Psalm 139:13 (NET) - Certainly you made my mind and my heart, you wove me together in my mothers womb.
I love Psalm 139 for a number of reasons.
Take verse 13 for example.
Because God made my mind and heart he understands me better than anyone,
He knows me better than I even know myself.
I am especially moved by how He "wove me together".
Knowledge of the reproduction process tells me that half of my very first cell was composed from genetic material from my mother and the other half from my father.
I also know that cell divided into two cells which turned into four and so on.
Where I really see God at work in the weaving process is in how new cells become specialized for their future functions.
Cells that eventually made up my brain are very different than cells that made up my bones.
Even my very blood is composed of different kinds of cells.
I did not simply end up as mass of completely identical cells.
Psalm 139:14 (NET) - I will give thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You know me thoroughly;
I am indeed thankful that God is all knowing and all powerful.
I am also grateful that even when others misunderstand me, God never misunderstands me because he knows me at the most intimate level.
No one else can claim to know me that well.
Psalm 139:16 (NET) - Your eyes saw me when I was in the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.
Even my physical weaknesses, such as my rather poor eyesight were ordained by Him.
My life, including my service to Him, would not be what it is today, had I been born with perfect eyesight.
My less than perfect sight is not a result of God’s imperfections.
God has no imperfections.
My weaknesses are the result of His perfect plan.
While my eyesight may be less than perfect by earthly standards, you will never hear me complain once about the vision he has given me in its place.
Psalm 139:17-18 (NET) - How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total! If I tried to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Even if I finished counting them, I would still have to contend with you.
I do not know what God has planned for my future here on earth.
A mere ten years ago I could not have imagined my life today.
Similarly, I cannot foretell what my life on earth will be like ten years from now,
For that matter, I do not even know if I will have a life here on earth ten years from now,
That sort of unknown frightens some people,
I know, because there was a time in my life when thoughts like that frightened me.
I may not know what age I will ultimately reach, but God knows and that is sufficient for me.
Through His word, I know that when my days on earth are complete a home in heaven awaits me.
A home that awaits all who have put their faith in Jesus Christ.
And therein lies a great deal of comfort.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 5, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, July 12, 2013.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Life Imitating Art
Teaching Sunday school is something I am very passionate about.
Along with the current study, I also have to plan ahead for the next study and be able to move forward with it when the time comes.
One thing I have always been able to rely on is God’s guidance in the preparation of these one hour sessions which seem to go by so very quickly. I can also rely on His direction for us in future studies.
That is certainly the case with our current study which is very nearly complete.
Some months ago, I managed to get some time off around Christmas and decided to begin reading The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan.
When my holiday arrived, I read the first chapter before going to bed and it had a very profound impact on me.
Over the course of the next two days, I devoured the rest of the book.
I remember telling friends and family afterward how "blown away" I was by the book.
I also knew that upon completion of our current study, I would ask my class would to join Christian (Bunyan’s main character) on his pilgrimage through this classic.
I procured enough copies of the book for the entire class and informed them of the pending study.
Along with continued work on our current study, I read Bunyan’s classic three more times taking detailed notes, anticipating questions I might be asked and drawing on scripture to reinforce the spiritual truths that Bunyan sought to teach in his allegory.
When the time arrived, we began our study.
One of the things that delighted me was seeing my students have the same reaction to the book that I had the first time I read it.
Also very personally rewarding were the number of times students told me, "Thank you for bringing this book to us."
Now, that journey nears its end.
Along with the joy, we also experienced some personal sadness along the way.
One of my students, Rudy, went to be with the Lord.
Rudy was much more than a student.
I counted him as both a blessing and a good friend.
I feel that way about every student.
We are a cohesive and closely knit group.
There is an old saying that says that life imitates art and, at times, there is more than a fair amount of truth in that.
In The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian acquired a traveling companion from his home town. This character’s name was Faithful.
They journeyed together intending to arrive at the Celestial City, or heaven, at the same time.
One day, as they neared the town of Vanity, they encountered an old friend and mentor, a wonderful man by the name of Evangelist.
Along with the happy reunion, Evangelist gave them words of caution.
"But be faithful unto death, and Christ will give you a crown of life. If one of you shall die there, although his death will be cruel and his pain great, yet he will be more fortunate than the other, because he will arrive in the Celestial City much sooner, and he will escape the trials the other must endure in the rest of the way."
This came to pass.
When Christian and Faithful arrived in Vanity, they refused to buy any of the worldly goods that the townspeople had for sale. This coupled with their speech and demeanor soon created quite an uproar. They were arrested and put on trial.
At the trial, Faithful gave a remarkable testimony. Nevertheless, he was found guilty in the town’s eyes and executed.
