Dancing in the Light

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Name:
Location: North Platte, Nebraska, United States

I am a christian wife, mother and grandmother. I am a licensed Social worker and a licensed Christian counselor. I am most proud of the relationships I have with God, my family and friends all over the world. I have been blessed beyond my dreams.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Stained Glass People

The church building here in Spearman was wiped out by a tornado a few years ago. The entire community rallied around the congregation and assisted in the rebuild. It was a great example of folks coming together in a crisis and helping put the pieces back together. Our new auditorium has an absolutely beautiful stained glass window behind the pulpit. It is made up of brilliant little pieces of glass, blues, pinks, reds, oranges and blues. In the afternoon, the sun shines through those mini panes and casts the most beautiful light over the carpet and pews, dull by comparison. This kaleidoscope of color is brilliant and beautiful and very peaceful. I am awed by this window, amazed that someone could take little, odd shaped, shards of broken glass, none of them matching, all of them broken, and could make this beautiful, glorious window.
I think that is exactly what God does with us. Everyone of us is broken in some way or another. Everyone of us is odd and none of us are identical. Alone, we are simply odd, broken little people. But the blood of Christ is able to take each of us, broken as we are and put us together with love and His redemptive blood until we become a beautiful, glorious reflection of His Son.
I think about Sarah, believing her body broken, unable to bear children. She took matters into her own hands and created a huge problem, yet a promise keeping God, still used her in her brokenness to bear the son, the son of promise. I think of the shepherd king, David, who with broken heart over his own sin and its consequences, was used by God to rule a great nation and to be great great grandfather of our Messiah. I thought of Mary, the mother, the virgin, who with broken reputation gave birth to the redemption of the world. Used by God, a reflection of His Son. I thought of Paul, on fire for God but misguided in his zeal. When his faith, his course, his belief system was broken, God was able to rebuild it and use it to show His love to the entire world. God has always used broken people. He has a special place in His heart for us. And like, Sarah, if we insist He will let us put things together. But, like the stained glass window, it takes a real artisan to taken broken, wounded people and create a masterpiece. One piece alone, one broken person alone cannot do it. God takes all of us and puts us together, creating a beautiful and magnificent window, through which His Son can shine through. Thank God for His love of the stained glass people!

Neva

36 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for always making me see the positive about myself and others. Sometimes the negitive people I encounter tend to wear on me. Thank you again!

9:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love 1 Corinthians 12 for its discussion of our spiritual gifts, talents, and how the body of Christ is made up of so many different people that work together so the Body is effective. It fascinates me to imagine the various parts of a machine working together with fluidness to get a job done ... and how that can be manifested in the church.

10:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
This is a great post---sometimes we think only whole, sinless people are useful to God.
I love that God takes special care of us broken people. And even make us something beautiful and useful and reflective---
Good post

Pat

10:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good thoughts--I deal with broken teens all the time. They all need to know that God has a use for them and he sees them as beautiful reflections. Good thoughts
Thanks neva

Dan

11:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

neva-
I hope this post helps us ALL to realize that we are never 'whole' on our own.
I know I've had a few storms in my life that have made my 'pieceness' a reality in my mind.

AW

11:37 AM  
Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

The bad things that happen in our life are not the real brokeness. The only way we can be blessed is by being broken for God. When "I surrender all" God can use me. The problem is I want to surrender some. Like a diamond, God can't reflect His light if there are not all the facets.
James

12:20 PM  
Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

Neva,

Can I comment about age and dribble here?

James

I know you aren't going to publish this - this was the easiest way to send you harassing mail. My wife says I have been harassing today.

12:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post, Neva!
Recognizing our brokeness keeps us a purposeful people.
Good job


Carol

1:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Everyone has broken spots. Learning to use your brokenness for God or let him use you in spite of your brokeness is the challenge. I like this one.


Lyndsay

1:27 PM  
Blogger Neva said...

James,
My friend, you know how I am with an unspoken double dog dare?

n

and no, you can't comment on such things here either :)

1:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hurried home on my lunch hour to read your blog--thank you for today's post. The events over the past few years have left me feeling broken and useless. Thank you for giving me hope. I am aching for the day, people will see me and see something beautiful reflecting his Son.
Thank you, Neva, you are a good friend and such an encouragement.

