The Body

I'm reading an old classic - In His Image by Paul Brand, M.D.  It reads like a physiology text and I am loving it!  For today's Wednesday's Word, I will share some of my impressions after ingesting what he has to say.

The physical body is made up of a bazillion cells (can you tell this is in my own words?).  Each cell is distinct, yet connected.  Every cell in my body contains my own unique DNA, which links each one to one another, making them all belong together.  Yet they are separate from one another, individual.  Some work together and function as a group, different from other cell groups, yet all orchestrated to operate in harmony with one another. Every single cell in my body responds to orders from my brain...and every single cell recognizes an inherent bond with every other cell in my body, responding to their needs.  When cells, at least most of them, work as they are designed to do, I am healthy.  If enough rogue cells have their distorted way, my whole body can suffer.

Indeed, this is the picture of the Body of Christ.  We are all separate individuals, yet, because we are imprinted with the DNA of Jesus, we not only respond to His commands but also to the needs of others. In fact, many of His commands involve meeting the needs of others!   Think of the numerous "one another" exhortations in Scripture - "wash one another's feet", "love one another", "serve one another", "teach and admonish one another", "pray for one another", "confess your sins to one another", "comfort one another", "bear one another's burdens", "forgive one another".  When we all "do to one another as we would have them do unto us", the Body functions in beautiful, beneficial, healthy harmony.

 And the world takes note.

"We will, in all things, grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From Him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work"  Ephesians 4:15,16

The path

I was whining the other day.  Not out loud or anything.  And, of course, not to God (ha ha!!).  Just whining to myself in the car.  Generally about the demands on me for this particular stage of life. Looking at the grass on the other side (wherever that is).  Complaining to myself about all sorts of things.   Having a pretty good pity party, actually.  Too bad no one else could come! 

Apparently the Lord heard me, though.  Because I heard Him say something like "count your blessings".  I ignored Him and continued on my way, carrying out some task that was being required of me at that moment.  Sigh.  Poor me. 

As I was driving back home, I passed a house with a large something at the end of the driveway and a sign that said "FREE".  Well, I am Queen of Frugality and I know that you can't get much better than "FREE".  So I slowed down to take a look at the large something, fully expecting a pile of trash.  (Remember the frame of mind I was in!)


"Trash" it was NOT!  It was an adorable John Deere motorized two seat tractor!  My mind is slow but my imagination is fast and I immediately conjured up pictures of Betsy and Jonathan riding around in my yard.  OH yes!  As I drooled over the little tractor and especially the sign that said "FREE", a man came out of the garage and confirmed that I could indeed have this treasure.  He helped me load it up and I was singing as I drove towards home.

Jesus tapped me on the shoulder and this time I listened.  I told Him I was sorry I'd been whining and before I could elaborate, He said something like this - " If you hadn't been fulfilling your obligations  today, you'd have missed this tractor.  I set it out especially for you.  So that you would know that there are blessings and treasures on the path I have marked out for you.  Blessings and treasures that otherwise you would not have. Trust me."

I nearly drove off the road, blinded by tears of gratitude and joy and amazement.  He is so good to me!  More than just a free John Deere motorized two seat tractor.  Way more.  He doesn't yell at me for whining, like I deserve.  Instead, He lovingly blesses me to remind me that He "will make known to me the PATH OF LIFE.  In His presence is fullness of joy and in His right hand, there are pleasures forever".  Psalm 16:11

By His grace, I will embrace that truth.  The path He has marked out for me may be hard sometimes.  It might appear less desirable than a path that I can see across the way.  But I must know that His Word is tru-er than my circumstances and that His path for me is good.  Full of blessings and treasures.  His path for me is the best way. 

Because He's on it.

Shhhh...

Sometimes the best word we can speak is to say nothing at all. Check out these bits of wisdom from Proverbs 17:

vs. 10 -
Whoever covers an offense seeks love but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so quit before the quarrel breaks out.


27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.


Let's keep quiet sometimes...........we might look wise!

Have you heard....

