Today I am brewing an interesting blend called Russian Caravan tea…welcome dear friend, how lovely to have you drop by…it is just about ready…come let us begin our time together…
I have some delicious gf Macadamia shortbread to accompany this tea blend. I was introduced to this tea many years ago…it isn’t readily available in our area, so it’s a lovely treat to have for our time together today…
As I sip the taste is smokey & ricey, very interesting & quite enjoyable, combined with the shortbread it really makes for a delightful treat!
I have been reflecting upon brokenness…
Have you ever suffered a broken heart? Or maybe a trauma so great that you felt completely shattered emotionally, mentally, spiritually or physically…I am sure all who visit here have experienced some type of brokenness in their lives…
But you know what…to truly understand brokenness we first need to go through the process of healing…& that dear friend…can be a painful, scary & anxiety inducing process…but ultimately very rewarding, restorative & transformative…to a healed wholeness for a greater purpose in our lives.
In my life I have experienced many such times of brokenness…A great deal of restoration has been done but there is yet more to accomplish…I have not done this work on my own though…I have had the great Restorer, God Himself & those whom He has sent along the various crossroads in my life to accompany me on this journey of healing transformation…
Recently…while I was walking along the beach & thinking about this, an image of what God’s healing & restoration process looks like came to mind…a vase was laying on the ground, where it had fallen, broken in pieces, some larger & others completely shattered…our brokenness can look similar….
Then God approaches us, as explained in Seasons & generations... & if we will allow Him…picks up each broken piece delicately & then examines each one carefully with us…as part of His healing work…
Restoring the larger pieces with the clear glue of His love. But some pieces are so shattered that instead of restoration He replaces those areas wholly with Himself….in a transformative way.
Then the transparency of His love allows His light to shine through those transformed areas! So, that through our mended brokenness others may see the light of His love & strength through us….beaming forth..as living beacons of hope…
Those who allow God to do His healing work in them will each have a unique pattern to His shining light. Though this does not mean that they are perfect, they are still being transformed in other areas of brokenness…but it does mean they are looking to Him for their lives….
While we are still reflecting together…shall we ask ourselves…What pieces of the broken vase are we still holding onto deep down…that we know only God can heal, restore & transform…with His love, strength, patience & kindness…so that we may uniquely shine His light in this darkened world…
Well our time has now come to its end, our tea & treats are finished, until next time dear friend…
Jennifer
© teawithjennifer.blog All rights reserved. Photo by Pexels.com
I like to think we are all broken in our own way. That is why we seek the comfort of friends, relatives, and lovers to fill in our broken pieces.
Have a good weekend. Enjoy your tea.
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Yes we are all definitely broken in our own ways…& while comfort from others is great…it is only momentary, it never quite sates the void the brokenness has left behind, so we then constantly seek a source of comfort to fill the brokenness. Unfortunately, comfort does not heal brokenness…it only puts a bandage to cover it.
Healing brings peace, serenity & rest from the constant seeking after things to fill the void of brokenness.
Thank you I had a lovely weekend & I always enjoy a good cuppa.
Jennifer
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I have a round magnet on my refrigerator with the statement “God will heal a broken heart if you give Him all the pieces.” It can be painful to pick up those sharp shards from the past, but He will be faithful to use them in our restoration. A pastor told me years ago that God doesn’t waste anything, including the wreckage of our past.
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I totally agree Elizabeth & I like your fridge magnet!
It is definitely worth giving Him every piece!
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Those broken pieces restored by our Great Creator and Restorer become something beautiful when we hand them over to Him. He never fails! Thanks for reminding me of his healing and restorative powers, Jennifer. ❤ xo
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Absolutely Bette, being able to be His shining beacon of hope & light in this world for others from our restored & transformed brokenness is beautiful isn’t it…♡
Jennifer
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Beautiful, indeed! ❤ xo
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I know for a fact God will heal our brokenness when we place it in His loving hands. The Psalmist says He keeps our tears in a bottle, that is how much He cares! Blessings, Jennifer❤️
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I remember that verse, it became very dear to me during my first marriage…
But He restored those sad pieces into usefulness for Him! Which is what its all about…Isn’t it…♡
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What a joy to be your neighbor at Crystal’s link up!
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Lovely to have you drop by Elizabeth!
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A broken and a contrite spirit He will not despise; we must come to Him for true healing. Thanks so much for this reminder, Jennifer. Blessings to you.
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You’re welcome, blessings to you too…
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Thanks, Jennifer!
Even though Scripture is clear on our brokenness, we need the reminder that we are all standing in that place of needing to be mended. It’s a blessing to know that God stands ready to do that every single day!
