"Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself." (Matthew 6:34)
Having Parkinson's Disease, I sometimes worry over what tomorrow will bring. Will I get worse? Who will be there for me? Will my meds still work?
In the same way we can be tempted to worry about our world. The Bible says things will get worse before they get better. We know that in the end God will have His way. It's just that we don't know what things will be like between now and then.
Let your worries send you to your knees. And when fear threatens to overtake your mind, take that thought captive and give it to Jesus.
Worry won't change anything, but can steal your joy and weaken your faith.
Heavenly Father, thank you that today I have everything I need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3)Thank you that you never forget me or leave me. Thank you that you love me. Help me to walk in courage and peace today. Help me not to worry.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
The Words I Leave With You
Any time that your health is compromised, you begin to see life differently. You consider your own mortality and - in my case - began to ponder what a miracle this body is and just how fragile life is. I began to think more carefully about what I said and to whom....... I understood that every day was a gift from God and He could bring me home to be with Him on any given day. I became aware that the last thing I said to someone, could indeed be the last thing I would ever get to tell them.
How do you live your life? Do you say the important things? What thought or message would you like to leave with your loved ones? Today - what is most important to get across to them?
As a Christian, I certainly want to live my life in such a way that it's clearly evident I belong to Jesus Christ. I want to encourage those I love to believe in Him and to follow and obey Him. Do they know that for those who belong to Him - we have the promise of being together again for eternity in heaven?
I would want everyone around me (and especially those who are dear to me) to know the way to God is through Jesus Christ, and that through confession of our sins to Him, we are cleansed and receive total forgiveness. I want my life and words to be a statement and a testimony to the power of His love that can change anyone or anything.
I have found purpose and meaning in life through Him, and I want my dear ones to know that, because I love them. I love them no matter what. I will always love them, and I want them to know that though I have at times failed them, it was never because I didn't love them.
I pray all the time that my life will speak to these things in word AND deed.
What message does your life speak today? I encourage you to leave no important thing unsaid. If you're not sure what the best way is to communicate that, then ask God to show you. He will honor that prayer and will touch people through you.
How do you live your life? Do you say the important things? What thought or message would you like to leave with your loved ones? Today - what is most important to get across to them?
As a Christian, I certainly want to live my life in such a way that it's clearly evident I belong to Jesus Christ. I want to encourage those I love to believe in Him and to follow and obey Him. Do they know that for those who belong to Him - we have the promise of being together again for eternity in heaven?
I would want everyone around me (and especially those who are dear to me) to know the way to God is through Jesus Christ, and that through confession of our sins to Him, we are cleansed and receive total forgiveness. I want my life and words to be a statement and a testimony to the power of His love that can change anyone or anything.
I have found purpose and meaning in life through Him, and I want my dear ones to know that, because I love them. I love them no matter what. I will always love them, and I want them to know that though I have at times failed them, it was never because I didn't love them.
I pray all the time that my life will speak to these things in word AND deed.
What message does your life speak today? I encourage you to leave no important thing unsaid. If you're not sure what the best way is to communicate that, then ask God to show you. He will honor that prayer and will touch people through you.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Does Anybody See Me?
Any disease can isolate you. Maybe that's the worst part of having something wrong with you....
We all need companionship. We need to know somebody is listening. We need to matter. Living with purpose sums it up in a phrase.
There have been times that, due to this disease, I have felt the worst kind of loneliness which led to me feeling that my life did not make a difference to anyone. I felt that I was nothing but a problem - a person who had to be taken care of - someone that required patience to be around........ someone who contributed not one ounce of joy to anyone else.
It's hard to want to live when you feel that way.
If you know someone who is suffering an imposed isolation in any way, reach out to them! Just take a couple of minutes out of your day to "see" them. Don't worry that you might not make a big difference, or have answers for them. Forget about appearing as though you have it all together. Just be you. Share yourself. The blessing will go both ways.
I want to say thank you to those who have commented on this blog. Thanks for "seeing" me. I would comment back to you directly if I could figure out how to! So, I'm writing this today, to let you know - I know you are there - and somehow, that's makes a difference. Keep on commenting!
We all need companionship. We need to know somebody is listening. We need to matter. Living with purpose sums it up in a phrase.
There have been times that, due to this disease, I have felt the worst kind of loneliness which led to me feeling that my life did not make a difference to anyone. I felt that I was nothing but a problem - a person who had to be taken care of - someone that required patience to be around........ someone who contributed not one ounce of joy to anyone else.
It's hard to want to live when you feel that way.
If you know someone who is suffering an imposed isolation in any way, reach out to them! Just take a couple of minutes out of your day to "see" them. Don't worry that you might not make a big difference, or have answers for them. Forget about appearing as though you have it all together. Just be you. Share yourself. The blessing will go both ways.
I want to say thank you to those who have commented on this blog. Thanks for "seeing" me. I would comment back to you directly if I could figure out how to! So, I'm writing this today, to let you know - I know you are there - and somehow, that's makes a difference. Keep on commenting!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Questions
At 6:12 this morning, while having a quiet time and sitting at the table, what sounded like a gun shot, ripped through the quiet of early morning and then faded, like an echo, back into the stillness. Darla, our dog, had jumped, moving quickly, being startled from the sudden explosion. In the time it took to write this, the birds have mostly stopped singing and are silent. It is now 6:21. Minutes pass and it's 6:27 and still quiet. Far away I hear faintly the churiping of birds, but none close by.
At 6:31, I take my pills.
It's afternoon now and I still can only guess at what I heard this morning. I'll probably never know what it was. In the same way I have many unanswered questions concerning Parkinson's Disease and why I have it. I doubt that it's any more likely that I'll find answers to these perplexing questions.
