Medicine For The Soul by Kelly Cyr

I have had strange changes in my body these past two months. I have become as stiff as a statue and I have not been able to move my joints. Along with that, I have mouth ulcers in the upper and lower ridges of my mouth; it is so bad that the dentist has to pull three of my teeth. My muscles feel so weak that I can barely lift anything at all and when I stoop over, my back spasms. Along with this is great fatigue, I just don’t have the energy to do anything, go anywhere, or live my life.

This is scary. I thought maybe I was coming down with lupus, then I thought I had some neuromuscular disease like Lou Gehrig’s disease. So off I go to the doctor to describe all my symptoms and for him to draw lab and schedule tests. The labs came back negative. I’m sure the doctor thinks I’m a middle-aged hypochondriac woman. He tells me nothing, yet, I know how I feel, and I feel like I am getting worse every day.

So I take comfort in God’s words and know for those of us who BELIEVE:

We who have this spiritual treasure are like common clay pots, in order to show that the supreme power belongs to God, not to us.

We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.

At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies.

Throughout our lives we are always in danger of death for Jesus' sake, in order that his life may be seen in this mortal body of ours. This means that death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

The scripture says, "I spoke because I believed." In the same spirit of faith we also speak because we believe.

As God's grace reaches more and more people, they will offer to the glory of God more prayers of thanksgiving.

For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual being IS RENEWED DAY AFTER DAY.

And this small and temporary trouble we suffer will bring us a tremendous and eternal glory, much greater than the trouble.

For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever.

So I will let you know next time how I am. Meanwhile, I will live on God’s faith, for that is the only thing He asks, for we to believe in Him and His grace. Amen.

Part of this text taken from Whereyaheadin June 29 sermon by permission.