drastic measures: a call to beautiful brokenness.

so i've started three blogs over the last 2-3 weeks, but haven't actually finished or posted any of them. they've all been on my mind, but this one i really want to put out there. a dear friend shared a song with me recently that has quickly become one of my favorites. we had a conversation about how some people hear this song and just don't get it. ever since then i've thought about it - really listened to the words, taken them in, and chewed hard on them. to me, it speaks volumes! in its words is such a raw, powerful message. i heard someone recently say that isaiah, in the presence of the Lord, was completely ruined. someone else said that every believer needs to be broken...utterly and completely broken at some point in their life. i couldn't agree more with both. the Lord definitely had to bring me to a breaking point in order for me to genuinely come to know Him. sometimes He has to take drastic measures. & that's what this song speaks to...so here are the lyrics in grey & how the Lord has spoken to my heart about them in blue.

"rend" - jimmy needham

You’ve been tarnished
And you’ve been stained
And all the varnish you’ve used to cover up with is peeling away

My child,
so you messed up. you messed up royally. you turned your back on Me. you allowed things into your life that you never thought you would. you allowed satan to overcome and overwhelm...for a time. those things will always be a part of your life - your history. you hide them. you try and cover them...but you need to let go. you need to let me rip away the things in your life that are keeping you separated from the Love i want to lavish upon you. you cannot hide any longer. stop hiding. stop running.

Yet even now,
return to me
with nothing less Than your wounded, broken heart

i do not care what you have done - where you have allowed yourself to go. return to me. all you need to do is return. i didn't leave your side - you left Mine. seeing your broken heart breaks Mine. so come back to me. bring all the broken pieces back and i will put them back together. i'm the only One who can put them back together. lift them up to Me, My child.

and cling to Me, your gracious King
Be shattered glass of empty jars
and rend Rend, rend, rend

let go of everything and everyone that's not Me that's holding you back from My Love, My grace, My forgiveness. run to Me. cling to Me. i will hold you. My arms are outstretched - you just have to grab hold of them. come back to Me, my child. come back. i've broken and emptied you out...i need you to return to me with nothing. rend your heart, Child. drastic times call for drastic measures. you have strayed so far away...run back, Child. run back. i'll meet you halfway. and when we meet, rend to me everything. rend to me your heart. if you can't bring yourself to do it, just allow Me to do it for you. but you have to let Me.

[rend: –verb
1. to separate into parts with force or violence
2.to tear apart, split, or divide
3. to pull or tear violently
4. to tear (one's garments or hair) in grief, rage, etc.
5. to disturb (the air) sharply with loud noise.
6. to harrow or distress (the heart) with painful feelings
7. to become torn or split]

DESTROY those things that are not of Me, from Me, for Me. it will hurt, it will be painful...but i love you and i need you to trust that i know best. let me ruin you for My glory. do not be afraid to tell Me how you feel. if it angers you, tell me. if it saddens you, cry out to Me. i can take it. i want to take it...away. just do not turn your back on Me again, My child. i need you broken and emptied of EVERYTHING so that i can fill you with Me again - only Me. i am a jealous God who loves you more than you can ever imagine. i just want to be your Everything. just let Me. let me break you in order than everything else can be poured out and i can enter the places in Your life you have pushed me out of.

Rend your hearts

I don’t need a grand display
Show me that your heart has changed
I don’t need a show
Only just to know
your own heart breaks

rend

My only desire is that you return. i have no expectations. just return with a broken & changed heart. allow Me to see your brokeness. you are never more beautiful than when you allow Me to see your brokeness. allow Me to fix it. i can...and i will. i love you. more than you know. more than you can comprehend. let Me put it all back together. i sing these words over you. i've sung them every minute of everyday since you turned your back...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWqDpiWgQkk

just lift the broken pieces of your life up to Me, Child. lift up your beautiful brokeness to Me...i will put them back together.

i love you,

Dad