God, Fix it!: Why God Favors the Broken

By Karyn Masters

Have you ever experienced a “dry spell” in your life where you feel like you’re just going around in circles, but never quite getting anywhere? Do you feel like you can't find your purpose in life?  
 
Encountering that dreaded “desert place” can be brutal, but it’s your attitude during this dry season that will make you or break you. Having the right outlook will help you to walk successfully through the difficult times in life. These dry periods do not have to be a place of lack and stagnation. Instead, you can treat them as a place of growth; growing wiser, growing stronger, and becoming more disciplined. When you face the desert place with an attitude of abundance, you will come out of it with miraculous blessings!  
 
In "God, Fix it!", Karyn Masters shares with you her personal walk in the desert and how she came out on top stronger, wiser, healthier, and more blessed than ever before.  
She explains how:  
-fasting brings enlightenment  
-praying bolder than ever gets results  
-the wilderness is a time of increase and reward -staying hopeful is possible-even when faced with a bleakness of spirit  
-God brings you into the wilderness in order to bless you  
 
Become confident that God will make a way where there is no way. Know He has special plans for you, in fact, He says they are "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11. Masters demonstrates how to rejoice even in times of darkness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karyn Masters
• Release date: Jun 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386697800

Book preview

Acknowledgements

Toby, my husband, love of my life—God has given me a mission and you have stepped aside to let Him work in my life. Not only have you allowed for everything God has thrown my way, but you have welcomed it, as well as joined in, with radical abandonment. I love you for that! You stop at nothing to make sure I am able to live out my dreams and my calling. Nothing drives me more than your enthusiasm, devotion, excitement, and passion for my writing! You have accepted everything God has brought us with open arms, and this truly proves your love and dedication to Him as Master of our lives! Thank you for not allowing me to abandon my dreams; always giving me that push, shove, and twist of the arm I need to carry on when that I-can’t-do-it attitude tries to sneak its way into my head.

Heather and Chase Jentz—I thank you with all my heart for the fabulously beautiful book covers you keep pumping out. This is what happens when you have a family full of talent … you get awesome book covers! I love you guys!

Thank you, Kathy and Gib Jentz for being my editors this go-around, because nobody can ever get it perfect enough for me! (Smiley face sticking out tongue goes here.)

My final (and biggest) thanks goes to God. Thank you for giving me purpose. For many years I traveled a road seemingly going nowhere and just when I’d given up on a plan for my life, You showed up—not only with a plan, but one full of overflowing abundance. During this desert walk and the writing of this book, I have lacked for nothing. In fact, it couldn’t have been a more prosperous time in my life. I have grown in faith, strength, wisdom, and gratitude. I have learned what it means to love others more than I love myself, and that a total stripping down is necessary at times in order to receive Your blessings on my life. I will never speak words of doubt over my life again. Through You, I can do all things. Through You, I have everything. And in You, my heart resides!

Foreword

TOBY MASTERS

It all started with a phone call I received on December 16, 2009. Karyn and I took a leap of faith and moved from our home in San Antonio, Texas to the unfamiliar territory of Birmingham, Alabama. During our time there we encountered several trials that tested our faith. One in particular, which I refer to as the Birmingham Bath, was our brief visit to Rex Lake Road (Karyn had found a rental property online that seemed to be ideal for us). Shortly after we arrived and started to clean and unpack, we noticed the sewage was backing-up into the sinks and toilets throughout the house. The owner of the home gave us three days to vacate. If that wasn’t bad enough, the moving trucks had arrived with our belongings and were waiting to make delivery.

Having to deal with this situation just days away from starting a new job in a new city was quite troublesome, to say the least. My mind went to what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:13, No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. What Paul is saying is: We, as Christians, are not to go around the trial, but to go through it with the Word of God abiding on the inside of us. We’re to do this because, on the other side of this trial, is the victory robed in righteousness..

Our situation got worse. Karyn and I found ourselves bathing in the kitchen sink using the dish sprayer. Yes, I said the dish sprayer. (REALLY, GOD?) This was an especially difficult time for Karyn, in fact, I felt she was about to crack. I remember telling her I couldn’t do this alone, and I needed her to be strong. My stress level was also through the roof, but as the man of the house, I couldn’t dare let her see I was only one stop away from the looney bin.

We spent every minute of daylight driving around an unfamiliar city, desperately trying to find a rent sign in a yard. It felt like a hopeless situation, and being on limited time made matters even worse.

