This Is Where The Healing Begins…

Describing what seems to be the indescribable…

The gift of community. It is a beautiful thing. Many have asked us what changes we have felt or how we feel things are different here in Minnesota vs. Michigan. Explaining the differences we find are difficult because we are in such a different place in our life. God is walking us through the healing process and in that process, He is showing us our true colors – who He has created us to be. Comparisons between our life in Michigan and our life here isn’t a fair judgement because WE are different.

Over the past 6 months, there have been times when we just wanted to shout “why God?” Why “this” event? Why “this” occurance? We often just did not understand. Some things we still do not have understanding about. But as we have journeyed through these past few months, we are realizing that contentment is being obtained – something we have been searching and searching for. We feel our life has done a 180, yet we feel we are still turning. Why? Because God continues to show us ways He wants us to change. He has given us a community here; a fresh perspective, on life. Again, the difference between life in Michigan and life in Minnesota isn’t about life – it is the difference of what is happening in our hearts. To me, it is about what God is doing in our life and how He continues to mold and shape us into the creatures He originally designed us to be.

So here are some simple observations I have made since moving to Minnesota, that I have cherished.

The people here work to live, not live to work. The American dream mentality is running rampent through our country I believe. The desire for more and more. The desire to surpass our fellow neighbors or friends. The desire to be able to do whatever we want, whenever we want. But one feeling I have experienced is that the people are content. Yes, some have lake houses. But there is not a hint of flaunting ownership of them. In fact, you would only know that this was part of their life if you asked. Because people are working in order to live, I feel there is a true sense of contentment and a desire for greater things – which is the Lord. People work extremely hard out here – but work does not control them.

Because work is not the #1 priority, that means other things are. One of them being, FAMILY. Being here makes me miss my family all the more because people here value THEIR families so deeply! Yet at the same time, because family is so important, they want others to have the same feeling – and I humbling say that we have been able to experience that. It is difficult to put into words the sense of family we feel here. There is no fear in sharing here. There is no fear in calling to see how one is doing. There is no fear in inviting someone to a family gathering. There is no fear in inviting someone to a social event where the person invited may not know anyone. There is no fear in talking to someone you do not know. There is no fear in loving. It is evident our youth group kids come from these type of families. They do not need to be entertained. They find comfort in the comforts of home. As a youth leader, that is a value that we are so thankful for – these kids are being taught the importance and value of family.

Though family is extremely important, it is evident and obvious that GOD reigns in the hearts of the people here. We have witnessed countless ways in which people have reached out the hand of servanthood and the love of God to others, through the giving of time, of money, or just a listening ear. The verse in Hebrews 10 that says ” Spur one another on towards love and good deeds…” is being lived out. We have been humbled and blessed to be on the receiving end of such good gifts – which in TURN, makes us want to spur others. on I almost have to chuckle because it is such a simple concept, yet daily we need to remind ourselves how important it is TO spur one another on. We feel we are growing spiritually in so many ways here. (I suppose that is another blog post!). God is showing Himself through others in many ways. I could list so many ways in which we have seen others come alongside fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, to lend a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on. And again, we have been on the receiving end of this as well. THIS, spurs me on.

Healing can happen in so many different ways. After last fall, we questioned whether ministry was something we were meant to do. It was so difficult to see Dan so wounded by some of the things that were said. Yet I look at the healing that is taking place – healing that is happening daily. I can only just fall on my knees in thankfulness to God, for taking us through such difficult times, and bringing us to a place of peace and healing.

As I have been writing these posts, the song by Tenth Avenue North just keeps coming to mind called “Healing Begins.” We were building up walls – walls to block the pain. We were broken and there were pieces we were not sure how to pick up or where to put them back. But because of God’s grace and His healing hand, we have been able to put some of the pieces back together. Vulnerability and letting go of all the things we try to hang out to is a painful process. We wanted to be self-sufficient. We sometimes wanted to just let go of the past – but it was the past, that we never fully dealt with. Through many listening ears, words of encouragment, tears, hugs, and most of all, God’s love for us, we have been able to see light in the darkness. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Healing Begins
So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do
So we think that you’re good
And you can’t believe it’s not enough
All the walls you built up
Are just glass on the outside

So let ’em fall down
There’s freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We’re here now

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you’re broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide
Can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find
That the shame won’t disappear

So let it fall down
There’s freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We’re here now
We’re here now, oh

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you’re broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Sparks will fly as grace collides
With the dark inside of us
So please don’t fight
This coming light
Let this blood come cover us
His blood can cover us

This is where the healing begins, oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you’re broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark