Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Broken and Poured Out

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. Philippians 2:17

I know I am taking this verse slightly out of context but it is what God is teaching me today. Am I willing to be broken and poured out like a drink offering for someone else's faith. Will I allow God to use my life to bring someone to Himself? For me to pour out what is within me I have to be broken. That is how it pours out. I am not one who willingly will say "oh, let me pour out of myself as a sacrifice for YOUR faith". No, God needs to break me and then it pours out.

Well, Lord, I am willing. Willing to be broken. Willing to poured out. Others may come to faith and in that I will rejoice. Can't believe you want to use me, that still amazes me. But there again, is the story of your great love and mercy. And who am I to say that I won't go through the breaking process. After all You sacrificed for me, I cannot say no.

It's easier to not feel the pain. Easier to just be at peace with my circumstances. But for some reason you don't want me to stay there. Don't get complacent. Keep learning, Sheryl. I can hear you cheering me on , Lord. But it's hard. Use my pain to reach others, let's not let it be wasted. Use my pain to take me to a place where I can feel the pain of others. Where I can learn to see them as You see them, to love them as You do and to be willing to be poured out for their faith.

Once the pieces of this broken pot are all put back together, I know it won't look beatiful on the outside. But that is not what you're concerned with. It's what is on the inside. Your beauty will shine through all those cracks. It is really you who will reach those around me, not me. But I am willing now to be that vessel.

I am breaking, Lord. Pour me out as a sacrifice. May others come to know you through my brokenness. Right now I can think of no greater joy.

Broken and poured out. Are you broken today? Have you stopped to think that God is breaking you so that you can be poured out in order to bless others. Breaking is painful but the process is so worth the end result of looking more like HIM.


23 comments:

Kim in NC said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Paula V said...

That's deep, my friend. It's food on which to chew for sure. You and I share similar pains and I can reflect on my circumstances in a new way. Looking at my trial through the eyes of the Lord to see His purpose is what keeps me going. I would hope that other's have seen Jesus in me through this and that my life would testify to His strength and my faith in Him.

Lord, I join Sheryl, and I say continue to break me and pour out from me that which can glorify You and aid others in their time of pain. Thank You, Jesus, for what you are and will do in us, Your daughters.

You are precious, Sheryl.
Luv2u,
Paula

Jenn @ Casa de Castro said...

My dad, a very wise man, has always said, "to get something you never had, you have to do something you have never done." That generally means sacrifice. But thankfully, Dad also taught me that God doesn't take something from me (or you) as punishment, but perhaps to be able to replace it something better that I probably would never embrace because I'd be so tightly hanging on to what I already had.

There's a cross stitch in my kitchen given to me by my dearest friend that says, "The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you." That includes the Refiner's fire, the place where He takes our sacrifice and purifies it so that it can be most useful to Him and to others.

Seeing the spiritual journey you are on is a blessing to me, even though I know it means you are walking in a sacrificial and thus painful manner. Keep allowing His grace to take you where He leads. I'm praying!

Love you!

Myriam said...

Sheryl-

Such an important topic and I will be the first to admit I do not like the process but as you rightly said the end result is looking like Him where He can see Himself in us.

I join forces with you in asking the Lord to pour me out as well as a sacrifice for others to behold the wonders of the Creator.

Thank you for the encouragement and the reminder of the real purpose of being broken.

Still praying for the family.

Mindy said...

Beautiful, uplifting, and inspiring words. The Lord shines through you already, my friend. I feel blessed to have "met" you!

Joyfulsister said...

Hi Sheryl,

Beautiful My sister!!!
When I think of my brokenness and believe me when I tell there have been many, I know that I will never be the same no matter how much I try to put the pieces back, when the Lord transforms you from your brokenness you become just as he planned a vessel for his glory cracks and all.

Hugz Lorie

Gone said...

Good Morning Sheryl...

Today...you are included in my post of COME TO JESUS on our blog. It's a special day of PRAYER! So, there will be alot of people praying for you here.

If you have time, please come visit us.

~Blessings,
Jan & Tom

Sarah Taylor said...

You are a talented writer, your words are beautiful and leave me with much to think about.

I found your perch through JAn and Tom's Place and intend to visit again! We'll be praying for you as He continues to reveal His design for you.

Have a wonderful day!
Sarah

Anonymous said...

Sheryl,

Thanks for posting from the heart. Often I've wished there was another way to be poured out - like a spout - instead of the need to be broken! You continue to be in my prayers. God is shining through you in so many ways. Glad I've gotten to be be your friend.

