This morning the pastor at our church preached a very good sermon on how what we allow to flow into our lives directly impacts what flows out of our lives. He referred to several Scripture verses including John 7:38 where Jesus states: “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” I think that is such a stunning visual image of a life in Christ. Streams of living water flowing from within! The pastor contrasted this image with another verse, this one from Jeremiah 2:13:
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
That is a very different image, isn’t it? Living, flowing water versus broken, leaky cisterns. As a congregation we were challenged to consider why we would choose to dig our own cisterns? The answer is because of sin, because of Satan, the father of lies and enemy of our soul. He has been deceiving humankind from the very beginning. He has been whispering false promises and half truths, trying to get us to give up our true inheritence as adopted sons and daughters of the one true King. The pastor this morning referred to this as “identity theft” and I thought that was a pretty fitting description. The Deceiver knows he has lost the ultimate battle between good and evil; that was made very clear to him on the day Jesus Christ walked out of the grave in victory and triumph! This, however, does not stop him from waging war against us. His only hope is to blind God’s children from the truth, in order to keep us from fully accepting and living into our true identity in Jesus Christ!
Satan does this in many horrendous and hurtful ways. I have seen this in my own life. He has tried his best to rob me of my birthright as God’s chosen daughter over the years. Abandonment by my birth father left me believing for years that I was not worthy of a father’s love and affection. This lie started as a small pebble in my heart which, over time, chafed and rubbed itself into a raw wound. It left me vulnerable to many other areas of pain in my life. I accepted cheap substitutes in the form of shallow relationships. I was plagued for years by anxiety and depression, so dark and deep at times I actually considered taking my own life. The turmoil these feelings created within me led into addictive behaviors, often turning to alcohol to numb the seemingly endless amount of pain and suffering I was experiencing. Satan’s lies were beginning to take root in my heart and in my soul. I was living within a prison of my own making, held bondage to his torment and lies.
It was during some of these darkest, most shameful moments in my life, where God was relentless in getting to me. Times that I would much rather block out of my memory forever, other than for the simple truth that it was during those times my Heavenly Father whispered to me: ‘You are my masterpiece, I have never left you and will never forsake you, I created you and I know you, I bought you with a price, I have not given up on you, you are my precious daughter and I love you with an endless love, You are my masterpiece…’
This morning, in church, floods of memories washed over me. Many of these memories were extremely difficult. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by them, however, I felt strengthened and empowered! You see, I realize that the Lord allowed me to experience those hardships and struggles in order to display His power and His mercy and His consuming love! Furthermore, He is redeeming all of it for His glory in the purpose and vision He has given me and my family for serving orphans in Swaziland. The ‘orphan spirit’ in Swaziland is heavy. It is palpable and oppressive. There are literal orphans, who have no earthly parents, and are left vulnerable to the dangers and difficulties of day to day life. There are also many more children and adults who are spiritual, emotional orphans. Their hearts are blocked off from the love of their Heavenly Father. Their souls are not receiving the living streams of healing grace that flow from a relationship with Jesus Christ. They are going through life trying to dig their own cisterns. Cracked. Flawed. Broken.
Mother Teresa put it so poignantly when she said the following: ” At the end of life we are going to be judged on the basis of our love for one another, on what we have been to the hungry, to the naked, to the homeless. What is this hunger? Is it the hunger of Africa and India, of all the people hungry for a piece of bread, for a plate of rice? It’s also the hunger for love. Hunger to be loved by somebody. To be somebody to somebody. The terrible thing is to be unwanted.”
When we were in Swaziland for three months, we felt a burden to make sure the people we ministered to understood that they were created and formed by a God who knows them by name and is crazy about them! That not only did He create them, but He created them in His own image which means they are someone special, something extraordinary…a masterpiece! This simple truth, ‘I AM GOD’S MASTERPIECE!!’, once it gets down deep into the fiber of your being, can change your life! It can change the world! My most favorite moments in Swaziland were when I could bear witness as someone heard this…really heard this message for the first time! When the weight of these words, ‘I AM GOD’S MASTERPIECE!!’, found its way deep down into the darkest corners of their heart. When their eyes lit up and their mouth turned into a smile and they realized how much they matter to God! When they took back what Satan had stolen from them and re-claimed their identity! When the shattered pieces of their broken cisterns could be heard falling down all the way into the pits of hell where they belong!
Broken shards replaced by rippling streams of living water…a beautiful sound.
Here is a short clip taken at one of the care points in Nsoko. A moment of victory for the Kingdom of heaven. Another child of the King reclaiming His rightful place in the family of God!
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!…” 1 John 3:1a
Loved your video and your honesty in how God reaches us through our terrible struggles, emerging into strength and light and love. It was great to see you at church today and to realize how much the sermon meant to both of us!
I love hearing how one sermon can effect everyone so differently. That is GOD speaking to each of us in the way we need to hear it…that is so COOL!
Thank you for sharing, Jen!
I look forward to seeing you Wednesday!!!
Karla
You are God’s masterpeace!! We are blessed to have you in our family! Praying for you all as you make planns for going back to Swaziland
Jen,
I read this yesterday and chose to wait some time to comment. Your vulnerability and reliance on God is an amazing example to all that have suffered in any way. I am continually inspired by the lives of you family and our friendship has definitely made our family stronger.
In Christ,
Alexander
Jen, once again your honesty and humility are inspiring to read. What a reminder of God’s redeeming love, as we see all that your family is doing now for the least of these. I loved the video at the end- just made me smile! Thanks.
God truly has, and is!, redeeming what Satan was stealing from you, Jen! A beautiful reminder to me, as well, of how good He is and what good plans He has for us, His children! We are praying for this preparation time for all of you! And we love you!