My Observations While Being Observed: Part 3

I had a "team" of doctors, but each one was focused on their own area.

Each doctor was aware that other doctors were treating me at the same time.  But they really were not very concerned with exactly what the other one was doing.  The cardiologist that I saw was intent on finding any irregularities in my heart that could be causing a problem.  He knew about each test, in relation to my heart, what it showed and what it didn't.  He provided every tool available to him at that hospital to be certain that my heart was healthy before he signed off on my chart.  When he had his conversation with me, he discussed just my heart and how it related to my symptoms.  

Each doctor, nurse, and technician afforded me their best care and attention.  Each one carefully explained what each test had revealed and how that pertained to symptoms.  Each one was totally consumed with how their particular area of medicine affected my illness and recovery. 

Many churches have a lead "team" but each person is focused intently on his own area.

As leaders, it's sometimes easy to become obsessed with our area of expertise, our area of ministry, and become consumed with only what we do that affects those that we serve in our congregation.  We need to remember that while we may deal with  a particular area, but we are all serving the same "whole body".  We are a team, and we hope for and encourage each other as we labor together to serve our congregation, not become obsessed with only those areas where  we are "specialists". 

 I am so thankful to be part of the ministry "team" of Momentum Church.  It is a group that truly is a team that purposes to reach others and grow together as fully devoted followers of Christ!

  

My Observations While Being Observed: Part 2

I was going to get better because someone else gave their blood.

It was a creepy thought at first. But as I lay there, it occurred to me that the blood that was going through my body had been in someone else's body before me.  I lay in the hospital bed, not sleeping, of course, thanks to the carefully scheduled visits to my room every 20 minutes by the nursing staff to check my vital signs, change my IV, or take more blood.  I thought about the person who had donated the blood that was dripping ever so slowly into my body.   And if they hadn't given it, I wouldn't be getting better.  I wondered who they were, where they lived, what their life was like.  And I was grateful for them. 

 And my spirit whispered:

I am going to live forever with Jesus because He gave His blood.

It was a very vivid and very personal reminder that true life is in The Blood.  His blood applied to my life, provides the covering and forgiveness that leads to an abundant life now and an eternity with Jesus.  I have known, believed, and rejoiced in this fact for a long time.  But I felt the reality of this "fact" come to life as I lay in that hospital bed. 

 I felt like the kids that I so love to teach when they understand for the first time a truth from the Bible.  You can watch their eyes light up, and see that look that says, "I see! Oh!  So that's how it is!"  The greatest joy I ever experience is when I see that look in a kid's eye.  I smile and think, "They got it".  

I wondered as I lay in Room 218, if Jesus looked at me with the same smile and said, 

"She got it."

My Observations While Being Observed: Part 1

Since my weekend trip to the hospital, I have been encouraged, strongly by some, to rest this week.  In my case, this really doesn't make sense because my physical condition now is much better than it was Saturday when I checked in.  But, I had to promise, so being true to my word, I thought it would be a good time to catch up on my blogging which has lagged as much as I did last week.

After much poking, prodding, and scanning, the ER physician told me I would need to stay overnight for "observation".  I know she was talking about the hospital staff watching me, but I found myself doing much observing as well.  Here are some of the thoughts I had while in and around Room 218:

Your outward appearance in the waiting room doesn't truly reveal the seriousness of your condition inside.

In the emergency room waiting area there were several people waiting to see the doctor.  There were  three little old ladies, hobbling on canes and walkers. (No, I was not one of them)  There was a family with several small children jockeying for a spot to see the TV mounted in the corner.  There was a mom, wrapped in a blanket, leading 2 preschoolers to the far corner seats.  There was a young couple, the wife with a bandaged finger.  As I looked around the room, I realized that some injuries were fairly obvious; the lady with the bandaged finger probably had a cut that would need stitches.  The mom with the miserable expression, wrapped in a blanket may have had the flu.  But, for the most part, you couldn't tell who was most seriously ill just by looking at their outward appearance.  The mom in the blanket could have a bad cold.  Or meningitis.  The old lady with the walker could have some arthritis in her knee; or a kidney that was failing.  Even my own situation, I didn't know if I was having heart failure or blood clots. (Fortunately, neither)In much the same way, we can observe the people in the world around us and still know that:

Obvious outward signs of sin or hurt, or the lack of the same,  doesn't always reveal the true condition of our spirit.

Only God knows our hearts.  We have become experts at concealing our sins and hurts.  We smile and hope people around us don't see the hurt that is deep inside. Or find out about the sin that we continue to live in.   Sometimes it shows.  We can't hide it all.  But  only God knows the true condition of our hearts.  And only He can provide the exact healing to the specific hurt that will make us whole.