The Nerve of it!

I love to write; however, I was never very good with the mechanics of writing. Fortunately, God placed in my circle of supporters a woman that is an expert in it. She offered me advice and helped me improve. Interestingly, the Lord has                                                     used this issue to lead me in this                                           particular devotional.

Two words that look the same can communicate very different ideas based on context.

I had a root canal and a temporary crown in preparation for a permanent one. The day after the tooth continued to hurt and a day later the temp fell off. The sharp edge of the broken molar cut into my cheek; the dentist’s secretary said she would get me in the next day. He used a paste to numb my gum, took an x-ray, but then brought out the tools for a root canal. He hit a live nerve, and now I sing soprano!
 
I have learned that nerves in back molars can be very difficult. I accept that, that nerve was no one’s fault. However, afterwards he retreated to another office, refused to talk with me and his secretary said that I would have to find someone else to do the crown. I felt that took a lot of nerve and was not right. He has been my dentist since I returned from the field.
 
Here's the point…no pun intended…since my health has continued to decline with age, I have caught myself not being thankful to the Lord. So, I have been praying concerning this, and my Lord has offered me this opportunity to walk the path I claim to believe.
 
Two Scriptures have become very precious during this journey:
 
Psalm 34:1  I will praise the Lord at all times; my mouth will continually praise him.
 
Habakkuk 3:17-19  Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. 
 
So now, I will focus on this reality: One day, all of me, even my teeth, will be new and forever with Jesus because He chose not to hold on to His life. He allowed Himself to be broken, beaten, and murdered so I could live with Him forever.
 
Compared to the little suffering I have experienced in this short period of eternity it is nothing.
 
The So What: Keep God’s picture before you, the Eternal world where there is no end, not this temporal world that cracks and breaks! No thing, not even your teeth, are as important as the inner you! Sure, brush your teeth and try and keep them, but dedicate your focus on developing your inner man – that is who you are!