Two Weeks Out

Today Garry had the second surgery, on his other (right) eye. It has been a long two weeks in some ways. He has had to have drops in both eyes since Sunday, not his favorite occupation. However, the doctor explained the necessity of these very clearly.

It reminds me of other disciplines we may not enjoy. Hebrews 12:3-11 (ESV):

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Or be weary when reproved by him,
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
And chastises every son whom he receives

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Just as we must take the long view when it comes to these physical surgeries and the disciplines which come with them, even more, we must do so with the disciplines the Father requires of His children--that we may share in His holiness and bear the peaceful fruit of righteoueness.

"Going Under the Knife"

A colloquial expression, "going under the knife" is something I have experience with, but that was me. Now it isn't me but my husband. Granted, cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries and low risk--and I am scheduled to undergo these later--but for some reason this is more significant--because it is my husband. He has been there for me, and now it is my turn to be there for him.

We are thankful that the procedure he had a week ago turned out well; he has the other one scheduled for a week from today.

Thinking during this time of three Psalms: 23; 90; and 139.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (Ps. 23. 1-3; NAS).

"Lord, You have been our dwelling place to all generations. Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God" (Ps. 90:1-2; NAS).

"Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the works of our hands" (Ps. 90:17; NAS).

"O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it" (Ps. 139:1-6; NAS).

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way" (Ps. 139:23-24; NAS).

Why have I chosen these Psalms and these parts of them? They illustrate these characteristics of God:  His omnipresence, His omnipotence, His compassion, and His immutability, or unchangingness.

My Shepherd who sees my needs, both temporal and eternal, both physical and spiritual, yet the same One is shepherding each of His other sheep at the same time while losing track of none of them/us.

My eternal Sovereign--from everlasting to everlasting God--who is also my dwelling place forever.

My observant and involved Creator--searched me, known me, understands me, intimately acquainted, even knows my words before I do--encompasses me so I am protected--all beyond my comprehension.

Because of Who He is, I do not want for any good thing; I can trust Him to confirm the works of my hands; I can trustingly ask Him to continue to search me, to try me, to know me, to lead me.

The Greatest Gift

The greatest gift is the most costly as well. God's only Son given incarnate to dwell with men as man and then to bear in His Holy Person the wrath of His Holy Father as substitution for the sins of all determined before time to bring to faith, repentance, life instead of eternal death--the sentence Christ bore with merciful willingness, even as His Father poured our the vials of His wrath on the One Who was due only eternal glory.

Who can fathom the cost of salvation borne by the Son in obedience to the Father, granted life to the chosen through the Spirit?

Neither myrrh nor frankincense nor gold can purchase the souls so valued of old.

The costliest gift planned from eternity,
Given in time, wrapped not in royal robes
But human flesh swaddled in humility--
God with us, God for us, God redeeming us for God,
God giving up His life, God receiving back His life, God for God yet for man.
Who cam comprehend the plan the Godhead devised?
We can respond to such grace only with repentance and gratitude for such merciful salvation of sinners.