When I was a little girl, a popular TV show had a segment where a group of girls sang a song that went something like this "You'll never catch one of us repeating gossip...so you'd better be sure and listen close the first time!"  Hee-Haw.  Made us laugh every time we saw it.

It's not so funny being the victim of gossip, though.  Can you relate??


God makes it very clear that He hates gossip.  He lists it among murder and pride and lying in Proverbs 6:16-19 --
There are six things the Lord hates – no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.

The dictionary defines gossip as "idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others".  OK, so what's "idle talk"?  Since Scripture warns us about such, we should know what it is.

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  Matthew 12:36

Gulp.  This sounds serious indeed. And it is.  Gossip, or idle talk, consists of things said about other people that are not profitable to the subject, the hearer, or the speaker.

  Gossip is sometimes lies sprinkled with some truth.  Words that cause the hearer to think less of the person being "discussed" .  Words that destroy relationships.  Murder reputations.  Other times, the juicy morsels are all lies.  And irreparable damage is done. But sometimes, gossip consists of things that are true but would have been better left unsaid.  Words that are not profitable for the one being discussed. Secrets shared that should have never been disclosed.

Take a look at these verses with me:
 Proverbs 16:28,  A troublemaker stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret  Proverbs 11:12-13.

I've done it.  Maybe you have, too.  Shared some information that was of no benefit to the hearer or the subject.  It's almost comical how we do it.  "Did you hear that..." or "I don't know if this is right but I heard..."  My personal UNfavorite is the one thinly disguised as a prayer request - "I know you'll want to be praying about this....".  Super spiritual for sure.

I don't know why we are tempted to do it.  When we do, we have fallen prey to the deception that such "sharing" will be beneficial to US.  That by tearing someone else down, we will look bigger. But that's the biggest lie of all.  We not only do damage to others with our gossipy words, but we also destroy our own selves.

Maybe we will be motivated to curb our gossipy tongue when we remember the truth of Proverbs 18:21 -
  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits 

We will enjoy the fruit of life-giving words.  Or we will reap the consequences of death-inducing words.

My Mama says it this way "What goes around, comes around."

Amen, Mama.  Amen.

Why do tragedies occur? 10 things to embrace during seasons of pain

Today, a godly, selfless, radiant wife and Mom of three little girls is being laid to rest. A missionary pouring out her life in a foreign land.  A woman of kindness and enthusiasm and joy. And not that it matters, but she was also very beautiful.


Her young husband is left alone to raise these precious babies and thousands of friends are grieving with him.  Missing Kyra, too.  Wondering how he will manage, where will he land, and why.


From an earthly perspective, it just doesn't make sense.  It doesn't seem "fair".  Why would God allow such a tragedy to befall such wonderful people?  People whose only goal was to serve Him.


I surely cannot answer the "why"  It doesn't make sense to me, either.  If I were running the Universe, I'd take out a whole lot of other people before I brought pain to this family.

Indeed, I cannot answer the "why".


Except with a "WHO". 


All I have to offer myself and the others who grieve today is the confidence that God is Who He says He is.


Here are some thoughts that I am encouraging myself with today in hopes that something might encourage you as well:


1.  God is in control of all of history, including events that bring pain to those He loves. He is sovereign over all.  Isaiah 45:5-7 declares this boldly:
"I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me, there is no God.  I will gird you, though you have not known Me, that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me.  I am the Lord and there is no other; The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all these."
Since He is God, He can do whatever pleases Him and He doesn't owe me an explanation. Even if He explained Himself, there are some things I could not understand this side of Eternity.  Settling the issue of His sovereignty is the first step that leads to peace and joy.  I can trust His absolute control.


2.  God is love and He cannot act apart from His nature.  All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. (Psalm 25:10) and Psalm 145:17 - The LORD is righteous in all of his ways and graciously loving in all of his activities.
His sovereignty would be terrifying if He were not total and complete and unwavering LOVE.  He is immutable (Malachi 3:6).  I can trust His love.


