THE HOPE OF SURRENDER

SURRENDER- Jesus all to you I surrender all to you I owe. You see for so long I have been broken, I have been transparent and now God I am saying I surrender remove from within me whatever, remove from whoever or whatever is keeping me from being healed and whole. God I know this about you and not about me, just help to remember that I need to rely only on you. 

 

God I know you are there, but if I can be honest I feel like I can't take one more hit, more fall, but I know that your grace is sufficient. Help me to go through this because I know what the end is going to be help me to look like I know what the end is going to be.

 

Jesus my story if for your glory and no it doesn't feel good, so if you can just let me touch you one more time to know that you are real, I know I can hold on and out.  Your child.

 

I am Blessed to be A Blessing,

Shon Garner Cole follow my blogs at realtalkwithshon@blogspot.com

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(2 Corinthians 1:9)

⁹ In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. NLV

 

Luke writes, "Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52) We know very little about the years that Jesus spent growing into manhood. However, we can surmise that He grew emotionally, mentally, and physically. Like us, God's Son had to develop, and we can imagine that while He was sinless, He learned how to live through the circumstances of life.

There are many people today who are suffering - not because they have sinned or resisted God, but because the Lord has chosen to develop their lives through difficulty and hardship. In the first chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul does not gloss over the fact that he suffered. At one point, he believed there was a strong possibility that he would die. However, God spared his life, and Paul was able to write about the hardships he faced with such hope that many who read his letters also declared faith in Jesus Christ.

God cannot mold and shape our lives unless we are willing to surrender and to be transparent before Him. These are prerequisites to experiencing a breakthrough in our trials and sufferings. We have no idea of the difficulties that Christ faced as a young man - the Gospels do not record them. Yet, we know that as an adult, He suffered and died on the cross for our sins so that we might have eternal life. He was not ashamed of the calling that God had given Him. Now, all glory is His, and He is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding in prayer for us each day.

Stop looking at the trials of your life with thoughts of regret and horror. Learn to rest in God's care, and allow Him to work in your life to the fullest. When you do, you will discover that He has a tremendous blessing waiting for you. Not only will you grow to be like Him, you will be a testimony of His grace and hope to a troubled world.

My Mouth Says I Do, My Heart Says I Don't

by Shon Garner Cole on Monday, November 28, 2011 at 6:23pm

You hurt me, tore into my flesh and left me for dead

You promised me things, but you were only playing with my head.

You looked back once or twice trying to see how I survived after all those 

were some pretty deep slices, you should have just poked out my eyes. 

You thought you took the best parts of me, instead your selfish actions strengthened me.

With my mouth I said I forgive you, I even let you back in 

only to realize that your touch still hurt me and it hurt deep within.

So when you said maybe we need a little more time, I pushed you out the door and 

didn't care where or with who you would go.

I just wanted you away from me so I wouldn't retaliate the more I looked at you the more 

my heart started to feel what it felt like to hate.

I realized just the other day that my mouth said I forgive you, 

but  my heart says I don't. In the deep recesses of my mind I wonder if 

forgiving you is something that I want. Do I want to forgive you and move on

after all you took advantage of my love and your hurt it was strong, each jab of the knife

was slow, and precise, each time you pulled it out and put it back in. Each time you took another 

wind. 

But the God I serve He wouldn't let me die, He wouldn't even let me lay there wounded 

and not long did He let me cry. He said what you did was apart of the enemies plan, 

But thank God for God He always has the upper hand.

My mouth said to you and your counterparts I forgive you,

But my heart says I don't.

I wish you no harm, but I pray that you see the smile on my face

I pray that I can keep it there and serve you with grace. God already has it 

arranged that each of you will have to come to me and like Joseph I will graciously serve you and

be who God has called me to be. 

I know by then my heart will no longer say I don't I am bigger than each of you

Even though if my flesh had it's way I would leave each of you in want.

So right now at this very moment I forgive you for being stupid, selfish and used.

I forgive you because they are relishing in your failure and behind your back calling you  a fool.

You see they know that I was your covering the one who had your back. They smile in your face

and they are happy about your mess behind your back.

Right now my mouth can say I forgive you, and my heart can too

Because God just told me doing so takes the power back from each of you.

