SCARS ARE NOT UGLY! SCARRED? GOD HAS PROMISES FOR US…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Do we understand the difference in UNITY and HARMONY? Do really understand deeply that God really loves us? Am I convinced that God works out the details of our menial daily lives to bless us and keep us safe in his purpose? God has your back! Your front! And your sides! GOD CAN HANDLE THIS IF WE DO HIS WILL. God works in unity and in harmony…
SCAR: a mark left on the skin, within the body, or emotional or mental from being wounded, burn or sore. The injury then repairs itself as best as it can to heal the injury.
WHY SCARS?
A mark remaining after the injury has healed is a sign of survival. The scar is the mark left by the healing process. We must learn to allow and recognize scars are God’s way of bringing about healing.
Few people will die without any scars… FROM EVERY WOUND THERE IS A SCAR. WE LEARN EVERY SCAR HAS A STORY. EVERY SCAR’S STORY IS “I HAVE SURVIVED AND YOU CAN TOO…”
SCARS? WHAT ARE SCARS?… WHY SCARS?
I was sitting at a table with one of the most scarred individuals I ever met. Thousands of people know DAVE ROEVER from his worldwide ministry. I heard Dave was going to be in our area. I never had the money to attend the event. But I had seen Dave Roever’s testimony on video and TV. I love Dave. I decided I would go and sit in the hallway and listen. This man walked by and asked why are you sitting here? I explained I will leave if you want me too. I told him I was a pastor of a little church and I loved Dave’s ministry. The man said, why don’t you come in? I explained I did not have the money for the diner and the event. I asked can I just sit out here and listen. The man said: NO! You can come in and sit at the head table with DAVE ROEVER. The man took me by the arm and lead me to the head table. The others sitting at the table were millionaires and had flown in on private jets. Then this nobody pastor from a nobody place was sitting with the honored guess? Wow?
I sat there praising God in my heart. My right elbow was touching MR. DAVE ROEVER. Seems that 8 months into Dave Roever’s tour of Vietnam. He was in the Navy on a gun boat. Dave was shot in the hand. He had a phosphorous grenade in his hand and the grenade exploded. Dave’s survival and his life are miraculous. Dave was in the hospital 14 months and he was burned beyond recognition. Dave has had at least 60 major surgeries. He is so scarred… His hair, his fingers, his ear and 80% of his body was destroyed. Dave lived and is disfigured, but his scars have been a message of hope to thousands around the world. Dave thought of suicide in his dark days. But God raised Dave’s SCARS TO WITNESS IN THE USA AND AROUND THE WORLD. One of Dave’s greatest works have been to return to Vietnam and offer love. Dave speaks to thousands of wounded warriors. The DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SENDS DAVE TO SPEAK TO HURTING PEOPLE.
DAVE SAYS: WHAT HAPPENED TO ME IS NOT A DISADVANTAGE, IT HAS BEEN TO MY ADVANTAGE. HE SAYS HE IS PROUD OF HIS SCARS AND STRIPES.
While sitting next to this NAVY MAN I SAW GOD’S HAND AT WORK. One of the special guess at the table spoke of scars and how terrible they are. Dave questioned that reasoning. Dave said do you know why I am sitting at this table? My scars have opened thousands of doors to scarred people. Dave said I have ministered to men and women that have lost their arms and their legs. I have spoken to blind soldiers, and to Gold Star families that have given their warriors. All this has been made possible because God allowed me the privilege to serve my nation, my God and my family. Dave said working through the pain has been terrible. See my fingers, they were once my toes. But Dave said my personal relationship with JESUS CHRIST lifted me about the doom and gloom of these scars. Dave said I AM HERE TO SPEAK TO OVER 1,000 PEOPLE BECAUSE OF MY SCARS AND SURVIVAL.
He went on to say: THERE ARE SOME OTHER SCARS THAT HAVE TOUCHED THE WORLD. DAVE SAID JESUS HAD TERRIBLE DEEP SCARS ON HIS BACK. HE SAID JESUS’ HANDS AND FEET WERE SCARRED. I AM HONORED THIS DAY TO CARRY THESE SCARS UNTIL I SEE MY SCARRED SAVIOR.
Dave’s humor and serious lessons have touched the world. He raises money for orphaned children in Vietnam.
He has hugged and given thousands of backpacks to those in Vietnam.
