body, mind and spirit.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Hymn

Why not sing at home Church Hymnary 259 ‘Beauty for brokenness’ – remember it begins like this:

Beauty for brokenness
Hope for despair
Lord, in the suffering
This is our prayer
Bread for the children
Justice, joy, peace
Sunrise to sunset
Your kingdom increase!

Wee Note:

Well, I am officially on holiday now so for the next few weeks Stewart McNeil, both our Session Clerk and one of our Worship Leaders at Holytown, is going to be offering you his ‘Thoughts For the Day’ – may his words bring a blessing each day to your lives.