So until that day when you all come with your hands held out.

I am on my knees praying that you all find out what a real relationship with 

the Father is about. 

So I moved from my mouth says I do, but my heart says I don't 

to God has His arms stretched out and He can use me to help 

you if He wants.  He will get all the glory, but He will make sure each of you

know my name. He will make sure I don't take for granted that He trusted me

to carry out this assignment and that I am doing it in His name.

I am Blessed to Be A Blessing

Shon Garner Cole  Nov 2011

Real Talk with Shon: A Picture of Brokenness

Real Talk with Shon: A Picture of Brokenness: Picture of Brokenness- As this whole series on brokenness started a little over a week ago, it tells me this that so many in the body of Chr...

A Picture of Brokenness

Picture of Brokenness- As this whole series on brokenness started a little over a week ago, it tells me this that so many in the body of Christ are broken, being broken or just got through it. When I did my very first post I was talking to my big brother and we talked about the people who are difficult like horses. He talked about us not being able to get on an unbroken horse how crazy that would be.

I do understand this that it is a process, it's not something that is done in a day or two. I also understand that just like the horses there are some of us who submit to the act of being broken and there are those of us who don't think we need to be broken there ain't one thing wrong with us. Well if that is your thought process you are a prime candidate to be broken. 

All I can say to each of you that this series on brokenness has not been easy, it has not been fun because I have to pretty much as I said yesterday had to stand before you stripped. Letting all the world see that we all have things that can be improved . We all have been or need to be broken.  

My prayer are for you horses that will rather be sold, the ones that have become comfortable living in your, sin, your mess, your false relationships with the Father. How is it fake, it's because you go to church, your know the church formalities but there is no God in you. You go to church out of habit and you say amen on cue.  I pray that you will examine yourself take a snapshot of yourself and then ask God to break you, because you need to be to walk with Him. 

Blessed to Be a Blessing,

Shon Garner Cole follow me at realtalkwithshon@blogspot.com

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(2 Corinthians 1:8) 

⁸ We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,^[a] about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.   NLV

A picture of brokenness is that of a wild stallion wanting its independence but being ridden for the first time. It does not want to submit, and it does not want to do what it is told to do. It enjoys a cowboy feeding it, keeping its trough filled with fresh water, and allowing it to go out and nibble grass in the sunshine. The problem comes when the saddle is tossed on its back and the harness is placed over its head. 

However, if you have watched a horse being broken, you know the cowboy has more sense than to take a new horse that has never been ridden and toss a saddle on its back. For days, the animal may be led around a pen as it adjusts to the pressure of wearing a harness and the conditions surrounding its changing lifestyle. Then the saddle coes out of the tack room and is placed on the horse's back - but without a rider. Finally, the cowboy puts a foot in one of the stirrups. 

There are many steps in between these, but we can form a mental picture of the process used to break a horse and prepare it to be ridden. When the cowboy climbs into the saddle, the initial shock of having someone on its back is frightening and irritating. The animal begins to buck and rears its head before it begins to settle and trot around its pen. Some horses refuse to be broken and risk being sold. Others, in time and through proper care, are broken and begin the enjoyment of a lifetime of service to their owners. 

When God begins to work in your life, He doesn't immediately toss a saddle on your back or seek to break you through the circumstances of life. Instead, He works with a plan and goal in mind. Bit-by-bit and inch-by-inch, He brings you to a place where He can train you to live a life that glorifies Him and is a blessing to others.

Broken for a Blessing

WOW- I wish I could honestly tell you today that in this brokenness that I am feeling today I feel blessed. I know that I am, but that is what my faith and relationship with God has done for me. The flesh part of Shon Garner Cole does not feel blessed at all. If you want to know the truth I feel broken and forsaken. I can only imagine how Jesus felt that day in the Garden asking God to remove the cup, knowing that He had to carry out the assignment of getting on a cross to die for some who didn't even believe in who He was. Knowing that His obedience was going to result in so much pain.  No, I'm not about to hang on a cross for any of you, and thank God He didn't choose me too, I don't know that I could look over the ones who wronged me and die for them anyway.

