Grace, Mercy and Body Parts

God can do anything, you know — 

far more than you could ever imagine 

or guess or request in your wildest dreams! 

He does it not by pushing us around

but by working within us,

His Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Ephesians 3:20-21

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"My grace is enough; it's all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

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So since we find ourselves fashioned 

into all these excellently formed

and marvelously functioning parts

in Christ's body, let's just go ahead

and be what we were made to be, 

without enviously or pridefully comparing

ourselves with each other, 

or trying to be something we aren't.

Romans 12:5

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I find myself in a place of complete

humble acceptance and gratitude. 

You see, God has surprised me.

Using the combination of my weakness,

His strength and the gifts of fellow believers,

He has given me a clear example

of His strength being made complete in my weakness.

He is teaching me that He really means it

when He tells me to completely rely on Him—

 that I am not supposed to do it all by myself.

Awards are not handed out to the person

who relies on as few people as possible to 

get through this life. 

Over and over in His Word, God tells us to come to Him, 

to rely on Him, to cast our cares on Him,

to take His yoke, to hide in the shelter of His wings.

We are not to be independent agents,

working our butts off to get the job done.

He wants us to be dependent on Him. In all things. 

It is humbling to admit that I can't do it.

It is confusing to be called to something that I cannot do —

when I think that I am supposed to do it all by myself.

This call of motherhood, homeschooling, homemaker...

it's just too much. I can't do it. 

Without Him.

I'm slowly learning how to rely on Him —

how to trust Him to provide, guide, show the way.

I'm learning how to wait. 

And that waiting is doing something.

And, I'm learning how to accept help —

to be upheld by other parts of the Body of Christ.

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"Are you tired? Worn out? 

Burned out on religion? 

Come to me. Get away with me and you'll

recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me —

watch how I do it. 

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you'll learn

to live freely and lightly."

Matthew 11:28-30

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Like a shepherd, He will care for His flock,

gathering the lambs in His arms,

hugging them as He carries them,

leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.

Isaiah 40:11

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The One who called you is completely dependable.

If He said it, He'll do it!

1 Thessalonians 5:24

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"... use your freedom to serve one another in love..."

Galatians 5:13

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I look up to the mountains;

does my strength come from mountains?

No, my strength comes from God,

who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

Psalm 121:1-2

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Pile your troubles on God's shoulders —

He'll carry your load, He'll help you out.

Psalm 55:22

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But the Lord waits for you to come to Him

so He can show you His love and compassion. 

For the Lord is a faithful God. 

Blessed are those who wait for Him to help them.

Isaiah 30:18