Monday, April 3, 2023

"The Broken Ones"

 "When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory: and before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.' Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? Or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? When saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? Or naked, and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?' And the King shall answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.'"

Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, 'Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not.' Then shall they also answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee?' Then shall He answer them, saying, 'Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.' And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

Matthew 25:31-46

Wow. I don't know about anyone else, but a sense of solemnity comes over me when I read this. To think that the very thing that distinguishes the sheep from the goats is their reaction to the needs of those around them shakes me to my core. 

As indicated multiple times in the Old Testament and throughout the life of Jesus, God has a deep love and concern for those who are in need. Widows, orphans, hungry, thirsty, inadequately clothed, homeless, sick, and imprisoned souls have a very tender, special spot in the heart of our dear Lord. 

As I read this passage of Scripture tonight, my mind returned to various times throughout my life when I was in need. Here is a brief glimpse into just two of the multiple memories that flooded my mind.

I was a little girl with ponytails, sitting in the back seat of our car, parked in a parking lot near this Sears and Roebuck building in Dayton, OH. 

Dad was out of work, and we were completely down on our luck, with literally nowhere to spend the night. I remember how sorry I felt for my dejected Daddy as he stood at the phone booth calling my uncle to see if they could put us up for the night.

Many years later, I was in my late teens, sitting in the parking lot of the bank where I worked, again, with literally nowhere to spend the night. I remember sitting there trying to figure out a way I could sleep in the upstairs department where I worked and not get caught by my co-workers when they came in to work the following morning. The sense of utter hopelessness that washed over me was beyond overwhelming.

Many other situations are far too personal for me to share but suffice it to say that I know what desperation feels like. I know how it feels to be looked down on, to not fit in, to feel insecure and unprotected, and to be judged by the very church people who should show the most compassion. I learned early on that just because someone "should be" kind certainly doesn't mean they will be. 

 Standing at this viewpoint, I realize that many of my life experiences have fostered a deep sense of empathy in me for those who are suffering, poverty-stricken, and ostracized. While I would never wish some of the things I have gone through on anyone else, I have learned to be thankful for the deep lessons they have taught me.

Maybe that is why I was so drawn in when I first heard the Talleys sing a song called "The Broken Ones." I loved this song from the first time I heard it, and recently, I sat down with my guitar and recorded it. Later, I added photos and lyrics, and this video is the result. I hope the powerful message of this song ministers to you and inspires you the same way it has blessed me. 


And, may we all ever keep Matthew 25:31-46 front and center in our minds. I surely want to be counted among "the sheep" on His right hand, and I long to hear Him say, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

31 comments:

  1. Cheryl, I love your heart for people and the compassion you show. What you and your family went through is hard to even think about, but I'm thankful for the ways God has drawn you to Himself. You encourage me to keep clinging to Him.
    I listened to this song again and it's so timely as in the Bible study our church is going through, the past two weeks have been lessons on service and to have the heart of Jesus who loves all, even those who are outcasts.
    Thank you, dear friend, for this humbling post. God bless you!
    Love,
    Valentine

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    1. Dear Valentine, thank you so much for your kind words! I am so grateful for your support and encouragement. May God bless you, too, dear friend. Sending much love to you today.

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  2. Beautifully sung and put dear sister Cheryl, thank you. I pray for you and yours each evening.

    Yes, we must love like the LORD does. Having a lot of health issues has made me learn compassion, and to me there's no greater joy than being a blessing to others.
    God be with you all sis.

    Thanks for sharing, and may God bless you and keep you and all whom you love safe and well.
    Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. X

    {Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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    1. Dear Shaz, it was so wonderful to see your sweet comment. It meant so much to me. I am SO sorry that you are going through health issues and trust the Lord will lay His healing hand on you. You will never know how much it means to me to know that you pray for my family and me every evening. I love and appreciate you dearly, sweet friend. I am praying for you, too.

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  3. That was beautiful Cheryl.

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  4. Beautiful.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

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  5. What a gift you have, Cheryl - and what a story you have to tell. I am so glad that we both have learned empathy and compassion from the hard places in our lives - instead of becoming heard-hearted. If you lived close, I would ask you to teach me how to write lyrics!!! That's something I've always wanted to do! (I am not a singer LOL). Shalom, my friend, - and bless you for sharing what God has put in your heart!

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    1. Dear Maryleigh, thank you so much for your sweet visit and kind words. Yes, thank the Lord, He has softened us through our heartaches and turned our pain into compassion for others. I wish we did live closer to one another. I don't think we would ever run out of things to talk about and share! I didn't write this song—I wish I had! It has been one of my favorites for a long time and surely expresses my heart, but I can't take credit for this one. Shalom, sweet friend.

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  6. Beautiful recording! I'm so thankful for the way God watches over us and helps us love others, too. Blessings to you, Cheryl!

