Yes, once again I have been reminded of my human frailties. Once more I have seen the stark reality that my very existence is held in the hands of a Sovereign God. I can make a valiant effort and try to deceive myself and ignore this fact on most days, but, every now and then God takes pity on me and reminds me that He is undeniably in command of every moment of my survival. I could not will the illness away, as much as I tried, it continued until my infirmed body could take no more and needed what I could not do alone, iv fluids from the er.
When faced with insurmountable and overwhelming events in life most people ask the question "Why me?" or "How can God allow this bad stuff to happen to me?". But, I discover that the more profound question I find in my soul that I need answered is, "Why have You excused me from being sick every day?", or "Why have You chosen to give me anything good when I give You so little?"
I was very ill this weekend and was unable to care for myself, even my most fundamental needs. Husband stepped into the role as nurse and was amazing. He washed me, carried me, nursed me, steadied me. Even in my wretched filthiness he loved and me cared for me. I am astonished at his actions of affections for me.
What a picture!! It is the very depiction of how Jesus takes us in our filthy state of sinfulness while we cannot clean ourselves and washes us clean with His own Goodness and Love. He then carries me, nurses me, steadies me and then walks with me for eternity. I have no words to express my graditude for this undeserved healing, therefore, I must communicate my indebtedness by my actions. Also, I want to tell everyone who is still sick who can heal them! Jesus can!! Jesus will!! Every breath we have is another moment to realize the truth about a Redeemer who heals for eternity. Thank you, Jesus, for Your Loving Care.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Awake To Righteousness
I didn't even know that I was dozing! I read that verse and I knew exactly what I should do. Wake up to what is excellent!! Pay attention to what I am doing and how it affects others!! Quit being apathetic to what is best for me and all those around me. That would include husband, children, friends, and even those who simply see me responding to this world.
In every situation there is a wrong, not so wrong, and best response. I think that most times I apathetically choose what is "not so wrong". That surely couldn't hurt anything, could it? Well, I guess I might have to argue with myself at this point. Yes, apathy hurts, and ultimately numbs us to making any good (and by good I mean absence of evil, pure) decisions. I desire, yes and even expect, my children to make the very best choices each day in every situation they face. Why do I settle for less in myself? It only leads to experiencing a mediocre life, and that is not good enough! I simply must "Awake to Righteousness" and then I can expect an extraordinary existence.
Lord, open my eyes to what is righteous. Wake me, rouse me, stir me to Your excellent way.
In every situation there is a wrong, not so wrong, and best response. I think that most times I apathetically choose what is "not so wrong". That surely couldn't hurt anything, could it? Well, I guess I might have to argue with myself at this point. Yes, apathy hurts, and ultimately numbs us to making any good (and by good I mean absence of evil, pure) decisions. I desire, yes and even expect, my children to make the very best choices each day in every situation they face. Why do I settle for less in myself? It only leads to experiencing a mediocre life, and that is not good enough! I simply must "Awake to Righteousness" and then I can expect an extraordinary existence.
Lord, open my eyes to what is righteous. Wake me, rouse me, stir me to Your excellent way.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Miracles Still Happen
Have you ever seen a real live miracle? I mean right before your very eyes. Did you try to explain it away? How did you respond?
Well, I will tell you that today, I saw a miracle. One of my good friends has a really dangerous bacterial infection and is fighting it with "Big Gun" drugs. Today she did not feel well when I saw her this morning. In fact, it appeared the enemy (illness) was going to have it's way with her today. Not in my house! Or, I should say, not in my Father's house! Six of us gathered around her and touched her with our hands so that she could feel our hearts and souls as we pleaded with our Heavenly Father to protect her physical body today. Do you know that He immediately answered our prayer. The seven of us went on to eat, talk, play, and share our day together and, as usual, she was in the middle of the mix, and she was great company.
I admit several of us tried to excuse the result of our prayers. We said "maybe the cold, dry weather this morning simply caused her to have a raspy, dry throat and cough. Maybe she really didn't feel as bad as she (or we) thought." No, that is not the case. Must I remind myself that we should not doubt the power of a prayer. She did have a terrible cough (I heard it myself). She did gasp for breath as she walked from room to room (she is usually a physically fit woman). She does have an infection that is dangerous to all those who are attacked by it. GOD DID ANSWER OUR PRAYER FOR HER PROTECTION TODAY!!
Thank you, Father, for your answer to our need. Let me close my physical eyes in order to see you work in our spiritual lives. Thank You that You work in our physical world as evidence of Your remarkable power. I do trust You. I do love You. Amen.
Well, I will tell you that today, I saw a miracle. One of my good friends has a really dangerous bacterial infection and is fighting it with "Big Gun" drugs. Today she did not feel well when I saw her this morning. In fact, it appeared the enemy (illness) was going to have it's way with her today. Not in my house! Or, I should say, not in my Father's house! Six of us gathered around her and touched her with our hands so that she could feel our hearts and souls as we pleaded with our Heavenly Father to protect her physical body today. Do you know that He immediately answered our prayer. The seven of us went on to eat, talk, play, and share our day together and, as usual, she was in the middle of the mix, and she was great company.
