sanctification

Home Maintenance

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

As I sit here typing this, I hear movement on the roof of my house. The workers are replacing a section of old shingles. A few weeks ago, our area had a nine inch rainfall overnight. It left us with a leaky roof, while some neighbors had water up to their front porches. On the next street over, one house has been evacuated ever since due to damage from flooding. In comparison, the leak that sprung in our bedroom seems minimal when I think of those who’ve had to relocate. But still, it is a nuisance to be woken at five thirty in the morning with water dripping on your face weeks after the big rain storm.

But today is the day the roof gets replaced. And I’m so thankful. It’s been a slow five weeks, and with each rainfall more water dripped into the bedroom. An upcoming house project will repair that damage soon. Plus, we have some minor plumbing repairs to complete in each bathroom.

I’ve learned that the work of being a homeowner is ever ongoing. As the house ages, so does everything in it. Appliances, furnace, air conditioner, plumbing, roof, windows. You name it. The list is never ending. And that doesn’t include weather related issues that can pop up at a moment’s notice. The work of being a homeowner is never done.

I’d rather put my money to good use on fun projects, but that isn’t in the cards yet. Essentials must come first. There will be time for more landscaping and backyard updates, but today isn’t the day.

In the two short years we’ve lived here, we’ve had two other roof leaks and three plumbing leaks. Last year, we replaced the air conditioner. Now we’re waiting for the very old furnace to pump out it’s last breath of warm air. Hopefully, that won’t happen this winter. It’s survived the past two winters, so let’s hope for a few more. I’m assuming its end of life will be in the middle of an extremely cold snap.

I enjoy owning a home, but honestly, I don’t enjoy the work that goes with it. But that’s part of the deal when buying a house. Unfortunately for us, previous owners didn’t routinely handle minor repairs, and now it all falls on us. Slowly but surely, one repair and one replacement at a time, we’ll have this house in tiptop shape.

I think of our house and how many service calls we’ve made in only two years. Just imagine what else happens to a house if regular maintenance isn’t done. Corrosion and damage will start in hidden areas not seen on a daily basis. By the time it’s obvious something is wrong, there’s either an odor or noise or stain that shows that something is going wrong behind the scene.

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:2

I sometimes see photos of abandoned houses on social media, and I wonder what happened that would cause someone to just walk away from their home leaving everything inside. And I can imagine all the issues that abandonment would cause for any new owner of that home. It made me think about my relationship with Christ. I can just imagine all the pain and trouble I could cause if I didn’t maintain a growing relationship with God. What trouble would I stir up if I ignored or walked away from my faith?

Imagining for a minute what that could look like makes me realize that it would be easy to lean toward a life centered around myself. I would start to focus on my feelings more than I would focus on God. Life would be built on only what pleased me. My relationships, my work, my finances, my leisure time, my hobbies. Me. Me. Me. And the list can go on endlessly. I could get caught up in activities that would be harmful to my health and finances. I could spend my money frivolously on whatever I wanted. I could treat others with the worst of contempt and turn my back on them. I could start hobbies that were meaningless and selfish. I could applaud those who openly pursue evil. And I might join them. Who knows.

When a faith goes stale, some may think it’s by accident. And it’s most likely not planned. But it is an intentional shift in priorities. It’s an RSVP to an invitation that opens the door to unthinkable possibilities. And not in a good way. It’s a drawing away from God, when his plan is to draw his people closer to him. Nothing good can come from this shift, because it will lead to a path of spiritual destruction if left untended.

But a life centered around the will of God is one that isn’t centered on me. The focus shifts. And God does an awesome job of pruning the parts of me that are fruitful and he takes care of the branches that don’t bear fruit. And what does that look like? What does God’s pruning actually clean up in me, and what does he lift off the ground? The Greek interpretation of pruning is to “lift up”, so the dead wood isn’t necessarily removed but it’s lifted off the ground so it can get sunlight and produce fruit. If God is lifting the unproductive parts of me off the ground, then he believes that part of me can become productive. When I’ve left for dead a gift or talent that God can use, he sees that new life can spring up just by giving it the support it needs to thrive.

