I had an emergency abdominal surgery this past August and that led me into the hardest time of my life physically, to date. After a few weeks of unremitting pain and exhaustion following the surgery, I had begun to wonder if I would ever feel normal again. But, then, about five or six weeks into the recovery progress, I started to really feel much better. By two months after the surgery, I felt basically normal again.
It is now three months after the surgery, and all of my usual activities have resumed. I am able to play Frisbee, drive a car, clean houses, dance, and even do crunches! Most days it feels surreal to even think that three months ago, I was in debilitating pain and unable to leave the couch for even a couple of minutes.
But then I see my scars.
My scars are a reminder to stop and be thankful. To remember where I had been, and to thank the Lord for His healing in my life. I know that we often think of scars as painful reminders of difficult experiences that we have faced. However, I think that it is equally necessary to see the hope in the scars: they are reminders of difficult times, yes ... but they are difficult times that God brought us through!
And the most important scars for which I am thankful are those that I never had to suffer. On the cross, Jesus paid the physical as well as the spiritual penalty for my sin. His body was beaten instead of mine, and His relationship with the Father was severed, as He received the wrath of God so that I wouldn't have to. Now He is resurrected and glorified with the Father in Heaven. However, even now, in His perfect body, He still bears scars that tell of His great obedience to His Father, and His great love for His people.
Thank you, Lord, for scars!
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Monday, November 16, 2015
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Monday, November 2, 2015
He Carries Me While I Walk
The popular poem “Footprints in the Sand” speaks of how sometimes in life we walk
with God, and other times, He carries us. While I appreciate the sentiment, I would say that in my life, God has carried me every step that I have walked! My two years in Mexico were anything but the way that I had planned it. In fact, I went to Mexico as a missionary, without even planning to be a missionary! I just saw it as good ministry training for when I returned to the States.
But God had other plans.
My one-summer commitment turned into a year, which turned into two years. All the while, I was feebly and fearfully trying to follow God. All the while, He was sovereignly leading me. Then came the advice of one of my leaders to return to the States and pursue further Biblical and counseling training which would serve me in future missions work. I had no idea what awaited me, or even whether I would return to the mission field after the end of three years’ schooling. I felt flighty and unsure of what my future would look like, so I just focused on being faithful in the present. And God continued to lead me.
This past May, I graduated from seminary with a Master’s of Theological Studies and an emphasis in Biblical counseling. I plan to be using that degree on the mission field in Mexico City as soon as I can finish fundraising and training for the position. I’m going under long-term status, with no idea what that is going to look like. I tell people that “long-term” just means “no fixed end date. Could be two years. Could be sixty!” Even though there is a huge degree of uncertainty as I stand here on the brink, I also am so excited. It is an incredible feeling to be so close to heading back to a country that I love so much. And I am thrilled to know that the same God who has carried me all of my life will also carry me in these next steps.
with God, and other times, He carries us. While I appreciate the sentiment, I would say that in my life, God has carried me every step that I have walked! My two years in Mexico were anything but the way that I had planned it. In fact, I went to Mexico as a missionary, without even planning to be a missionary! I just saw it as good ministry training for when I returned to the States.
But God had other plans.
My one-summer commitment turned into a year, which turned into two years. All the while, I was feebly and fearfully trying to follow God. All the while, He was sovereignly leading me. Then came the advice of one of my leaders to return to the States and pursue further Biblical and counseling training which would serve me in future missions work. I had no idea what awaited me, or even whether I would return to the mission field after the end of three years’ schooling. I felt flighty and unsure of what my future would look like, so I just focused on being faithful in the present. And God continued to lead me.
This past May, I graduated from seminary with a Master’s of Theological Studies and an emphasis in Biblical counseling. I plan to be using that degree on the mission field in Mexico City as soon as I can finish fundraising and training for the position. I’m going under long-term status, with no idea what that is going to look like. I tell people that “long-term” just means “no fixed end date. Could be two years. Could be sixty!” Even though there is a huge degree of uncertainty as I stand here on the brink, I also am so excited. It is an incredible feeling to be so close to heading back to a country that I love so much. And I am thrilled to know that the same God who has carried me all of my life will also carry me in these next steps.
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