PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY

So, my sister has been spending time cleaning out some of my mom's drawers.

It's rather amazing what she's accumulated in her 83+ years – and also amazing what she's been able to stuff into drawers!!

Once in a while, my sister comes across a real treasure.

A forgotten piece of jewelry.

A childhood token.

Money.

But the best treasure of all?

Old photographs!

Photos of my mother as a child, me and my siblings as children, and our kids in their childhood.

Precious memories.


As I was looking through some photos that my sister put aside for me, I got to thinking.

Isn't it strange how we can't remember anything from our early years?  Those memories don't belong to us, but rather to our parents and the people who loved us.

Here's an example…

I remember several years ago taking a day trip with my parents.

I drove us to a beach town where my dad had grown up for a portion of his boyhood.  He had so many fond memories there.

We drove around to houses he stayed in, and he told us story after story about people that had lived in the neighborhood – including the man who would shine a huge spotlight into the surf so they could swim until ten o'clock at night!

The general store was still there, and relatively unchanged in 70+ years – the place where he used to buy his candy.

It was a precious time watching his face light up with memories of such good times.

On our way back home, my parents asked me if we could take a quick side trip to the place where they brought me home from the hospital.

Well, sure!

We found it, and just as we were parking our car at the curb, the current tenants drove into the driveway.

Mom and I decided we were going to ask them if we could poke our heads inside.

Dad was mortified, and tried (in vain) to get us to change our minds.

(We left him in the car…ahem!)

So, we walked up the small driveway and approached the people as they were getting out of their car.

They looked at us askance, clearly not wanting to be bothered.

But we persisted.

As I told them why we were there, they smiled and invited us in.

Linked arm in arm, my mother and I entered the little house where I spent my first days of life.

Mom sighed, "It hasn't changed at all."

Then she started pointing things out to me…

"That's the window where we'd put your cradle in the afternoon."

"Here's the kitchen where I washed and prepared your bottles."

"See the sidewalk across the street?  That's where I would walk you in the stroller."


You know, it was a special moment, but kinda eerie.

It was weird to think that I'd actually been in this place, but had absolutely no recollection of it.

And yet, when I looked into the face of my mother, awash with the glow of HER memories of that time with me, I understood something.

Those first few years of our lives do indeed belong to someone else.

Just as the memories I have of my sons in the very beginnings of their lives will always be held in my heart instead of their minds.

I don't know, I thought it was kinda special.

We profusely thanked the people as we walked out.

But then I turned to my mom and said:

"Mom, isn't this the place where Dad backed into the carport on his first day back at work after I was born?"

She grinned.

"Yes, it is."

I grinned.

We wandered down the driveway, and I got to see the infamous carport that has played such a starring role in one of my favorite stories about me being born.

I love that my father, Mr. Have-It-All-Together, was actually kinda thrown by my arrival!!

Good times.

My earliest memory is when I was about 3 years old.

It’s kinda sketchy, but I've verified it with my mom, and I do have the basic details accurate.  My real memories start at about age 4 or 5 – highlights that must have stuck with me because of their meaning.

It's been fun looking at the photos – and sometimes they spur those early memories.

Photographic memory.

Yes.


As I was lying down to sleep last night, I was thinking about those photos, the memories they represent, and the accumulation of moments that a person's life actually is.

Some of it (much of it) is lost to me now.

My memory is pretty good, but even so, it can't contain everything.

But God can – and He does.

I was stilled by that thought.

My entire life – every moment – is firmly implanted in the forefront of His omniscient mind.

He knew all of it before I was born, before the creation of the world.

And He never, ever forgets a thing – never forgets me.

How comforting that thought is to me!

There have been times when I'm watching TV, or attending a huge sporting event, or spending the day at an amusement park – any time I see a crowd of people – and I am overwhelmed by the thought that God knows about every single person's entire life.

Every moment of their history.

All the things that have happened to them.

All the hurts, the joys, the laughter and the tears – their every thought and every feeling.

And He loves each of them.

Just like He loves each of us – as if we were the only person in the whole world.

