The Ministry of Touch

     When I was growing up, I cannot remember a time when I didn't get a hug or pat on the back.  I loved cuddling next to my dad watching T.V. together and I will never forget all the time he spent with me when I had polio.  Because of the stiffness in my lower extremities, my father often massaged my legs and feet at night to help me sleep better.  This was a part of the therapy recommended by the doctor and it really helped.  All these examples of touch made me feel loved and secure in my home.
     Quite often, we forget how important it is to minister the love of Christ to one another through touch. We may do it in our homes with our family, but we forget that there are many others who need a friendly handshake, a kind hug, or a simple pat on the back.  Perhaps this has become more clear to me after the loss of our grandson.  At the visitation, so many came and gave us a hug, or a handshake which served to reassure our hearts of God's grace and love.  Those of you reading this who came will never know how much it brought healing.  There is something about reaching out and touching another person which brings a sense of acceptance that cannot come any other way.
     Throughout His ministry, Jesus often used touch as a means to heal and demonstrate God's love.  In the City of Galilee, Jesus encountered a leper.  Matthew 8:2-3 reads:  "And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”  And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed." Other instances included the healing of Jairus' daughter who had died, a blind man outside Bethsaida, Peter's mother-in-law to name a few.  We do not know how many times Jesus used touch to heal because not all the miracles He did were recorded.  However, we know that those whom He touched were never the same.
     Too often, we don't realize the ministry of touch we can have in our church, nursing homes, assisted care centers, children's ministry, but especially to those we encounter on a daily basis.  A kind word coupled with a sincere pat on the hand can do a lot to lift a person up.   A number of months ago, our choir members went to an assisted living home where we sang for the residents.  Following our presentation, we went around saying hello to the assembled residents and shaking their hands.  I was blessed and so were they.  Having contact with others is essential to our well being.  Unfortunately, our world has become so oriented to building relationships online that we often forget how important it is to actually touch and interact with those around us.
     Maybe we do not possess great skill in speaking, teaching, or even singing, but we all can touch someone and tell them we are praying for them.  As believers in Christ, we are called to be ambassadors for the Lord.  This means representing Him to people we encounter.  We can do that through the medium of caring concern for that person as well as touch.  Let us demonstrate the love of Christ by praying for them and offering them a warm handshake or a kind hug.  In that, God is glorified and a soul is ministered to.  Selah!
   

God Is Near the Brokenhearted

   

