For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another (Romans 12:4-5).

I kind of know what my brother did and my sister does for work . . . well . . . kind of.

My brother worked for a government agency, first as an electrical engineer and then in charge of the computer operations for the Western US (if not more. As you see, my knowledge is already sketchy.) I heard the words “Data Center” a lot and “pulling wires” (maybe . . . might have that one wrong) and a host of other computer terms that I had no clue about.

My sister works for a national company with international clients. She is the Art Director and their head graphic designer. She uses terms like Pantone and 3-D printers and a plethora of other art and computer terms.

Both she and my brother are Project Managers and can talk to each other. My eyes glaze over after one sentence.

I was an English teacher. Pretty straight forward. But I did feel a bit empowered when my sister asked my mom if I used words like “verisimilitude.” When she found out I did, I felt I had earned a bit of street cred.

I say this because until we had to move my mother, I really hadn’t fully appreciated the talents and abilities my siblings brought to the table.  They immediately put their Project Management Skills to work, their ability to sell things on various social media platforms, and their past experience.

Having been a school administrator, I, too, had organizational skills, but was extremely thankful for what they were able to do.

I was also very grateful for my other sibling, my sister, Jamie, who has Downs. Though she was not able to assist in the move at all, she provided a much needed buffer and respite. When you spend time with Jamie, you realize that the simple things in life are indeed the most important and that while you sometimes have to deal with the chaos life throws at you, God also provides a place of rest.

This has been a very good reminder to me to appreciate those others in the body of Christ whom I might not fully understand their gifts or contributions. It also convicted me of not thinking some aren’t contributing in a meaningful way just because I don’t see them doing anything. Perhaps they, like Jamie, are providing a place of peace.

My family book club just recently discussed the book A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, a wonderful book in almost everyone’s opinion.

To briefly summarize, Alexander Rustov was a Russian nobleman at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution and given a lifetime sentence of house arrest at Moscow’s Metropol Hotel. The story follows his adjustment to this sentence and the relationships he develops because of it.
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Near the end of the book, when his “daughter” is asking him if he would have liked his freedom, he says: “Looking back, it seems to me that there are people who play an essential role at every turn. And I don’t just mean the Napoleons who influence the course of history; I mean men and women who routinely appear at critical junctures in the progress of art, or commerce, or the evolution of ideas—as if Life itself has summoned them once again to help fulfill its purpose (420).”

He then goes on to say “Well, since the day I was born, Sofia, there was only one time when Life needed me to be in a particular place at a particular time, and that was when your mother brought you to the lobby of the Metropol. And I would not accept the Tsarship of all the Russias in exchange for being in this hotel at that hour (421)”

This interchange took me immediately to a Biblical parallel. Not only did it remind me of Mordecai’s statement to Queen Esther when the Jews were under threat of annihilation because of Haman’s plot: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14,” but it also extended my understanding that God places each and every one of us exactly where He wants us every minute of every day.

The other two takeaways I had from Alexander’s experience was first, that at the time taking charge of five-year-old Sofia was completely out of his comfort zone and upended his established routine completely, but second, looking back, he wouldn’t have change it for the world. The experience enriched his life not deplete it.

​When we find ourselves in those out-of-our-comfort-zone experiences that look like they are only designed to disrupt our routine and upend our lives, we need to remember two things: God put us there specifically . . . and the blessings will be life-changing.

The devastating earthquake in Turkey this past week is just another reminder that we live in a fallen world AND that we are ever closer to Christ’s second coming.

Matthew 24:6-8 states: You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.


Studies have shown that earthquakes have definitely increased not just over the past 100 years, but exponentially over the past 10 years. (Science News)

Likewise, though major world wars and conflicts seem to have decreased over the past 100 years, internal conflicts and unrest are on the rise. (Vision of Humanity)

And despite the increase in world aid, increased population coupled with natural disaster or political conflict have produced six major famines in the last 100 years. (Global Citizen)

Matthew 24 has way too much to unpack in a short blog as it deals with not only wars and natural disasters but also the rise of false claims to be the Messiah. However, as always, the main point is not that complicated. Things will grow worse. And Christ will return.

Therefore, we need to be ready for that return, and we need to have a compassionate heart for a hurting world by not only meeting the physical and emotional needs but also the spiritual needs of which the only remedy is a personal relationship with the Savior of the world—Jesus.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, . . . (Proverbs 9:10a).

Yes, I know that the word “fear” in this sense is best translated as “awe” or “profound respect,” but I still think that the most basic meaning of fear has a place here.

As we grow up, we are taught to have a healthy respect for fire, electricity, cars, and other objects that could cause us harm if not approached appropriately. We aren’t to be afraid of them per se, but we are to respect their power and to fear what could possibly happen if not handled correctly. This is the beginning of wisdom in each of these areas. Only fools forget what each is capable of and throw caution to the wind.

Then how much more important is it to fear an ALL POWERFUL (omnipotent); ALL KNOWING (omniscient); and ALL PRESENT (omnipresent) God? Yes, we stand in wonder and awe at all that he has created, but we most definitely need to respect the power of who He is.

But the point of this verse is that the fear of the lord (that awe, wonder, respect of power) is the beginning of wisdom. Once we have placed God right where He should be, above all else, and accept his authority over everything, then we immediately gain wisdom in two areas.

First, we realize that all other fears disappear as Psalm 91 says.

. . .You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday. . . .

For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways; . . .

As well as the 365 reminders to “Fear not” that appear throughout the Bible (one for each day of the year).

Second, we will be able to grow in wisdom from the other people God has placed in our lives, as Proverbs 1:7-8 says:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

If we don’t accept God’s authority and direction, it is doubtful that we will accept the counsel of those he has placed in authority over us. Wisdom is not a lifting of the chin in pride and arrogance, but a bowing of the brow in submission and  profound awe.