THE SCARS YOU CARRY TODAY… THE PAIN THAT YOU SUFFER… THE HURT AND REJECTION… THE MISUNDERSTANDING… THE LONG DARK VALLEY HAS A PURPOSE. WHILE WE KNOW HuRT PEOPLE HURT PEOPLE. WE ALSO CAN TRUST THE PLAN AND PURPOSE OF GOD TO HELP AND MINISTER TO OTHER PEOPLE…
GO TO U-TUBE AND WATCH.
GOD PREPARES US FOR THIS DAY BEFORE THIS DAY ARRIVES. WILL WE REALIZE THIS HURT? THIS PAIN? THIS MISUNDERSTANDING? THIS HEARTACHE? THIS BEING EXCLUDED? THIS IS ALL A SEASON OF PREPARATION FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS…
IS THIS GOD’S PUNISHMENT OR IS IT GOD IS PREPARING TO BLESS ME? Joseph had a dysfunctional home? Is this God? He was hated by 10 brothers. Is this God? Thrown in a pit. Is this God? Sold to slave traders. Is this God? Put on a slave block and sold? Is this God? Goes to Potiphar’s house as slave. Is this God? Accused of rape. Is this God? In jail. Is this God? Forgotten in jail. Is this God? Surviving the scars is God’s plan.
Genesis 41:37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
MY SCARS? MY BROTHERS, ALL THIS BAD STUFF WAS GOOD STUFF THAT PREPARED US… GOD KEEPS THE 70 FAMILIES MEMBERS WHEN THERE WAS NO WAY… NO WAY? GOD’S WAY.
Genesis 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
WE MUST QUIT NURSING AND PICKING THE SCABS AND FEEDING OUR SCARS. GOD PREPARES US FOR THIS DAY BEFORE THIS DAY ARRIVES. WILL WE REALIZE THIS HURT? THIS PAIN? THIS MISUNDERSTANDING? THIS HEART ACHE? THIS BEING EXCLUDED? THIS IS ALL A SEASON OF PREPARATION BLESSINGS…
Genesis 41:37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
MY BROTHERS, ALL THIS BAD STUFF WAS A SCAR THAT WILL BRING GOOD STUFF THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR US… GOD KEEPS THE 70 FAMILIES MEMBERS WHEN THERE WAS NO WAY… NO WAY? GOD’S WAY. OVERCOME THE SCARS?
Genesis 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
THE SECRET TO SURVIVING THE SCARS CAN BE FOUND AT THE CROSS: WHEN THE LORD IS WITH YOU…
Genesis 39:2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Genesis 39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
Genesis 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
5 TIMES WE HEAR THAT JOSEPH AND GOD SURVIVED THE STORM.
BE A CATALYST FOR A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE…
*DR. EVERK R.STORMS of Ontario wrote an article in CONTACT MAGAZINE that he had studied the Bible for years. Dr. Storms says:
*The Bible has 8,810 promises.
*There are 7,487 promises from God to man.
*There are 991 promises made from one individual to another.
*There are 290 promises from man to God.
*There are 9 promises made by the devil.
*There are 2 promises made by evil spirits.
*There are 2 made by God the Father to God the son.
CONCLUSION: Many teach “TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS.” This may not be an honest evaluation. WOUNDS THAT CAN MAKE DEEP SCARS MAY BE GOD PROTECTING US. GOD NEEDS TO REMIND US, DON’T PUT YOUR HAND BACK IN THE SAME TRAP. THIS SCAR IS FOR YOUR BENEFIT AS WELL AS OTHERS.
The pain may ease some. But the scar teaches us kindness and patience and longsuffering. Lord, teach our minds that scars are not heavy or ugly… dead people do not form scars… SCARS MEAN I SURVIVED. SCARS TEACH OTHERS THEY CAN SURVIVE.
IF WE KEEP CHRIST LIKE ATTITUDES SCARS CAN WITNESS TO OTHERS. Many carry the scars of divorce, broken homes, foster care, terminal disease, death, abuse… this scar could be this wound has made me a better and stronger person…A SCAR IS EITHER A REMINDER OF HURT OR A REMINDER OF SURVIVAL… YOUR CHOICE?
Divine elevation comes by being faithful to your post of duty. Divine promotion comes with hours of constant prayer and surrounding yourself with God people. SURE YOU CAN KEEP SCREAMING, FUSSING, GRIPING WILL NOT KEEP THE ONES THAT LOVE YOU FROM LOVING YOU. BUT YOUR MEAN, SARCASTIC WORDS THAT YOU SCREAM WILL KEEP THEM FROM LOVING THEMSELVES AND GOD’S BLESSINGS. GOD TAKES BAD STUFF TO BUILD HIS CHURCH. May we testify God delivers.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Trust God’s plan… You can see on YouTube