The productive parts of my faith will be pruned so they can flourish even more. If vines aren’t pruned regularly, they’ll continue to grow but they’ll become unproductive. They’ll stop bearing fruit. Dead wood can carry disease and decay, so it must be removed. So, just when I think my faith is expanding and exploding, I have to step back and look for the areas that are dead wood. And then allow God do some trimming. A diseased and decaying faith becomes obvious over time, even when we think no one is noticing. Bible reading, prayer and fellowship with other believers is essential to a healthy, growing faith. Discipline, perseverance, trust and obedience come into play when difficulties land.

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:17

Faith in God will save us, but then it must move to an active, breathing faith that grows to maturity. A dead or dying faith is one that has moved from complete trust in God to a wavering that can cause doubt to grow larger than the faith. Doubt is fine as long as it doesn’t overpower faith. There has to be evidence of new life after conversion, otherwise we must ask if conversion really happened. God’s grace not only saves us, but it changes us. It will be obvious.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Knee Injury

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I got the MRI results a week ago. All suspicions are now laid to rest. I didn’t know that one knee could have so many issues all at the same time and still function normally. Torn meniscus. Sprained MCL. Deteriorating cartilage because the knee doesn’t track correctly. Whatever that means. And a Baker’s cyst on top of all that. That’s all happening to my knee at any one given moment. And I’m not really in pain. Should I be?

The doctor advised me to schedule physical therapy, so that starts next week. But I don’t think that physical therapy can heal a torn meniscus. The chiropractor said he couldn’t and stopped all treatment. So I wait. And I don’t play pickleball, which by the way, was the initiator of the injuries last fall. I just thought the tightening of the calf was my only problem until it didn’t heal. And it became aggravated every time I tried to play. If only I’d had the MRI back then, I could have been ready for spring pickleball season.

I’ve come to the conclusion that someone needs to tell people who are growing older not to try to act too young. It will catch up with you. But here’s the thing. I wasn’t trying to act young. I was trying to learn a new hobby and stay active. And now look what it’s done to me. I just want to play pickleball. And no. I’m not athletic. I’ve learned a fun sport in my older age, and I love it. And now I can’t shouldn’t play.

I read that a compression sleeve won’t help, even if it is made with copper or bamboo. I’m told to wear a hinged knee brace if I want to play. And yes, I’m trying to avoid surgery. But we’ll see what happens down the road. The chiropractor told me that if I wanted to play pickleball again, I would need surgery. My doctor says to forge ahead with physical therapy, and then we’ll talk.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:6

The Christian lives a life of constant pruning. It’s a sanctifying life that we live, once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And by that, I mean it is a continual growing in our faith. We don’t become a Christian and then stop learning. We must read our Bibles and pray. We must attend church and spend time with fellow believers who can disciple and mentor us. A new Christian will have many questions about their newfound faith. They will possibly have habits and interests that God prunes out of their lives. They may have to extend their friendships to people who will challenge them to grow and not turn away from God. They will experience temptations that they will need to resist. It will not be an easy process, but it is a fulfilling life that’s lived in obedience to Jesus Christ.

During times of trial, our faith is pruned in ways we never imagined. Trusting God throughout the deepest, darkest times may seem ridiculous to those outside the faith. But to those who are true followers of Christ, there is no other way to live. There are moments when God is the only constant in life, and He is enough. During those dark moments, we have to ask ourselves if God is enough even if life never improves. Can we trust God in those moments not knowing what the future holds? And the answer is a resounding “yes”. Always yes.

You may ask how pruning in the Christian life compares to a knee injury. My knee is suffering the attempts I’ve made to establish a new activity in my life. I pushed it to its limits, and it rebelled. Now I have to rebuild the knee in order for it to heal and function normally. The same is true in our walk with Christ. When all our efforts at being the commander of our own life miserably fail, we can turn to God and he will guide us through recovery and healing. Oh. Our sinful attempts at living life our way may have lifelong consequences. But there can be a freeing, trusting relationship with God knowing that he is now the guiding source in life.

I may never completely trust my knee again, but I can work toward as thorough a healing as my body will allow. And I have to be comfortable knowing that. Sure. I should be able to play pickleball again, but I will be cautious knowing what could happen if I twist my knee into an uncomfortable position. The same holds true for my faith. If I try to twist my conscience into thinking that my ways are better than God’s, I will see very uncomfortable results when I stand before God on judgment day.

