Brokenness to Blessing
For thou desirest not
sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God,
thou wilt not despise.
Pslam 51: 17
Some people call this the ‘Holy Ghost’
shell as its markings remind people of Yeshua’s birth, crucifixion, and
resurrection. The top of the shell is
the outline of the Easter lily, at the center is a five-pointed star that
represents the star of Bethlehem, and the five narrow openings represent
Christ’s nail holes and spear wound. On
the backside you’ll recognize the Christmas poinsettia. When broken you will find five little “doves
of peace.” Some say these represent the
angels who sang to the shepherds that first Christmas.
I’ve found
a few whole, but it’s the broken ones that gave me food for thought. The only way to release the “doves of peace”
which lay hidden inside is to break the Sand Dollar. I, too, have found that it is only through the brokenness in my
life, that His peace has been fully released.
Both Job and Jacob give testimony of the road of brokenness leading to
blessing.
"Nay but, O man, who art
thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed
it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of
the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?"
Romans 9:20-21.
Abba, help
us to see with eyes of heaven that the road to blessing is often the road of
brokenness. For some it is the
brokenness of body that leads to a broken spirit. For others brokenness of relationship or finances is what God has
used to bring a brokenness that leads to peace. Pour out Your ointment of healing, scented with Your shalom. Help us to see the pressure from the
Potter’s hands as a loving caress and the heat of the fire as the warm breath
of our Lover’s kiss.