23rd

23 Jul 2012 1 Comment

by Lori in Uncategorized Tags: , ,

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Psalm 23:1-6 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

On this, the 23rd day of July, I am reminded of the 23rd Psalm. Z had a fabulous doctor visit today. Absolutely fabulous. God is good, faithful, and true. He is omniscient and omnipresent. The beginning and the end.

However, a year ago I was scared. We stepped through the door He asked us to, but still the doubts crept in. What if Z is really sick? What if we can’t handle it? What if… What if…

God knew. He knew Z was tough. He knew D would be an awesome big brother. He knew B would get a promotion (yay). He knew Z and E would love each other so much. He knew that it was all GOOD before I did.

Thank you God. Thank you for helping us not to say no.

What is God asking you to do today that makes you want to scream no from the rooftops (but His Word says to say yes)?

Also, Happy Birthday to my mother-in-law. We love you!

Body

15 Jul 2012 4 Comments

by Lori in Uncategorized Tags: , ,

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Ok, you know it is trouble when I say, “I was reading Bonhoeffer this week.” Well, I was.

The section I was reading was discussing being the body of Christ, and what that REALLY means. It was pretty heavy stuff. Funny how you can read the Word, and just not GET what Christ is saying. No wonder the poor disciples stayed confused.

The Church is the Body of Christ. This I know. No really. The Church is the Body of Christ. He is our head. We are the members. He died in the flesh. To rise in the flesh. His Spirit in our flesh. The Church is a moving breathing being. Why then would we want to hurt it? It is part of us. Literally connected on a level that I will never fully comprehend this side of Heaven. Never.

Could you imagine your own body parts doing their own thing? Hurting each other. Fighting. We would never get anything done. We also would not survive long. Think about when you are sick. How an infection in on part affects the way your whole body feels.

The Church is the same. Divisiveness. Bickering. Gossip. They have no place in the church or the Church. It is not healthy. A healthy Church follows Christ. The Bible says it all.

Also, read a little Bonhoeffer. It is good for you!

Matthew 5:29-30 ESV

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

John 12:24 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

1 Corinthians 6:15-17 ESV

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.