Love,
Hulie

~Amy~ said...

WOW that was from your heart and I thank you for sharing it. The Lord is using you right now

nancygrayce said...

Reading your last two posts, I would say, God is creating you a beautiful and honorable vessel! Your strength under fire amazes me and gives me hope! We must never, even when so down, forget that our God can heal, can make better, can bring us out of ANY situation! My prayers are with you and your husband and children.

Elizabethd said...

I read this with tears in my eyes. I was once where you are now, and it was only my Saviour who got me through.
Brokenness, yes, but we can be mended, through His almighty goodness.

Technonana said...

Like the 'cracked'pot the woman drew water from the well with, and as she returned she watered the ground... broken and spilled out!!!
God uses us even when we are 'cracked'.
Love you!!

Eve said...

I read your very first post and I felt like I had written it. I have had meniere's syndrome since 1980. It kept me at home a lot in the beginning but it got somewhat better. I was just too dizzy to go out. Then I got PRP...I was home-bound for nearly 5 years. Just the year I am able to get back into somewhat of a normal life, so I can identify with your problems. Each day, this disorder that has no cure, is being healed.

I believe it happened because I started praying for others on a prayer chain. When I quit worrying about myself and just accepted my circumstances, my circumstances changed. The more I prayed for others or the more I cared for others, the faster I was being healed.

Maybe God was trying to take away my selfish nature and teach me to care more for others. I don't know but I sit here tonight almost totally healed.

So don't give up hope. God likes to work when nothing else will.

Michelle said...

Hi Sheryl ~ What a well-written, heartfelt post. You'll be in my prayers. Thanks for visiting my blog and for your positive, uplifting comments - most especially your prayers. The last few days have been good ones. I've been keeping busy and not sitting around dwelling on all of it and just keeping an attitude of prayer.

Have a lovely evening!

Blessings :)
Michelle

Addicted to Beadz said...

Sheryl,

Yes, it is much easier to not deal with pain, but to use your circumstance to help others, that is awesome.

Have a great weekend!
Cheryl

Fran said...

So beautiful Sheryl. So true and so beautiful. We know it stinks, but its part of the refining process and thats a good thing!

Hope you have a glorious weekend.
Hugs and blessings~
Fran

His Girl said...

big giant hug! fabulous post!

Unknown said...

Sheryl, thank you so much for sharing. I was wondering as I read your post if you were typing through some tears...I am thinking now of the woman with a sinful past who anointed the feet of Jesus with her tears as she broke the jar of oil to give to Jesus. I remember that he said the most beautiful words over her to those who thought she was marred. "She has done a beautiful thing..." Mark 14:6.

Now, I am in no way suggesting you are a "sinful woman" as is suggested in this scripture. What I am suggesting is that you are worshiping the Master from your place of pain and it is a beautiful and fragrant offering.

Your blog is a blessing to me and I thank you for sharing your joys and your not so joyful times with all of us in blog land. Thank you for being real...

Psalm 45:11

Susan said...

Hey Sheryl,

Thanks my precious friend for being that drink offering for so many, including me.

I've gleaned so much from the very first time I dropped by.

Praying for you, and always thinking of you.

Hey, come on by and check out this new book I'm talking about.

It's just incredible.

Have a blessed day my friend.

"O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. " (Ps. 119:97)

Anonymous said...

Sheryl

I just love reading your posts because they help me to examine my own life in a new way.

Yes, I have also had times when I felt broken and then put back together. I thank the Lord for allowing me to benefit from the words that pour out of you.

Love
Denise in Texas

Angela Baylis said...

I just heard Beth Moore mention this verse this morning. He wants us to sow the seed and water it with every tear! You will help so many as you offer your testimony to others! God LOVES you so much, sister! You are one special lady!
Love,
Angie xoxo

Yolanda said...

This is EXACTLY the words the Holy Spirit put on my heart and spoke out of my lips during the break from the Simulcast of Beth Moore's on Saturday to a wonderful young woman that God has placed in my life. We came in from the break and Beth asks us to turn to Philippians 2:17; a scripture that I had no idea was going to speak. I read it, gasped and THANKED THE LORD FOR LOVING ME SO, WOO'ING ME SO, AWEING ME!

This is my word, that is NOT up for grabs. He BIRTHS my passion from my pain!!!

Lovingly,
Yolanda