Disqualified: To render unqualified (lacking the proper qualification), or ineligible


Good Morning Girls!  For the last couple of years I have entertained off and on the idea of donating plasma for extra money.  I have scheduled my initial exam and blood check a few times only to end up canceling it.  I cancel it for a couple of reasons. 

First of all, my schedule never quite worked out for it.  In order to actually make any money, you need to go twice a week.  I just couldn't fit that in.

The other reason......The bigger reason.......is that the thought of them taking my blood freaked me out.  I am talking panic attack hyperventilate freak outs.  Every time I had to cancel my appointment I took that as a blessing from the Lord!

A week ago I felt like I was supposed to finally go in.  I signed up online and every day would check for an opening.  Last Saturday there was a cancelation.  I had two hours to get in.  I took the appointment and pretty much got in my car before I could think it through.

By the time I got there I was a wreck.  While doing my initial "interview"; answering questions, taking photos, giving fingerprints, and such the two guys looked at me with there heads tilted and puzzled looks on their faces and said "are you alright?"

"No!"  I said.  "I am freaking out!  I feel like I want to throw up."  

"Then why are you here?"

"I don't know!  Because I feel like I am supposed to be.  Because I need the extra cash."

"Okay (crazy lady)...relax...it will be okay....we will take good care of you......don't worry"

"Okay"...deep breath....lamaze breathing......focus......I can do this........

He takes me back to one of the chairs of doom and tells me he is going to check my veins.  They need to have a good vein in each arm in order to draw plasma.  He ties the tube around my arm and tells me to make a fist.  He looks and looks and pokes and prods.  Then he repeats the process on the other side.

"I'm sorry" he says.  "You only have one good vein on your left arm.  We cannot use your right.  I cannot put you through this knowing we only have one good vein."

"Thank you Jesus!" I think to myself as I use all my self control (and you Girls know I don't have much of that) to not jump up and throw my arms around and kiss this man who has saved me from certain death! 

But then he says.......

"There are two things you can do to help your veins.  Did you drink plenty of water?"

"Yes"...(I refrain from the details that I drank so much water I have to pee every 10 minutes and I am trying not to pee my pants at that very moment)

"And......you can lift weights.  Specifically you can do arm curls.  That may build up your veins enough for us to draw from."

Enter guilt and shame.......

"Way to go Jen!  Now look what not lifting weights has cost you!  Not only are your muscles all soft and your arms all flabby....now you have ruined a way to earn some extra money.....You quit lifting weights months ago.  Tsk, tsk, tsk.......it's costing you more than you think.  You are unfit.......you are disqualified."

AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!  Why couldn't he have just said I was not eligible?  Why did he have to go and say I could go home and work at it and try again later?  One minute I felt released, the next minute I felt condemned!

I got in my car feeling frustrated (and dramatic)  "Rejected.  My blood was rejected.  I'm not good enough.  It's my fault.  Lord, why would you have me go through all that only to have me be rejected?  I really thought this was what I was supposed to do.  Is it your way of telling me to get back to lifting weights?" (I am laughing at that right now but that is in fact what I asked Him)"

Enter the still small voice.......

"I know how you feel"

What?

"I know how you feel.  My blood is rejected every day.  It is rejected because you look to yourself.  You disqualify yourself because of what you have or have not done. You let the enemy disqualify you and the result is the rejection of my blood." 

Wow!  That's the kind of revelation that stops me in my tracks.  Think about it for a minute.  How many times have you looked at your flaws and decided that you are not worthy of healing, prosperity, forgiveness, joy?  How many times has the enemy disqualified you from the Truth that we are given in Gods Word?

Girls, we need to realize that when we allow the devil to disqualify us, we are rejecting the blood of Jesus!  

Now don't let that statement leave you feeling guilty!  Don't think "I've blown it again....in addition to screwing up I have also I've rejected Jesus"  

No!!!!  Take this revelation and use it to fight the enemy next time he tries to disqualify you!  If you are going to get mad, quit getting mad at yourself and start getting feisty with the father of lies!

I don't care who you are or what you have done.....NOT ONE OF YOU IS DISQUALIFIED FROM THE PERFECT BLOOD OF JESUS!!!!

Quit looking at your flaws and start meditating on Jesus' perfection.  

Hebrews 9:14 NLT Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God.  For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.   

Love, grace, and a qualified day to you all-

Jen

ps I talked to my mom later on that day and she said she has always only had one arm they can draw blood from and often times the vein collapses when they do.  Turns out no amount of bicep curls are likely to make me a plasma donor.........interesting don't you think.......