Beauty of the Body

We are now about halfway through our travels on Home Assignment and have so enjoyed the rich blessings that have come our way in each location. It has been so good to see how beautiful the body of Christ is. Everywhere we have been we have been able to join in the working of this body which is made of various parts working together - each part contributing in so many ways. 

Travel is essential in these two months – we need to make a lot of miles. In Minnesota, Indiana and California, members of the body have lent us their car. In Minnesota that meant letting us drive down to Iowa, over to Nebraska and back to Minnesota. And some have even paid for a part of the gas.

Getting to know members is fundamental – sometimes we need to remember names and sometimes new members need to get to know us and vice-versa. Members who prepare and keep up a bulletin board are indispensable.

As we were shopping in an Aldi (a German supermarket that is making inroads in the US) a young lady and her daughter stopped and looked closely at us. “Scott and Shirley Raab?” she asked. She recognized us because our picture is up on a bulletin board at the church building. In Iowa we were told by a new member of the church that he had been praying for us regularly and that it was good to finally meet us. He was able to follow what we were doing through the blog and the bulletin board at the building.

Body and soul – caring for every need. Every step along our way we have been asked what we would really like to eat, if there is anything we haven’t been able to get. Some have shared a special restaurant meal, others have made a meal (and allowed us to help and to clean up). More importantly, we have been able to share such good conversations at these tables, sharing our thoughts, hearing others, being encouraged and encouraging.

So many of you have shared so much: leading songs with a heart for the Lord, talking about how God is using you in a mighty way each day, simply letting us know that you are praying, taking the time to introduce yourself so that we can get to know you, listening to some of our struggles or joys, including us in your family (even playing lego’s or going to a garage sale).

We are all a part of the body of Christ, doing so many different things. We are all being used by our mighty God to do His will to His glory – if we allow this to happen. Know that we are so thrilled to be part of this life in the body with you!

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. ... But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”   1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 18-21