Scars

Have you ever noticed a scar on someone and you wanted to ask them what happened? How did they get it? Why is it that scars evoke our curiosity? Many scars are obvious. Others are covered, never to be revealed by onlookers. I dare say that most all of us have scars. My guess would be, even those super models and GQ guys harbor scars somewhere on their bodies. 
I spotted a scar on my thumb the other day, and couldn't quite recall how I got it. But just next door to it, on my pointer finger, I clearly remember getting that one. I was at my Granny's house, pushing a wooden swing with no one it it. The swing came back and hit my hand, scraping the skin away. Three more scars, from three different occasions, caused by my poor abilities of crossing barbed-wire fences as a child. A larger scar across my abdomen at the birth of each of my three children.  
Some you would have to look closely to find, or at least be really observant about it. I have a chicken pox scar on my lower left eyelid, where no lashes grow. I remember how I gained most of my scars.

With the scars of others, we probably would not ask how they received it. It might be much too personal of a question to ask. Some scars run deep. I've learned: the deeper the wound, the more visible the scar. Another thing I've learned: not all hurts leave a great scar, but if there is a scar, you know there was a great wound.

This is what Wikipedia told me about scars:

"Scars are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after injury. A scar results from the biological process of wound repair in the skin and other tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. With the exception of very minor lesions, every wound (accident, disease, or surgery), results in some degree of scarring."- Wikipedia

"Scarring is a natural part of the healing process."
Interesting.
It is only natural for a wound to heal. Skin doesn't stay gaped open, blood doesn't continue to pour out. The sign of a scar is a sign of healing.

I also learned from Wiki that scar tissue has collagen, just like the same tissue it is trying to replace. The only difference, is when it "re-forms," it does so in a different pattern, therefore leaving what we know as scars. 
When we've been impacted by a wound, by definition, a scar results as a sign of that injury, that hurt, that pain or disease that was removed from our bodies. It represents that, yes, I was hurt, and now a part of me looks different because of it.

When I look at the scars on my own body, the ones I remember most are the ones that were significant. 
When I think about the metaphorical scars in my life, a few stand out more than others. And those few have caused my life to "look" different than it did before the wound. 

Day by day, those you come into to contact with also bear scars. Some of those are evident, others are not. When you encounter them, remember your own scars, your pains, your wounds. You never know when someone you meet might have received their mark in the same manner that you did. 

I'm reminded of Jesus' scars, as He spoke to His disciples after His resurrection: 
Luke 24: 40-

"As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see the marks of the nails, and showed them the wounds in his feet."

We know that because of His scars, we can find healing. 
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

Physically, our scars are a sign of healing that takes place in our bodies.
Spiritually, we can be covered with scars and never fully healed. If you have a deep scar, let His wounds heal you. His scars represent the hope that you have of being restored, and when He does, you will look different than you did before. 

And others will see the Healer in your life, not the scar.

Late Night Cleaning

I can remember a night or two when I was around the age of 13 or 14, getting up after my parents had gone to bed. I wasn't trying to sneak out or anything; I would get back up to clean. I can remember like it was yesterday. I would move dishes ever so carefully, making sure I did not wake up my mama. I would sweep and mop to the fluorescent light above the sink. The kitchen was usually my main goal. We didn't have a working dishwasher, well, not electrically at least. My mama or I was usually the working dishwasher. So, I would mostly try to get the kitchen cleaned up, so she would be surprised when she awoke the next morning. I remember one occasion my cousin helping me; we did have an ulterior motive. I think we were wanting to go somewhere the next day!

Tonight, Jason left to go out of town, and the kids were finally asleep (I think.) Being the night owl that I usually am, I started my own late night cleaning. The fact that Jason is gone, combined with that cup of coffee I drank around 7:00, could mean I'm in for a long night! As I was trying not to make too much noise,  I was reminded of those nights as a teen. 

Then of course, the Lord began to speak to me. He REALLY seems to do that when I'm cleaning, in case you haven't noticed.

I was somewhat down this evening, and as Jason was leaving, he could tell. I really don't know why, I told him, other than the fact that I am just tired of myself. Sick and tired of feeling "sick and tired." 

As I began to look up Scriptures on being clean, these were some I found:

2 Peter 1:3-9- "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins."

Another: Hebrews 10:22-23- " and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

What is my point?

In the verses from 2 Peter, we are told that we have everything we need to live a life of godliness. It then gives us a list of characteristics to add to our lives: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, affection and love.

The school year is drawing to an end; kids and teachers alike are ready for a break; rainy days mean no recess; how many of those characteristics are found in my life? Umm.......

When own children won't do what I tell them to; when I'm driving, in a rush, because I'm already running late after yelling at my own children and the stinking carline is backed up; Am I self-controlled? Loving? Godly? ...Ugh......

Then in the Hebrews verses, we are told that He has been faithful to forgive; we have been cleansed. I was also reminded of the verse that says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

So again, what is my point? 

Well, just as my late night "house cleaning" was taking place, God was saying I needed a late night "heart cleaning." 

I have made the statement lately that I didn't like who I was; my own lack of patience disgusts me, with my own kids and those babies I spend most of my time with everyday. I can list more if you'd like. (There is that verse that says confess your sins one to another!)

Pride, slander, jealousy, lust, slothfulness, disobedience.....I could go on.

As I was pulling in to school this morning, the lyrics on the radio were blaring,

"Let them see You in me....."

That is my prayer, but man, do I really screw that up. I don't know what others see in me, but much of the time, I know it's probably not Jesus. As I thought back to those "babies," precious children, who are precious in the sight of God, do they see Jesus in me? Do my co-workers? Does Peyton and Presley? Jason? The rest of my family?

I had to spend a little time asking God to cleanse my heart tonight. So many of those things I confessed to you, and more I confessed to Him. 

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 

Just as I have all the supplies necessary to spend the night cleaning up my house, He has given me and you EVERYTHING we need to live this godly life that He has called us to. 

It comes back to surrendering each day to Him, asking Him to walk with us. 

Back to those days as a teen, cleaning for my mama.........

I remember how excited I would be for her to wake up and be so surprised to find a clean kitchen.

However, I don't have to wait till morning for God to wake up and be surprised. He's already done the cleaning Himself. He just waited on me to ask Him to do it.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."