Page 12

โ€œGod has such a great sense of humor. He allowed my physical weakness to be public so that I canโ€™t hide my need for prayer.โ€

Randy Brittain

With so much public conversation about who or what gets to decide what happens with our bodies, Godโ€™s word comes in pretty clear. We, with our God given free will, are most free, unhindered, and joy-filled when we surrender ourselves, body, mind, and soul, to the Lord, our Maker.

This is worship. Surrendering all of me to the One who made me is my best offering of adoration and honor in worship. This surrender confesses that I am only here and living and participating in life on earth because He has allowed me this opportunity.

We, my dear man and I, know that not everyone reads the Bible or believes the Bible is authoritative. Many people dispute the idea that the Word of God is good for us, or practical for everyday life in 2024. And it might be that those who hold that opinion have not read the Bible in its entirety. However, for those of us who believe God is Creator, and have placed ourselves under His rightful authority, His Word has the final say.

โ€œTherefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of Godโ€™s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Godโ€”this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Godโ€™s will isโ€”his good, pleasing and perfect will.โ€
โ€ญโ€ญRomansโ€ฌ โ€ญ12โ€ฌ:โ€ญ1โ€ฌ-โ€ญ2โ€ฌ โ€ญNIVโ€ฌโ€ฌ

As an extreme introvert, my dear man would rather remain in the background. He doesnโ€™t want his birthday acknowledged. And he doesnโ€™t want to be in a spotlight. Typically, he would not move forward in a call to prayer on a Sunday morning. However, thanks to long term Parkinsonโ€™s, his visible symptoms prompt him forward. It is a visible weakness that his Good Shepherd has allowed for His glory.

And as my dear man has humbled himself under Godโ€™s will in this disease, other men afflicted with visible and invisible weaknesses have been drawn to him for prayer. His vulnerability is deemed safe to approach. God is good like that. He takes the thorn in the flesh and makes it valuable for His kingdom. And we remind ourselves that this affliction is temporary.

{I canโ€™t believe he lets me take his picture}

No matter the public conversations about who owns what or has control over this or that, the bottom line, the foundational truth is Godโ€™s Word. He is creator of all. Owner of all. King of all creation. And we believe that we live our best lives as we bend our knees, and follow this admonition. We offer our bodies to God in service knowing He will give us all we need.

If youโ€™re not convinced, and have doubts, thatโ€™s okay. We did to, and still struggle with the physical and spiritual truths we donโ€™t understand. So, hereโ€™s an opportunity to open a dialogue with God. Risk it. Ask Him to reveal Himself. Open the Bible and read. If thereโ€™s nothing there for you, at least you will know you did your research.

Until next time hugs from the fun couple,

Randy and Lisa

2 thoughts on “Page 12

  1. Hi Barbara,
    Weโ€™re 12 years into our Parkinsonโ€™s journey. Itโ€™s been a long, sometimes painful, journey with an overarching theme of mercy, grace and joy. The way my dear man has come to embrace the thorn in his flesh speaks loudly of Godโ€™s care, love and grace sufficient to cover any weakness.
    Thank you for stopping by to read and encourage today! I appreciate you!!
    Lisa

  2. I am sorry to hear of your husband’s diagnosis–but glad to know how God is using it and ministering to you both. It can be scary to surrender all to God. But ultimately we know He is good and has a purpose in all He allows.

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