Monday, August 13, 2018

God's Wonder



God’s Wonder

     The book Wonder was written in 2011, and the author, R. J.  Palacio was awarded the Newbery Award for it in 2012. Because of the sensitive nature of the content – and my own emotional state at the time, I delayed reading the book. Finally, in 2017, I was talking to a fellow educator who was reading Wonder for consideration as a part of her school’s curriculum.  As a result, I read it, too. I’m glad I took the plunge.

      For those of you who are unfamiliar with the story, Wonder is a work of fiction, but it has a powerful message. It’s the story of 10-year-old Auggie Pullman, who was born with a craniofacial malformation. To protect him from the bullying they feared he would encounter due to his less than normal appearance, despite repeated surgeries, his parents chose to home school him. As he approached fifth grade, they feared that his academic needs would exceed their capabilities and so they enrolled him in a nearby charter school. The head of school placed him in the care of three students. Unfortunately, his differences proved to be more than challenging for them, and so the feared bullying occurred. Yet, Auggie eventually rose to the occasion and proved himself to be truly a wonder.

     Palacio was asked how she came to write such a story and reported that it was born out of an encounter she and children had with a child who had a facial deformity, and rather than using it as teachable moment, she rushed her children from the scene.  Realizing she had missed an opportunity, she began writing the story that evening (https://www.npr.org/2013/09/12/221005752/how-one-unkind-moment-gave-way-to-wonder). It appears that title of the book is closely connected with a song by Natalie Merchant (http://www.nataliemerchant.com/wonder/); the lyrics may be found here (https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nataliemerchant/wonder.html).

It is here that Wonder becomes closely associated with my life. I was born with a neurological disorder (Von Recklinghausen’s NF!). It brought some physical challenges and some unusual physical appearances – one boy called me “the girl with the stretched head” when I was in elementary school. I did have coordination issues and wore a back brace for several years, and I often felt like “damaged goods.” In my young adult years, I began to be beset with severe pain, primarily headaches and balance issues. It seemed that the hydrocephalus that had been discovered in childhood was now causing more severe problems.  My parents had opted not to go for the shunt when I was a child because of the risks involved, but now the need for it was inevitable. So we had the necessary surgery.  As I lay in the bed recovering, a doctor on call stopped by to check on me. Incidentally, he was the one who had seen me when I was a child and had wanted to implant a shunt. Bear in mind that I was now over 30.
    He turned to my mother and began discussing my medical history. When he learned that he was the doctor who had initially suspected hydrocephalus, he asked my mother. “Well has she had a normal life?”
  
        Mom answered him, “Well, yes, she just completed her second Master’s Degree.”

        He replied, “Wow, I wish I had done the surgery when she was a kid. Everyone would have been amazed at what I had done with this kid who might have been disabled.”

        I remained silent, but as soon as he was gone, I turned to my mom and said, “That turkey!  Does he think he can take credit for what God did?”

       That’s where my connection to the book Wonder comes to play. When I read the book, it immediately resonated with me. One of the principles on which I hang my life is that I was made by God for His glory. Psalm 139:14 states, “I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 states, “… most gladly will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  As I mentioned earlier,  Palacio notes that the title of her book was taken in part from song by Natalie Merchant:
                      “Doctors have come from distant cities, just to see me
                       Standing over my bed disbelieving what they’re seeing
                     They say I must be one of the wonders of God’s own creation …” [1]

    As I read this book, I was reminded that I was God’s wonder, created for His glory. There have been days filled with pain and frustration  at what I can’t do when I questioned the purpose and validity of my birth, and thought just maybe I should have been aborted. Auggie’s story and the truth of God’s Word, turned these doubts and questions to praise that my parents chose to give me life. On days, that I sense discouragement and frustration because of my pain and limitations, I will give praise that I have been chosen to be one of God’s Wonders. May He be “glorified in me at my expense.”[2]




[1] (https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nataliemerchant/wonder.html)
[2] Erwin Lutzer, Running to Win, March 2018.

