Lessons from a cripple...

Well, the Lord had been teaching me some valuable lessons while my sprained ankle heals. Here are just a few in hopes that others may benefit in some way from the refining that the Lord is accomplishing in my life this week.

1. He would rather I spent more time cultivating my relationship with Him than staying busy serving Him. This is hard one for me because I like to do things. Now I simply can't, so I am being forced to spend more time at His feet and less time serving. (Luke 10) The proper balance is the key.
2. That physical pain on this earth is nothing compared to the pain reserved for God's enemies in hell. This is a bit of a morbid thought, but should motivate me to share the gospel boldly every chance I get. (This lesson came from reading "The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards" from Desiring God Ministeries. These are definately worth reading and there are many others worth contemplating. The truth of #10 just struck me in a new way because I have been experiencing physical pain recently.) http://www.desiringgod.org/ (just do a search for the article which is free)
3. I have also been learning to sympathize better with others who are experiencing pain and have been reminded to pray for family and friends who are injured or ill.
4. I have been really challenged by the life of Charles Simeon from reading The Roots of Endurance by John Piper. Simeon was a pastor in the 1700's who faced bitter opposition from his church members for many years, but faithfully preached and cared for them inspite of little visible fruit. Simeon constantly grew downward in humility before God while at the same time growing steadily upward in the joy of adoring the Lord Jesus Christ. This was the secret of his great endurance--something I desire to emulate.