When Struggles Make You Whole

Oct 26 – Made Whole By A Hole

It’s not something I mention just for the heck of it because it really doesn’t matter too much.  If you’ve met me, you probably noticed – or maybe you didn’t.  Whatever the case, I’ll fill you in.    I’ve got a rare skin disorder that I’ve had a lot of surgeries for.  I have quite a few scars on me, primarily on my left hand and arm but elsewhere as well.  My left hand only has four fingers and there’s some unusual looking skin around my fingernails.  Some kids think it’s “gross.”  Some adults think having 22 surgeries is “brave.”  I think it’s neither.  It is simply life the way God arranged for me to have it.

I don’t really know where I stand on this theologically.  Some say that God doesn’t desire for any of His children to endure the pain and struggles of physical or mental imperfection, be that through Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, or through a skin disorder similar to or worse than mine.  But another part of me – the part that has lived through surgeries, skin grafts, insecurity, teasing and the like – says that God knew exactly what He was doing.  I would not be who I am today if not for those experiences and I very much feel like a part of me would have been missing.

What is it that you feel like is missing from your life?  Or on the flip side, is there some struggle you’ve faced that you see the beauty in now that you wouldn’t go back and change?  Take a minute to think about those things today. In John 10:10, Jesus says “I have come that you might have life and have it to the full.”  A good friend of mine and I describe this kind of abundant, joy-filled living as “Life” or “Living.”  In our minds, to Live is far different than to live.  Write down what you think it might mean or what it might feel like to Live.  Let God fill up those parts of you that feel missing or empty and ask Him to be able to recognize how He is using your difficulties to make you whole.

Hello world! – An Introduction

Well hey there!  Thanks for coming to check out this page.  I know you’re new here because, well, so am I!  Starting new things can be hard.  What do you say in a first post?  Things like this I guess 

So here’s the big picture:  This blog is for anyone interested in taking the first few steps to personalize their faith a bit.  The hope is that you will be encouraged to spend a few minutes everyday with God. 

Here’s the more detailed picture:  For now, I’ll be commenting on the daily tidbits found in DevoZine so you might find it helpful to pick one of those up.  (Let me know if you don’t know where to find one.)  Feel free to respond to any of the posts with your own thoughts or questions; this is a conversation far more than a classroom!

I suppose I should introduce myself.  My name is Keri.  I’m a Stetson grad working at South Shore United Methodist Church in Apollo Beach, Florida.  (This is being started with that youth group in mind – hey guys!)  I love music, I love God, and I love people, and I’m still learning what it means to really follow Jesus.  That’s about it!

Let’s get started, shall we?