June 13 Prayer

1 Peter 5:10

“And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.”

Beautiful Broken pieces
Recently we had a guest stay with us at the sea star, our retreat house in cambria.
She was in dire need of a respite from all that has been going on in the world and in her own life.
A place to pray, worship and lament with her guitar and just be still enough to hear the ocean and take in the beauty all around.
On a walk she found broken pieces of pottery upon the ground of which she collected and brought back.
After she checked out to go home she left behind a beautiful arrangement of these broken pieces on a white canvas for me to create a work of art.
As I graciously received this gift I saw within the beauty of just what it was. Broken pieces arranged in the shape of a heart .
The colors of azul, gold, rose and green of various shapes and sizes all speak of the amazing expanse and multifariousness of the human race.
God made us all in His vast image how should we then behold one another in this world?
Here’s a question for us today.
How is God trying to shape us through our brokenness into his heart ?
Take a moment and think of your own sharp edges, the places that need mending.
Can you offer these up to God now?

Pause in prayer .

“Lord , you are the master builder who creates within our hearts a place for you to dwell. We give to you the broken pieces of our lives for you to use and shape into your own heart.
Would you show us each how to live in the posture of surrender and trust ? Show us in the day to day instances how to respond in the moment with grace.
We allow your powerful holy spirit to restore and shape the broken pieces of our souls.
Make us an open space for your eternal glory to shine forth.”

Now sit with the image of the broken pottery pieces and offer them up as a gift to God for him to create a work of art .

“We give thanks to you, O God, that our redeemer lives and restores and makes all things new.
Give us eyes to see the beauty in who you are making us so we may see the beautiful art you are creating in others .
Let us, your church be a part of this creative work here on earth.
You make all things new
In this we have hope.”

Amen