His love is universal, but also incredibly singular and individually-focused.

I'll never understand it fully.

But I do know this…

He knows me better than I know myself, for He remembers.

The good, the bad, the ugly – my moments are His memories.


I love that the One who created me is the same One who carries me.

From birth to death to eternity – always in His arms.

Never out of His thoughts, ever close to His heart.


And that brings me a comfort and peace that I must always remember…



What's your earliest memory?

Me - First Grade

And yes, I remember this dress!
I loved it!! 

"'I am the LORD, and I do not change.'" (Malachi 3:6, NLT)

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17, ESV)

"…you are always the same; you will live forever." (Psalm 102:27, NLT)

"Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages)." (Hebrews 13:8, AMP)

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." 
(Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end,' says the Lord God. 'I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come – the Almighty One.'" (Revelation 1:8, NLT)

"…the one who watches over you will not slumber.  Indeed, he…never slumbers or sleeps.  The LORD himself watches over you!…The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.  The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." (From Psalm 121:3-5, 7-8, NLT)

"You saw me before I was born.  Every day of my life was recorded in your book.  Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.  How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.  They cannot be numbered!  I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!" 
(Psalm 139:16-18, NLT)

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…" (Jeremiah 1:5, NASB)

"But whoever loves God is known by God." (1 Corinthians 8:3, NIV)

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." 
(Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV)

"'Can a mother forget [her] baby…and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!'" (Isaiah 49:15, NIV)

"'I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age.  I made you, and I will care for you.  I will carry you along and save you.'" (Isaiah 46:4, NLT)

"'…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5, NIV)



Linked with:

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BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

MY WORD FOR 2015 - RECAP

So, my word for 2015…

HEALING.

I remember thinking that I was relieved to have this word.

You see, the year before my word was JOY.

And I remember struggling with that word – especially when it was almost immediately challenged when my father passed away unexpectedly a little over two weeks into January.

Of course, the Lord taught me many things over the course of that year.  

He has a way of doing that.

And in the end, I learned a great deal about true joy.

But, it was a very difficult year.

So, when I felt like God gave me the word *healing,* I was pretty happy.  

"You know what," I thought to myself, "that sounds nice."

Restful and restorative.

Like 2015 was going to be an easier year.

A year in which God was going to make me feel better.

Yup, that sounded really good.

Well, things didn't quite work out like I expected.  This past year we've had more medical things happen than ever before – both with "The Hub" and I, and our extended family.

More tests, screenings, procedures.

More illness, infections, conditions.

Things that have sorely tried my patience with the mysterious workings of the human body!

Emotions have been hurting, too.

And it has NOT been fun.

So, what on earth did God mean by healing?

Why didn't He make me feel better – (as in, *take all the bad stuff away* or *don't have it come in the first place* better)?

So, as I sit here in front of my computer, I'm contemplating what He's taught me about healing.

And really, as I seriously ponder it all, I realize that God has indeed taught me quite a bit – not just about healing, but also about suffering.

Here's what I've learned:

1) You only need healing when you're hurting

OK, that sounds really obvious, but think about it.

People who think they've got it all under control, people whose lives are chugging along just fine – well, they don't need healing.

It's when life hits us smack in the face, when we're suffering – physically, emotionally, perhaps even spiritually – it's then that we need healing.

It's then that we cry out for it.

Yes, if you want healing, you have to admit you're hurting.

"And Jesus answered and said to them, 'It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.'" (Luke 5:31, NASB)

2) Sometimes healing requires more brokenness

Yeah.

Just like broken bones sometimes need to be re-broken before they can heal properly.

Or a tooth needs a root canal and a crown – (which I whined about quite well last week).

Sometimes healing is a process, not an immediate fix.

And sometimes the Lord has more work to do, and we must learn through the pain.

"For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness…" (Hebrews 12:11, AMP)

3) Not all suffering has a reason, but it all has a purpose

Let me clarify this.

Sometimes we might be tempted to put a "label" on our suffering (or that of others).  

We might be inclined to attribute the blame to either God or the devil.  

But, I would caution against this tendency.

