Going Deeper | In All Things – Part 2
Hands and Feet
—
I went to school to teach biology. I love learning about the intricacies of the world around us and the amazing detail that the Lord has put into all living things. It is through this lens that I often try to make sense of events in my life. At the moment, I’m learning a lot about how our bodies react to grief and stress. I often find myself distracted or unable to focus when consumed by worry. I continue to draw inward, concentrating on only the things that are right in front of me, and I find it difficult to extend my thoughts to other tasks. When I think of this in scientific terms, I correlate this “drawing in” to our body’s tendency to protect our vital organs by drawing blood toward the center of the body during times of stress, leaving our hands and feet cold or numb. When times are hard, I feel myself “drawing in” and limiting my focus to only the most vital tasks.
Pastor Tim shared a wonderful message on Sunday about how we need to put the ‘giving’ back in Thanksgiving. I love this focus during the holidays: moving away from the stress of planning events and buying gifts, and towards thinking outside of ourselves and our current needs, to all that we have and what we can do for others. When we think only of ourselves, we miss the opportunity to enrich our hearts with the joy that comes from being generous. God has blessed us, not so that we can bask in the comfort of His generosity, but so that we can feel a joy like His when we share what we have with others.
Just as our entire bodies grow healthier when even the extremities are nourished, the church body is strongest when even those near the fringes are cared for. So how can we reach those who need help? By sending resources to the hands and feet – by being the hands and feet of the body of Christ, going to those who need us most, and giving our resources. By following the example of the Lord God who gave us the most generous gift of all in His Son, we can become closer to Him and store up treasures in Heaven.
Hands and Feet
—
I went to school to teach biology. I love learning about the intricacies of the world around us and the amazing detail that the Lord has put into all living things. It is through this lens that I often try to make sense of events in my life. At the moment, I’m learning a lot about how our bodies react to grief and stress. I often find myself distracted or unable to focus when consumed by worry. I continue to draw inward, concentrating on only the things that are right in front of me, and I find it difficult to extend my thoughts to other tasks. When I think of this in scientific terms, I correlate this “drawing in” to our body’s tendency to protect our vital organs by drawing blood toward the center of the body during times of stress, leaving our hands and feet cold or numb. When times are hard, I feel myself “drawing in” and limiting my focus to only the most vital tasks.
Pastor Tim shared a wonderful message on Sunday about how we need to put the ‘giving’ back in Thanksgiving. I love this focus during the holidays: moving away from the stress of planning events and buying gifts, and towards thinking outside of ourselves and our current needs, to all that we have and what we can do for others. When we think only of ourselves, we miss the opportunity to enrich our hearts with the joy that comes from being generous. God has blessed us, not so that we can bask in the comfort of His generosity, but so that we can feel a joy like His when we share what we have with others.
Just as our entire bodies grow healthier when even the extremities are nourished, the church body is strongest when even those near the fringes are cared for. So how can we reach those who need help? By sending resources to the hands and feet – by being the hands and feet of the body of Christ, going to those who need us most, and giving our resources. By following the example of the Lord God who gave us the most generous gift of all in His Son, we can become closer to Him and store up treasures in Heaven.
Author: Michelle Lemley, Nursery Coordinator
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