Kiss Your Arm

I don’t know about you but every morning when I wake up I kiss my left arm!  Don’t be alarmed even though I have been on some heavy pain meds I am not now.  I had surgery done on my left shoulder over a week ago and though the pain was much more than I thought it would be, it has been terrible not having the use of my left arm.  My right arm is dominate but oh my how I miss the use of my left hand.  God knew what he was doing when he gave us two hands!  Just think of the things you do with your left.  I use my left hand to fluff my hair while my right hand dries it.  And dressing myself is a nightmare.  My left hand holds my toothpaste while my right brushes my teeth.  My left arm just automatically raises for a quick hug.  

The Bible talks a lot about the right hand of God.  Like in Psalms 89:13

“Powerful is your arm! Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭89:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is the symbol of God’s mighty works , it is the symbol of victory over God’s enemies and many more references throughout his word.  

I found his strength, as I always do, in his righteous right hand.  

But what about our left hand?  The Bible doesn’t speak often of the left hand.  I found the left hand in the help of my sweet husband who help me with everything from putting ice on my shoulder constantly to giving me medicine when it was time and then listening to my drug induced ramblings.  I found strength in my family’s love.  I found strength in my left hand as I thought of my church family.  Their prayers and concern for me.  I felt strength this morning as my sisters and brothers greeted me in the love of the Lord.  Their greeting completed me as my left hand completes me.  I can’t wait until I can raise both my hands to praise my Lord!  But just like I can’t be complete without the powerful right hand of our Father I need the left hand of love extended to me by my loved ones and my church family.  

Well, maybe I don’t kiss my left arm every morning but I certainly appreciate my left arm as God intended it to come along side my right one to do what God wants us to do!  

Love the beautiful righteous, right hand of God but appreciate the loving left hand that comes along to help us!

Twine and Burlap

Twine and Burlap?

This is the year that Larry and I will celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.  Since that will be coming up in November, I have been looking at everything "golden anniversary".  Everything from table centerpieces to clever invitations.  I have listened to beautiful music that I want to be sung at our vow renewal and visited sites that give "sample" vows to be recited at the big occasion.  All this has been fun for me but as I watched videos on how to make things for the reception, I begin to stress because I am not the least bit talented in crafts.  The handiwork of those who make these videos are amazing.  They take things that are nothing (Dollar Tree finds) and make them into something beautiful.  

I thought of my non-craftiness as I read this scripture from Ephesians this morning.  Although I have trouble with a glue gun and lack creativity when it comes to making something beautiful out of twine and burlap I am still God's handiwork!  And He has created me in Christ Jesus to do good works.  Not only has He created me to do good works but the bible says He prepared these in advance for me to do.  Isn't that so wonderful!

 Ephesians 2:10 New International Version (NIV)

10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We are talking about the creator who brought everything into being taking time to prepare, in advance, good works for me to do.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament[a] shows [b]His handiwork.

Psalm 19:1

Psalm 102:25 New International Version (NIV)

In the beginning, you laid the foundations of the earth,

    and the heavens are the work of your hands.

Just by my experiences in crafting, I don't think the Lord created me for that but what work does He have for me to do?  May I always strive to find out and obey as He leads me.  Lord, I love it that you have been thinking about me since before I was even born.

But really!  What am I supposed to make with twine and burlap?