Sometimes God isn't trying to teach us a lesson, or the enemy isn't attacking us.

Sometimes suffering just happens because we live in a broken world.

Stuff happens.

So there might not be a "reason" for suffering, but there's always a purpose.

God is not a God of waste.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV)

4) The question shouldn't be why, but how

So sure, suffering is inevitable in a sinful world. 

And as I said above, there might not be a clear place to assign blame. 

However, I think spending an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out why something happened is really a waste of time.

The better question is how.

How am I going to react to this?

How am I going to let God use this in my life?

How am I not going to let the enemy use it?

Refocus from the confusion of the pain, to the completion of the work it will do in your life.

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you." (Philippians 3:14-15, ESV)

5) We were not promised ease in life

Yup, straight from Jesus' mouth.

In this life, you WILL have trials and tribulations.

Healing may not come, or it may not come in the way that you want it – 

But there is always hope, and hope itself is healing.

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, NLT)

6) Suffering for Jesus' sake is a privilege

Ouch.

I don't know about you, but pain is…well…a pain!

And it's hard to recognize it as anything else.  

But in some crazy, God-works-backwards kind of way, sharing in the suffering of Jesus is important, even honorable.

And it requires humility on our part to bear this particular cross.

Do I understand the mystery of it all?

No, but as His child, I'll gladly stand by His side.

"Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  Instead, be very glad – for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world." 

(1 Peter 4:12-13, NLT)

7) God cares about our healing, but more about our sanctification

Sanctification can be defined this way:

"Sanctification involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration."

And though God is not callous toward our pain, His greater purpose is to make us look more and more like His Son.

His perfect will sometimes requires that we are not healed.

And sometimes when that happens, the soul transcends the pain in beautiful fashion, and healing comes in an entirely spiritual way.

Not a cure, but healed nonetheless.

And sometimes in the not-healing, one is given an extra dose of grace and glory.  

"Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was…Then Jesus told them plainly, 'Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.'" John 11:5-6, 14-15, ESV)

8) Jesus understands

We say this so often, does it begin to lose its impact?

Honestly, how can it?!

Jesus, God of the Universe, GETS. IT.

He knew pain, and He also knew the pain of asking for healing, and having the answer be "NO."

The Garden of Gethsemane is evidence of that.

Jesus was not spared suffering.

He was not miraculously healed.

No, He died.

He went through all the travails of being human, and even endured things worse than you or I will ever have to face.  

Therefore, He is our perfect Friend.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are…" 

(Hebrews 4:15, HCSB)

9) You can feel particularly close to God when you're sad, sick, or suffering

I have noticed this to be true.

When I'm hurting, needing desperately to be healed, I am often transported to a small and vulnerable place within myself.

And in that place, God meets me.

Lo and behold, sometimes the healing is just His very presence.

And it is more than enough.

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, NIV)

10) Your pain can allow you to help heal others

Have you ever gone through something, then talked to someone else who either has or is going through the same thing?

And then you hear them say those magical words:

"I know what you're going through."

There is powerful healing in those words. 

And sometimes, our pain puts us in that precious position of reaching into the spirit of another person with comfort and empathy.

And lo and behold, helping someone else brings healing to our own spirit.

Giving brings receiving.

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.  When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." (2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT)

11) The Word of God has power to heal

I can't tell you how many times I've opened my Bible and found just exactly the right passage of Scripture that spoke directly and deeply to my pain.

No, maybe the circumstances didn't change, but I did.

If healing means to set right again, to restore to proper functioning, to be relieved of pain – then the Word of God is my miracle cure.

The words of God possess the power to heal.

"And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled." (Romans 15:4, NLT)

12) It's OK to pray for healing

Again, Jesus is our perfect example.

And once again, I refer to the Garden of Gethsemane.

He asked, more than once, in deep agonizing turmoil, to be spared the pain of dying.

God did not grant that request, and Jesus accepted His will.

But He asked.

And therefore, I believe we are given permission to bring our requests for healing – for ourselves and for others – directly into the throne room of God.

