In a broken world, things are broken.

People.

Are broken.

We ::

:: are broken.

Oh, but friends, we are forgiven!

We are called to this. To be the light scattered and true ::

:: amidst the breaking, the shattering,

the scattering of hearts::::

YOU.

(With HIM.)

HIM.

(with YOU.)

This charge we have: to GLORIFY our KING.

This gift we have:

to say HIS name to another in LOVE so they may know Him::

JOY!

Oh, friends, we know them:

We know us:

They lose strength when they think they have none,

They slip away quietly while they think no one is loving them,

They grip tightly only so long when they feel uncared for,

They get sick and deteriorate without support,

They let go when they feel weak,

They suffer without explanation when there is no understanding,

They become confused and muddled walking on wide roads with too many choices,

They wonder without direction outside of the truth,

They wander without guidance with nothing to lead,

They medicate the bruises with useless bandages,

They search in places incapable of helping,

They rebel in pain masked,

They spill over in excess,

They fill with things that don’t fill,

They breathe tiny breaths that don’t believe,

They miss the simplicity in favor of the too- complicated,

They portray the calm, but outside the volcano,

They yearn for something more and know not what it may be,

They sit:: slumped

just a little.

They walk:: bent

just a bit.

They speak:: joyless

just always.

They just::

Break.

Bit by bit.

In this broken, breaking world.

Heavy. With sin.

Laden. With burden.

Bound. With unforgiveness.

Kept. With hopelessness.

Praying, with you, my friends, that we shine among others with the hope that we have in Him.

Look well at my handpicked servant; I love him so much, take such delight in him. I’ve placed my Spirit on him; he’ll decree justice to the nations. But he won’t yell, won’t raise his voice; there’ll be no commotion in the streets. He won’t walk over anyone’s feelings, won’t push you into a corner. Before you know it, his justice will triumph; the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even among far-off unbelievers.
Matthew 12 MSG

Shine on.