DNA

Do you ever just sit in awe of who God is and what He has done?  I mean really if you take more than two seconds it is mind-blowing.
I find it fascinating how detail-oriented God is about everything.  In my bible study we are going through Genesis.  In Genesis 1:27 it says, So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. I've read it many times as I'm sure you have in the past but I am seeing it through new eyes.  God creating--bringing things into existence from nothing, from emptiness.  And, of all His creations, He CHOSE us to bear His image.  Ephesians 1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

Our physical bodies are so complex.  Doctors gain new knowledge every day but still don't know how the human body works completely.  I've taken a renewed interest in the body, DNA and how it works so that I can better manage my lifestyle changes.  I recently learned about laminin.  Laminin is defined by the Webster Medical Dictionary as a "glycoprotein that is a component of connective tissue basement membrane and that promotes cell adhesion."  In other words, looking at laminin as a kind of glue isn't far from the truth.  There are several different laminins.  I've put a picture below of what it looks like.



Just as Laminin is essential for our physcial bodies to function and work properly, Christ must be the glue that we cling to so that spiritually we function and work properly.  God gave us a body, soul and spirit just as there is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  The Father, the Son and the Spirit are one just as our body, soul and spirit are one. The body is the temple of God according to 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;   My physical body is just as important to take care of as is my spirit and soul.  Each should be aligned.  Is your body, soul and spirit in alignment with God?  Seems like an easy question however, how much time is spent reading scripture? Meditating on God's Word? Praying? Exercising? Eating right?  How we spend our time reflects whether we are in balance or not.  My soul has been parched lately.  I hunger and thirst for God's Word and can't get enough.  I hope you find yourself with a deep hunger and thirst for it too.
Romans 6:13 tells us, Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.  The greatest offering that we can give to God is giving back our body, soul and spirit; completely.  Is your body an instrument of righteousness? 

This body that God intricately designed was created to please Him.  In Hebrews 12:1, Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  God gave me the body I have, it is my responsibility to take care of it to the best of my ability and to offer it back to Him.

As you begin (or end) your day I pray you can say that your body is/was an offering to God today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=qGQaIsEkT4s
Offering Third Day

Perseverance

On my last weekend serving Tres Dias the Lord led me to start blogging again.  Since that time I have tried writing daily but have encountered many obstacles.  One computer had a hard drive that ran out of memory.  The hard drive crashed on a laptop.  Another laptop had locked up.  Iniatially, I became frustrated and upset...it seemed futile and became increasingly hard to focus.  Then, I realized, God has called me to do this.  I respond in obedience...the attack begins.  There are a numerous places in scripture that reference persevering through circumstances.  My computer issues are minor.  I know families that are struggling financially, are homeless, have special needs children, currently jobless.  All of these are real life challenges that can be overwhelming.  God calls us to persevere.

Perseverance is defined as steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success; continuing in a state of grace to the end.  Perseverance is pushing through when you want to give up; it is the drive necessary to overcome obstacles to live a life of grace.  Romans 5:3-5 says, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  Perseverance is essential ingredient in this life if you desire to live a life that reflects Christs' image.
Christ is our example for everything including perseverance. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 says, "May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance."  Christ persevered through horrid circumstances--none of which He deserved and all of which He knew were coming.  If we take an honest look at ourselves some of the things that happen to us we could say we deserve (you speed breaking the law and get a ticket you must pay).

In Hebrews 12:1 it says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."  Take notice that it says to leave the sin behind and RUN with perseverance.  I have the physically fit side of this blog that has been sorely neglected for a while but with my recent diagnosis I have stepped up my exercise.  I began walking Matzke park with my best friend again.  I love walking with her-we take one entire lap and pray for whatever God leads.  It is great physically and spiritually but as I read Hebrews 12:1, Galatians 2:2, Galatians 5:7 and 1 Corinthians 9:24 I have a new desire to take up running.  God tells us to run; run to win a prize..THE PRIZE.  Each one of us has a purpose, a course for our lives that God has set in motion. 

Christ persevered to the cross.  We must be prepared to persevere through our circumstances so that we will be complete in Christ.  James 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

May you persevere and run the race that God marked out for you when He knit you in your mother's womb (actually before time began).  He has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11) persevere so that you can see it through to the very end and receive the crown of life.  James 1:2 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3CVlv2dz3w
Mandisa He Is With You