Are You Ok? Beautiful Pieces

Story: Boulder is a “City without a soul.” As quoted by a former mayor. We have the greatest wealth, but we give the least to non-profits and global relief. We are the smartest people with the highest level of degrees per capita, yet we have the least volunteer hours of other major cities. There’s something broken with that… right?

While Boulder ranks as the “Happiest City In America”, it doesn’t take but a few months of living here to figure out that we are also the loneliest, most isolated, and busiest city in america as well. There are moments of mountain top sunrises and fresh powder selfies, but then in the quiet and depths of our souls, the other 99.9% of the time, we are desperate for a healthier mental space.

We can go on pretending like everything is ok, or we can acknowledge that we can be better and start a conversation. The reality is that Boulder is beautiful, but it’s broken. A healthy city that serves, gives, and loves well is made up of healthy people that do the same. But to see a city restored, we have to see people restored.

We’re going to spend the next few minutes getting super practical in how to restore some things that are broken in our lives. Specifically related to mental health and restoration.

Passage: Philippians 4:4-9 NLT

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Pray:

Title: Beautiful Pieces

Big Idea: God specializes in taking the broken and making something beautiful.

Main Points:

1. Broken To Restoration
   1. Questions: What in your world feels broken? What in your mind feels off? What are some blockers in your mind that are keeping you from living a full and abundant life?
   2. I want to give you a few areas of our thought lives that God wants to restore.
   3. Fearful to Faithful
      1. You may not be a fearful person, but fear can creep in and come on strong.
      2. Questions: What’s something that has made you afraid? Maybe something that you lose sleep over?
      3. Fear is not from God. It’s a tactic of the enemy. It’s his strategy to take you out!
      4. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
      5. God wants to restore your mind. Give you peace, rest, and sound judgement. He doesn’t want you to live in fear.
      6. Has fear ever benefited you in your life?

   4. Depressed to Joyful

      1. Depression definition: “feelings of severe despondency and dejection.”

         1. Self doubt creeps in and then turns into depression. You can choose self doubt or self awareness.
         2. Self awareness can lead us to a place of dependence on God, self doubt will lead to self destruction every time.

         3. Feeling of not enough, I don’t belong here, I am a failure. 2. “for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” - Nehemiah 8:10 NLT

         4. The word strength means “a place or means of safety, protection refuge, or stronghold.”

         5. When we’re in the depths of depression, guilt, shame, and insecurity is a natural byproduct.

         6. Jesus offers forgiveness, not shame. He offers grace, not guilt. He fills with peace, not pain. 3. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” - Psalms 51:12 NLT

         7. Being restored in God’s grace is His work, not ours.

         8. We receive, He restores

            5. Workaholic to Surrendered
               1. This is my biggest struggle. I often pursue being a workaholic as a means to satisfy a hunger to control instead of living a surrendered.
               2. The biggest issue with being a workaholic is not time, but trust.

         9. Question: Do I trust in my own efforts to bring about happiness and fulfillment or and I trust in God to provide all that I need? 3. Too often I see people become workaholics as a means of escape and not out of a motive of responsibility

         10. You should work hard. You should pursue excellence. You should give it all you have!

         11. But you should also take a sabbath. You should be taking moments throughout your day to reset and focus on God.

         12. Question: Do you trust God with 6 days of work? The same is true for tithes, do you trust God with the 90% of your income? 4. God wants to do a special work in your mind, but you must commit to the healthy practice of sabbath and pulling away for rest.

             6. Selfish to Generous
                1. “I’ve never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I’ve done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.’” - Acts 20:33-35 MSG
                2. Scientifically speaking, generosity and serving others releases dopamine in our minds and gives us a feeling of euphoria and inner peace. Science didn’t create this, God did!
                3. Question: Would you consider yourself a selfish or selfless person? Are the habits in your life for your benefit and welfare, or for others?

         13. We believe generosity is not a burden or obligation, but a blessing and a privilege.

         14. God gave us the give to give! That’s why we do Love Boulder events. That’s why we love sending cards and gift cards to friends that are hurting. That’s why we encourage and honor others around us.

             7. Anxious to Peaceful
                1. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
                2. God gave us a process for anxiety. And it’s actually quite simple, don’t worry, just pray. And as we pray he offers a peace that is beyond anything we can possibly comprehend.
                3. Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength” - Corrie Ten Boom
                4. Illust: Check Engine Light

         15. Question: What’s your check engine light?

         16. Broken And Beautiful
             1. Illust: stories of things going well, then tragedy strikes

      2. “Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the face” - Mike Tyson

      3. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond.

         2. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
         3. Patience & Perseverance

      4. It’s much easier to mess it up than it is to put it back together.

      5. Using a process can actually speed up the progress, but going into it with no plan will slow it down.
      6. Instagram is everyone showcasing their finished product… it’s all a lie! It doesn’t show the failures, the upsets, the broken pieces.

      7. Broken But Becoming

         1. “We trust him to produce what I am actively choosing to pursue.” David Landrith
         2. 7 Practical Steps to Restoration

      8. Bring others on the journey

         1. Your process is only as good as those you bring on the journey 2. Elevate your thinking

         2. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

         3. What voices are you listening to? 3. Go to God

         4. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 4. Listen, Listen, Listen (Word, Worship, Wind)

         5. Think relationships and intimacy, not checking off another box. 5. Meditate on truth

         6. “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” - Psalms 1:1-3 NLT 6. Encourage someone

         7. Think of something that would be life giving for you to do for someone else. 7. Set a healthy rhythm

         8. You need to identify your season so that you can set your rhythm.

         9. We’re going to focus on this next weekend.

Closing: Restored people, restore cities.

In 1967 the church walked away from Boulder. Today the church is more unified than ever before. We’re not walking away from the brokenness. We’re not listening to the negative voices, we’re following one voice!

We’re not here to change the city, but to serve the city and believe that God is going to change the city through our prayers and faithfulness.

“For I am about to do something new.

See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

I will make a pathway through the wilderness.

I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” - Isaiah 43:19 NLT