Which actually brings me to why I don't feel the blessing of being broken today. Yesterday, I realized that God had made me some promises and like Sarah, I am in my own way. I am trying to help God and He doesn't need my help just my obedience. Then there is this forgiveness thing there are some people that I have said out loud with mouth that I forgive, but in my heart the pain and hurt they caused me are still so fresh and though my mind and mouth want to forgive them and move on my heart is still bleeding and broken because it needs to hear I am sorry from them knowing that they mean it to heal and move on.  I want so badly to be like Jesus to be able to just forgive them without an I am sorry and move on, but He created me so He knows this is a struggle for me. He is also going to give me the strength and ability to do it. 

He gave me this assignment that I am on and I don't like it, I don't like  being stripped and letting people see the things behind the walls of my life. I don't like letting the people see that as much as I love God I feel like He has pulled out and misplaced somethings so this remodeling process is taking a little longer than necessary. 

Yes, I know that His word will not return to me void, I know the promises He made to me and I know that this is a blessing; one that I will surely be able to appreciate in due time. One that is going to set me up and put His grace and glory on display. One that is going to cause me to have T-shirts made in every color that say GOD DID IT.

I am praying for compassion right now, because I need it, I need it to truly forgive these people and I know that God will not truly restore these relationships until I truly forgive them otherwise I will be in this same place with them again in six months to a year. God has to deal with me, because I am the only person I have control over. I have to allow Him to work with me so that whether never say I am sorry or not, I can forgive them and get the blessings that God has for me. 

So yes, there is a blessing in being broken, unfortunately I can't tell you that it feels good. But the end result is great. 

I am Blessed to Be A Blessing,

Shon Garner Cole visit me at realtalkwithshon@blogspot.com

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(2 Corinthians 1:6) 

⁶ Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.  NLV

Remodeling is a way of transforming and updating a house or place of business in order to make it more appealing, efficient, or useful. Usually, it involves a redesign on the inside of a building, but it can also include the outside of the property.

Those who have been through the process of remodeling know how extensive and upsetting it can be. Even in the best of circumstances, workers will still create dust and chaos. Yet, in order to enjoy something old being made new, you have to go through the process of remodeling. The same is true when you view God's plan for your life.

There are times in the life of every believer when he or she will go through a time of remodeling. It is a time when God is updating our life by stripping away old thoughts and habits and replacing them with His truths and principles. Instead of calling it remodeling, we call the process brokenness.

Just like the beginning phases of a construction program, it may be hard to imagine a beautiful outcome - especially when things have been torn apart. Sheetrock is missing, and tools are scattered from one end of your home to the other.  However, before we can do the same, we have to be willing to allow God to give us spiritual eyes to see life from His perspective. After all, He is the One who holds the blueprints to our lives. Paul knew that there were many glorious benefits to the times he faced suffering. The greatest was his testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. No matter what befell him, Paul continued to trust in the One who had saved him and was in charge of his life. Have you come to a time of brokenness? If so, let God remodel your life, and you will be amazed at the outcome.

I'VE BEEN SHAKEN, SHIFTED, BROKEN, WOUNDED, BUT GOD CARRIED ME THROUGH IT ALL

This morning I don't have one particular verse of scripture for you, I have these words BUT GOD. Last night as I sat in my family room playing with all the babies I started to reflect over where I had been, and where God had brought me from. I started to think about how many times I had been shaken, shifted and broken and wounded and the reality hit that I will most likely go through it again. I told myself that it just didn't make sense because I am walking in the will of God, and I am doing the best I can. As the baby who was laughing at me burst into tears as if she could read my thoughts, as I comforted her, Treazure was like mama what's wrong with her how do you do that?  You see Anya was uncomfortable but she couldn't tell me what hurt. But I did the only thing I knew to do as a parent hold her close to me with her heart against mine, her head so that I can whisper in her ear. As she cried I started to tell her that it was okay, I had her that she was going to be alright to tell me all about it and I would make it alright. I told her yes I love you and I want to make it alright, I started to rub her back and say yes little one I got you it's okay, almost as immediately as she started screaming and crying she stopped.

When I laid down last night after I got her to sleep and started to pray I said God thank you that has been what you have been doing for me these months. You knew I was uncomfortable you know there were times when I couldn't even form words for what I was crying about, but you held me close, with our hearts touching and you whispering in my ear I have you no matter what it feels like, what it looks like I have you. I cried myself too sleep because I was amazed at the lengths God goes through and too to get me a word.

