Why Am I So Attractive?

Catchy title, right? Especially when one looks in the mirror and their hair is having a good day, the make-up blended just right and, that blue top certainly brings out the blue in your eyes. But, that’s not the "attractive" I'm talking about. Attractive to mosquitoes or chiggers. Not sure which one -- neither is the urgent care doc. So many (15 or more) bites and welts and still counting. Lord, have mercy!

While itching these annoying, little pink bumps (some not so little now), I thought “What good purpose could God have had for those pests?” I'm told this has been a crazy season for those critters here in Oklahoma. I found this scripture in Colossians 1:16 "For by Him ALL THINGS were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- ALL THINGS were created through Him and for Him.” God indeed created all things for His good purposes, but mosquitoes and chiggers? Are we sure?

I remember Corrie Ten Boom's autobiography, "The Hiding Place" where she described her Christian family's devotion to hide and help many Jews to safety in Holland during World War II. She and her sister, Betsy, were caught and sent to a Nazi death camp. The two sisters looked to God to find joy in their dark surroundings by thanking Him for any blessings they could see around them. They thanked Him for allowing them to be together, for food and beds, for helping them smuggle their Bible into the camp and be able to share the love of Jesus. But, when Betsy thanked God for the lice and fleas that infested the beds in the bunk house, Corrie insisted Betsy was crazy.

Betsy thanked God in everything. Guards were everywhere, but the one place they never set foot was the bunk houses. That freedom seemed strange to Corrie and Betsy until Betsy discovered why. It was because the guards were afraid of getting lice and fleas!” Corrie realized the lice and fleas that infested their beds served a good purpose and were God's gift to them. That gave Corrie and Betsy the freedom to hold Bible studies, sing hymns, and share the love and hope of Jesus with their fellow prisoners without ever being caught.

I’ve prayed for the itching to stop, sought Dr. Google’s advice, I took a Benadryl and my friend’s advice to lather on Campho-Phenique. I had to even go to Urgent Care for help. I’m still resisting the need to scratch and trying to come up with a good purpose for those annoying bugs. I still find it difficult to thank God for them OR for lice or fleas. But, I love the reminder Corrie’s story brings – to be finding the good purpose and the gift of of everything. I do know that God, Who sees all and Who has infinite wisdom, has a purpose and reason.

As I write this today, my question of “Why mosquitoes and chiggers?” seems trivial in comparison to my hard questions of “Why is my friend still suffering from cancer? Why are my friends embroiled in an awful court case? Why was that man born without arms and legs? And the list goes on. God’s answer to the trivial question of “Why mosquitoes and chiggers?” and to the much more heavy question of “Why this pain and suffering?” is the same answer. His answer to me would be something like this, “Beloved, Donna, don’t you know that I am not surprised by those biters. I see all things and know all things. I have good things in mind for you."

So, I can trust that my all-knowing Heavenly Father does know best. He demonstrated His great act of love for us in that “while we were still sinners (not even friends of God, but unworthy, and rebellious), Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) and rose again, promising us a beautiful future with Him.

If His love for us is indeed this great, how can we question His good purposes in all things? How wonderful that I have the freedom to ask the question “why” but at the same time trust He has the perfect answer--an answer that I too, if able to see the whole picture, would deem perfect and necessary -- even those despicable mosquitoes and chiggers. Hey! I have my own answer....those mosquitoes and chiggers were part of God's plan so that I could encourage you today with this scripture:
~“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

I’ve Hidden His Word in my Heart

I’m so grateful for my upbringing in church because that’s where I received the “solid rock” foundation for my life. My parents were wise in that “church” was our “go to” place for friendships, worshiping God, hearing His Word, AND in my opinion – the best place EVER to hang out with my girlfriends and check out the “new guy” that started coming to our church! Church was where I met the love of my life at age 12 that started a life-long romance.

It was at church where I was taught the “treasure” of not only reading God’s Word, the Bible, which contains HOLY SCRIPTURES (my word of the day) – the sacred writings of the Old and New Testaments, but also from my earliest years I was taught to hide God’s Word in my heart by memorizing SCRIPTURES. For extra incentive, in our Sunday School classes and Vacation Bible School we were given awards for memorizing certain scriptures. In our youth group we played Bible Sword Drills. The leader would call out a SCRIPTURE passage, for example “John 3:16”, and the first one to find it in their Bible and stand and read it, was the winner of a point. Most points got the prize.

Those times of scripture memorization paid off well for me. To this day, those scriptures are still embedded in my heart, and at a moment’s notice of weakness, temptation, concern, etc., one of those scriptures I learned would pop up on the screen of my mind and I’d give the enemy “what for” by quoting it to him. The enemy’s voice “You are afraid to do that!” God’s voice from His Word and in my heart is “God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7

I had the BEST role model. Jesus quoted SCRIPTURE to the enemy when he said to Jesus, (Matthew 4:3-4) “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered from Deuteronomy 8:3, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Maybe you weren’t raised the way I was, but it’s never too late to start memorizing some of those "life-line" SCRIPTURES. I know, I know. You don’t have time. Your memory isn’t what it used to be. You tried before and gave up. You think it’s too hard. I get it. Totally. Still, here’s what the Bible says: “Keep my words and store up my commands within you.” (Proverbs 7:1) Keep and store. That’s memorizing Scripture in a nutshell. You can do this, and it’s so worth it.

The benefits of having His Word in your heart? Huge. Some day, you may not have access to the Bible. What happens if you lost your sight, your hearing or even your Bible? I remember holocaust survivor, Corrie Ten Boom’s remarkable story and her witness of the power of memorized SCRIPTURE while she was in captivity. It was her life-line. Literally.

You’ll be able to share God’s truth with confidence. You’ll be able to refer to a scripture to a hurting friend. If we don’t know scripture, we’ll only be giving our opinion. Plus, when temptation knocks on your door, the verses you’ve memorized will come to your rescue. Countless times God’s Word has stopped me in my tracks before I veered down the wrong path. Like the Psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you”. Psalm 119:11

Here’s a few ideas on how to get started. Start with really short verses or ones you already know. It’s okay. The Bible Memorization Police won’t be stopping by your house.
~ Use your smart phone. Record your verses, so you can review them anytime, anywhere.
~ Aim for one verse a week. If you learn just one a week, that’s fifty two verses a year.
~ Say the verse out loud. Practice the verse while you’re walking, gardening, cleaning, exercising, bathing, dressing — anytime your mind is free to focus on God’s life-changing Word.
~ Teach the verse to others one-on-one or around the table with your family—and share what it means to you.
~ Finally, post your verse on social media. We all need as much wisdom as we can get.

The truth? It’s a tremendous blessing to have the Bible app on our cell phone, our laptop, and our bookshelf, but where it makes the most difference…..is hidden in our hearts.