We were tired, hungry, desperate, void of hope, and discouraged—which brings me back to Paul’s words once again. He writes, But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Again, victory is ours. God literally ushered in grace and replaced the fear.

This book, God, Fix it, explains and shares testimony after testimony of God’s grace upon the lives of Christians during trials and tribulations. It echoes that our faith should be more than anthems we sing; it should be the cornerstone of our Christianity. God, Fix it! is a cry-out for the Son of the Living God to pour out His blessing, favor, and grace upon our lives. To help us and lead us, not only in times of struggle, but in times of happiness as well. My prayer to you is: May the blessing of the Lord be upon you, and may His heart and intention be fulfilled in your life. To God be the glory! Amen!

Introduction

I can just imagine what you’re thinking: Oh, look, a book that has all the answers on how I can fix my life if I stop doing this and start doing that! Once I’ve incorporated A, B, and C into my daily routine everything will magically become better. I can’t wait! (Sarcasm at its fullest.) No, no, no! This is not another how-to book on living problem-free. It’s not even a prayer book, not that there’s anything wrong with that. If there’s one thing the world needs, it’s more prayer! This book is not about me telling you how you can have it all or fixing every single problem in your life today! It’s not a book on how perfect your life could be if you concentrated more on A, B and C! There’s nothing about how to live a perfect life! Instead, this book is on brokenness and healing: Oh great, Karyn, just what we need, another book on healing our past hurts, pains and afflictions! (More sarcasm.) Well, it’s not that kind of book either. I’m not going to tell you how to mend your broken heart, forgive others or how to find time for yourself. Then what in the world is this book about? Well, I’ll tell you!

You see, I’m writing this book in real time. My husband, Toby, and I are going through something right now. And that something is big! In fact, lately, we’ve experienced some pretty profound transformation. Currently, I don’t know left from right or north from south, because everything is in turmoil in our lives. (Sorry for the cliff hanger. You’ll have to read on in order to find out what I’m talking about.) When I say we’re going through something big right now, what I mean is we’re going through something gigantesque! But I thought I would go ahead and share with you this (hellish? heavenly? horrible? awesome?) adventure in which I’m about to partake—from beginning to end—as it unfolds.

Why would I decide to write a book about something that hasn’t happened yet? Well, for two reasons. First and foremost, God told me to. This was actually His idea, not mine. I was in my own little comfy world working on not one—but two outlines for my next great book ideas when in came this booming voice, "Stop everything! I’m getting ready to turn your world upside down and really shake your faith to the point that you may need therapy afterwards. But that’s okay because the outcome will be prolific!" Okay, maybe that wasn’t the exact wording He used, but it’s pretty much what these ears of mine heard!

My second reason is because whatever ground-shaking transformation is about to hit me, I’m already aware that I can’t do this on my own! I’ll go insane if I don’t have anyone to unload on, and my hubby isn’t an option. He views all of my insecurities, worries, fears, anxieties, doubts and stresses as me letting my eccentricities take over. Little does he know craziness is ingrained in me; it’s how I function. I’d feel so empty without all my negative emotions.

I don’t think Toby even understands the meaning of stressful situation. The house could be crumbling down around us and he’d be sitting in his chair, feet propped up, football on the big screen, not blinking an eye at the chaos going on around him. He has the ability to separate himself from everything he doesn’t like and go into his own little satisfying world. Not me! Once I’ve pulled out half the hair on my head and bitten my nails down to the cuticle, it’s either straightjacket time or somebody’s got to jump aboard this crazy train with me! That’s where you come in. You get to ride the crazy train with me for a while. Won’t that be fun? I bet you’re brimming with excitement!

This was our mindset a month ago: You see, for so long our lives were all hunky-dory; the sun was always shining, the birds were cheerfully singing, and we were praising God’s name every day because we had so much to be thankful for. Our lives were blessed, blessed, blessed, I tell you! What could go wrong? And even if bad news dared to rear its ugly head in our world, our wonderful disposition and positive outlook on life couldn’t be phased, shaken or shattered. Just try and shake the ground we walk on! See how strong we are! We are children of the Most High! (Oh, whimper!) My, how quickly one can fall, fall—and fall some more! Let me give you a little insight without having to go into too much unnecessary detail.

We were living out our dream lives thanks to our gracious God! Dream jobs, dream salaries, dream house, dream city, dream friends, dream ministry—well, you get the picture! Then along came … (wait for it) … change! Change is such an emotional word. Change can be good. Change can be bad. Change is never easy, or simple and it always involves many facets, but usually, and I use the word lightly, usually, it’s for the better.

