1 Corinthians 12:4-26
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4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves [bondservants] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, [members] yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Today is Isabelle's 2nd birthday. It should be a joyous occasion, I've dreamed of my daughter's birthday and the birthday parties probably since I was about 4 years old myself. Isabelle won't be here, she lives in heaven. Isabelle lives.
I picked out a birthday cake picture for the Scripture for Today Blogspot, I liked the cake picture, but it seemed a little too much. So I thought again about Isaiah 49. Isaiah writes like the Spirit of God -
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
When you read Isaiah 49 we learn about Jesus, but the Lord mercifully speaks, as well, to parents who've had their children pass on before them. The photo reminds me of Isabelle - well, looked after with love, happy, loving, joyful, with Jesus, learning the pastures, the highways, the places of heaven.
Let me tell you about the daughter Edward and I have. I almost carried her to term, but little 2 lb. Isabelle was born asleep in the Lord. We were surprised to be expecting Isabelle, but like Edward said at the time, we'll have someone else to love. Our teenage sons were pretty excited.
We loved our 2nd sonogram, our wonderful OB Gyn smiled as he told us our daughter was very active, he said she'd probably be taking gymnastic lessons. Dr. M asked me if I'd taken gymnastic lessons. I did and loved them. Isabelle was modest, as well, covering the girl parts when the sonogram passed over to try to see if she really was a girl. We spent some time laughing and chasing her to find out.
Just as Cal, our oldest son, let me know in utero there would be no Chinese food (he still does not eat it), Isabelle let me know I should just about live on tangerines and tomato juice. Nothing seemed to be a food dislike. Isabelle used to get settled down at night like our Springer Spaniel, she kicked until she was comfortable. And she kicked, I used to laugh at her. We really enjoyed getting her room ready for her and planning the showers to come. Isabelle was going to use the same embroidered decorations her older brothers had used.
Isabelle liked the music at church, she'd really kick a whole bunch. Isabelle didn't like people to raise their voices and argue, she would become very still.
As time went by, Isabelle moved less. We had opted out of the tests for birth defects, we'd take Isabelle as she arrived. The terrible news came, Isabelle was very ill with extensive chromosome disorders and would suffer until she died within months of birth. We prayed. Others prayed.
(Matthew 6:19-21 ~ treasure in heaven
1 John 4:7-12 ~ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God)When something devastating happens - God helps us.
This birthday time hurts - my husband cries, I cry. My dear friend from H S is my facebook friend & her status update reminded me of a conversation she and I had a long time ago.
Her husband was taking a nap on the sofa one Friday evening. Janice tried to get him to eat the special meal she'd made. He only groaned. They ate without him. Janice went later in the evening to wake him, again, to discover Harry, not quite 40, was dead. Everyone was screaming. The paramedics were called. Harry had some life left and he was life flighted.
At the hospital, Harry's mother collapsed, she couldn't deal with it and she left Janice to take care of all of it. Harry had lots of tests run over days and they all concluded Harry was brain dead. The Hospital Chaplain came to help. Janice was in complete anguish - the Chaplain - named Roc promised to help Janice for every minute. As they turned the machines off, the Chaplain began to anoint Harry's forehead with oil. He prayed, " Harry would see Jesus holding His hand out to Harry. That the overwhelming Love of Jesus would call to Harry and he should take Jesus' hand." Harry, completely unresponsive and brain dead, opened his eyes. Harry lifted his hand up and smiled, took his last breath and died. You should see the photograph of Janice being baptized in that creek. The everlasting and overwhelming love of Jesus Christ changes lives, forever.
God helps us. To be reminded again of Harry meeting Jesus reminded me of the night I woke up in the middle of the night. My Aunt Clarice had died. I could feel her soul brush mine. I could feel her overwhelming joy - nothing could compare to that joy in this life.
God helps us. To remember Harry's miracle. To think of Aunt Clarice's joy. To see on Feedjit (at the bottom of the page of our blog) when Isabelle's story is looked at. To remember the most content, beautiful, precious little girl's joyful face. Isabelle Claire Gardere smiled as she was picked up by Jesus. And her face blesses her parents.
Isaiah 49:
5 And now the Lord says,
he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord,
and my God has become my strength—
9 saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’
to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’
They shall feed along the ways;
on all bare heights shall be their pasture;
10 they shall not hunger or thirst,
neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them will lead them,
and by springs of water will guide them.
11 And I will make all my mountains a road,
and my highways shall be raised up.
12 Behold, these shall come from afar,
and behold, these from the north and from the west,
and these from the land of Syene.”
13 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.
15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before me.
20 The children of your bereavement
will yet say in your ears:
‘The place is too narrow for me;
make room for me to dwell in.’
22 Thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations,
and raise my signal to the peoples;
and they shall bring your sons in their bosom,
and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
23 Kings shall be your foster fathers,
and their queens your nursing mothers.
Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”
25 For thus says the Lord:
“Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken,
and the prey of the tyrant be rescued,
for I will contend with those who contend with you,
and I will save your children.
Then all flesh shall know
that I am the Lord your Savior,
and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Come, Lord Jesus.
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