Watch your step: there's an evil snake on the loose, trying to trip you. You can't always see him 'cause he's slithering about, hoping to catch you unawares, hoping to make you at least stumble if he can't get you to fall.
Last night at church, the pastor spoke on Genesis 3, when Satan was cursed by God and made to crawl about on his belly for the rest of time. Before the service started, I was talking with a beautiful new friend of mine who was telling me of some problems she has with her legs from a fall she took. And earlier still, I read--on Facebook, of course!!--about my neighbors who are going to water aerobics because of hip problems. Lastly, during the night when I should have been resting, my own legs were bothering me.
Hmn. Not to brag, but all of the folks I just mentioned are God's children. Some evil thing doesn't want us standing, being upright, and on the move because... because when we are on our bellies and out of commission, we just can't do as much. We're likely to get looked over because folks expect when we are down that we cannot do things to help others who are up. And to an extent, they are right. It sure is hard to spread the gospel from a hospital bed or recliner and only be able to view the world rather than be a part of it.
I have this friend Betty who has been struggling with back issues for far too long. She hurts every day but you know what? She keeps going. She keeps working through this pain, knowing that one day it will end but until that day she has a job to do. Stay in her home and moan and whine about how badly she feels? Ha! Not this Betty. Nor this Brenda, nor Ed and Palma. Nor me. If ever there was a time for God's kids to stand, it's now. Just because ol' slew foot has to crawl around doesn't mean we are confined to his fate. A friend of mine who was in a head-on car crash a few years ago that broke her leg is at this moment in Honduras on a mission trip where she is touching lives for Jesus. Thank You, Lisa, for boldly going where many of us who are healthier would not.
It's easy to give in to the pain, friends. It's easy to sit back and feel sorry for ourselves. What's hard is to press on. To run the race. To bite back the screams of agony and turn them instead into shouts of joy. It can be done. It IS being done. The harvest is plenty and the workers are few. Like Ruth, let's get out there and bring in those sheaves. Our Redeemer is waiting for us. Let's not go to Him with empty hands.
Pray with me?
Dear Father, so many of Your kids have problems, physical ones that make standing for You harder than when their bodies are cooperating. Some of the problems are mental as Your children fight the madnesses and sadnesses that threaten to steal and keep our joy. Strengthen us, Lord God. Empower us to overcome the momentary sufferings and help us to fix our eyes on You. As Pastor Dale reminded us, You not only begin things: you complete them. May we be complete in You today is my prayer, asked in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Last night at church, the pastor spoke on Genesis 3, when Satan was cursed by God and made to crawl about on his belly for the rest of time. Before the service started, I was talking with a beautiful new friend of mine who was telling me of some problems she has with her legs from a fall she took. And earlier still, I read--on Facebook, of course!!--about my neighbors who are going to water aerobics because of hip problems. Lastly, during the night when I should have been resting, my own legs were bothering me.
Hmn. Not to brag, but all of the folks I just mentioned are God's children. Some evil thing doesn't want us standing, being upright, and on the move because... because when we are on our bellies and out of commission, we just can't do as much. We're likely to get looked over because folks expect when we are down that we cannot do things to help others who are up. And to an extent, they are right. It sure is hard to spread the gospel from a hospital bed or recliner and only be able to view the world rather than be a part of it.
I have this friend Betty who has been struggling with back issues for far too long. She hurts every day but you know what? She keeps going. She keeps working through this pain, knowing that one day it will end but until that day she has a job to do. Stay in her home and moan and whine about how badly she feels? Ha! Not this Betty. Nor this Brenda, nor Ed and Palma. Nor me. If ever there was a time for God's kids to stand, it's now. Just because ol' slew foot has to crawl around doesn't mean we are confined to his fate. A friend of mine who was in a head-on car crash a few years ago that broke her leg is at this moment in Honduras on a mission trip where she is touching lives for Jesus. Thank You, Lisa, for boldly going where many of us who are healthier would not.
It's easy to give in to the pain, friends. It's easy to sit back and feel sorry for ourselves. What's hard is to press on. To run the race. To bite back the screams of agony and turn them instead into shouts of joy. It can be done. It IS being done. The harvest is plenty and the workers are few. Like Ruth, let's get out there and bring in those sheaves. Our Redeemer is waiting for us. Let's not go to Him with empty hands.
Pray with me?
Dear Father, so many of Your kids have problems, physical ones that make standing for You harder than when their bodies are cooperating. Some of the problems are mental as Your children fight the madnesses and sadnesses that threaten to steal and keep our joy. Strengthen us, Lord God. Empower us to overcome the momentary sufferings and help us to fix our eyes on You. As Pastor Dale reminded us, You not only begin things: you complete them. May we be complete in You today is my prayer, asked in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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