One Body with Many Parts

It has been too long since I last offered up some encouragement or shared my life.  Having fully recovered from surgery I have been like an energizer bunny doing, doing, doing.  But I have also been listening to our Lord God too.  I have been focusing on family and friends during this summer break.  Now that is winding down and today I have an end of summer cold.  So here I am prioritizing for this coming year and I have a few things to share.
I have a heart for service. Serving others and serving in our church.  I also have always had a hard time saying no, even if it has stretched me to the breaking point. Too often I have tried to be a hand, foot, and eye at the same time. (see the bible passage at the bottom to understand this part)
It doesn't work. This year I made a commitment to God, my family, and myself that I was going to focus on the ministry that God has called me too. But as September approaches I have had to start saying no, and quite frankly... I am no good at it. I feel bad! But I know that I cannot do everything, nor am I suppose to. Lord, thank you for the wonderful way you call us to serve and the hearts you give us, but help me and others with remembering to focus on your call and not just the many voices crying out for help. Remind us that you have prepared others for those roles. In Jesus Name, Amen.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

New Living Translation (NLT)

One Body with Many Parts

¹² The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. ¹³ Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

¹⁴ Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

¹⁸ But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. ¹⁹ How strange a body would be if it had only one part! ²⁰ Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. ²¹ The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

²² In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.²³ And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, ²⁴ while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. ²⁵ This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

²⁷ All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. ²⁸ Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.

²⁹ Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? ³⁰ Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! ³¹ So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.

But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.