But please, let's not fool ourselves into thinking that our faith is what makes the healing happen.  I am not a fan of the spiritual outlook that supports the contention that if you pray with enough faith, healing will come.

I've seen too many faith-full people die, and I've seen some others who nearly lost their faith over their agonized inability to *drum up enough.*

Whether we are healed or not, that is up to the divine and perfect will of God.

But go ahead and ask – He tells us to do just that.

"…in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6, NIV)

13) When healing doesn't come, you get in touch with your core beliefs

Let me tell you, when one is sorely tested and in desperate need of healing, what we do speaks volumes about our core beliefs.

I have had times this past year when I was just completely overwhelmed and overwrought.  Times when I wanted healing more than anything else.  Times when things didn't work out in my way or timing.

And yet, in the very depths of my heart, I realized something.

God was there.

And I wanted Him more than ever.

Though I did not enjoy the path of pain that got me there, it was a blessing to realize that way-down-deep-inside…I believe.

There is something rather amazing to know that you know what you know.

To know that underneath all the myriad emotions you feel, beyond the pain and suffering, at your very rock bottom...you know that you are a person of faith.

And you will not be giving up.

"As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.  So Jesus said to the twelve, 'You do not want to go away also, do you?'  Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have words of eternal life.'" (John 6:66-68, NASB)

14) Eternal healing will be a victory

Sometimes people are miraculously healed in this lifetime.

Goodness, Lazarus was even raised from the dead!

But, in the end, all people die.

Well, at least to this life!

You see, the final word on healing is still ahead of us, still in the glorious future that awaits us.

Final and complete healing will never take place until we're united with our Lord face-to-face.

It does my heart great good to know that the loved ones that have passed on in my life are now in the presence of God.

And they are awaiting that future time, just like we are, when we will be granted immortal, resurrected bodies.

Perfect and complete – incorruptible.

Free from disease and pain and suffering and death.

Ultimate healing will be the resounding victory that Jesus bought for us with His life.  

Ultimately all our prayers for healing will be answered.

For our victory, bought and paid for on the Cross, will once and forever vanquish death.  Our enemy will lose…

And we will live.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." 

(Revelation 21:4, NLT)

15) Healing is a choice we make

Let me explain.

Certainly the journey of healing often requires "outside help."

Sometimes we can't heal ourselves without the aid of doctors or nurses, psychologists and counselors, surgeries and medication.

Sometimes we need the help of a trusted pastor or fellow believer.

Sometimes our healing, though we can contribute to our own wellbeing, sometimes healing is out of our hands.

But, somehow we must be part of the process.

I think of a very popular book published in 1979 called "Anatomy of an Illness" by Norman Cousins.

Norman Cousins was given a few months to live in 1964.  He had Ankylosing Spondylitis, a rare disease of the connective tissues.  He was told by a doctor that he had a 1 in 500 chance of survival. 

Cousins basically responded, "No way."

And one of the things he did was to laugh.

He chose laughter intentionally, convinced that it would affect his health.

Well, who knows – but Cousins lived until 1990!

(One of his great quotes: "Death is not the greatest loss in life.  The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.")

Research indicates that our thoughts and emotions *speak* to our bodies, and they have a tremendous impact on our health.  Though it's still not completely understood, one's attitude seems to make a huge difference in the progress and prognosis of many diseases.

I believe that there are three things crucial in our contribution to healing – a desire to get well, a fighting spirit, and hope for the future.

A positive attitude is good medicine.

"…by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us.   This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it] – a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells], where Jesus has entered [in advance] as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever…" (Hebrews 6:18-20, AMP)

When I began my journey in 2015, when I was pondering the word *healing,* I felt so strongly that I was given the story of the man at the Pool of Betheseda.  Crippled for many years, he had many excuses for why he wasn't healed.

But when Jesus met him, He didn't immediately heal the man.

Instead He asked him a very pointed question:

"Do you want to get well?"

This question has come to my mind so often during the past year.

I think that was the beginning point of my year of healing – answering that question.  

Because it's not as straightforward as it seems.  

My gut reaction was to scream, "YES!  Of course I do!  I am in pain, after all."

