And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:28-30
Happy Monday Girlfriends! I hope your day started off better than mine did.
A rainy day with no sun shining into my bedroom, I fell back asleep after shutting off the alarm. I woke exactly ten minutes before my doctor's appointment to evaluate the increasing pain I have had in my elbow for the last month. Fortunately the office is nearby. Whew!
Welcome to Middle Age
In the office, I had an x-ray after which the physician performed a physical exam, poking and prodding, pulling and pressing. Jokingly, he told me he had no idea why I was wincing. Then, with a gleam in his eyes, the doctor looked up from his thumb, which he was pressing on my forearm, and said, "Welcome to middle age! You have tennis elbow. Depending upon your body, recovery is two weeks to two years. Until then, you need to wear this cute arm band and go to therapy. See you in a month!"
My mind began racing with protests: "Wait! I do not even play tennis! But what about yoga? Down-dog and chaturanga dandasana do not cause pain, only lifting the laundry detergent bottle hurts. Can't I just stop doing laundry and keep going to yoga? And what do you mean, "Welcome to middle age?" Just because I am wearing two pair of glasses, one on my head as needed for distance, and the one on my eyes to read this handout on tennis elbow, does NOT mean I am old. I rejected bifocals last week for that exact reason. Only old people wear bifocals! Can't you see I only feel twenty-nine?"
So then I went to my van and pouted. Middle age, schmiddle age. Pffff. We will just see about that next week, when I am frolicking like child in the waves of the Atlantic ocean, in my bikini. Ugh, bikini. Middle age. Oh fine, I resign to reality. But my heart will remain forever young!!!!
Welcome to Reality
Just yesterday, I told my nineteen old daughter to stop being in such a hurry to grow up, to enjoy her youth while she is in the midst of it. Naturally, she rejected my words of wisdom and continued moaning about how all her co-workers and friends are already twenty-one. Are we not good at that, Girlfriends? Ignoring the voice of experience, only recalling the advice after the time to heed it has passed. Whether you are nineteen or ninety-nine, I am positive you can recall an "I told you so" that still haunts you today! Oh, if we would only listen.
The truth is humans do grow old. Growing old means our bodies are going to age and deteriorate; however, the reality is that physical pain can even attack us in our youth. Athletes experience injuries. Diseases strike as early as infancy. Accidents affect function and mobility. Strength and endurance come and go as seasons of life affect time for exercise and fitness. As much as we try to be healthy, life happens, and our bodies endure the brunt of it.
Welcome to God's Plan
The Good News is that God understands, having lived among us in a human body that suffered physical pain. He has a plan and a purpose for you, for your soul, which transcends your earthly anatomy.
Girlfriends, our greatest concern in this life should not be wrapped up in our bodies--what we will eat, what we will wear:
“This is why I tell you:
Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink;
or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and
the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6:25 HCSB),
or how we look to others:
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”(1 Samuel 16:7).
We are told not to fear injury, disease, accidents, attackers, or even death:
Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. (1 Peter 5:10 HCSB)
Yes, ladies, we are to care for and attend to our health, but the motive for doing so is what God considers. You are uniquely created by God for a purpose in His Kingdom, and while living on earth you obviously need a body to carry out that objective. But why? Well, your body houses God: when you humble yourself and submit to Jesus Christ as your eternal Savior, the Holy Spirit enters and resides within you, giving you access to the very power of God that raised Jesus from the dead.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; Acts 1:8
How marvelous! God within us. And for that very reason, and that reason alone, we care for our bodies in this life:
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Girlfriends, out of respect, reverence, and awe of what God has given you--His very Son's blood as an atoning sacrifice for your sins (Past, Present, and Future)--regard His Word. He alone holds the power to glorify--or to destroy--both your body and soul. He tells you that in the gospel of Matthew: Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Mtw 10:28 Yet in His very next words He also acknowledges His love and concern, for you are worth far more than even a sparrow whose life He also commands. God treasures you even down to the very number of hairs on your head!
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-30)
My prayer for today is that you will look at yourself in a mirror; yes a full length reflection, maybe even one of those tri-folds like in a dressing room. Gaze upon the temple of the Holy Spirit! Admire your beauty through God's vision. Stare into your eyes and see grace, mercy, compassion, and holiness alive in you! Jesus lives, and Girlfriends, He lives in YOU! Talk about getting in touch with your inner self; reality is you are touching God. Hold His hand, draw upon His strength, and know the comforting promise of a new, glorified, healthy, pain-free, eternally glorious body that He will give you in Heaven. That is the promise of salvation that no doctor, no chiropractor, no therapist, no personal trainer can give you. Stand on the Rock and be Strong!
Love you all!