Being shaken, shifted, broken and wounded, none of it feels good, none it was my choice, but I was reminded that Jesus walked this earth and a lot of people don't think of or acknowledge His pain and being uncomfortable until the cross. The reality is Jesus suffered pain and was uncomfortable plenty of times prior to His trip to Calvary. He was heartbroken every time He came in contact with someone who just wouldn't believe. He was angered and uncomfortable by so many actions and the lack of faith that was shown all throughout the Bible. Imagine if you will you asking your 3 boys the ones you think have your back to watch while you pray and you come back to find them asleep.  Think about knowing that you came here but for one purpose to die for someone else's sin. That was not something that He learned of on His way to the cross He carried that everyday.

I thank Him today and everyday for having me for holding me just like I held that baby, and whispering in my ear that I have you Shon Garner Cole you are mine, and I know the plans I have for you.  I know the places your feet shall trod and I have already made them ready for you. I know the people that will be your support system and a part of this journey and I am preparing them right now. God is great and He is greatly to be praised.

I posted this morning that there are so many that want you to forgive them but don't want to say the words I am sorry to you. Just know that there are for more people like that for the Father, we want Him to forgive us and we don't want to say I am sorry Lord. Many don't even want to do better, we just want to be forgiven.  Don't you think that is grand hot mess that we take God's mercy for granted. Kind of the way we take the people who say they love us take us for granted.

Well I thank God that He has allowed me to go through what I have gone through, I thank Him that He has strengthened me and is steady making me ready. I thank Him that when it all still seems to hard that all I have to do is lay my head on His shoulder and say BUT GOD and listen while He wraps me in the cradle of His arms my heart against His and whispers in my ear. It's okay I have you everything will be alright.

So if you see me walking with my head held high like I'm all that, it's because I am. If you see me acting like your junk can't touch me it's because it can't. When you see me walking like I am floating it's because I am, because I am walking with Jesus. Holding His hand all the way.

No matter what you are feeling this morning, no matter what it looks like know this BUT GOD and everything will be okay. No everything is okay.



I am Blessed to Be A Blessing
Shon Garner Cole

It's Okay To Be Broken

November 26

Psalm 139:14

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Reading this verse makes me think of the words of one of Bishop T.D. Jakes' song, which state you can start all over again. You see being that we are fearfully and wonderfully made we all start off as clay in the hands of the potter; then if we are broken we go back on the wheel. God wants us to live happy,whole and holy lives,after all He created us in His image. Somewhere along the way something or someone caused all us to get off track. You see the word says we all have fallen short.  What happens more often than not when something falls it breaks, or there is nice nick or crack. At that point we need to repair the broken item. 

It's the same for us as children of God, we at some point give our lives to God and then if the devil gets even a foot in the door that's all she wrote it's as if the fat lady has sang. Over the last few days the theme of all the words have been about brokenness. Yesterday we got breakthrough. Today I want you to know that it's okay to be broken no matter what your status in life is it's the only way to get the breakthrough. You see life happens to the richest and best of us. I can't imagine who or where I would be today if I hadn't been broken. 

In my lifetime God has given me a heart for people and just about 7 years ago God brought three very special little girls into my life.  My immediate attention was to the beautiful baby in t the carrier, then I looked at the two little girls setting with the baby. Whose baby is this I asked?  The timid 14 year old says mine, I said stop playing. The 12 year old sister says no it's hers alright. I laugh at her statement because it was like lady if you knew the drama behind this.  I ask can I hold the baby and the mom says yes, and she at 3 months old immediately snuggles to me. I take the baby and run to my husband and say look isn't she beautiful he takes her and starts talking to her, the rest is history.  We couldn't take one without the other and we just kinda took up with them all.  On Saturday that mama is getting married and I have stressed about it all night. Like I am paying for a wedding and I am only paying for the dress of the almost 7 year old.