And if I'm honest, I still sorta feel that way.  I want the quick fix, the "take all the bad stuff away" or "don't have it come in the first place." 

But true healing has required learning other lessons.

Lessons of humility, desire, longing, self-sacrifice, surrender.

I wanted to feel better.

God wanted me to believe.

Won't you please come back next week for the *Big Reveal* of my word for 2016?

It's definitely another stretching word, and God has His work cut out for Him when it comes to me!!

But I believe it's a continuation, a further revealing to my year of healing.

Chapter Two, if you will...

I just wonder what He has in store!!

Unto you who revere
and worshipfully
fear My name
Shall the Sun of Righteousness
arise
with healing in His wings.

Please check out my thoughts and verses on HEALING on my sidebar.  They'll be up there until next Monday, when I reveal my Word for 2016, which is...

You'll have to come back.

I love a cliffhanger...

Do you have any additional thoughts or comments on healing?

Linked with:

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BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

A CROWN FOR CHRISTMAS

It's not what you think.

Well, it will be…eventually.

But first, an entertaining little story about my teeth!!

So, earlier this year, I noticed that something was *weird* with one of my back molars.  I was having all sorts of trouble keeping it clean, and flossing it – (You know what flossing is, right?  That thing that you do a week before getting your teeth cleaned??) – flossing was becoming a futile chore.

That's when I noticed that part of an old filling, and a goodly portion of the tooth, had chipped off.

Oh phooey.

(Can't imagine why a 50+ year-old filling was so weak…ahem).

Well, at my next teeth cleaning in June, I mentioned it to my hygienist.

She said, "Well, let's clean your teeth, and then I'll have the dentist look at it."

OK.

Said dentist then came in, and in utter horror, informed me that the gums surrounding this tooth, and his backyard molar neighbor, were in serious need of repair.

"Lucky for you, we now have a periodontist in the office every other Thursday, and he's here today."

Yes, lucky me.

Well, this guy opened my mouth and uttered another expression of horror, and dropped the hatchet of verdict – (that's what I like to call it).

I needed gum surgery.

"Oh, and by the way, there's decay in that tooth, too."

Double-lucky me.


Well, I had the gum surgery in July.

And healed for the next six weeks. 

And put the cavity/filling on the back burner.

After all, the tooth wasn't bothering me.

Fast forward…

Remembering that my dentist was retiring at the end of this year, I called and made an appointment to take care of this.

It was about six weeks off.

I figured that would be fine.  The tooth still wasn't bothering me, and there were countless other things going on that I thought took precedence over a stupid filling.

Uh, yeah.

You know how this story goes…

The tooth started bothering me.

A little bit – and then A. LOT.

And so I lumbered through the remaining three weeks until my appointment.

I went in last Wednesday, now eagerly (??) looking forward to having this dumb molar taken care of…

If wishes were pennies, I'd be a rich girl.

They took x-rays so my dentist would have an accurate idea of where the decay was, and how he was going to proceed.

That's when I was informed that the tooth had *exploded* in the last six months, and he couldn't fill it, and he was going to try to pull some strings and get me into an endodontist for an emergency root canal.

Say what???

He showed me the x-ray, and almost the entire tooth was now consumed with decay.

No wonder it was bothering me.

Well, to cut to the chase, the endodontist was kind enough to stay extra hours to fit me in.  At 5:30 that evening, after close to two hours in the chair, I walked out into the cold evening and muttered to myself…

"What just happened?"

It's kinda good that it happened this way so I didn't have to fret and worry about it ahead of time.  I am not a dental hero, I've never had a root canal, and needles frighten me.  So, having less time to ponder was probably a good thing.

But, we're not done yet.

Next week I have to go in to get my first crown.

And, oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm still going to the same dental office that I've been going to for years – you know, the one that's 2 ½ hours away from our mountain town – so now each visit requires five hours of traveling time.

Yeah, that office.

Sigh.


