This past winter after leaving Mexico, having our world as we knew it broken apart in stress, relational issues and just reeling from being and feeling like a failure I read Rebuilding Your Broken World by Gordon MacDonald. This book was recommended to me by my counselor Michael Cusick and I'm so thankful. Gordon MacDonald has been a Christian leader, pastor, writer and speaker for many years and his simple, humble, broken and insightful thoughts pierce the heart and mind just where it is needed. He currently is editor at large for Leadership Journal and about 20 years ago imploded as a Christian leader. Therefore his wisdom isn't coming from some ivory tower where theory and flame covered arrows of untested principles are launched at Christians. He speaks from personal failure, humility, an attitude of experiencing God's love and forgiveness.
Not only was this book a good read for me as well as Christine but I recommend it to anyone pre, current or post failures. It will remind you to rest in the presence of God's mercy, grace, truth and love. He will give you simple yet profound ideas on how to rest and restore your heart.
Here is a quote from the book as he quotes O. Chambers. "At times God puts us through the
discipline of darkness to teach us to heed him. Songbirds are taught to sing in the dark, and we are put in the shadow of God's hand until we learn to hear him. "What I tell you in the darkness,"-watch where God puts you into darkness, and when you are there keep your mouth shut. Are you in the dark just now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? Then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will talk in the wrong mood; darkness is the time to listen. Don't talk to other people about it; don't read books to find out the reason of the darkness, but listen and heed. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else when you get into the light." p. 173
There are a few authors and leaders out there that I'm really, really drawn to. MacDonald is one of them because he isn't perfect, failed, experienced dark and hard times and in the midst of that he experienced God's great unwavering love and mercy. His other books are on my 'to read' list in the near future.
MacDonald gives a simple process on how to rebuild.
1. Be silent: withdrawal
2. Don't defend yourself
3. Enjoy the amusement of God's messengers
4. Assume the ministry of the interior
5. Listen to the deep things
6. Receive the mercy; live like a forgiven person
7. Don't dodge the pain; walk right through it
8. Look for those who need grace and aren't getting it
9. Join with those who know how to praise God
10. Look for new themes
He also gives a list of how to make a Personal Defense Initiative so you won't fall back into failure, if that is even possible in my life.
1. Adopt a repentant lifestyle
2. Pay the price of regular spiritual discipline
3. Cultivate key relationships
4. Resist the 'applause' that belongs to Christ
5. Take time to have fun
6. Hold things loosely
7. Be filled with the Spirit of God
Many have asked what in the world are Christine and I doing since moving back from Mexico and moving to Greeley, CO. A good summary would be that we have been following those things with a good group of loving, gospel centered friends in our neighborhood. Gordon and his wife moved to a place out east, Peace Ledge, when they were rebuilding and have made that home and a place of rest the following years. That is what Greeley has been for us; a place of rest and restoration to our souls, hearts, and relationships.
As I close I can pretty much say that the broken part of life, failures, hurts, pains are not fun or enjoyable at all. But I do believe God allows us to go there so He can get all of us, all of us. That part is a ride. In the last 6 months Christine and I have seen and experienced God in a whole new light. Brokenness that leads to deep intimacy is life.
Here are a few quotes that stuck out in my mind:
- Amost every personal defeat begins with our failure to know ourselves, to have a clear view of our capabilities (negative and positive), our propensities, our weak sides. p. 13
- Rebuilding broken worlds can never happen alone. It is a team effort, and has to be accomplished in concert with those who can give grace and affirm progress p. 20
- A great and unique reaction of the Christian toward an individual's broken world experience is the gracious one: treating someone not as he deserves to be treated but as he needs to be treated in order for his broke nworld to be rebuilt....Without grace, broken worlds do not get rebuilt. p.34
- Now I'm looking in and I've come to realize that until you name what is in you and face it you cannot change anything. p.67
- The temptation to rely on abundant energy, youthful charisma, and inner enthusiasm will lead many to ignore the necessity of quiet, solitude, reflection, and listening. p.108
- A broken world will never be rebuilt until we learn this principle of the unbound heart. It must be unwrapped and exposed to the light. The light will show some unattractive evil, but then something wonderful will happen. The love of God will be free to flood into the dark recesses, and the rebuilding will begin. p.159
- We must live as perpetually broken people. Those who are broken only in crisis will soon grow cold, and other kinds of broken worlds are liable to follow. Brokenness is a way of life...." p.165
- But I would like to propose that if we were to discover the ministry of restorative grace, we might find an enormous number of people crowding forward to receive what God has offered to give through Jesus Christ. There, in the ministry of restoration, may be a key to renewal." p.241
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