Broken....

I finally finished 'Jesus Lost in the Church' by Warren Litzman.  A WONDERFUL book!  God spoke to me through it.  It's one of those books, like Sidetracked in the Wilderness by Michael Wells, that I keep close by to reread and reference.  

Now...I am reading 'God's Favorite Place on Earth' by Frank Viola.  Chapter one is ALL about BROKENNESS.  

"The Lord is far more interested in your weaknesses than in your strengths. He is interested in breaking you. Why? Because when there is less of you in the way, there is more room for Him to work. "- Frank Viola, from God's Favorite Place on Earth 

"God's idea of ministry training is a broken vessel.  His idea of spiritual preparation is suffering, which includes rejection."

"God breaks us to build us."

"While brokenness is difficult, it's beautiful because it makes God look good.  Your natural gifts draw attention to yourself while brokenness draws attention to your Lord.  With this in mind, power is dangerous in the hands of an unbroken vessel."

"It's not hard to spot a Christian in ministry who isn't broken.  Unbroken people don't know how to lay their lives down and lose.  They only know how to try and win.  

If they are criticized, they retaliate. 
If they are attacked, they return fire.
If misunderstood, they defend in anger.

They are capable of doing all sorts of damage to others in order to save their own ministries and keep their reputations."

"On the contrary, people who have been broken by the hand of God know how to turn the other cheek.  

They know how to go the second mile.

They know how to give their coats when asked for their shirts.

They know how to speak well of those who misrepresent them.

They know how to return good for evil.

They know how to lose.

And in doing so, they exhibit the Spirit of the Lamb and allow God to win."

Oh Father, to live in brokenness.  To be the broken vessel from which You flow freely from the cracks.