All I can say is that I'm humming my own version of that classic cute song, "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth."  My version goes like this:

All I want for Christmas
Is one really good crown
A lovely crown
A beautifully functioning crown
Gee, I if I could only have a totally repaired tooth
Then I could wish you Merry Christmas…

CODA:
Except I won't be able
To buy you a gift
For my bank account is empty now, ow...
Yes, my bank account is empty now.
Tra la.


Yup, my version isn't nearly as cute and endearing.

But as I was driving back up the mountain the other day, the Lord revealed to me three things that were true about my root canal and upcoming crown procedure – and how they parallel Christ's arrival upon the earth.

And yes, there's a Christmas devotional in it all.


1) It was unexpected

When I walked into the dentist's office that afternoon at 2 PM, I was expecting an easy, straightforward *drilling & filling* experience.  I was prepared for a short visit, but what I got was an odyssey.

In similar fashion, the arrival of the Messiah didn't happen like expected.

The Jewish people had been looking for a Messiah for hundreds and hundreds of years.  He had been talked about, wondered about – anticipated, sought, and longed for.

Of course, they were expecting a vanquishing King, a mighty Deliverer.

Someone who would swoop into their world and rescue them in overpowering fashion…quickly.

Perhaps he would be a rebel, a revolutionary, a righteous warrior.

A whirlwind.

What they got was a whisper.

A baby.

Unexpected…


2) It was expensive

Any of you who have had gum surgery, or a root canal, or a crown know that all of these procedures are very expensive.  And, adding the expense of my tooth travails to the already hefty costs of all the other medical stuff we've had this year, well, let's just say that it's been taxing on the budget.

Yeah, our Christmas gifts to each other might involve just paying bills…

In like manner, the coming of Christ was expensive, a costly venture that would eventually require the greatest payment of all…

A life.

People were counting on a quick fix, an *in-and-out-and-Israel-is-restored* kind of Messiah.  They would never have guessed that delivering them would cost him his very life.

And certainly not in the way it happened.

On a cross.

Gone was their vision of the hero, the strong and powerful King.

What they got was a beat-up, mangled, bloodied, humiliated, weak, taunted and rejected and abandoned man.

They did not understand that this man was also God.

Yes, the coming of Christ was expensive, for it cost Him so much…

Willingly giving up His place of honor in Heaven, emptying himself of His God-ness, relinquishing His power and majesty, He deigned to become a cell, an embryo, a fetus, a baby.

Helpless and completely reliant on His earthly parents to preserve and nurture His life.

Just so He could one day give it up.

Expensive…


3) It was necessary

Tiny pockets of decay can be fixed with a simple filling.

But decay that has completely invaded and consumed a tooth requires drastic measures.  For if the problem is not remedied, the poison could invade the bloodstream and multiply in rampant fashion.

An out-of-control situation that could one day become fatal.

As much as I tried to stall my treatment, as much as I wanted the *simple fix,* in the end my dental problem required extensive and necessary work.

Why?

Because it was the only way to bring healing.

Is this not the perfect metaphor for sin?

We might look at sin as a minor pocket of decay.  Causing a little aggravation sometimes, occasionally a moment of pain – but easily taken care of with minor correction.

God saw it different.

He saw a pervasive, virulent, poisonous corruption of the very essence of man.

He knew that it was going to require something painful to restore His beloved children to spiritual health, to give them eternal life.

And because of His love, He did what was necessary.

He gave His only begotten Son.

And Jesus willingly gave Himself, and chose to die.

Alas, sometimes the cure requires more brokenness, more agony, more suffering, more misery.

But Jesus did what He did because it's what had to be done to keep sin from killing us.

He literally saved our lives.

Necessary…


So, yes, I've been on a dental odyssey lately.  

And when the title for this blog post came to my mind – "A Crown for Christmas" – I was only thinking about the upcoming "awesome" gift of a new crown for my pesky molar.

But then I got thinking about the King, about Jesus –

About how He laid aside His glorious crown in exchange for a crown of thorns.

About how the whole mission of salvation was unexpected, expensive, and necessary.

I got pondering...

He deserves a crown, but He gave it up…

We do not, but He gave us one anyway…

A crown of life.

An awesome gift!