I admit several of us tried to excuse the result of our prayers. We said "maybe the cold, dry weather this morning simply caused her to have a raspy, dry throat and cough. Maybe she really didn't feel as bad as she (or we) thought." No, that is not the case. Must I remind myself that we should not doubt the power of a prayer. She did have a terrible cough (I heard it myself). She did gasp for breath as she walked from room to room (she is usually a physically fit woman). She does have an infection that is dangerous to all those who are attacked by it. GOD DID ANSWER OUR PRAYER FOR HER PROTECTION TODAY!!
Thank you, Father, for your answer to our need. Let me close my physical eyes in order to see you work in our spiritual lives. Thank You that You work in our physical world as evidence of Your remarkable power. I do trust You. I do love You. Amen.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Sunday Lunches
I treasure Sunday lunches at our house. The very words "Sunday lunch" have such special meaning to me. That simple phrase means that we greeted one another after worshipping our Savior , filled our plates with our favorite food, sat around a grand table with beloved people, and talked about subjects that are dear to our hearts.
Yesterday was such a day. Several things make yesterday exceptionally wonderful. First, we were celebrating my son's birthday. He is 24 and an outstanding son, friend, husband, and father. I couldn't be prouder. Second, we were celebrating 24 moving his family back to our city. They have been "in the wilderness" for fifteen months and having them close again in proximity is a joy. Next, my 88 year old grandmother was here to watch my grandchildren play, cry, and generally steal the show. Five generations! That is a rarity and oh, so extraordinary. We hold every moment with her captive knowing our time with her is short .
Now that I think of it we really didn't talk about important subjects or conquer significant social issues. Basically, we just shared time with one another. That, oh so, fleeting commodity of time. So, I guess it really isn't the "Sunday lunches" that are extraordinary, it is really the people that come together and commit that brief, passing, never to be had again moment in time with me that causes me to relish the memories we have around that table.
Oh, LORD God, let me never forget to savor each moment You give me with others. Let me never waste time consumed with useless matters or emotions. Let me speak Truth to them and love them with Your kind of love.
Yesterday was such a day. Several things make yesterday exceptionally wonderful. First, we were celebrating my son's birthday. He is 24 and an outstanding son, friend, husband, and father. I couldn't be prouder. Second, we were celebrating 24 moving his family back to our city. They have been "in the wilderness" for fifteen months and having them close again in proximity is a joy. Next, my 88 year old grandmother was here to watch my grandchildren play, cry, and generally steal the show. Five generations! That is a rarity and oh, so extraordinary. We hold every moment with her captive knowing our time with her is short .
Now that I think of it we really didn't talk about important subjects or conquer significant social issues. Basically, we just shared time with one another. That, oh so, fleeting commodity of time. So, I guess it really isn't the "Sunday lunches" that are extraordinary, it is really the people that come together and commit that brief, passing, never to be had again moment in time with me that causes me to relish the memories we have around that table.
Oh, LORD God, let me never forget to savor each moment You give me with others. Let me never waste time consumed with useless matters or emotions. Let me speak Truth to them and love them with Your kind of love.
Monday, February 05, 2007
State Mandated HPV Vaccines
Here we go again! Unfortunately, the secular world is seeing the necessity to meet a physical need caused by a spiritual liability. Our shortcomings as salt and light to our world become painfully clear as the consequences of sin develop greater tribulations for the children (and yes, the adults, too) of our world. We are at this crossroad because we chose to be apathetic about purity (on a grand scale) in our own lives as well as the lives of our children in the past. Regrettably, if we as Christians, fight against the state mandated "solution" to this STD, we appear as uncaring and stoic. However, if we support the vaccine, we seem to acquiesce to the status quo of promiscuity. What is the solution on a Christian level?
1. Make sure we, as individuals, are living every moment what we say we believe. Our own children will then know and see Truth for themselves and have a better chance of experiencing life without the devasting consequences of sin.
2. Opt out of the vaccine, but only if you choose to educate your children on the spiritual level about the choices which have led to these physical consequences. This is a lifetime commitment, not a one time conversation.
3. Heed the call to affect others in this matter (only you know to what level of ministry God has called you).
This is absolutely not the complete answer to this crisis. However, until we as Christians decide what we believe how will we ever be able to stand up for anything? I am convinced that most of us do not really know what the Bible has to say about the practicality of living day to day. The only way it will ever be written on our hearts is when we ask God to allow us to hear Him. He is always speaking, will I listen?
1. Make sure we, as individuals, are living every moment what we say we believe. Our own children will then know and see Truth for themselves and have a better chance of experiencing life without the devasting consequences of sin.
2. Opt out of the vaccine, but only if you choose to educate your children on the spiritual level about the choices which have led to these physical consequences. This is a lifetime commitment, not a one time conversation.
3. Heed the call to affect others in this matter (only you know to what level of ministry God has called you).
This is absolutely not the complete answer to this crisis. However, until we as Christians decide what we believe how will we ever be able to stand up for anything? I am convinced that most of us do not really know what the Bible has to say about the practicality of living day to day. The only way it will ever be written on our hearts is when we ask God to allow us to hear Him. He is always speaking, will I listen?
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