So in walked change. I did not want a visit from change, so I didn’t welcome it. I don’t like change to come when everything is great and nothing needs to be, well, changed! I yelled out, Right now, Lord? But we’re sooooo … comfortable! I can’t do change right now! Needless to say, He didn’t listen. In fact, I think I heard Him chuckle at my pathetic display of agony and despair.

There are several stages to change:

First comes strength, I can do this.

Then comes desperation, "Please, God. I’ll do anything, just let me have my old life back. I’ll never complain again!"

Then anger, Do I need to count all the times I gave up the things I needed in order to give back to Your Kingdom? (Tapping of my foot.)

Back to desperation, "Please, God, please have mercy on me." (Tears, tears, and more tears.)

Once these avenues were exhausted (I’m already a few weeks into this), and I was getting nowhere with the Lord (well, He may have chuckled at me a few times more), it was inevitable—reality set in—change was underway. It was what it was, and all we could do was to sit back and let God work. Hey, what’s so wrong with that, right? I’ll tell you what; it’s scary! No one likes to feel as if they have no control over their circumstances, or over their own future. And right now, we feel completely controlless (I make up my own words), not to mention completely clueless.

This is my story of how God rattles my cage, and how perfectly or imperfectly I handle what He throws my way. Notice I’m speaking in the present tense because it hasn’t unfolded yet. This is just the beginning. I want you to walk with me, day by day, as I talk to you about, yes, prayer, and yes, healing, but also brokenness and just life in general. Together let’s experience what it means to be a child of faith; what it means to live a life of trust and dependence upon the Lord. Flashbacks of past experiences will be a regular event with me. You’ll learn fairly quickly that it’s almost impossible for me to tell a story without flashing back to a time when something similar was going on; or invading a friend’s privacy by sharing his/her story with you (yeah, I’m good that way). Flashbacks are a good thing to refer to: They illustrate how one progresses and advances, regardless of surrounding circumstances. At least in this book that’s what my flashbacks will depict.

But as we trek down this path together, keep in mind that this book is not about me (believe it or not). It’s really about God and how He works in our lives. God wants me to write this book to show you there are hidden blessings in every miserable situation, every tough time and in every why-God-why moment we experience in our lives. As you read, try to see past the actual situation and instead focus on how God works. Notice that He’s the God of turnaround! You may be wondering how I could possibly know He’s going to turn my situation around when it hasn’t happened yet. I know this because He’s my God, and my God is good! (Plus, I don’t think He’d have me writing this book if it was going to make Him look bad in the end, do you?)

I plan to show you firsthand (on paper) as I go through my own battle of the unknown, what it means to be a child of God, and what is entailed in order to walk in a life of faith and hope, putting all your trust in the Lord. Not only will I be journaling my good days when the Lord comes down and pours out His blessings all over my life (happy moments), but I will also be journaling on the days when I feel I can’t go on another minute, and I want to crawl to the smallest, darkest corner of the earth and curl up in a fetal position, and maybe even suck my thumb. That’s right, I said it! Real time. Real me. I will show you that brokenness is okay. Brokenness is inevitable. Brokenness is something God adores. Brokenness makes warriors of us. Brokenness is me … right now!

ONE

It’s All About … ME!

I drink because I am a sensitive and highly-strung person

~Ellise Elliot (First Wive’s Club)

Real Time

So, who is this chick who’s writing some offbeat book about brokenness and humility? you may ask. I have no problem answering that question or telling you exactly how offbeat I really am! Well, all my life my nickname has been Goldie, after Goldie Hawn. Why? Just watch the movie The First Wives Club and it will explain everything! Although I’ve been compared with Goldie’s character, Elise Elliot, on too many occasions to count, let me defend myself by saying … I beg to differ! Elise Elliot’s eccentricities are much more pronounced than my own. (Roll eyes here.)

Okay, I give in. I can’t hide the fact that I’m eccentric or that I like to mix peanut butter and garlic and spread it on toast; although the last time I did this my hubby threatened divorce—not good. (Side note: No amount of mouthwash will rid you of the smelly breath that lingers behind.) You’re probably thinking: Wasn’t Elise an alcoholic? Um, yes, you’re right… I believe she was. Let’s just say I’ve put a few down the hatch in my past as well. But that’s a Flashback, a thing of the past that I’m not too proud about. Maybe it was in my drinking days in which I best resembled this particular character of Goldie’s, but that’s a debate for another day.

So now that I’ve exposed my love of gross foods—or should I say the mixing of two foods that do not complement each other in the slightest—and revealed I once drank like a fish, I’m ready to make my next confession. I’m a huge germ-a-phobe! What! Were you expecting something worse? I definitely have some skeletons in my past, but I’m trying to keep this simple (and clean), for now, that is! What’s my point? I’m just trying to illustrate how pretty darn normal my life is.

I’m married to an awesome, God-fearing man. We live in a new development where we recently built our first new home together, and we have three fur-kids. We’re huge foodies. Besides my disgusting concoctions, we love to cook and eat. We go hiking every chance we get and sleep in a tent. Yes, I sleep in a tent, but don’t think I’m tenting it anywhere that doesn’t have nice facilities! That’s a must! You know I’ve got to have a place to take a shower, plug in my hairdryer and do my make-up. Toby says I’m the only camper/hiker who wears make-up. So be it! There was a day when I cared about what others thought of me, but that day is long past, my friend!

Okay, let’s see, next confession.… Ah, yes, I’m also a technology junkie. I love, love, love my Internet! I’m the Googling Queen. I bet you didn’t know that I know almost everything because I’ve Googled it, and what I don’t know—just give me a minute—I’ll Google it! I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve wasted to date by just browsing on the Internet. It’s certainly not something I’m proud of. There are times when I’m so glued to my iPad that Toby, literally, has to pry it out of my hands. So, yes, this is pretty much me in a nutshell. I wouldn’t say I’m your average gal, yet there’s nothing shockingly unusual about me either. Okay, the peanut butter, garlic mixture is a bit unnatural, but outside of my attraction to horrendous food combinations, I’m a pretty ordinary gal!

Here’s my point! God can take an ordinary person and transform him or her into someone extraordinary. He can take an average lifestyle and turn it into something spectacular, something you could never, ever, dream up on your own. One thing I’ve learned through my walk with Jesus is to never put limits on a limitless God. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve prayed for specific things, putting my own limits on the desires of my heart. I thought this was the correct way to pray.

One day the Lord spoke, "Why are you limiting me? I know no limits. Stop asking so small. I’m a big God, ask big! Um, alrighty then. Let me tell you … it took me no time at all to rework/reword/redesign my wants, wishes, dreams and desires! I have never asked small again! How dare I insult a big God with my small requests! And how dare I place limits on a limitless God! Let’s get real here; if the Lord says He’ll make a way where there is no way (Isaiah 43), then I completely comply. Who am I to turn down an offer like that? I say, Bring it on!"

Before Toby and I wed, we were living in sin … big time! We liked to tie one on every so often, didn’t particularly watch our language, didn’t practice celibacy; premarital sex was no big deal, I mean, we’re not living in the dark ages anymore, right? Who waits until marriage to have sex? You see where I’m going here! Although I grew up a Christian, went to a Christian private school and attended church the majority of my life, being totally obedient in all (or most) areas of my life wasn’t a necessity to gain entry into the gates of Heaven.

So what’s the big deal if we indulge in a few sinful acts that we can repent for later? We’re only human, right? Wrong! But that was our attitude. I even practiced the occult thinking it was somehow holy and that God had blessed me with special abilities that allowed me to be psychic and to communicate with the dead. It was my cousin and a biblical counselor who God used to wash the scales from my eyes, which enabled me to see that my disobedient lifestyle was attracting evil; causing demonic oppression.

Once the Lord enlightened us to His truth, we immediately stopped everything that wasn’t in agreement with God’s Word and started living as the obedient children He expected us to be. Our lives changed drastically, and almost overnight! We stopped drinking, not allowing even a sip of an alcoholic drink. We stopped using profane language and quit listening to all secular music. I discontinued all occult practices. Even though I had quit visiting psychics several years earlier, I was still practicing what is sometimes referred to as good magic. I would tell my fortune using Tarot cards or Angel cards and regularly read my horoscope. I would light candles and say prayers when in reality that was spell-casting.

I would smudge my home, which is lighting sage throughout the house and praying. Again it’s spell-casting. Let me be clear on one thing before moving forward—there’s no such thing as good magic. The Bible does not differentiate between good and bad magic. There’s only one type of magic and it’s evil. After we stopped lusting after the things of the world, we surrendered our lives to Jesus and started following Him, and then everything