Oh joy!

Forever live the King!!



MERRY CHRISTMAS, ONE AND ALL!!

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down...
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

"Don't be afraid...Look, your King is coming…" (John 12:15, NLT)

"Because God's children are human beings – made of flesh and blood – the Son also became flesh and blood.  For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death." (Hebrews 2:14, NLT)

"Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor.  'Are you the king of the Jews?' the governor asked him.  Jesus replied, 'You have said it.'" (Matthew 27:11, NLT)

"The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head."  
(John 19:2, NIV)

"…Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.   Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..." (Philippians 2:5-11, AMP)

"They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." (Revelation 17:14, NIV)

"And behold, on the clouds of heaven one like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him.  And to Him (the Messiah) was given dominion (supreme authority), glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and speakers of every language should serve and worship Him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed." 
(Daniel 7:13-14, AMP)

"'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.'" (Hebrews 1:8, ESV)

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.  His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.  He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.  From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.  And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, 'KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.'" (Revelation 19:11-16, NASB)

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12, NIV)



This Christmas let's celebrate our Lord Jesus' journey – cradle, cross, crown – and thank Him for giving us the gift of eternal life!!



Linked with:

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BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

I HATE BEING SICK

I really, really do.

And as I type this, I am sick.  Yuck.

The inside of my nose feels like it's been torched by a flamethrower.  My throat feels like I've swallowed fiberglass.  I can’t taste my food because my sinuses are so plugged up.  My body feels like I've gone twelve rounds with a heavyweight boxer.  My head is doing a rather fantastic job of imitating a jackhammer.  And I just might have a fever.

You can probably tell, too, that I am not a good sick person.

I complain…a lot.

First of all, I'm just mad that I'm sick in the first place.  Somehow I view it as a personal failure.  Like there's something wrong with me because I can't fight off each and every germ that comes my way.  I get angry with my body for being fragile.  I also get kinda perturbed because I am the queen of waterless soap.  Seems like I should be rewarded for my cleanly habits with ever-present good health, right??


Second, I don't do well with the symptoms.  

I am annoyed by symptoms.

I get frustrated with stuffiness.  I don't like having my ears painfully plugged up.  "What??"  I can't stand trying to find a comfortable position for my aching joints.  (Just call me The Princess and the Pea – although you might want to wait until I'm not sick anymore…)  And I hate waiting the 2 or 3 days it takes before my very sore throat gets *coated* and I can swallow easier.

Of course, I also try incessantly to discover why I got sick in the first place. I do this because then I reason I can avoid doing this again.  But, in this crazy world, there are innumerable places that we come in contact with "stuff" – and we are always susceptible to invasion.  Even in spite of waterless soap.


When I'm sick, I get awfully cranky moody.

I start feeling sorry for myself, and I want company all the time.  My poor husband.  He can't disappear for five minutes without me calling him.  "I'm lonely.  Where are you?  Come sit in here by me."

Illness = Instant Regression to 5 Years Old.

I sometimes cry – though I try to limit crying until my throat feels better. Nothing like a good sob to inflame fiberglass.  So, usually I just whimper a lot.

And, I just love how I look when I get sick.

My long hair is all tangled in the back of my head like the rear side of a tapestry.  I avoid brushing my teeth.  My eyes are watery and red.  My skin is pale.  I stay in the same clothes for days.  I am a living example of the verse in 1 Peter that says, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment…"

Nope, not winning any pageants here – unless it's "Mrs. Congested Uncongeniality of 2015."


But, I've got to tell you something – "The Hub" is an amazing nurse.  

He brings me all sorts of stuff, and sits with me, and mutters nice words of pity and encouragement.  He rubs my feet and pats my head, and really does all he can to make me feel better.

He tells me he'd rather be sick than me.  That he'd take it upon himself so I wouldn't have to suffer.

And you know what?  He means it!!

And in these blistering days of brain fog, I realize one thing that's true.


My husband is being like Christ to me.


Here's how he’s doing that:


1) He commiserates with my infirmities

I've often wondered if Jesus ever got sick.  The Bible tells us that He is our High Priest, tested and tempted in every area that we are.  So, I'm going to assume that He felt the travails of being human, including being sick.