3.  God is always at work to accomplish His purpose. Even if I can't see what He's doing.  Nothing can prevent His plan from unfolding.   Isaiah 14:24 and 27:The Lord Almighty has sworn,“Surely, as I have planned, so it will be,and as I have purposed, so it will happen   For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him?His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back
But the very best part is that His purpose, His plan, is good (for His people, anyway!)...For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 and again in Romans 8:28 -  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whoⁱ have been called according to his purpose
I can trust His plans.


4.  Sometimes He requires hard things of those He loves. Things that cause pain and suffering and doubt.  For no apparent reason.  When we suffer the consequences that accompany sin and wrong-doing, we can see the reason.  When we are living righteously and serving Him with our whole heart and then suffer, that's the times that bring the most pain.  The hard questions.  The penetrating doubts.
Here's what the Apostle Peter says in his first epistle, chapter 4, verse 12:  Beloved, do not be surprised and the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.  So when hardship comes, don't be surprised.  He told us this would happen.  Don't lose heart.  Keep the faith.  He keeps His Word....I can trust Him.


5.  He will judge those who hurt His people.  When tragedy comes, we might be tempted to feel anger towards those who seem to cause it.  But God exhorts us instead to forgive them, to pray for them, and to rest in His judgment.  For the Lord is a God of retribution;he will repay in full (Jeremiah 51:56) He is not only LOVE, He is also HOLY.  And JUST. Resting in the unshakeable truths of His sovereignty, His love, and His good purpose, we can trust and obey His command to forgive.  And to pray not for His judgment on the perpetrator but that salvation would come.  He desires that none should perish.  I can trust His heart.


6.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  God is not a passive observer nor a distant spectator.  Psalm 46:1 says God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble  A very present help  He knows our pain, He hears our cries, and He is right there with us - supplying comfort and guidance and strength.  And even joy.  He gives us Himself.  And we find that is enough.  I can trust His presence.


7.  It's ok to ask Him "why".  I think God would far rather we run to Him with an honest hurting heart and pour out our questions than to withdraw from Him and let our questions fester.  When we do that, we open up our hearts to hear His truth and receive His grace. Psalm 42:9 is such a pouring out - I will say to God my rock, "Why hast Thou forgotten me?  Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"  And, like the Psalmist, when I take my hurts to Him, I find the answer - I can trust that my Hope is in Him.


8.  One day, the suffering and tragedies here on Earth will make sense.  Romans 8:18 explains: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us .  I can hardly imagine what That Day will be like, when the veil that clouds our understanding is lifted and we see Who He Is, His Glory, HIM.  We will know Him, the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of his sufferings, having been conformed to His death in order to attain to the resurrection (Phil. 3:10,11). And this life with all its pain will be eclipsed by Eternity - Oh, how abundant is your goodness,  which you have stored up for those who fear you (Psalm 31:19)   I can trust my future to Him.  


9.  He will give me the grace I need to trust Him in the hard and inexplicable places of life.  When I contemplate what is needed to survive some of the hardships God allows in people's lives, I practically shudder.  I shake my head, knowing I could not bear it.  Even from a distance, the pain seems too great, the requirements too much, the burdens too heavy.  Then I am reminded that God doesn't give me the grace to bear anything that He doesn't give me...that's why it seems unbearable to me.  But when He does call us to suffer, to experience dark paths, to endure the seemingly unendurable - that's when His grace is made available to me.  If I ask.  Not before. 
And that's when I find that His grace is indeed "sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9) I can trust Him to give me grace.


10. I can choose joy. Habakkuk 3:17-19 explains that I can choose joy in the midst of loss and disappointment and pain...and when I find that joy in Him, I find strength and security and peace.

 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
    and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
    and there be no herd in the stalls,
 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
    I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
 God, the Lord, is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the deer's;
    he makes me tread on my high places

No, I cannot explain why tragedies occur.  I cannot give an answer to the "why's" in times like this.  Even though I don't know "why", I do know WHO. 


And I trust Him.


Though he slay me, I will hope in him  Job 13:15