Christian then saw a golden chariot with fiery steeds whisk Faithful away to the Celestial City. He also thought he heard a trumpet sound from the Celestial City when the chariot arrived.
Christian then continued on his pilgrimage. A pilgrimage in which he encountered and overcame numerous obstacles before reaching the Celestial City himself.
My friend and student faced a trial of a different sort.
The trial he faced was a fatal illness.
Yet even in this sort of trial, he gave his own powerful testimony to those who lovingly took such good care of him.
At his funeral service, our pastor said that Rudy’s physical therapist told him, "Thank you for sharing Rudy with us." He added that these words assured him that Rudy was exactly where God wanted him to be.
Just like Faithful, Rudy has now arrived at the Celestial City ahead of the rest of us.
Just like Christian, we who remain behind must faithfully continue in our pilgrimage knowing that we will face and overcome many tribulations along the way.
Yet, we remain confident that God will see us through each and every one of them.
He will use these to build us up and refine us until we too reach the Celestial City just like our now departed friend.
Sometimes life really does imitate art.
This is not surprising when you consider that God is in complete and total control.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 21, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, June 28, 2013.
Along with the current study, I also have to plan ahead for the next study and be able to move forward with it when the time comes.
One thing I have always been able to rely on is God’s guidance in the preparation of these one hour sessions which seem to go by so very quickly. I can also rely on His direction for us in future studies.
That is certainly the case with our current study which is very nearly complete.
Some months ago, I managed to get some time off around Christmas and decided to begin reading The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan.
When my holiday arrived, I read the first chapter before going to bed and it had a very profound impact on me.
Over the course of the next two days, I devoured the rest of the book.
I remember telling friends and family afterward how "blown away" I was by the book.
I also knew that upon completion of our current study, I would ask my class would to join Christian (Bunyan’s main character) on his pilgrimage through this classic.
I procured enough copies of the book for the entire class and informed them of the pending study.
Along with continued work on our current study, I read Bunyan’s classic three more times taking detailed notes, anticipating questions I might be asked and drawing on scripture to reinforce the spiritual truths that Bunyan sought to teach in his allegory.
When the time arrived, we began our study.
One of the things that delighted me was seeing my students have the same reaction to the book that I had the first time I read it.
Also very personally rewarding were the number of times students told me, "Thank you for bringing this book to us."
Now, that journey nears its end.
Along with the joy, we also experienced some personal sadness along the way.
One of my students, Rudy, went to be with the Lord.
Rudy was much more than a student.
I counted him as both a blessing and a good friend.
I feel that way about every student.
We are a cohesive and closely knit group.
There is an old saying that says that life imitates art and, at times, there is more than a fair amount of truth in that.
In The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian acquired a traveling companion from his home town. This character’s name was Faithful.
They journeyed together intending to arrive at the Celestial City, or heaven, at the same time.
One day, as they neared the town of Vanity, they encountered an old friend and mentor, a wonderful man by the name of Evangelist.
Along with the happy reunion, Evangelist gave them words of caution.
"But be faithful unto death, and Christ will give you a crown of life. If one of you shall die there, although his death will be cruel and his pain great, yet he will be more fortunate than the other, because he will arrive in the Celestial City much sooner, and he will escape the trials the other must endure in the rest of the way."
This came to pass.
When Christian and Faithful arrived in Vanity, they refused to buy any of the worldly goods that the townspeople had for sale. This coupled with their speech and demeanor soon created quite an uproar. They were arrested and put on trial.
At the trial, Faithful gave a remarkable testimony. Nevertheless, he was found guilty in the town’s eyes and executed.
Christian then saw a golden chariot with fiery steeds whisk Faithful away to the Celestial City. He also thought he heard a trumpet sound from the Celestial City when the chariot arrived.
Christian then continued on his pilgrimage. A pilgrimage in which he encountered and overcame numerous obstacles before reaching the Celestial City himself.
My friend and student faced a trial of a different sort.
The trial he faced was a fatal illness.
Yet even in this sort of trial, he gave his own powerful testimony to those who lovingly took such good care of him.
At his funeral service, our pastor said that Rudy’s physical therapist told him, "Thank you for sharing Rudy with us." He added that these words assured him that Rudy was exactly where God wanted him to be.
Just like Faithful, Rudy has now arrived at the Celestial City ahead of the rest of us.
Just like Christian, we who remain behind must faithfully continue in our pilgrimage knowing that we will face and overcome many tribulations along the way.
Yet, we remain confident that God will see us through each and every one of them.
He will use these to build us up and refine us until we too reach the Celestial City just like our now departed friend.
Sometimes life really does imitate art.
This is not surprising when you consider that God is in complete and total control.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 21, 2013.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, June 28, 2013.
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