Lemons to lemonade…. It can seem such a long way from one to the other- at least from our mortal perspective. Today, I meditated upon an old favorite – Psalm 147. In past years, it has provided great comfort. I hope that each person taking the time to read this will take more time to actually read the Psalm and meditate upon its beauty and truth.
When Life Hands You Lemons……Rest by Dr. Potter’s amazing wife
Rest. It’s such a nice word. It’s such a popular concept. But, why does it seem so elusive? In our frenetic culture, the rest is often talked about but seldom practiced. Then, there is that all too pervasive human tendency to fear and fret- even when sitting still.
I have a friend who is a gifted visual artist, and her musings and artistic insights often strike me as significantly profound life lessons. Well, the other day, as we sat on her patio taking in the warmth of the spring sun while pouring over paper and pastels, she began scribbling on a page. That’s right,
Effective functioning as Christians is only possible if we learn to view health as God has revealed in the Bible. A fragmented view of person and community will never restore wholeness to either. While we know that God’s ultimate plan for physical and spiritual wholeness will not be perfectly complete until the next life,
Another intimate prayer song from David delivered to God at a time of great uncertainty when he had been seized by the Philistines. Needless to say, David was once again in a tight spot. In this, he pours out his plea to God. Telling God what he surely already knows—the enemy is relentless. The enemy is “trampl[ing] on me all the day” (vs2) he cries.
Modern medicine, in viewing the patient through a purely secular lens depersonalizes the “sick person” into an object for study and calls them a patient. The patient is no longer whole, but an object divided into smaller and smaller parts as specialization focuses on organs rather than the whole person.
Relationships are devalued.
“In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.
But you have rejected us and disgraced us….” Ps 44:8-9a
Honestly, this Psalm makes me a little uncomfortable. Could I really cry out in such a raw and honest manner? Especially aloud? Do we really boast in God and yet He still rejects us?
“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
