The Ties that Bind

PRAISE THE Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God, for He is gracious and lovely; praise is becoming and appropriate…He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows]. ~Psalm 147:1,3

He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds…God showed me something really amazing in prayer one day at our church concerning this passage. I saw this picture of myself standing at the keyboard during worship, with this gigantic rope tied around me- it had an oversized knot (like a clever Navy-knot) and it was keeping me from falling over. He then took me to a picture of a few people in my life who were broken, and there was yet again, that same huge rope tying them all so tight they couldn’t fall over if they tried. There was a sense of security in the ropes, they didn’t seem restrictive, but instead, were security and safety and refuge.

Some may know the path God has taken me on this past year, others may not. It wasn’t an easy way, and there were many times I felt broken, or like breaking down. Through every step, however, He kept me from falling to the left or the right. I look back and am so overwhelmed by His goodness to His broken, imperfect children.

I feel that Billy was a God-send to me. My heart was finally turned soley toward the Lord...and only He knew at what point that really happened (no matter how many times I said it was)....and then...He gave me the most perfect fit-for-a-life-partner. One day we will truly be bound spiritually-physically-emotionally in marriage.

And though a man might prevail against him who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. ~Ecclesiastes 4:12

I really feel like another tool God uses to bind us is with family ties. There are family ties that do not tear apart! I was able to see this very evidently about 2 weeks ago.

Billy was in town, and had a family wedding in Dallas. We were going to make the trip, and meet his folks and younger brother there (they had to fly in from Cali). My parents decided to drive up as well, and meet the Burciaga fam. for themselves.

I’ll have to admit, I was anxious for this to finally take place, This was a VERY BIG DEAL that would affect our future lives-to see how my future family (in laws) would function and mesh with mine.

We got there, and almost immediately he and I both realized this was going to be a very easy trip. We were so blessed, they loved each other and they had much to talk about! He and I sat off to the side, in our own little la-la land, all googly eyed, without a care or need to know how everyone was feeling- or reacting to one another. What a peace of God there was with us all.

As Billy and I drove home, we agreed this trip solidified our ties as well. We already knew we loved each other, and each other’s family, but now, this was for real. His family was MY family, and vice versa. Oh how good our God is to know us! To know what we need- who we need- and when we need it!

God ties us- to Himself- to one another- and just plain ties us up when we feel too broken to stand on our own. He does all of this with His cords of love! Sweet Jesus lovin’.