Lauren Daigle, Remember

John 10:10 The thief cometh not but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I AM come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

I Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height (or weight) of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart!!!

I Corinthians 6:19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You are not your own.

1 Peter 2:9  ⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰ for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Waiting and Wondering

As I sit in the outpatient waiting, I see broken humanity all around me. I look like the picture of health and vitality and wealth in comparison. But, I wonder? Am I really?

I pray for eyes to see what Jesus sees, ears to hear what Jesus hears, and a heart to feel what Jesus feels. The spectacle overwhelms me. As a nurse, I often grow numb to this brokenness.

Ravaged by the World

Even the employees of this large healthcare facility display the signs of all sin that has cost mankind. It is mind-boggling. Broken souls serving broken bodies.

From what is considered normal like the need for eyeglasses and wrinkles in the skin, to the wheelchairs carrying bilateral amputees to the elderly couple’s shuffling gait, and the young woman leaving the cancer center to go home and wait for the ravages of cancer to consume her; they all move and fight for their best life. Even young people carrying babies walk with a halting gait and low energy.

A Stable or a Temple?

Jesus said he came to give life and life abundantly??? Is this life? Are these the “temples” His Spirit lives in? Will the Spirit choose these hovels? Well, He chose a stable when he came the first time. Did He not? He said He would send us the Helper to live with us. We are the stables now.

Broken humanity congregated, masked in fear of a microscopic but deadly virus. We are brought low by unseen microbes unleashed by our unseen enemy. My eyes fill with tears and my heart contracts in pain. Do I ever make a difference? Maybe all I can do is offer a smile behind the masks we are now mandated to wear.

WWJD

What Would Jesus Do? Touch and heal! Reach out in compassion. Listen. Forgive. Honor.

Jesus does His best to reach broken humanity through us. But, are we patient? Are we kind? Do we touch without judgment? Are we meeting a need? Do we search for the heart of a person or only see the exterior shell?

Lord Jesus, no wonder you wept! Help me remember these illnesses/disabilities are to display the glory of God! Help me not compare my health to their lack or assume they don’t care. The truth is they may be filled with the Spirit of God more than I! In a stable, the poorest of the poor found the LIght of the World! The Hope of mankind! The wealthy, educated, religious, and powerful scorned HIm.

Again, I pray, Lord of all, give me the eyes, ears, hands, feet, speech, and heart of the Savior who alone has the right to judge humanity. Remind me daily, on the outside I may appear like “Canecutters on Rodeo Dr,” (to quote a friend) but on the inside, I may be just a ”snot rag,” in His eyes. (Isaiah 64:6)

 

 

Alisa Turner, My Prayer for You