 Nearly a month has gone by since our grandson has gone to be with the Lord.  Almost every day, people kindly ask how we are doing, and I answer them honestly.  Some days seem to go smoothly and other days not so much.  As my husband always reminds me, it is a process and it will take time. There is no instant healing.  However, God is teaching us and touching us in ways that are remarkable.  I am learning that grieving is not a bad thing, but rather, something which will draw us nearer to God if we allow it.
     Psalm 34:17-19 reads:  "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."  What precious words to read for this is just what we as a family have done on a daily basis.  We have cried out to God and He has heard us.  He is slowly mending our broken hearts and saving our crushed spirits.
     Among the "mercy drops" (I wrote about this in an earlier post on this blog) which God has given to us are the many who have stopped and shared their stories with us.  A retired fire fighter stopped by our office the other day.  He had lost his wife a few years ago, and he was sorry to hear about our grandson.  He shook my hand and told me that now Branson and his wife can play together in heaven and enjoy freedom from any problems.  What kind words that seemed to soothe my soul!  Then, there have been dear friends who have told me stories of their losses and how the Lord helped them through the difficult days.  Still another friend gives me a hug every Sunday and never fails to encourage me with her smile.  Are these not the rich blessings from God that let us know He is near?
As scripture tells us, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17).  God is good, He is faithful, and He does not change.  This is what all grieving hearts need to know, and while we do not see God, we encounter His love through other believers that bathe us in prayer and encouragement.
     Of all the places that I have found the greatest comfort is in reading His Word more fervently than ever before.  Daily, I come hungry to feed on His Word and find strength for the day.  His Word is truth and I need a lot of that just now.  The Bible teaches us that if we draw near to God He will draw near to us and that is just what we need at times like these.
     Not only have we had the privilege of learning the stories that others share in our community but today, we also had the privilege of listening to a Bible series taught by Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr.  who works alongside his father at Ligonier Ministries.  He has begun a series entitled "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God".  A couple of years ago, Dr. Sproul, Jr. lost his wife of twenty some years.  She had fought the battle of cancer three times, but the last time the Lord took her home with Him.  Then, just 9 months ago, one of his eight children was taken home to be with the Lord as well.  She was a fifteen year old special needs child with Lissencephaly.  Dr. Sproul, Jr. indicated that they knew from the start that her life expectancy would not be great, but every day they had with her was joy.  Now he had lost two loves in his life, but he found the most meaningful help in God's Word and encouraged all who have experienced loss to find their strength in the Bible which is the foundation for our faith.  He said that we can live in our emotions or we can learn to trust more deeply in God.  I found his words profound and comforting.  It was just what we needed at this time.  Another "mercy drop" from God the Father for our day. ( Anyone can go to Ligonier Ministries to download this podcast series).
     Finally, on this faith walk our family is taking, I am learning that we need to receive God's healing for our broken hearts.  We can resist His efforts to heal us by never allowing the comfort He sends to penetrate our thinking.  God's Word tells us in Philippians 4:8:  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  When I meditate on all the happy moments, achievements, smiles and joy that our grandson brought to us, my heart is lifted knowing I will see him again.  However, if I dwell on the loss and the pain and shut out the encouragement of those around me, I am choking off the means by which God can save my crushed spirit.  I guess the question is the same as Jesus asked the man by the Pool of Bethsaida.  Do you want to be healed? (John 5:16).   So we have to ask ourselves this question.  God is able and willing if we let go of our pain.  It may not be overnight, but it will come in steps.  When the process of healing is complete, we will be able to offer comfort to others with the comfort with which God has brought us comfort (2 Corinthians 4:2).
     Life is a journey and when we walk with the Lord close by our side, we can face the troubles of this world.  We need to look for His "mercy drops" daily, cling to His Word, and allow Him to heal us.  Then, we will be restored and strengthened to help others in need and bring glory to His name.  Selah!

Pruning to be Fruitful

 

 Growing up, we had an apple orchard behind our house in Ohio.  Those apples were as sweet as honey and I quickly fell in love with my mother's homemade apple crisp.  It was a treat for us.  However, what I never realized was just how much work is involved in producing a good harvest of apples.
     From time to time, my father would have to prune those apple trees in order to increase their productivity.  He would lop off whole limbs trimming here and there until the remainder of the tree looked like a stub.  I thought he had killed the tree for certain, but in time, those trees developed new growth and produced wonderful fruit.
     Our lives are not unlike those apple trees.  We have some branches that are too leafy and need a little trimming while we have other branches that need to be removed completely.  Jesus mentioned this pruning process in John 15:1-2:  "Jesus said, 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."  I do not know about you, but I do get somewhat uneasy when God begins the pruning process.  This is where trust comes in.  Do we trust Him enough to allow the process to go forward?
     Personally, I have never heard a tree go "Ouch" when my father trimmed it, but in my own life, I know when God has pruned away an area that needed correction it was painful.  A familiar sin, a bad habit, lack of self-control are just a few of the limbs God may choose to lop off as He seeks to conform us to the likeness of His dear Son.  Then again, God wants to trim off jealousy, pride, self-reliance and impatience so that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self control can grow in abundance.  He wants us to be fruitful in our lives so that we may glorify Him and nourish others with the fruit of His Gospel.  We can not sustain, encourage or bless others if we ourselves are a sick branch on the vine.
     Pruning is a necessary function for our growth.  Even now, in the time when our family is grieving a loss, God is behind the scenes working in our lives to strengthen us and draw us closer to Himself.  We cannot always understand the methods which our Heavenly Father uses or His timing, but we know that He loves us with an everlasting love.  As we allow Him to prune our lives, we will become more fruitful and rest in His providence.
     When I think back on my mother's sweet homemade apple crisp, I know that all the pruning my father did was worth it.  Likewise, when we come to the end of our lives, we want to hear God say of us "Well, done, you good and faithful servant".  All the pruning, hurt and pain will quickly be forgotten as we enter into God's great rest knowing we have lived a fruitful life to His glory.  Selah!



Picture is done by MarkusHagenlocher through Wiki Commons