In my dream I am telling the mom you have been through so much you never really got to be a child and live are you sure you want to do this. It's okay to say no. I realize that I am telling her this because of my situation.  So anyway as we are on our way to the store to purchase the dress somehow time has run out and it's the day of the wedding. The dress still needs to be brought hair still needs to be done and my husband and myself are looking back over our lives trying to remember how we got to this point. Do we want to help her pull this wedding off. 

His words to me in the dream are we all deal with our brokenness in a different way. You immediately yelled out to Jesus for help and I am still being broken I am still going through, you can't see it but I am miserable and I called but God didn't  seem to answer. I said maybe because He is still doing a work maybe your pride is getting in the way. You have so much pride you won't just let Him make you over.  He says if I do that will you still love me, will I still love you, will we still be the same people? My response was we are not  supposed to be the same people. All of a sudden we are at back at the beginning of our 17 year marriage and we are retracing our steps but this wedding is still first and foremost in our life and we are trying to decide what to do about it. 

Yes all that was the dream but in these last few months of being broken I have asked God to move or change the people that didn't line up to His will for my life. I have also questioned if my husband has lost his mind, being that he is approaching 50 soon. What God allowed me to know just for my peace of mind is that I only have control over Shon Garner Cole, I can only tell God break me put me back on the wheel and make me over. Everybody else's salvation and how they choose to go through is up to them. No matter how much I love them, I have to step back and let it be between them and God. I realized that I was a little upset because I thought none of this was phasing certain people but most importantly I thought my husband was living it up while I am here being made over, while I am here being broken and God showed me NO, you are the apple of my eye, while would I let someone cause you grief and hurt, but vengeance is mine not yours, so you just pray and be still as I have instructed let me finish my work in you and in my time you will see all of my work come to pass. 

 

I woke up and God said  today rather than expounding on a word I want you to write the word the way you use too, before you decided getting up at 4a.m to do it was disturbing your husband, before you put him before me. 

So I want to remind each of you that we are all clay on the the potter's wheel, rather we were broken because we asked we couldn't stand how we were living, rather God allowed us to be knocked down, in the beginning we were all made in His image and He wants us to be saved. He wants us to be willing to be made over.  

In my my closing, being broken is okay. I thank God because on Thursday the man of God said in three day the people I fasted 21days for I would start to see a miraculous change and that God would let me peek into the future, He did, why because He is not a man that He should lie.  It's okay to be broken because in the beginning we were fearfully and wonderfully made, can we get back to the basics God wants us better, than we were before.  I am saying God please keep making me over until you allow me to spend eternity with you,

Blessed to Be a Blessing, 

Shon Garner Cole  

realtalkwithshon.blogspot.com

Prayer: By Your hands I came into being. Make me useful, Lord, to do that which I was created for. Then, when the time comes, I may stand before You, fulfilled and confident that I have served You well. Amen

TWO WAYS FOR A SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH

Breakthrough- The holiday has gone all the formalities and falsities and pretending is done. Today we are back to being us, those of us who are walking around miserable and don't know why, there are some of us walking around so elated because we know we are one lap away from a breakthrough.  The last few days God has given me the word Broken today though the word is still there  but He has given me a ray of hope assuring me the process wasn't in vain it's time for the BREAKTHROUGH. While  I should be over here excited turning cartwheels, well I'm not.  You may think well if she is one lap away from her breakthrough why is she not happy what cares could she have.  I'll tell you when you love someone and you know you have but one choice and that is to step out the way and watch God break them it's not easy.

Today as you go about the busy routine  of black Friday shopping some spending money they don't have to impress people they don't know people who don't even like you, then I pray you get the revelation to  ask God to go ahead and break  you. God is about to step in do it if you don't and WOE is you/them. I am bittersweet about what they are going to go through.  To have God step in and break you because your pride wouldn't allow you to surrender to His will and way for your life. To have God break you because you run to church Sunday after Sunday, you are an usher, a choir member, a greeter, you are on the pastor aide and any other committee you think you are right and there is no need are room to be broken. Well hold on. 

Your breaking is going to be hard I pray God gives you the good sense to pray through it to look at your life and ask Him to remove what really hurts, what is really causing you and your life not to be pleasing to Him.  Let me give you a few hints, if you are in the church building but don't have a relationship with God, ask Him to break you. Sitting in a church being on every committee and board doesn't make you a christian any more than standing in the kitchen all day is going to make you a refrigerator. If you are watching your brothers and sisters knowingly do wrong things and your take is I'm going to be quiet because they are grown, or they are going to be mad at me, then you need to be broken so you can get a breakthrough.

