Laid to Rest

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:4-12, NKJV)

Tonight is a sad night at our home. Sparrow, our beloved butterfly is going home to be with Jesus. As Mike and I console our little girls (and one another) during our loss, I have to share with you the most amazing lesson God taught me through the life of this sweet little butterfly.

To understand Sparrow's background, please read the previous blogpost entitled, "Sparrow, Our Little Butterfly", dated Saturday, January 4, 2014. 

Sparrow didn’t live the full life that all the other butterflies we observed during this project. Initially Sparrow had wings only on one side. Sometimes it was very difficult to watch him struggle. He was very strong at times, but grew tired and weary from not having full use of his body. We helplessly watched Sparrow as he tried to fly but could not take flight without full use of his wings. He fluttered about in his habitat, trying so hard to be all God created him to be, but couldn’t fully function in all his glory with only half his wings. The constant pressure of dragging his body around began to break his thorax down until he was left with only two legs. Continually dragging his body around caused the rest of his body to become very fragile. His wing began to lose it’s vibrant colors as we slowly watched them go from brilliant orange to dull and lose it’s sheen. 

As I observed Sparrow during his short stay with us, the importance of the body of Christ kept coming to my remembrance. Have you ever seen churches unable to live the full life that God intended? It is very difficult to watch that struggle. Those churches can be so strong at times, but can become tired and weary from not having full use of it’s “body". Committed members of those church bodies helplessly watch as they try to “fly" but can’t "take flight" without full use of it’s wings (members). Those churches flutter about, trying so hard to be all God created them to be, but cannot fully function in all it's glory with only half it’s wings (members). The constant pressure of half a church body can begin to break it’s body down until it is left with only two “legs". Continually dragging half a church body around will cause a body to become very fragile, losing it’s vibrant colors as we are left to watch a church go from brilliant to dull and lose it’s sheen. 

As born again believers, we are all gifted for His glory and now is a great time to:

• Pray and ask God to show us our place in His body. (Matthew 7:7 & John 14:14) 
• Commit or recommit to our place working heartily unto Him. (Proverbs 16:3, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23, & )
• Never, ever, ever, give up our place. (Galatians 6:9)

Good bye sweet Sparrow, you will never be forgotten.

That's My Daddy

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:6, NLT)

Sunday, after church, Mike and I went about our normal routine. After church service, he went to the parking lot to get the car while I checked our girls out of children's church. Every week, I get our girls while he drives the car near the entrance to pick us up.

Sunday, our girls and I were walking down the sidewalk when Mike pulled up next to us. When my youngest saw him pulling up and said, "Let's act like we don't see him!" I played along. He pulled up further. She giggled and said, "Let's walk away and keep pretending we don't see him." I continued to play along. We walked. He continued to drive right alongside us. Gracie kept pretending she didn't see him. He slowly drove alongside her the whole time, just watching and waiting for her to respond to him.

 After several minutes I said, "What if he just gives up on you and drives away?" She looked at me with the most shocked look I have ever seen on her face and said, "Oh he would NEVER do that, that's MY Daddy! MY Daddy would NEVER give up on me!" He kept slowly driving beside her and she kept playing the game. She continued ignoring him when he suddenly honked the horn. When he honked the horn, she answered and happily jumped in the car. Game over. 

In an instant, the Holy Spirit showed me how I had played the same game with my Heavenly Father. I pretended I "didn't see Him", I walked away so many times. I ignored Him for years and I surrounded myself with people who played along. Somehow I always knew in my spirit that He was always there, and would always be there right alongside me. 

One day, my Father "honked the horn", I finally answered, and life has never been the same. I don't play games anymore, I try to always be ready and willing to jump in when He "honks"! 

Join me today, let's answer Him by making the following confession out loud: 

Father, in the name of Jesus, we position ourselves to hear You. We declare no games, no pretending, and no ignoring. Please teach us how to be one with Your Spirit on a deeper level! Thank You for speaking to us through Your Word. Thank You for calling us and thank You for moving on our hearts to answer! You and Your love is beyond description. Thank You for You, thank You for Your Son, thank You for Your Holy Spirit, and thank You for Your live giving, life changing Word!