WE ARE CHOSEN

So much floating around in my (Lindsey's) head lately. I have considered writing about walking through the fire knowing that God will be there, about perspective and taking action for those who are far less fortunate than we are, but I have realized that way too many of us are too focused on our brokenness to realize that these things are possible. We look at the great men and women of the bible and all we see is their greatness. The things they have accomplished for the Lord. We often remember the parting of the sea, defeating of Goliath, and the saving of an entire nation by just one young girl willing to speak to the king without being spoken to first. We, however, are quick to forget how Moses murdered a man, how he was a horrible public speaker, and how he begged God to pick someone else until God finally compromised and let Aaron be Moses' voice. We overlook David's lust and multiple concubines, his refusal to lead his men into war, his acts of adultery and murder that led him far from God's heart. We also forget that Ester was a no body, she was timid and fearful, but through her Uncle's guidance and the urging of God's voice, she was able to do what no one else could have done for her people.

I love, love, love the song We Are the Broken by Matthew West, lyrics are as follows:

Most my life I've been doing my best to
Try and hide anything less than perfect
I covered up all my scars
I gotta make them think I've got it together
Make believe nobody ever has to see
What I keep in the dark
Truth is, I was wrong
That's the part that you have wanted all along
We are, we are, we are the broken
But we are, we are, we are the chosen
So come on shine, shine, shine
Your beautiful light
Through the cracks inside our hearts tonight
‘Cause we are, we are, we are the broken
Coast is clear we got nothing to hide
All are welcome here
Step into the light
Where there's no more fear
Can you hear the freedom song our souls are singing
Come just as you are
Take those walls around you and tear ‘em all apart
We are the weak, the wrong, the too far gone
We are the outcasts, yeah, but today we belong
We are the lost, the found, the been knocked down
But we got back up and now we are the city on a hill
Is filled with stained glass hearts, but we come as we are
We come as we are
And we shine like stars, shine like stars
We come as we are and we shine like stars

We are broken, just as each of the Bible heroes we look to was broken, yet we have been chosen. I urge you to go Matthew West's Web page and read the story that inspired this song. While Rusty's story may be very different from mine or yours, his brokenness is the same. He has a past full of sin, a past that seemed insurmountable at times, one that may have caused him to think I cannot be used. Just like Rusty though, it is time for us to start living like the chosen children of God that we are. It is time for us to stand up and take action, and it is time for us to quit hiding behind the belief that we are too broken to be used. I love the verse that was quoted on the web page, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, " "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."

"We are the weak, the wrong, the too far gone. The outcasts, yeah, but today we belong. We are the lost, the found, the been knocked down, but we got back up and now we are the city on a hill."

We have been found, we have been chosen. Now its time we start living like that city on a hill, the salt of the earth. Its time we reach more of God's chosen with our stories of broken hearts and lives made new. It is time to get real and to quit hiding the less than perfect parts of our hearts as if God does not already see and know them. He wants them. He wants you, all of you. He wants to use you if only you will let him.

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