Crutches

He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:16, NLT)

I recently hurt my left ankle and have been on crutches all week. While the crutches have helped me move around, I’m not moving around like I should be. And most certainly, not how I prefer to be.

I’ve had to take extra time to tend to my ankle. Ice, elevate, wrap, soak it as well as orally take anti-inflamitories.

The first thing I noticed about using crutches is, the rest of my body has paid the price by compensating for what my left ankle is not currently performing. 

In other words, when my whole body is doing what it was created to do I can accomplish many things. But since my left ankle isn’t bearing its share of the weight, I haven’t accomplished much.

The Spirit of God has been speaking to my heart and has shown me a direct correlation between my ankle and the church. When the whole church body each does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow so that the whole body is healthy, growing, and full of love.

Of course there are times (seasons) where, the church has to tend to the needs of the hurting. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) But for the most part, the church is created to be healthy, growing, and full of love.

If you are hurt, by all means, tend to yourself and ask others to pray you through to wholeness. But don’t camp out in the city of "Hurtville". Even on crutches, I can help cook, do light housework, and teach homeschool. 

We can all do something on our way to full victory!

And as a sidenote; 

if you feel as if a church has failed you, 

don't camp out there either. 

Just determine to do what the LORD has said to do! (Hebrews 10:25) 

I don't know how many excuses I've heard about why people refuse to go to church but continue to be faithful to going to the bar. 

As if the bar has never failed them. 

Ok, I won't camp out there either.

At times, in the church I’ve seen the same 10% of people doing 90% of the work. That equation results in the churches inability to be healthy, grow, and love as it was created to.

When each part does its own special work, the church is everything God created her to be (Ephesians 4:11-12, Ephesians 4:16) 

Please allow me to lovingly encourage you, if you are looking at the church and wondering why it isn’t…well, let’s just say, healthy, growing, and full of love…please ask the Lord to bring to your attention precisely what your part is in the body. And as He is faithful to show you, please be faithful to do your own special work. (1 Corinthians 1:9, Colossians 3:23, Ephesians 4:16)

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for Your people, the church. Please bring to each and every one of our attention, ways to immediately rise up and do our own special work so that Your church is healthy, growing, and full of love! Lord, we ask You to show us the gifts and talents You have given to each of us, and how we can best use them to serve on another, and bring You all the glory. May everything we think, say, and do, honor You Lord God. And may we always, always remember who it is we are working for. 

1 Peter 4:10

1 Corinthians 10:31

Colossians 3:23

That's Messed Up

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16, NLT)

Last month, I wrote a blog post entitled, "Clean it Up."

Since that post, there has been a tug at my heart to explore another side of "Clean it Up". 

I've been wondering, have you ever seen someone (friend/family{church family or biological family} /pastor/worship leader/their spouse or kids/neighbor/someone at Walmart or on Facebook) carrying a burden that is just too heavy? Has this burden made them accidentally bump into something or someone, making the matter worse? 

Have you seen their huge mess that they have to correct when they are already in a hurry and already have a growing list of things to get done while they are running short on time?

Please, stop what you are doing, run to that person, and I hold them tight. Please listen to them wail for a moment (Hey, we've all needed to wail at one time or another.) Then, tell them, "Everything will be ok, I will help you clean this up."

If you need help helping them, make a few calls/send a few texts…get some help! Work together to clean up the mess, it will only take a few minutes since others are working together.

Help gives hope!

Pray with and for the person, stay in prayer covenant with them until fruit manifests, show them how when we are in hurry and make a big mess, God holds us when we need Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8), and He shows us proper perspective. (Colossians 3:1-4) 

Be the person who rushes in when you hear something has gone wrong and then do everything you can to make everything ok. (Ecclesiastes 4:9) And in doing so, God is blessed as He watches His children love and help one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Galatians 6:2, 1 John 4:7, 1 Peter 2:21, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:32)

Clean that mess with your whole heart unto Him! (Colossians 3:23, Matthew 6:3, Matthew 6:16) Bear the burdens of someone else's mess and give them hope. (Proverbs 22:9, Matthew 10:42) It will bless the LORD! (Psalm 103:1)

We are not alone. Oh…the enemy would love for us to think we are. (John 10:10) Don't believe that lie. (Deuteronomy 31:6, Numbers 23:29, John 8:44) 

Please don't take this as a license to rescue. Stay out of the ditch on both sides! Please take this as "For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all it's various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part (with power adapted to its need) is working properly (in all its functions), grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16, AMP)

Father, I pray for eyes to see and ears to hear, for myself and every reader. We thank You, love has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost! (Romans 5:5) I pray we are not so consumed with our own lives that we miss an opportunity to give the least of these a drink of water, in the name of Jesus. (Matthew 25:40) Thank You for supernaturally downloading love, charity, generosity, and love-love-love in our hearts! By faith, we receive a passion for the lost and we receive a passion to help others…in and out of Your kingdom…when we feel like it…and when we don't…when we think the other person deserves it…but especially when we don't think they deserve it. In the name of Jesus, I will be more like You! In the name of Jesus, I will be more like You and operate like You in everything I think, say, and do!