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    1. Dear Gayl, thank you so much! Many blessings to you, too!

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  7. I love how God brings beauty out of the ashes of our lives, Cheryl. I love that touching song! May we love like Jesus! Thank you for encouraging my heart today. Love and blessings to you!

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    1. Dear Trudy, I love how God does that, too. He is so faithful and so good! Thank you for your kind words. I love the song so much, too. Much love and many blessings back to you!

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  8. Beautiful song, Cheryl! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. Have a wonderful week in the Lord.

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    1. Dear Donna, thank you! It surely is such a beautiful song. I hope you are having a wonderful week in the Lord, too, and may your Easter be abundantly blessed.

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  9. What a powerful song you shared Cheryl, you sung it so beautifully! I've heard the Talley family sing this song and its message always struck my heart too. The passage in scripture has always been a fearsome one to read indeed. Like you, very few times in my life have I truly been desperate with no one to turn to. But enough times to know God's hand reached further down than I could reach up! May the blessings of the Lord be with you this weekend as we remember His work for us on Calvary!

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    1. Dear, sweet Marilyn, thank you so much for your kind words. I love and appreciate you and your support and encouragement more than I can say. May the blessings of our Lord be with you, too!

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  10. Wow. What a sweet song. I've never heard it before so thank you for sharing. I agree, "if everybody loved like Jesus, there'd be a lot less broken ones." Reminds me of the verse in Jude "and of some having compassion, making a difference." Sadly we live in this fallen world with many broken people, but I'm so glad Jesus is in the business of putting broken people back together again.
    Prayed for you today, friend, and I do hope you and your family have a wonderful Easter tomorrow.

    Sending hugs and much love, <3
    Ashley

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    1. Dear Ashley, I'm glad you like this song. It has touched my heart so many times and motivated me to reach out in every way I can. That verse you shared is just amazing. Thank you so much for that. You will never know how much I appreciate your prayers. We did have a wonderful Easter. I hope you did, too. Sending hugs back to you and much love and gratitude for you and your precious friendship.

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  11. Thank you for sharing this beautiful song, Cheryl. I was so blessed listening to it earlier this week, and now it's a double blessing today. I join you in praying that those memories of breaking times we've gone thru will continue to increase our compassion and prayers for others! Bless you, dear friend!

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    1. Dear Bettie, your sweet comment meant so much to me. Yes, may the dear Lord let it be so! Our world has never needed the love of Jesus more. May God richly bless you, too, dear friend.

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  12. Oh Cheryl, how beautifully you sang the The Broken Ones. The pictures that you chose were perfect for the video. You certainly had some desperate situations in your life, but I know they shaped you into the wonderful storyteller and singer that you are, and who has an empathetic heart for friends. Oh how we all suffer through things, but HOPE and FAITH are our anchors. I hope your Easter was filled with many blessings of Joy and Peace. Our Lord has risen! Prayers are always said for you and your family.

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    1. Dear Kitty, how touched I was by your kind words! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Yes, there have surely been some desperate times. Looking back, I can see how His wide arms of mercy held me, as the song says. I so appreciate your comment. Our Easter was so blessed, and I trust yours was, too. Yes! He is risen indeed! You will never know how much I appreciate your prayers. Sending much love to you today!

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  13. Hi Cheryl, yes I agree that if you have empathy then you have sympathy. Many people will say that all people who do nasty things are evil, but I disagree. I worked as a prison visitor on a lifer's wing. There was one person there who did not care one bit that he had killed someone. Yet there was another young man who cried every day. He could not forgive himself for killing his best friend with a claw hammer. When I went into his cell and he told me this I told him that because he was so repentant then God would forgive him. This changed him completely.

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    1. Oh, Brenda! That pitiful young man! I'm so thankful God placed you there to shine the light of Jesus' love and point Him to the One Who is our only hope! I hope he is continuing to seek the Lord.

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  14. Cheryl, what a beautiful song and voice! Our life experiences make us better or bitter. Our relationship to the Lord changes us and makes us compassionate. Thank you for sharing from your heart filled with love! May God continue us to bless you!

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    1. Dear Pam, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kind words! I am so grateful for your encouragement and support. May God bless you, too, sweet friend.

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  15. This is just lovely, Cheryl. In this time of so much division in our world, it's easy for us to retreat into ourselves, forgetting to be generous to the most vulnerable. Thank you for this reminder.

    Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I'm featuring you this week!

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    1. Dear Richella, you will never know how much I appreciate your kindness and sharing of my post. It truly meant so much to me. May God richly bless you always.

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  16. Oh, I love The Chosen TV series. A peak at how human Christ is. There is something soothing and assuring with the Scripture. It's a beautiful reminder of how everything will work out in the end.

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