Let me give you an example of why it's your business when Jesus went to the well the woman from Samaria was there and Jesus asked her for a drink of water He opened the dialog as to who she was and what she was doing in her life. When she admitted she didn't have a husband Jesus told her you are right and the one you have now is not yours. Now this offended her a bit but Jesus didn't care He loved her enough to tell her she was wrong, and watch her get her breakthrough.

Today if you can and you know someone who needs to be broken help them ask. If you are the person get on your knees and ask.  Because you love them you want to see them get their breakthrough. Now Jesus doesn't need you to play Jr. Holy Spirit but let him use how He wants to and move out of His way. I pray you get the courage to say God break me so I can get my breakthrough. I want to you see on the other side so as I take my last lap to get to my breakthrough I pray you soon join me in that place the place of breakthrough.

Allow them Lord to lay down pride, lay down guilt and foolishness and ask to be broken. I know they won't like it but they are going to bask in the the breakthrough. I know I can't wait. 

Blessed to Be a Blessing, 

Shon Garner Cole  you can follow me at realtalkwithshon@blogspot.com 

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If we are in search of a spiritual breakthrough, we have two options. First, we can choose to be broken. We can say, "Lord, I want a blessing and a breakthrough. Please break me - strip me of my sinfulness and destructive independence. I'm scared, but I trust that You love me enough to know what I can handle."

The second option is that God will break us without our permission. This option takes a lot longer, and it usually hurts a lot deeper. This delays the blessing and the breakthrough, and it will ultimately be more painful. God did not redeem us to leave us alone and let us miss all of His blessings. He loves us too much for that. There is a new, wonderful life He placed inside of us - and He wants to sanctify us and make us more like His Son so that we may experience it to the fullest.

Many of us want to simply audit the Christian life - like a college course that a person sits in on but is not required to do work and is never graded. We don't want to do all the hard work that it requires. But if Christ is truly Lord of our lives, there will be work to show that we are serving Him. There will be evidence that we are taking the course He is teaching, and it's making an impact on our life. Brokenness is one of the lessons we must go through in order to gain greater spiritual maturity and in order for Christ to be made known in our lives. 

It's important to remember that the God who breaks us is also our Father. He is our Lord. He loves us. There are a million ways He can teach us what we need to know. There are different ways that He will break us down and strip us of our pride in order to teach us that we can trust Him. God is God, and He has the right to strip us of everything in us that is not like Him so that He can transform us into His image. He wants to give us blessings, but He wants to change us in the process.  

The Blessing of Brokenness

Blessed Brokenness- After yesterday's word I pray that you allowed yourself to be broken so that God could fix you. In today's word Dr. Evan's refers to restoring furniture and being broken can definitely be liken to that. To restore something old means that when you are finished you get something new. This is confirmation. You see there plenty of mornings that God wakes me up at 3am I know it's to pray, if He wakes me up at 6am I know it's to pray those are prayer times. This morning the enemy tried to wake me up at 4:30 with a horrible headache but not only did I get medicine I got  a WORD from on HIGH to go with this word. You see when you are restoring stuff it requires shifting some pieces, cutting out some scratched parts, some dented parts. SO let's say God is restoring you, He needs to break you all the way down, He needs to cut out sin, hatred, unforgiveness, strife, pettiness. He needs smooth out the rough places, He needs to replace somethings that fell off along the way, like love, like humbleness, kindness, & the ability to forgive.  This morning as I walking to the kitchen I heard the pastor say God is shifting you and He is going to get something new out of something old. I got back in my bed looked at my phone that was flashing at me and out of all the words I got this one jumped out The Blessing of Brokenness.