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Benchmarks of Belief





Benchmarks of Belief
Ephesians 6:17 bids the believer to “take the helmet of salvation.” Obviously, a helmet is a piece of clothing that protects the head. Zodiates says of Salvation, “it is the spiritual and eternal [possession] granted immediately to those who place their faith in Christ” (Key Word Study Bible, 1760). Thus, one of the functions of the helmet of Salvation is the protection of the believer from the attacks of Satan in regard to his or her assurance of Salvation (McArthur Study Bible). Satan longs to defeat each believer, thereby limiting his or her effectiveness in the Lord’s service. He may entice the believer into fleshly pursuits resulting in sin and the loss of testimony. He may simply plant the seeds of doubt regarding one’s standing before the Father, thereby rendering the believer powerless with regard to service. For whom Satan cannot disqualify by misconduct, he will seek to debilitate through doubt. I know, because I have experienced this tactic firsthand.
I John has often been regarded as the "Epistle of Assurance." Tucked within this letter to churches in Asia Minor are ten benchmarks of belief by which one may measure the genuiness of his or her salvation. A benchmark is simply “a standard by which something can be measured or judged” (www.dictionary.com). These benchmarks are provided to help the believer realize his or her assurance of salvation by noting the fruits of salvation that are present within his or her life. They may also serve to convict the one who merely has an empty profession of salvation. I challenge you to check yourself against these benchmarks of belief by asking yourself the following questions.
Benchmark 1: Am I walking in obedience, striving to keep God's commandments? (I John 2:3)
Benchmark 2: Do I love the members of the family of God? (I John2:10, 3:19, 4:7-8)
Benchmark 3: Am I growing in Christ likeness? (I John 2:6)
Benchmark 4: Am I drawn to those things that please God rather than those that satisfy the desires of my old nature? (I John 2:15-17)
Benchmark 5: Do I desire that God’s will be accomplished in and through me? (I John 2:17)
Benchmark 6: Do I practice righteousness? (I John 3:6-7. 5:2)
Benchmark 7: Am I growing in victory over sin? (I John 4:4, 5:4)
Benchmark 8: Am I experiencing answered prayer/ (I John 5:14-15)
Benchmark 9: Do I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? (I John 2:22)
Benchmark 10: Is there a time when I truly trusted Jesus Christ the Son of God as my Savior? Is my hope of salvation in Christ ALONE? (I John 5:11-13)
How do you measure up to these benchmarks, especially #10?
Please contact me with any questions.

Saturday, August 4, 2018

At Last ... Christ Alone


At Last … Christ Alone

As I mentioned in previous posts, I was born into a family of God-fearing God-lovers. I realize that my description sounds like an oxymoron, but that is the best description I can give of them – they loved the Lord unabashedly and sought ways to please Him in the milieu of life. Although we seldom had family devotions, our lives were permeated with Biblical truth.  I mentioned earlier that as a preschooler, I prayed a salvation prayer and was baptized not long afterward.  The problem was that I got entangled in the notion that I had to do something to prove to God that I was worth saving, when he had already declared me worth it, when I trusted Jesus for Salvation.

I was like a person who given a mansion free of charge with lifetime rights to live there. Not only that, but utilities and food were providedfor that same time.  Additionally, she had vehicle service and clothes throughout her lifetime.  All her needs were met and many of wishes were granted. It was the life that many only dream of, and it was hers free and simple. Yet each month, she dutifully wrote out a $10 check to her benefactor to “help” with expenses.  How insulting, and yet that is how my relationship (or lack thereof) with God went. I tried to do everything I thought He would want to reimburse Him for my Salvation and hope it was enough. Therefore, around the age of ten, I began to have serious doubts about my salvation. Yet, I kept my struggles a secret, because good children did not doubt their salvation.

At age fourteen, I began to earnestly pray for assurance of salvation and then to talk about my doubts, but to no avail.  Everyone pointed to my goodness, and I became a self-righteous snob but still wondered if I could ever do enough to merit God’s favor. I kept praying for assurance and kept insisting that I be baptized but was dogged by doubts.  It was in 1986, while I was reading the Bible that I realized that Christ had died the death that I deserved to die, and I believed.  As I have grown in understanding – I realize that Jesus lived the perfect life I could never live (even though I tried) and that He died the death I deserved to die.  When I trusted Him, this was credited to my account. I am saved.  So, when was I saved?  I think this most likely occurred in childhood, but for some reason, I never grasped the meaning of grace. It took many years of struggle, but my God is wonderfully patient.

Today I am so glad that I have chosen to walk in grace and that my trust for my eternity and present relationship with God is in Christ alone.  I can put my head on my pillow at night and know that I am His and my eternity is secure. The past few years have been challenging, but this I know I never walk alone. My heart is fixed … my hope is sure… my eyes are on my Savior and my Lord.  What more can I ask? 

Are you sure?  If not, I would be happy to point you to my Savior.