I'm the 1%

I'm about 2 days shy of a 5-month anniversary since I slipped off the church platform during worship and shattered my elbow.

In my post, “In Everything Give Thanks” back in September, I asked you to pray for me. One surgeon quickly wanted to open my arm and try to put it back together. 

I cried out to the Lord for wisdom and on the same day he sent me to another surgeon.

So, it's been 5 months, I went from a hard cast to multiple bandages and slings. Many days and nights of prayer along with cold and hot packs on my arm and elbow.

I kept reminding God that he knit me together in my mother's room and that he could put me back together. (Psalm 139)

Most of you know that I suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and my bones have been challenged almost my entire life.

My doctor's visit today went very well. He said, “I don't think you need to continue to come for X-rays.” He looked at me and said,  "most people who come into my office with this kind of injury, 99% of them end up in a surgical room."  Remarkably, I did not.  I praise God for being the 1%.

He mentioned that in my case the rheumatoid arthritis worked in my favor. 

My elbow is showing signs of cohesiveness, the bones are coming together. He can't tell if it's due to scar tissue or the bones mending during the healing time. Nevertheless, because I am not experiencing much pain and I can function at 95% with my arm, he has released me.

Glory to God, my Healer!

I thanked him for his wisdom that God has given him. I'm thankful to God for hearing my cry and leading me to a surgeon who was not scalpel-happy!

Today my prayer and thanksgiving to God is, “thank you for letting me be the 1%.”

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Thank you for praying for me. 

God bless you!~Liz

Re-cycle

Growing up in New York I never heard the words recycle. It wasn't a thing that we did.  When the cereal box was empty it went in the garbage. Once the can of Coke was empty it was flipped into the trash.

I think the only thing that was reused were the glass bottles with milk or soda pop. The truck would come through the neighborhood and collect the bottles and then fill them and bring him back the next time he was in our neighborhood.

Today just about everything is recycled. Our world is being weighed down with garbage. Everything is disposable for the sake of convenience.

Whether it's cardboard, water bottles, or Coca Cola cans. Recycling is almost mandatory in some areas due to the overload of trash.

Recycling – to use again.

The Word of God. Do we re-cycle it? Have you passed it on?

Preachers do it every week. TV programs can be watched over and over again. Even the disciples as we read in the book of Acts went around preaching this great news of God and thousands were converted and acknowledged Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Digital Re-cycle.

The Message is the same.  It has not changed. We have more platforms than ever before. The opportunities are endless.

Digital Re-cycle. That's what the Lord whispered to me. That's when we take the Word of God in whatever format we have it and pass it on. Did you get a great message or image on Facebook that honors God? We can surely like it but better yet ---share it and pass it on!

Did the preacher minister a transforming life changing message from the Word of God – Pass it on! YouTube a platform used weekly to live-stream messages – share it, re-cycle that Good Word!

Sharing the Word of God can bring life and light to those in darkness. There are so many different teachings, books, and writings that contradict the truth of the Word of God. Why not take the Truth and pass it on! Yes, re-cycle the Word of God, use it again! Get your digital soap box, stand and share!

I love to write and design digital marketing images. Everything I do stems from this core; the truth of the Word of God. I don't need 1000 likes on my page. Sharing and reusing and retelling of God's truth is what I desire. In other words, once we have received this truth whether we read it on some media platform or heard it proclaimed on the church platform, we should take this truth and share it.

Sharing or forwarding or re-cycling these truths that arrive in our inbox, tweets or podcasts – we should pass it on. These digital platforms are available to us to reach our circle of influence with the truth of the Word of God.

There's plenty of garbage all around us. Teachings they lead people to believe they can save themselves. Fine-tuned arguments they lead people astray from the Lord. The devil has polluted the world and desires to keep the soul unredeemed. But this is the truth, Jesus came into the world as a baby. He walked among men and became very familiar with their sufferings. He performed miracles even calling the dead back to life. He came to redeem the lost.  He was crucified, died and was resurrected on the third day. The world and the powers of the air are screaming for our attention.

Jesus silently went to the cross to pay for our redemption. Tweet that!

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” 

(Mark 16:15)

This is the charge that God has given us, to those who have believed this great message, those who have been transformed, those reborn of the Spirit of God. Go and pick up your soap box, stand and proclaim The Gospel message.

As you spend time on these digital platforms, re-cycle the good news. Don't let these great works of art be seen by your eyes only –pass it on. Take God's message and send it to your friends and family that need encouragement or perhaps salvation.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

Let the message that has brought salvation and joy to your heart also bring joy and transformation to someone else's life. Yes, YouTube, Instagram or your Twitter platforms can be your voice of life, the saving grace of Jesus Christ proclaimed to those bombarded with trash.

The good news has come through Prophets, Disciples, preachers and teachers. Jesus himself spoke to the multitudes about this Good News.

Don't be afraid, fear has no place in the mission that God has given us.

Go, like it, share it, tweet it, send an email or forward the podcast. But go!

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.” 2 Timothy 4:2

God bless you!~Liz