"PAIN IS A PAIN!"

     PAIN IS A PAIN!  Chronic pain is a humongous pain!  Pain is one of the many ramifications of 'Adam's fall' ('the first Adam' - the 'physical' father of the human race) into sin and death, from a state of "innocence."  My back has been extraordinarily aggravated with pain this past week, and this morning is the worst day of it!  The most recent "culprit of irritation" probably attacked me yesterday, I suppose, from getting a bath and washing my hair, getting ready for 'Bible study,' then, going to church in the evening, and walking back to a b-day party afterwards in the 'fellowship hall.'  I did EXTRA stretching this morning as I sat in my recliner (my bed), before getting up and out of it to face the day! More stretching occurred after I arose, is still occurring, and shall continue throughout my day.  Stretching really helps me to deal with my back situation, so maybe by me sharing that it does, someone else may try it, and hopefully, be helped by this info.!?  This is certainly my hope!  I don't know why I wrote all of that because what is actually on my heart this a.m., is about how that years ago, God USED 'BACK PAIN' that HE had either put, and/or allowed, in my life, to bring me, HIS child, to REPENTANCE!  I had been living foolishly, playing games with HIM, deceived, thinking that I could compartmentalize the various areas of my life, choosing what areas in which I would apply godliness, or not, and that GOD understood!  I was WRONG!  I was a "carnal Christian!'  I had gone from being a "baby Christian' to being a "carnal teenager" (spiritually speaking), because I wasn't "in The Word" enough, and therefore, was ignorant of God's laws, specifically, "the law of sowing and reaping" (Gal. 6:7), which would be revealed to me in the future,  when I was confronted with my harvest (good and bad), planted by the seeds that I was sowing,  THEN!  NOW, I KNOW, because I am still reaping some of that harvest (the chronic back pain is some of it)! I was "doubleminded" (James 4:8)!  The 'saved' (regenerated) part of me (my spirit) wanted to please God, but, my soul (mind, will and emotions), wanted to do what I had programmed it to do while living as a sinner for many years, and since my body is "neutral," it did whatever the "winner" (spirit vs. soul) told it to do in each particular scenario.  Although ignorance was much to blame for my soul often winning the battles, I was not blameless!  I was sowing a lot of "sinful seeds" that had the potential to grow into weeds and/or "bad fruit," unless HIS MERCY intervened, which evidently did, because, based on my carnality, there should have been many more weeds and bad fruit!  The reaping of what I'd sown, or the ramifications of my sins, with which I DID have to deal, pull up, has been DIFFICULT enough, especially the way it has affected my back!  ALL of this reaping continues to remind me that, sinning, no matter how much temporary pleasure it may give my soul and body, is absolutely NOT worth the PRICE that I'll eventually HAVE TO pay! After pulling up and off, lots of weeds and fruit produced by the "sinful" seeds I've sown, usually anymore, I don't want any part in the "fun" of sowing my "wild oats!". There is nothing as rewarding to me as bearing, and then observing, beautiful "fruit" that has come to fruition, in which "The Glorious Gardener" produced in me from the faith HE gave me, that honors and glorifies HIM!  This "sowing and reaping law" shall continue until God calls me 'Home.'  Hopefully, I'll continue to grow more  good fruit and less bad, as I grow "in The Lord," and continue to serve in HIS garden/vineyard.  After all, I am merely a "branch!"  I am supposed to ABIDE "in HIM" (John ch. 15)!  HE produces 'fruit,' and I bear it, but only, IF, I ABIDE "IN HIM!"  This abiding shall cause me to have a desire to please, and not hurt or disappoint HIM, also.  PAIN, I suppose, is a type of pruning of the vine or branch, by HIM.  Pruning (my pain), and other types of pruning, are to help me to bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit, for other people to enjoy and know that HE gets the credit!  PAIN reminds me over and over again, that I do not want 'Father God' to have to chastise or discipline me, which is equivalent oftentimes to, me reaping, and/or, HIM pruning, the bad fruit, and/or weeds, that are in my life!  Chronic pain continues to remind me to let 'The Holy Spirit,' and 'Word of God,' help me to live, "spirit-filled,"walk in the Spirit," and to be sensitive to HIS promptings, not wanting to grieve, or quench, 'The Spirit.'  'The Lord' KNOWS exactly what each one of  HIS children need to make each of us into who HE designed us to become, for 'HIS Kingdom's' sake!  HE desires to shape us into HIS image by HIS pruning. Not only is HE an expert gardener, HE is also the perfect disciplinarian (Hebrews 12:6-8)! HE has compassionately broken me to where I no longer desire certain "sinful" things in the needy way in which I once did!  Only HE could change such things deep down inside of me!  I do not want to pay the price for sinning, or to be chastised and/or disciplined for rebelling, nor, pruned because I'm fruitless, etc., by HIM!  I've been there, and done that!  There is no pleasure, sin, unmet need, etc. worth, hurting Jesus, in light of the suffering HE endured for me!  And, I desire to have HIS favor upon me, rather than, dealing with the consequences of living sinfully!  Seriously, some of these consequences last a lifetime, when HE knows that we need them as reminders to let HIM help us live a life that's pleasing to HIM!  I hope and pray that this back pain does not stay with me the rest of my life, but, I am HIS daughter, and I trust that HE loves me, and knows what I need, to keep me right with HIM!  I am "saved" by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10), and this DOES make me a child of God - to Whom I am accountable!  I guess with this post, I am trying to warn my brothers and sisters 'in Christ' to line up to our Father's "Rule book," because HE can dish out some intense correction!  It is SO much more enjoyable to be favored by HIM, than to be corrected by HIM! We are always loved, blessed, nurtured, etc. by HIM, but, HE can snap that "leather belt" with holy purpose, better than any physical parent, whenever it is necessary for HIS plan, for my life, and, any of HIS children's lives, to be accomplished.  PLEASE, take my advice:  TRUST and OBEY HIM!  My prayer is that God uses my words expressed in this post for other people's good, and for HIS honor, glory and kingdom!