I think it caught my attention because even though the joy of the Lord is my strength I am broken, I am waiting on God to put me completely back together, I am waiting on Him to restore my life, my finances, my marriage, my relationships, my family unit as a whole. Anyone who really knows me knows that I love my family, the good the bad the indifferent. There are plenty that get on my nerves and I am sure the feeling is mutual, but if they need me I am here. There are times when God will cause me to just reach out to them and it's always on time. Now even though they are family/friends I don' t talk to them everyday and some of them not at all, so my first response is God are you serious.  But I  learned along time ago obedience is better than sacrifice, 

Today is Thanksgiving and many of you are like me you are sad, but thankful, you are mourning but thankful, because some family member(s)  that used to be there won't be this year for some reason or another, maybe they have gone on to glory, maybe they are just absent from your life at this time. God said to invite the Trinity to take their place. Then let the trinity know that you are thankful for the time you had with them, and ask the Trinity to stay and feel that void. 

I won't keep you much longer but I have to impress this upon you, if you have not yet allowed God to break you and start the restoration process please do so, because He is the only one that can fix you. He can't fix you if you won't let Him know you are hurt and broken. Oh He knows, but He is a gentlemen and He is not going just start working on you and you haven't asked Him too, you haven't reached out cried out and said fix me Lord and use me.  Yes, it's a humbling experience, but it's far better than perishing because of your pride.  

I am at peace today when I thought I would be a mess, because nothing in my life right now is how I wanted to be, my family relationships are strained, my marriage needs work. My finances could surely be better. But I am here, and because I don't mind being broken, I am being broken. GOD is healing, repairing and restoring and He is using the glue called loved, the cement called prosperity, the varnish called joy. No no band-aids, ace wraps, or duct tape. He is using the good stuff.  The stuff that is going to get something new out of something old.  I am sure my family and friends maybe reading this saying she strikes again, telling our business.  I am being obedient to God so if you mad about it get over it.  I am not the only one in this situation. I am not the only one who has  dysfunctional family members and friends. God wants someone reading this to know that they are not alone.

God wants someone reading this day to be the one to say God heal my family and start with me. He wants someone to have enough love and compassion to say I'll take the mantle God start with me I am hurt, I am broken and so are my people please restore me and them.  Before this day ends God wants someone to get in a corner and ask God to move at the speed of multiplication so that before the end of the year broken people are healed and made new, families are restored, the people that are gone on to glory are remembered with happiness and not mourned. He wants you ask for closure to things that need to be closed and put away. God does not want us to take junk and hurt into the new year. 

Allow God to give the Blessing that He is trying to give out of your Brokenness. Rather you know it are not. It starts with you. I know it doesn't feel good, I know it hurts, I know you'd rather be in any other position, but think about this you, could be in the hands of Angry God and that wouldn't be good, you could be in a place where your pride and disobedience has caused God to take His hands off you, remove the hedge of protection around you and allow the enemy to have his way. 

Be thankful for the blessing of brokenness, be thankful not just today but tomorrow, because God is not a man that He should lie, and He said if we ask in Jesus name that He will give us the desires of our hearts. 

Father God, I ask that each person reading this realizes the blessing in their brokenness, I pray that they see that it is not just about them but just like you sent Jesus to save us all, you have chosen them to save their families. You have set them apart and that even though they may not want this job I pray their response is the same as Jesus' was on that day, that they say never the less not my will but your will be done.   Enjoy your time with your family someone out there is all alone and doesn't know the love of family or God. So again even your brokenness you are blessed. 

I am Blessed to Be a Blessing, 

Shon Garner Cole and you can follow me at http://realtalkwithshon.blogspot.com/

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We've all seen restored furniture. Restoring furniture involves stripping away old varnish or paint with strong chemicals. This reveals all the nooks, crannies and original spots on the piece. The sanding takes place next - the wood is rubbed with coarse sandpaper in order to level out its imperfections. Then the furniture is ready to receive a new stain or paint color - it's ready for a new look. New glory can be given to old furniture. And God can do the same thing with us. He can put new glory inside an old life, but He must first strip away our old nature and sand away our sinful strongholds.

We shouldn't run from being broken. It's not pleasant or happy, but it will produce a better life. Brokenness is a blessing because it puts us on the road to a breakthrough. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3) Those who are spiritually broken will be blessed because they will see God and experience His reality flowing through their lives.

Scripture promises that God remains with those who are broken and makes them stronger than before. Psalm 34:18 says, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Isaiah 61:3 teaches that God would give those who mourn and are broken "agarland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." 