The soul-master of sin has so marred man’s sweet countenance that it is no more like the comeliness God created than the fiend of hell’s similarity to the holy angel which he had been in heaven. But by His grace Christ has undertaken to heal this wound which sin has given to man’s nature. His healing power is at work in his elect, but the cure is not yet so complete that no scars remain; this, then, is the uncomeliness which sincerity covers. ~William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:1-5

Doppelganger

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

In case you didn’t know, I have an identical twin sister. Many say we look alike, but honestly, I see no resemblance. But still others can’t seem to figure us out. Through the years, my twin has told me that she has been mistaken multiple times for a certain famous actress. Judi Dench. I told her that I’ve never been Judi Dench’d. Not ever. But she’s told me many times about her experiences. I can’t figure it out.

Just the other day, I stopped at my favorite new bakery. This small shop makes the most incredible chocolate chip cookies. They’re only open three days a week, for which I’m grateful. Otherwise, things could get dangerous for me. I stepped up to the counter and the owner of the shop waited on me. Here’s what she said. You remind me so much of Judi Dench. My response to the magical cookie maker was “it’s interesting you say that.” And I proceeded to tell her the story of my twin sister and Judi Dench.

I told the baker that I was not Judi Dench. I was not anyone famous. I also let her know that this was my first experience at being Judi Dench’d. I was thrilled. As soon as I got in my car, I called the Judi Dench doppelganger and told her that I was now in the club. She laughed.

I’ve been taking a pickleball class for the past few weeks. On the first day of class, one of the women told me that I looked really familiar and wondered how she might know me. I told her that I was fairly new in town, so I didn’t know many people. But I mentioned that I had a twin sister, so maybe she was confusing the two of us. Since that day, we’ve had multiple conversations about where she and my sister may have seen each other. No where. They haven’t gone to the same places or run in the same circles. So I told her about Judi Dench. The next day at class, she told me that she had looked up Judi Dench. And she said she saw a resemblance. Go figure.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

Just as some people may confuse me with my sister or with Judi Dench, the one I most want to look like is Jesus Christ. I know I don’t physically look like him. That’s not the point. He was God come to earth as a man. I’m a woman conceived by my mother and father. So in that way, there’s no comparison. But do I resemble Jesus Christ in my attitude and in my words and actions? Do I have a kind sweet spirit that radiates love to others? Do I forgive as I have been forgiven?

We believers must distinguish ourselves as ones set apart for the Lord. We can’t be like those who don’t profess to be Christ followers. That means we can’t be involved in all the same activities. We must live distinctly different from those who don’t claim Christ as their Lord and Savior. There must be a difference. If there isn’t, then what sets us apart? We are called to be holy. We must separate ourselves from relationships and attitudes and behaviors that don’t align with the teachings of Jesus. There are biblical standards for a reason. And we who have repented of our sins have a responsibility to uphold those standards in our daily lives.

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

You may ask what exactly was the attitude of Christ. Let’s look at that. Galatians 5:19-26 compares the lives of those living against the will of God and those living by the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We can see a big difference in just the words that are used to describe each type of life. Which one best describes me? Which one best describes you? Oh. We can fool ourselves and perhaps others, but we can never fool God. He sees right through us and he knows exactly where we stand in relation to him. Let’s not kid ourselves. Let’s choose the way of the cross and crucify the desires of our sinful nature and walk away from them. Then and only then will we be known as a follower of Christ.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:19-26

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:5

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

I must ask myself. When others spend time with me, do they recognize me as a child of God? Do they wonder what it is that makes me different from others? Does my life reflect the teaching of Jesus Christ? Do my words and actions speak volumes about my commitment to living a life of Christian discipleship? Do they see that I live a life set apart for God?

The Word of Christ should infiltrate every pore of our being. There shouldn’t be an instant that we’re not saturated in his likeness. As we go about our days, in every moment, the love and grace of Christ must shine through us. Oh. It sounds so lovely. And it is. But we are human and we have moments where we aren’t so godly. And others catch a glimpse of that. What should we do? We acknowledge our sin, repent and move on. We do better. We learn from our failings. We allow others to mentor and disciple us. We learn from the sages of old who have walked before us. The Christian walk is a daily commitment to serving Christ.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. John 17:14-16