The first lesson from our Palace is that even though our Palace might be broken, there is a King and Queen in every Palace.
Our family is going through a hardship right now. And I have learned some lessons I would like to share with the young people of America. In Psalm 71.7 and 18, it says, "My life is an example to many because you have been my strength and my protection...let me proclaim your power to this generation, your mighty miracles to all." We cannot go through this without sharing our struggle with this generation. Our prayer is that 10,000 teenagers will come to Christ through our trial.
I ran across this little booklet several years ago. And one of the phrases that God has been speaking to me about is the idea of 'My Broken Palace'. This concept is the title of the teen outreach booklet from Book of Hope, USA.
My. Broken. Palace.
Our family is going through this. In the past 18 months, every member of my family has been attacked either physically or spiritually in a significant way. And this trial has been the impetus to our prayers for a generation. What a powerful thought. Not Your Broken Palace. Or, Our Beautiful Palace. We need a reality check in America. It is important that we think correctly. Our mindset in the U.S. is one of ease and comfort. But, that is simply not correct thinking. As a matter of fact, ease and comfort haven't created anything but entitled sleepers. At some point in life, we must admit it. We. Have. A. Problem. My. Broken. Palace.
Pop psychology may say that "I'm okay, you're okay", and pop music might boast "Because I'm Happy", but, the reality is that we are not okay. All have sinned and fallen short of the expectations of God. If we admit this, Christ is faithful to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from unrighteousness. If we do not admit this, the wages of our sin is death.
A Jungle Or a Garden?
The American Dream is no longer a garden. It has been over-run with weeds and unwanted pests. And looks more like a jungle. The American Dream castle that our young people think they are living in is really cracked at its foundation. And looks more like a dungeon. But, there is hope. The brokenness of this generation is real. Today, because teen lives and the teen world are so messed up, young people try to put on pretty. They try to put on peace. They try to put on value. They try to dress up their brokenness. But, you cannot put paint over rust, or, band-aids over a broken arm. I have received hundreds of letters, emails, and personal conversations from students about the kind of things they are dealing with today. BROKEN homes, BROKEN relationships, BROKEN dreams, BROKEN promises, BROKEN bodies, and BROKEN hearts. The palace that we have called The American Dream has become a nightmare. It is simply broken. The castle has been infested by fallenness. And yet, there is an answer. Hear the scriptures that restore the brokenness of our lives:
Amos 9.11 says, "In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be..."
Proverbs 24.30-31, "I went past the field of the lazy man, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgement..., and its wall was broken down."
Proverbs 25.28 says, "Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control."
The Facade
My message to this generation is simple. First, see the Brokenness of the Palace. The facade. Hidden in the secret place beyond the make-up and the labels is a broken young man and young lady. Look deeper and love it. Sure, they may look like a garden on the outside, but, if you look closely, there is a jungle in the life of every teenager. Secondly, see the Palace. There are hurts, rebellion, lies, fear, and materialism. But, do you see the healing, obedience, truthfulness, courage, and sacrifice? Get involved in the life of a teen. Research their music, movies, peers, language, and inner longings.
Inside every prince is a King. And inside every princess is a Queen. And it is our responsibility to pull it out of them. Our prayer is that what we are going through as a family will model to this generation the purpose of God upon our lives. To model to this generation the faithfulness of God to those who serve Him. He will redeem every moment of our lives. It is our responsibility to tell the story.
God is the strength of our life. And He is writing this story.
Our family is going through a hardship right now. And I have learned some lessons I would like to share with the young people of America. In Psalm 71.7 and 18, it says, "My life is an example to many because you have been my strength and my protection...let me proclaim your power to this generation, your mighty miracles to all." We cannot go through this without sharing our struggle with this generation. Our prayer is that 10,000 teenagers will come to Christ through our trial.
I ran across this little booklet several years ago. And one of the phrases that God has been speaking to me about is the idea of 'My Broken Palace'. This concept is the title of the teen outreach booklet from Book of Hope, USA.
Our family is going through this. In the past 18 months, every member of my family has been attacked either physically or spiritually in a significant way. And this trial has been the impetus to our prayers for a generation. What a powerful thought. Not Your Broken Palace. Or, Our Beautiful Palace. We need a reality check in America. It is important that we think correctly. Our mindset in the U.S. is one of ease and comfort. But, that is simply not correct thinking. As a matter of fact, ease and comfort haven't created anything but entitled sleepers. At some point in life, we must admit it. We. Have. A. Problem. My. Broken. Palace.
Pop psychology may say that "I'm okay, you're okay", and pop music might boast "Because I'm Happy", but, the reality is that we are not okay. All have sinned and fallen short of the expectations of God. If we admit this, Christ is faithful to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from unrighteousness. If we do not admit this, the wages of our sin is death.
A Jungle Or a Garden?
The American Dream is no longer a garden. It has been over-run with weeds and unwanted pests. And looks more like a jungle. The American Dream castle that our young people think they are living in is really cracked at its foundation. And looks more like a dungeon. But, there is hope. The brokenness of this generation is real. Today, because teen lives and the teen world are so messed up, young people try to put on pretty. They try to put on peace. They try to put on value. They try to dress up their brokenness. But, you cannot put paint over rust, or, band-aids over a broken arm. I have received hundreds of letters, emails, and personal conversations from students about the kind of things they are dealing with today. BROKEN homes, BROKEN relationships, BROKEN dreams, BROKEN promises, BROKEN bodies, and BROKEN hearts. The palace that we have called The American Dream has become a nightmare. It is simply broken. The castle has been infested by fallenness. And yet, there is an answer. Hear the scriptures that restore the brokenness of our lives:
Amos 9.11 says, "In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be..."
Proverbs 24.30-31, "I went past the field of the lazy man, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgement..., and its wall was broken down."
The Facade
My message to this generation is simple. First, see the Brokenness of the Palace. The facade. Hidden in the secret place beyond the make-up and the labels is a broken young man and young lady. Look deeper and love it. Sure, they may look like a garden on the outside, but, if you look closely, there is a jungle in the life of every teenager. Secondly, see the Palace. There are hurts, rebellion, lies, fear, and materialism. But, do you see the healing, obedience, truthfulness, courage, and sacrifice? Get involved in the life of a teen. Research their music, movies, peers, language, and inner longings.
Inside every prince is a King. And inside every princess is a Queen. And it is our responsibility to pull it out of them. Our prayer is that what we are going through as a family will model to this generation the purpose of God upon our lives. To model to this generation the faithfulness of God to those who serve Him. He will redeem every moment of our lives. It is our responsibility to tell the story.
God is the strength of our life. And He is writing this story.
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