Ladies, Ladies…All the Ladies!!

“O Lord, open my lips that my mouth may declare You praise.  For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”  Psalm 51:15-17

So often I feel as though I have to be perfect before the Lord.  I can’t approach him until I have everything together… I have all the sin removed.  But, we’ll NEVER be perfect… He doesn’t desire perfection… He wants our hearts… whether they are joyful at the time or broken… He just wants us to come and bring what we have to him.  I was reflecting on this one afternoon while taking a long drive…..I felt so ugly and nasty… the person I was at that particular moment..I had yelled at my kids and husband…and ironically I was leaving to go lead praise and worship music on a retreat. I felt completely defeated and the wrong choice for this leadership role.  Wow.  Some good I would do.  But one of my dearest friends said to me, “You are exactly where He wants you… you’re humbled, you are broken, and you’ve seen your sin…now any good that comes out of this weekend you know will only testify to the Lord.”  And at that moment I felt like the Lord looked down and said to me, “Alas, Behold my beautiful broken daughter……I don’t want you any other way….” (And yes, the songwriter in me can’t seem to let a piece of poetry sit for long without setting it to music… so yes, there is a song from this… hoping I can get a little recording of it and place it on my blog….)

Behold my beautiful broken daughter

crying to her Father,

her heart upon the floor.

Gather up your pieces scattered

Bring them to the one who matters

Lay them at the feet of your Lord.

Oh precious little girl of mine,

you think you’ve finally failed me this time;

Only a disappointment will I find.

But it’s in brokenness that I make you whole

In the emptiness, I restore your soul

Only in your greatest need, may I come and complete

You’re poured out, you’ve been drained

now only I am left, and when I remain

nothing you do can be in vain!

So be bold my beautiful broken daughter

and cry out loud to your Father

Lift up you head, my child, your debt is paid!!

Come my love and claim your prize

come my love, in grace abide

come, I don’t want you any other way.