Broken Crayons Still Color

I heard this phrase years ago and wrote a poem based on it.  Today, I came across the devotional, perhaps from where the phrase originated.  I love it, it’s still relevant, and therefore I thought I’d share it.

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“Recently, when visiting my nieces in Florida, I got down on the floor to color with them. They love the Disney princesses, and so we were coloring a picture of Cinderella. When we opened their container of crayons, a burst of colors greeted us. These were well-worn crayons that had been used to color dozens of pictures. I chose a broken and worn-out green crayon.

In our throwaway society, it would be easy to think that the work of this crayon was done. That it needed to be replaced with a brand-new crayon instead. However, as I began to color with this broken worn-out crayon, my nieces looked at me and told me my coloring page was beautiful.

Because, you see, broken crayons still color.

Just like that broken worn-out crayon, we can also feel useless to God because of the mistakes we have made or the things that have been done to us. We feel broken and ugly and useless. We think God would rather have someone else do His work. Someone with less brokenness and baggage. Someone who has it all together.

The truth is, we all have brokenness in our lives. Many times we compare our blooper reel to someone else’s highlight reel. The truth is no one has a perfect life. And just like that broken crayon, God is always able to use our brokenness to create something beautiful.

A masterpiece.

Many times what we see as our biggest mistakes and failures can become what God uses the most. However, the enemy in our minds often tells us we are worthless and no longer useful for God’s kingdom. Little do we know that God is using our brokenness to create something more beautiful than we could ever imagine.

Prayer: 

Lord, thank you that you never waste anything that has happened in our lives. I thank you that you can turn my brokenness into something beautiful even when I cannot see it. Help me to open my heart to you and allow you to bring healing and freedom. I love you. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”  From Body and Soul Publishing LLC.

#emotions  #pain  #healing  #prayer  #inspiration

“Helping Others” Prayer

Below is a prayer regarding the concept of helping others.  Kudos to the author of this prayer at Koinonia Christian Center in Greenville, NC! – http://www.kccfamily.com

“Father, in the name of Jesus, I will do unto others as I would have them do unto me.  I eagerly pursue and seek to help and serve others.  I am intentional in my desire to express Your nature.  I will esteem and look upon and be concerned for not just my own interests, but also for the interests of others.  I want to be a part of my church’s effort to offer life changing ministry to everyone.  I will, on purpose, make it a practice to help my neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify, strengthen, and build him up spiritually, socially, and materially.  I will love my enemies.  I will be kind and do good knowing that You fight my battles.  I am merciful, sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate, even as my Father is, for I am an imitator of Christ.  Therefore, I walk in real love and service towards my fellow man.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!  (Luke 6:27 & 31; Philippians 2:4; Romans 15:2)”

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Also, my church is hosting a prayer campaign during October 2016.  Via a conference call, we meet every morning at 6:33 a.m. for prayer led by one person.  It lasts approximately 15-20 minutes and is a brief lesson or what I like to call “wisdom tips” for followers of Christ, a note of encouragement, and prayer.  We also have prayers for the month; the above is one of them.  Join us on the call.  Tootles!

Phone no. for live call:  1.712.775.7031 // Meeting ID:  435-786-492

Phone no. for recording of live call:  1.712.775.7029 // Meeting ID:  435-786-492

http://www.kccfamily.com

#serving #prayer

Friendship Prayer

Below is a prayer regarding friendship, of which I have fallen in love!  Kudos to the author of this prayer!

“Father, I thank You for the gift of friendship.  Holy Spirit, show me how to embrace my friends in love and build them up with encouraging words.  As they go about their day, please bless them, Lord, protect them, and remind them that they are not alone in this world.  Help me to faithfully promote them and not be envious, but to rejoice in their triumphs and endure side-by-side during the seasons of life.  Help me to always be genuine and speak well of them when given the opportunity.  When they hurt, so knit our hearts that I feel it as well and offer good counsel.  Teach me always to be a stepping stone that leads them to You and never a stumbling block.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!  (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; John 15:12-13; 1 Samuel 18:1)”

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Also, my church is hosting a prayer campaign during October 2016.  Via a conference call, we meet every morning at 6:33 a.m. for prayer led by one person.  It lasts approximately 15-20 minutes and is a brief lesson or what I like to call “wisdom tips” for followers of Christ, a note of encouragement, and prayer.  We also have prayers for the month; the above is one of them.  Join us on the call.  Tootles!

Phone no. for live call:  1.712.775.7031 // Meeting ID:  435-786-492

Phone no. for recording of live call:  1.712.775.7029 // Meeting ID:  435-786-492