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Amen!
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The image of the candles is a perfect fit to match the words you’re speaking here. Nobody wants to be broken, but I’m grateful that we have a Healer who can use all of our pieces.
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No I agree, no one wants to be broken but it happens in this world to each of us…
Its the process of healing in Him that is the amazing time of transformation daily.
Glad you liked the lanterns!
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Jennifer–you are so gifted in gently leading us to consider a profound question. I’ve experienced much healing in my life, but I do think it’s good to revisit this question of if there are more pieces that have yet to be healed.
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Thank you Amy for your kind words!
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I’ve been broken and the work to put myself back together was not easy. Everyone has their own way of healing.
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Hi Wrae,
Lovely to have you drop by….I have found through personal experience that the hard work & journey of mending brokenness is so much lighter & easier when I have allowed God’s love to do the restoration & transformation with me.
And He does take a unique & individual approach with each person…
Jennifer
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I definitely agree with that. You’re welcome!
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I will go about my day being grateful for all the things that have caused a bit of brokenness here and there. Your post reminded me of how beautiful those cracks can be. Thank you! Let the light shine through!
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I am sure you are a beacon of light in your part of the world! Shine bright Christina!
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Jennifer, your description of how God heals brokenness is beautiful. God is tender in the healing process, isn’t He? THe picture of Him holding each piece of our broken selves in His hand, working with us and in us as He heals . . . I’m thankful that He is gentle with our pain. And when we hand over those broken pieces of our lives to Him, we can be assured He is trustworthy, safe, and tender in the healing.
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Yes, He is very tender with our brokenness & the perfect loving gentleman lover of our souls…
It was lovely having you drop by!
Blessings new friend.
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I have heard of this analogy and I sure do appreciate it. I feel broken a lot of days, and then try and let him fill me. Some days I “feel” like I am doing a good job of it and others not so much, then I remember his filling isn’t dependent on me for which I am thankful. Blessings to you!
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Amen!
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I love spending my tea time with you each week. You posts are such an inspiration to the #LMMLinkup community..
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Thank you Mary, it’s lovely to have you here each week & an absolute joy to be a part of the community.
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Hi Jennifer! Beautiful post! It is one of my features this week at #MomentsofHope! Thank you for joining me ♥
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What a humbling surprise & privilege Lori, thank you!
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Hello Jennifer!
Starting to go back and catch up a little with your posts. This one was a balm after a very wearying day. So on target and well said. Our brokenness does like His light shine through. It is indeed a process. Those who acknowledge it are stronger, I think, than those who pretend or try to hide their brokenness.
Enjoying these times with you!❤️
Pam
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Thank you Pam, yes I agree brokenness needs to be healed in truth & light through Him. ♥
Jennifer
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Good question, Jennifer–what pieces am I still holding onto deep down? It’s a question I’ve been grappling with a lot lately and I don’t always like what I find! However, like you’ve pointed out, once I turn them over to Jesus, He makes them into a beautiful mosaic that His light and healing can shine through! Lovely post, my friend!
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Yes, we just need to allow Him to do His work in us which can be the challenge for us 😉
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Excellent questions, Jennifer! Sometimes it takes awhile to realize that we’re clutching broken pieces in our hands and that their shape edges continue to hurt us.
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And cause us to bleed. Lovely having you drop by Anita.
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Beautiful post, Jennifer! It is amazing how God can heal and bring beauty from brokenness and how he can shine through those broken places and reveal himself to others through us!
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Absolutely Lesley! 😀
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Loved joining you at the table again. Brokenness isn’t something we enjoy thinking about, but it is a reality. Until we realized we have fractures, we cannot begin the mending process with God. thanks! Look forward to sitting with you again soon.
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Yes, I agree Karen its essential for our own spiritual health…Lovely having you drop by I look forward to your next visit 😀
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Beautiful post, Jennifer. I think that all of us who have lived a long time have suffered a broken heart at one time or another. We are broken and live in a broken world. Only God can make us whole.
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Thank you Laurie for your kind words! 😀
I totally agree, we do live in a broken world & only God can truly repair our brokenness…
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Hi Jennifer, This post was so good! Bringing with it so much encouragement. The Word pictures you painted were just beautiful!
I just finished a book by a fellow Christian blogger where she talks about sitting with God for an afternoon and asking Him to bring to your mind your broken places and then journaling through and allowing the Lord to bring healing to those areas. As I go through that exercise, I will think back to this post. I loved how you called Him the Great Restorer and indeed He is!
Thanks so much for sharing.
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You’re most welcome Karen, He is our Great Restorer & that sounds like a great exercise! 😀
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