NOT BREAKING THE BRUISED REED.

"Some of us tend to do away with things that are slightly damaged.Instead of repairing them we say: " Well,I don't have time to fix it, I might as well throw it in the rubbish bin and buy a new one." Often we also treat people this way. We say: " Well he has a problem with drinking; well,she is quite depressed; well, they have mismanaged their business...we'd better not take the risk of getting involved with them." When we dismiss people out of hand because of their apparent woundedness, we stunt their lives by ignoring their gifts, which are often buried in their wounds.

We are all bruised reeds, whether our bruises are visible or not. The compassionate life is the life in which we believe that stength is hidden in weakness and that true community is a fellowship of the weak.

HENRI NOUWEN.

Most of my working life has been spent working with "bruised reeds". I worked with children who were mentally handicapped and then with children who were emotionally disturbed.I had a great love for the children I worked with.

Feeling God calling me to move into counselling as a career and being encouraged to do so by some freinds and my Pastor I went and did Post Graduate studies and chose to work with men who were drug and alcohol dependent and who had just been released from prison.Again I loved my work and I felt very strongly that if I did nothing else but treat these men with dignity and respect then I had done much.


My last position was working with people who struggled with the same sex attraction and who were trying to be surrendered followers of Jesus. This was a truly satisfyinng area of counselling.

As I look at my own areas of woundedness today , I ask you "What is yours?' Can you bring it to the Light and let Jesus help in the restoration of the wounded parts in your life?

The Bible tells us in Isaiah 42:3 and Matthew 12:20 that " a bruised reed He will not break." Take Him at His word and let Him bring healing.

THE UNQUENCHABLE WORSHIPPER.

" Enter, the unquenchable worshipper. This world is full of fragile loves - love that abandons, love that fades, love that is self seeking. But the unquenchable worshipper is different. From a heart so amazed by God and His wonders, burns a love that will not be extinguished. It survives any situation and lives through any circumstance. It will not allow itself to be quenched, for that would heap insult on the love it lives in response to.

These worshippers gather beneath the shadow of the cross, where an undying devotion took the Son of God to His death. Alive now in the power of His ressurection, they respond to such an out puoring with an unquenshable offering of their own."

MATT REDMAN.


I long to be an " unquenchable worshipper". A number of years ago while living in England for a spell, I had the opportunity to attend a five day conference. On one of the nights the speaker spoke from Isaiah 6 vs 1-8 and the talk was called "Do You Know the Holy One". That night changed my life. I caught a glimpse of the glory of God and was transfixed in "facedown " worship. Most people could not sit or stand but were on their knees or faces before our holy God.

Since then I have been through a long battle with ill health. What has kept me going is my relationship with Jesus. He has so captured my heart with His love for me that I cannot live without Him. My love for Him burns deeper as I am drawn closer to Him in worship. He has sustained me.

I have found over the years that as I worship Him, He draws me close. My relationship with Him grows deeper and I want to worship Him all the more. I want for the rest of my life to be an "unquenchable worshipper".

PRAISE YOU IN THE STORM.>

By Mark Hall and Bernie Herms.


I was sure by now, God You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

Chorus:
And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

Chorus

I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth



Jesus Calms the Storm. Luke 8:22.

One day Jesus said to his disciples "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided and all was calm.