Love ya
Rachel

1:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good story--good reminder.
I think you should add this to the list of favorites. I have seen God shine through your brokeness over the years. Thank you for blessing my life.
love ya
Kel

1:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is so right--none of us are the best reflectors without all of us together. That is why God made us all a part of one body.
Good post

Dean

2:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
I dont always comment on your blog, but I always read it and am always blessed by it. Your commenters are good, too. Thank you for the work you put into encouraging us by sharing your thoughts,
Carlos

2:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love the idea of embracing our broken ness so that we can be used by God. you have given me much to think about.

Eileen

3:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh this is good. How eaily we forget how precious we are in spite of our broken hearts or maye because of them. Doesn't God say he loves a broken spirit and a contrite heart? He knows exactly waht to do with broken people and maybe he loves broken people and takes them and helps them learn what to do with other broken people. What a great outreach.
Good post--I mean great post,
Yvonne

3:13 PM  
Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

Beautiful post you should add it to your favorite list. Very well explained.
Kathy

4:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Neva,
thanks for the visit and the comment.

very Awesome post!

if ya don't mind I'm going to look around!

blessings

4:12 PM  
Blogger Stoned-Campbell Disciple said...

Very encouraging and on target.

Thank you also for the kind words on my blog. I was not aware that you had read my book (Kingdom Come). You are one of 9 ;-)

Shalom,
Bobby Valentine

4:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love the words Thank God for loving stained glass people--and aren't we all, aren't we all?


Excellent post
Mary

4:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What a great analogy. I think I will use it sometimes. Is the lead that holds the glass peices together --what? the blood, prayer? what do you think?

7:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just popped in--loved the post and all the comments. I think the leading is the blood of christ, after all that is what makes us all one---all part of the same masterpeice, right?

Good post.
Lauren

7:10 PM  
Blogger Candle (C & L) said...

Neva - I can just see the "light dancing" as it sparkled in multi-colored hues on all those people making beauty from broken-ness.

Thanks for your comment on my "Blogging friends" post.

God Bless
Charlie

7:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You have such a way with words. You paint pictures and weave stories in a way that all of your readers walk away saying simply, wow!! You are very good at this. Thank you for sharing with all of us.

God Bless
Cathy

8:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
I dont know if you remember me or not. We went to school together in Walden, many years ago. You were in my class from kindergarten to fourth grade and then when you guys moved back for a couple of years in Jr. High. I found you via a blogroll from a friend.
Love your blog
Jeneane
I will be back

8:46 PM  
Blogger Neva said...

Jeneane,
I was so surprised, my email is nevaecooper@yahoo.com--email me and lets catch up. I can't believe you found me.

Way cool
neva

8:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
I read everyday--this is my favorite so far. You made me feel so blessed and encouraged. Thank you friend o mine.

I love you much
Connie

9:03 PM  
Blogger Janice said...

Thanks for this post. I am truly amazed at how God uses us broken people. My eyes have truly been opened this past year.

9:23 PM  
Blogger Kathy said...

What a great post, Neva!

God's grace - how infinite it is toward us - using our very brokenness to heal us. We broke us [read Eve and Adam, not God, but He has been about putting us back together ever since. You have expressed this example of His great grace in such a beautiful, poetic manner.

I'm so thankful for your gift of expression, Neva. Your blog blesses me each day I read it!

10:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A wonderful, uplifting and encouraging post. It is only God's love and teh blood of his son that makes us sparkle and shine as we reflect him. Praise God.
Holy Lord, thank you for seeing our hurts and loving us anyway. Thank you for your love and compassion and mercy, may we all be daily reflections of you heart.
amen

12:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
you have encouraged me with your words today.

KSL

12:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks, I needed that.

8:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My friend Karli turned me on to your blog. I love it. Thank you for sharing such touching and edifying thoughts.

Shari

9:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great post Neva.

Your support and faithfulness is a great blessing to me. Thank you.

1:17 AM  
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