And if not sick, He certainly understood physical pain.

Jesus, uniquely God and man at the same time.

So, He knew what it was like to live without pain and disease and suffering. He knew what it felt like to be omnipotent.  But, He also chose to enter the human condition – to experience the limitations and liabilities of being finitely ensconced in a frail and faulty body.


Therefore, Jesus empathizes with my illness.

"This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do…" (Hebrews 4:15, NLT)


2) He ministers to my needs

This is also what Jesus did.  He met people where they were – sick, blind, lame, faithless, angry, depressed, lonely – you name it, Jesus was there, providing what people needed.  Of course, the ultimate need that Jesus took care of was our "sin sickness."  He did what it took to procure a permanent cure.


Always and forever, Jesus takes care of our needs.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, NIV)


3) He gives me comfort and encouragement

Oh, indeed!  And is there any better comfort than knowing that Jesus cares for us?  Is there any more encouragement than knowing that these temporary ills are just that – temporary?  When our bodies fail, our spirits can soar in spite of them because of the hope we have for the future.


Jesus whispers promises of eternity to me.

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…" (2 Corinthians 4:17, ESV)


4) He keeps me company

You know, being ill or physically impaired is really a lonely place.  It can be very isolating to suffer.  Sometimes people are "there" for us initially, but over time their presence can disappear.  After all, it can be hard to be around someone who isn't well.

One can be reminded of their own frailties.  Or they can tire of the demands of the afflicted person.  Or they succumb to the depressing circumstances.  Or they just run out of words to say.

But really, the very best comfort is just the presence of someone else.

In the beginning of his travails, Job's friends got it right – "Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights.  No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words."  (Job 2:13, NLT)

Sometimes that's all we need.

No words, no clichés, no platitudes.

Just someone's presence.


And the unflagging and unchanging presence of Jesus is something that we can count on in every single moment of our lives – now and forever.

"'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5, NIV)


5) He'd be willing to take my place

You know, it's rather amazing to me when my husband tells me he wishes he was sick instead of me.  I've been known to say that to him, too, but maybe not always as sincerely!  His pain at my pain is plain to see.  He would do anything to spare me discomfort.  He's so unselfish that way.

And Jesus – oh, do we need to say more about His self-sacrifice?!

He actually DID take our place.  He did indeed transfer our pain and suffering and sin onto His own shoulders.  God's pain at our pain was so intolerable that He sent His own Son to do something about it.

And Jesus willingly obeyed.

The Bible tells us that some of us might be willing to lay down our lives for another person.  

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die." (Romans 5:7, NIV)

But, would any of us ever think of dying for a traitor, a terrorist, or a murderer?  Would we sacrifice our lives for someone who was absolutely "no good"?  I think not.

But this is what Jesus did.  

He died for us – when we were still sinners, and therefore abhorrent to God's perfect holy character.  He died for us – when we were still enemies of righteousness.  He died for us – when we didn't even fully realize that we needed Him.


He died for us – He took our place – because He loved us.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us." 
(1 John 3:16, NIV)


So, my friends, are you sick or suffering?  Are you physically maimed or hurt? Are you groaning in the confines of your diseased and dying body?

Are you discouraged by the affliction of being human?

Then take heart!

For we have Jesus.

The One who commiserates with our infirmities, ministers to our needs, gives us comfort and encouragement, keeps us company…

And not only was willing, but did indeed take our place.


Can you hand me a kleenex?

And not for my stuffy nose this time…

My heart is overwhelmed by my Savior's presence.

My New Best Friends 

"The LORD nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health." (Psalm 41:3, NLT)

"My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." (Psalm 73:26, NLT)

"So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16, ESV)

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, NASB)

"...after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the dominion forever and ever.  Amen." 
(1 Peter 5:10-11, ESV)

"'...I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.'" (John 10:28, NASB)

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'

And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'" 

(Revelation 21:3-5, ESV

What helps you deal with physical infirmity?



Linked with:

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BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"