GOD, WHO RAISES THE DEAD

Broken- That is what God wants He wants us to be broken so He can get the Glory and I tell you what all my life I have heard people say that Jesus didn't like dead things and He doesn't. I remember about 6 months ago, I was in such dispair, because if someone had told me the trials I was facing in my life I would be facing then, I would have boldly told them they were a lie. That day it was a Sunday and I went to get in the shower where I love to pray I hear God so much better around water. Well in my praying I just broke, I remember sliding to the floor and crying uncontrollablly and saying God you have to come, you really have to come see about me.  My daddy had told me for years that there is someone/something  you are allowing to be your God and you have got to take that power back I thought my daddy was crazy and told him no.  That day I saw it for what it was. God broke me and guess what He isn't through, in all that I am going through He is breaking me and keeping me.

 

I don't mind it though, because I know when He is done I am going to come forth as pure Gold. I know that He is moving people and things and He alone will be able to get the glory when I tell my story. The Holidays are hard for so many reasons but know that this too shall past.  I am content that even in this mess I am in God is seeing fit to use me. He is allowing my mess to be my ministry and it's actually what the body of Christ needs. People who don't know Him are who are just going through the motions needs to know that He is not just a Sunday God. That He is a 24/7 God and He cares about you even in your mess the fact that you are still here means that He loves you enough to work it out on your behalf. Don't you try and fix it you can't it's too big for you and He is going allow you to go through until it breaks you and you cry out to Him. I am so glad that God is raising my dead situation. I am so glad that God is allowing me not to be too proud to be transparent and not take on the attitude we were taught you don't tell people your business. That's foolish, because sometimes keeping your pain to yourself, your tough time to yourself keeps you from getting blessed. 

 

I have been blessed by complete strangers because during these times when God moved people and things out of my life and it hurt, it hurt like hell. I felt like I was in hell on earth. But God put people in place that had favor for me and they didn't know why. I heard something so profound last night that they have people that hate that love me, because they see what God has for my life. I love them in spite of. I know that I know that Jesus loves me. I know that the favor of God rest on my life. I know that He is restoring and breathing life into my dead situation. Performing CPR if you will, into my family members, friends, co-workers who all have dead situations God is raising them up. He said He would raise up a standard and He is not a man that He should lie.

 

Get ready because there is about to be a mighty move of God and He is about to separate the wheat and the tare. I know that some of you are going to be amazed at who is left standing already I am amazed at what He is revealing to me.

 

Don't let pride keep you from your breaking point, go ahead break cry it out that is the only way He can fix it. Remember you can't fix what is not broke. So God break me over and over again until you get me just the way you want me and even when I am there if you need to break me again. Just don't leave me in a dead situation.

 

God just dropped in my spirit that someone who is reading this is at that point and your pride is keeping you from a major blessing or breakthrough. You know who you are. You will never even let it be known that you read these words, but I pray that God keeps you uncomfortable until you submit to His way. There is no room for your pride in this situation. For God's sake break so that He doesn't have to step away and let the enemy have you. Break so He can raise you. Die to the flesh and self SO that He can raise you in the spirit and in the full love and knowledge of God.

 

I am,

Blessed to be a Blessing,

 

Shon Garner Cole

 

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God won't bless us if He can't change us. We can't stay the same. Some of us may be wondering why we haven't had a spiritual breakthrough. One reason could be that we've not yet been broken. God makes it very clear that He only relates to those who are humble and contrite in heart. Isaiah 57:15 says, "Thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy., ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.'" The Most High God hangs out with the lowly and the humble. He cares for those who acknowledge their need for Him. God has to grind away at our pride until we realize we are not self-sufficient.

If you are facing tough circumstances right now, you are a prime candidate for a breakthrough because God is at work through your trials. Paul said, ‘We do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life." (2 Corinthians 1:80. Paul was burdened beyond his strength to bear it - it was such a deep, piercing, and exhausting struggle. But we know that even if we are in a bad place, it is a wonderful place for God to do an amazing work in our lives.

"Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope." (verses 9-10). When you are beyond all earthly help, you are better able to trust in God - the God who raises the dead and saves us from death. God lets us get so low that we understand that He is our only real option.