BROKEN CRAYONS STILL COLOUR

I recently ministered at a conference 'Broken Crayons Still Colour.' This God inspired theme changed and touched many lives. Since we are all broken in one form or another and only held together by HIM, I'd like to share the word Father gave me for this time with ALL, because God always has ALL in mind.

Being able to see how HE weaves the tapestry of our every day lives together is only a glimpse of HIS incomprehensible and endless love for us. None of us would be able to see and understand if it were not for HIM empowering us.

It is important to understand that we are still valuable and precious in HIS sight, even when we are broken. 

GOD USES BROKEN THINGS!

God directed me to LUKE 15:11-31 This is the story of the Lost Son, to some it is the Prodigal Son.

The PRODIGAL SON or lost brother appears to me as a picture of those who are lost, runaways, unsaved, rejected etc.

It is amazing how low we can sink when we are not connected to God. How we degenerate and descend into darkness. This leaves us empty and broken. If we are saved and we sin, we are still IN CHRIST, not over in the corner sinning. So we remain united with HIM even when we stink in the pigsty! This makes our action a thousand times worse and a million times better, because we REMAIN in HIS embrace even when we stink. He does not let go. WE BRING HIM INTO OUR SIN.

When we eventually come to our senses we see that it is the kindness of the Father that brings us to repentance. So it is HE that initiates repentance in us because we REMEMBER how he treats even the lowest of HIS servants. There is always an opportunity to fix things. Over and over and over again. The Father never gives up on us. It is us who let go of HIM.

OTHER BROTHER

Important to note that in verse 1 this chapter, Jesus was speaking to the Tax Collectors and sinners who had gathered to hear HIM. In verse 2 Jesus was speaking to Pharisees, Scribes, Teachers of the Law. These were the teachers of the word of that time (Torah/bible/old testament). In other words known Religious Leaders of that time.

The other brother appears to me as a picture of us Christians and ministers of the gospel who lived in the Father's House but never really knew HIM.

The older son was angry because he had always done the right thing. He felt that he was more entitled than the younger and that it was unfair for the father to lavish gifts on the younger after what he had done. JEALOUSY makes us feel undervalued. Our self-esteem takes a dive. We need to understand that when others are restored or blessed in any way, though it may seem more than what we have received, it does not make us less valuable. Our value is never diminished by what God is doing in another's life.

Hardness of Heart will keep us from entering into all the Father has for us. Self Righteousness will blind us to what is available for us.

Whatever we are gifted in, whatever we bring to the table, whether the portion is small or large, our gift is just as important as any other. It can be compared to the links of a chain. In order for the chain to fit exactly right, one more link must be added. However, if the link is the same size, the chain will be too big and loose. If the link is smaller, the chain will fit exactly right. Our individuality is incredibly important and we need to understand this.

It is clear that we are all important and have a part to play. Some may still be unaware that God has a plan for our life and that He predestined us. For those who don't know that God had a plan for you before HE allowed you to be birthed into the earth, let me share these scriptures.

Jeremiah 29:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 1:5

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING AND LET HIS LOVE WASH OVER YOU

Psalm 139: 13-16

PURSUIT OF US

The Father pursuing both sons in this story is what really stands out to me.

The Father was waiting and looking for the his lost son and when he saw him from a distance, he ran to meet him. When the other brother went off sulking and refused to join the party, the Father pursued him in an attempt to persuade him. This is an amazing picture of how our Father in Heaven pursues us.

He is our Father and we are the Sons of God, no gender involved because this is a position we fill.

Jesus is a beautiful picture of how much the Father loves us. He came from heaven, suffered and gave his life for us so that we could be reconciled to our Father. The brokenness of Jesus became the most powerful gift to us because HE paid for all our sin and enabled us to come back into relationship with our Father. His Brokenness will remain forever the most powerful weapon ever used against the forces of darkness.

John 15:13 New International Version (NIV)

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

We can find our Father in our every day life, speaking to us. Expecting God to speak audibly is incorrect since HE hardly ever does this. Recognizing the way in which HE speaks to us is so important. God is Spirit and so are you. You came from HIM and belong to HIM, you just don't remember! You can recognize HIM by watching how HE moves in your surroundings. HE will use everything around you to talk, lead and guide you.

PRAYING MANTIS

I like to use the example of a praying mantis because of its special significance for me. Our Father once used this creature to show me there was an opportunity coming my way. The praying mantis sits and prays until his prey is within reach, then he will quickly grab it and devour it. This is how I knew that I should grab the opportunity when it appeared.

God does not have a communication problem. Since God understands us very well, HE speaks to each one of us in a way we can understand. He can and HE will use anything. There is even an instance in the bible where HE used a donkey to talk.

HE wants you to know that you are not out there all alone. If you watch for HIM, you will see HIS hand in your life. HE will use people, pictures, words, events and even animals to get a message to you. The best place to find HIM is in the WORD where HE waits for you. God is not difficult to understand. If you call HIM, He will answer.

Jeremiah 33:3 New International Version (NIV)

3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

Take your bible and read it out loud, especially those scriptures that mean something to you. Personalise them. Put your name in there. Because the WORD is alive and active, some will jump out to you. Speak them out over yourself. The WORD will interact with you when you connect and engage. Create and colour your world. If you persevere you will see your world become exactly what you speak and believe. You have to expect.

BATIK

Batik is a process which used melted coloured wax on cloth to create beautiful patterns. If you take a crayon colour picture and place it face down on material, then apply heat using an electric iron, the crayon will melt and IMPRINT into the fabric. The end result will be quite an amazing permanent crayon picture that cannot be washed out.

So, if we are likened to Broken Crayon's that still have colour and in the same way a crayon picture can be IMPRINTED when it comes in contact with heat, our Father wants to IMPRINT of HIMself on us. As we look for HIM we will encounter POWER. The Holy Spirit who is the POWER of God wants to IMPRINT on our minds today so that we will never be the same again.

No man can change or fix your brokenness but we are empowered to point you in the right direction, your true identity, and the Father's Great Love For you. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. HE is the only one who can fill up your brokenness. HE will IMPRINT on you a new awareness and consciousness of HIS presence in your everyday life. HE will not allow you to forget that HE knows you have come looking for HIM.

Because the Father and HE is your Father, loves you so much, HE wants to imprint in your mind today. HE wants to make sure you do not leave with nothing. He will lay a new foundation that you can build on today. A NEW AWARENESS AND CONSCIOUSNESS of HIM and that HE is PURSUING after you.

This will be a deeper level for those who know HIM. HE wants to imprint of HIS person on your life, then you will see who HE is in greater measure and testify of HIM! In the workplace, home, bar, in the street, in your dreams, HE WILL PURSUE YOU.

As you receive a new encounter with the POWER of God, your life is going to begin taking on a new form and become a beautiful picture in the same way the melted crayon wax does when imprinted. Restoration. HE does not care where you come from or what you have done, the bottom line is this:

YOU ARE HIS AND HE WANTS YOU! HE is coming after you. Regardless of the state you are in, because of HIS great LOVE for you HE will continue to pursue you! He will make a way for you. Expect HIM to ! Watch for HIM.

“You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19).

Every hour God looks after you 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Every minute God cares for you 1 Peter 5:7

Because every second He loves you Jeremiah 31:3