I'm sure you've seen some version of the "cardboard testimonies" done in churches all over the country. I'll post a link, if you don't know what I mean. Cardboard Testimonies Ever since I saw my first of those videos I've contemplated what my cardboard testimony would be. Truly, I've been stumped. Not in an "I'm just that perfect" kind of way, but in a "what kind of dramatic change has happened to me" kind of way. It actually makes me sad that I can't think of anything right away. Maybe I'm not being contemplative enough. Maybe I'm not being honest with myself. Maybe I'm not giving God enough credit. Would I actually wish for something "major" so that I have a story - sometimes, yes. But my husband often reminds me of the blessing of a good life and the blessings that often flow from good decisions. And then I'm tempted to steel myself for the crash in the future. But that's not holding my faith to be true. Why should I expect a good God to have a painful plan for me? I don't mean I expect things to forever be easy. I want to truly trust God is already in the future and waiting to support me no matter what happens.

So what would my sign say? I'm convinced I would need two signs, one for myself and one for my view of others. For now I concentrate only one. I have a feeling every one's signs would change over time. As our lives continue and we experience new challenges and analyze old memories and we see things in a different light. However, for me, right now, I've had a week of deep contemplation. I've felt sobered by the thoughts I've been analyzing. God has spoken over and over this week to me of my worth. The first side of my sign would say, "2 decades of believing Satan's lies of worthlessness". I'm not sure what the second side would say yet, but today I believe I would write, "Filled with God's Value". It's vague, I know. That's where I'm at now. I guess I know the first side well because I've identified it. I'm still working on the second side. I feel it, but I'm still working on belief. For now, I know I'm immensely thankful to God for creating me to be a person of worth. I'm thankful for the ways he's communicated that to me in the past few days. And, I'm thankful for the people He continues to place in my path. Thankful for their example, and their words, and their persistence, and their willingness to listen to God's prodding to be my friend, and their willingness to walk along side me (sometimes walk behind me and push!) God is good. I'll continue to keep listening for my "second side".

Over and over I've thought of the biblical image of the Body of Christ since I hurt my finger. Mostly I'm reminded that one small part of the body can really majorly effect the whole body. Kinda the "when one hurts, we all hurt" mentality. Today I was struck by the oposite view...one part can be the biggest strength of the whole body. Maybe it's because it also is a hand, but this blog really struck me. The Simple Wife .

We must all remember we are created in God's image. His image. It's not something to be forgotten or taken lightly. God doesn't create accidents. He doesn't create strife and pain. We are "wonderfully made" to be a functioning, adequate, and meaningful part of a Body.



I Corinthians 12

One Body with Many Members

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. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 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. 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. 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? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

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." On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 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, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.