X-rays, Cracks, and Restoration

Two weeks ago, I was fine. My mouth was fine, my teeth were fine. "Not so," said the dentist. He claimed that an x-ray proved otherwise. But I felt fine...no pain, no trouble chewing, it even looked fine. But the proof was on the film--my mouth was not fine. A crack in an old filling was threatening my oral health.

As I stared at the ceiling this morning with suction, guaze, and a drill in my mouth, it occured to me that this scenario was much parallel to a spiritual one. There are times in life when I have felt fine, looked fine, was not struggling particularly, yet when God looked on my heart He saw a problem. And the problem needed resolving. So He drilled and filled until my cracked self was filled with Him.

Even as the afternoon wore on and the anesthesia wore off, I realized there was another parallel. I hurt...a lot. The pain showed that surgery had been done, and came after the worst was over. That fits...sin can lay quietly and painlessly in my heart, but God knows that eventually it will threaten my spiritual health. The removal is painful and the pain can linger, though the unrooting is done. But in the end, I receive from my Lord what I received my dentist...complete restoration.

Joyously,
-J

(c) 2008

A Testimony

I happened to run across this beautiful testimony of a life redeemed from the pit. As one who has walked (though much more briefly) in the pit, I found my heart rejoicing as I read of how God drew her out. May you be as blessed as I was.

Joyously,
-J

Psalm 40
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
He turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.

Quoteworthy

Here is a great quote to get my new blog started:

If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut. -Albert Einstein

Smiles,
-J