I was on the internet, and as I was typing the “google suggestions” appeared. As I’m easily distracted I clicked on one, and found myself reading about the science of Palm reading. First they read your dominant hand, the one that you use the most. This is considered your conscious mind. Your other hand (subconscious mind) can be read to give insight into your past, family traits, even past lives depending on the palmists beliefs. Typically the heart line is examined first, and represents love and attraction and how we live out our lives on an emotional level, high strung, calm, easily falls in love. The next line is the head line, and is viewed to represent a person’s mind, and how one learns, retains information. The third major line is the life line, this isn’t believed to tell how long a person will live for, more the quality of life they will live.
That’s a brief outline of Palmistry, as there are conflicting opinions within that belief system, not dissimilar to Christianity, and believing in the oneness of God vs. the Trinity. What also struck me about it was my own thought process, and how I was mocking those who believed in such things. The scientific community has dismissed palmistry, it’s been banned by the Catholic Church, and was considered one of the seven “forbidden arts.” Again there was a similarity to Christianity in its infancy, our current time and undoubtedly in the years to come. I understand the appeal of wanting to believe in palmistry. There’s an immediacy to it, and requires no effort on your part aside from paying the cost of having your hand held. This fast and easy reassurance has been around since B.C, the longevity of it is impressive, and revealing as to who we are as humans. Our perpetual impatience, and steadfast pride certainly does keep the business of the enemy flourishing.
From the Old to the New Testament people quickly became dissatisfied with their lot. Waiting for Moses they began to make a golden calf. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul laments their following of the false teachers, and turning to the ways of the flesh. I consider how that is reflected in many of our churches. How the word is watered down in order to not offend, and the health of the member’s wallets is considered to be more vital than their spiritual health. What we struggle to remember is that we are the body of the church and not the head regardless of our respective position in our churches. For if we have nothing but prophets in order to fill the seats, while we might be spiritually filled it will be hard to keep that focus as our bellies will be growling for our attention. Our hunger will grow to such a degree that we will search out a newer manna. The same applies if we have nothing but helpers and teachers, our bellies and minds might be full, but our spiritual immaturity won’t allow for true growth.
We aren’t to reflect the natural world in order to build up His church. We should be reflecting God’s church in our actions, our words and our relationships with one another. We should be set apart, a peculiar people, a first fruit. For we aren’t selling the next new thing. We are reflecting God’s hand at work in our lives. In order to do that we have to know God intimately, and not just on a Sunday.
While the problems of the church can seem insurmountable the solution is as it always is, God. I turn to the word, and see His hand at work. I see that Moses was given Aaron, and a rod. Jeremiah required a touch on his lip. Paul had a thorn, and David had his past. All given by God’s hand to build His church. I see how much God loves all His people uniquely, and yet the same. I don’t need a palm reader to tell me I struggle expressing myself verbally. I turn to God, and His hand to show me the whys of this struggle. I use this ability to write that He supplied me with to strengthen my faith, and to encourage others to do the same. I’m thankful because He feeds me continuously, and the least I can do is know the hand that feeds me.
Over the summer, I lost a friend to old age. Thinking about
it, we were 48 years apart. I have friends my age, but there was something
about Miss Betty that kept our friendship going for many years. She lived next
door to me for years. Un-married. No children. Devout Catholic. Miss Betty was
an independent person. She loved her home and all her possessions. After her
stroke and a weak heart, she had no choice but to move into a senior living
facility. First an apartment to herself and then hospice care in her last
years. When I went to visit at the facility, we talked about her health, my
family, work, money, you name it. At every ending of our time together, we
prayed. She said she loved my prayers. I mean Pentecostals pray a prayer! I
knew she would not make it for long. Every time I left her place, I would say,
“I’ll see you again.” I never knew the day before she passed, that would be the
last time I said those words.
Prior to Miss Betty’s passing, I told my good friend about our
wonderful conversations and how we talked about God. My spiritual friend asked,
“Have you ever led her into the sinner’s prayer?” I responded, “We prayed, but
I never ask her to invite Christ into her life.” My friend told me to start
your prayer and say repeat after me. I mean hearing those simple words gave me
the confidence to do it. And the week before Miss Betty passed, she accepted
Christ. It came from my mouth, but it was Holy Spirit guiding me. In my
lifetime, I have always asked those I encountered, “Do you want to accept
Christ as your Savior?” Some said yes, while others said not at this time.
Jesus talked a lot about seed planting. Even if the person
you share the Word with says, not this time, you are still planting the seed!
As God works through us and we share our faith with others, we never know if
the Word we share will take root or when. I’ve known Miss Betty for many years,
but the moment she received Christ as her personal Savior it was God’s time! I
miss my friend but I know she’s in glory with our Heavenly Father. We
Be encouraged that our sowing of the Good News might, even
after many years, be received by someone who will “accept it, and produce a
crop.”