So.......... I can let it drive me crazy - or pray and ask God for answers, or - if that doesn't enlighten me - I can turn them over to Him and trust that He will help me understand what is necessary, and trust Him to take care of me.
For me it boils down to TRUST in God. Is He really my good Shepherd? Does He truly care?
I can already answer that question. Yes, I relax as I realize I don't have to know everything.
At 6:31, I take my pills.
It's afternoon now and I still can only guess at what I heard this morning. I'll probably never know what it was. In the same way I have many unanswered questions concerning Parkinson's Disease and why I have it. I doubt that it's any more likely that I'll find answers to these perplexing questions.
So.......... I can let it drive me crazy - or pray and ask God for answers, or - if that doesn't enlighten me - I can turn them over to Him and trust that He will help me understand what is necessary, and trust Him to take care of me.
For me it boils down to TRUST in God. Is He really my good Shepherd? Does He truly care?
I can already answer that question. Yes, I relax as I realize I don't have to know everything.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Rest
Having Parkinson's Disease, I understand the feeling of fatigue and weakness that comes with the territory. The smallest task can use up huge amounts of energy. In other words, it takes far more effort for me to do a task than it would a "normal" person. I get tired just thinking about it.
On the flip side of this coin though is hope that one day it won't be this way. I don't mean the kind of hope that merely "wishes" for something different.... What I'm talking about is waiting patiently for what I KNOW is coming.
The Bible says: "There remains then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:9-10). God will not leave me undone or unwhole, but will finish the work He has started in me. In the end I will rest from all my labors and will enter my final Sabbath rest that He has prepared for me. Right now, God is still working on me, but will one day finish the masterpiece that He has planned for me to be. And when He finishes all the work on all the people that are His He will enter that Sabbath rest.
Shabat Shalom!
On the flip side of this coin though is hope that one day it won't be this way. I don't mean the kind of hope that merely "wishes" for something different.... What I'm talking about is waiting patiently for what I KNOW is coming.
The Bible says: "There remains then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:9-10). God will not leave me undone or unwhole, but will finish the work He has started in me. In the end I will rest from all my labors and will enter my final Sabbath rest that He has prepared for me. Right now, God is still working on me, but will one day finish the masterpiece that He has planned for me to be. And when He finishes all the work on all the people that are His He will enter that Sabbath rest.
Shabat Shalom!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Prayer
Parkinson's disease has taught me more than ever to pray. Not only did I have more requests but they became more and more urgent. I needed to hear from God. And I began to learn how to worship in the midst of sorrow, pain and loss of hope.
Prayer
Prayer is really a mystery. Why do things change when we pray? We've all heard it said that God's power to heal or bless is released in a person's life when they are prayed for. But it occurs to me that it is much more than just that. I don't think God witholds blessings or other good things from someone because you or I have not prayed for them. It is His will to redeem, save and bless all people.
Perhaps we are not thinking big enough or outside of the box concerning prayer. Could it be that when I pray, I am changed and my heart is changed – my desires become what God desires – my focus becomes what He is focusing on? When I am changed within my heart and mind, my actions will inevitably change and line up with what I'm thinking and feeling (which are God's thoughts and feelings). When I change at this foundational level, I begin to “touch” the world differently. God's love can truly be expressed through me because I am now allowing that change. I become a willing conduit of God's love. Rivers of living water truly begin flowing from my innermost being!
Now that I am touching the world in such a different way – the world is effected differently. God begins moving in a powerful way through you and through me, and miracles happen – hearts melt – the blind see – the dear hear – the lost are found.................... All because I am no longer impeding the movement of the Holy Spirit, but I have yielded my mind and body to Him so that He can walk among man and talk to man and pour out His blessings.
We must learn to linger in His presence in prayer long enough that we are changed!
Prayer
Prayer is really a mystery. Why do things change when we pray? We've all heard it said that God's power to heal or bless is released in a person's life when they are prayed for. But it occurs to me that it is much more than just that. I don't think God witholds blessings or other good things from someone because you or I have not prayed for them. It is His will to redeem, save and bless all people.
Perhaps we are not thinking big enough or outside of the box concerning prayer. Could it be that when I pray, I am changed and my heart is changed – my desires become what God desires – my focus becomes what He is focusing on? When I am changed within my heart and mind, my actions will inevitably change and line up with what I'm thinking and feeling (which are God's thoughts and feelings). When I change at this foundational level, I begin to “touch” the world differently. God's love can truly be expressed through me because I am now allowing that change. I become a willing conduit of God's love. Rivers of living water truly begin flowing from my innermost being!
Now that I am touching the world in such a different way – the world is effected differently. God begins moving in a powerful way through you and through me, and miracles happen – hearts melt – the blind see – the dear hear – the lost are found.................... All because I am no longer impeding the movement of the Holy Spirit, but I have yielded my mind and body to Him so that He can walk among man and talk to man and pour out His blessings.
We must learn to linger in His presence in prayer long enough that we are changed!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Mother's Day
Yesterday was Mother's Day. I wonder who might be reading this blog....... Any mothers out there? What do holidays have to do with Parkinson's Disease? Having Parkinson's Disease has taught me a thing or two about getting through holidays.
I know we all have expectations and wonderful memories when it comes to special anniversaries or celebrations. And some of us have associations with these special days that we would prefer to forget. But no matter what the past was......it IS just that - the past. It has something to do with the present, but the knowledge of it should be used to keep us moving forward.
Based on the past, our hopes for the future can be a recipe for disaster....... So, what do I have to say about all this? I have found that no matter what day it is, something is bound to sadden or disappoint me. It is a temptation to be pulled under the blanket of depression. But this is where I have a choice. I can live the rest of the day out as a victim of dashed hopes, or I can use the past to remind me that there have been days I have faced worse......... Gratitude floods my being as I experience relief that I am not repeating those dark days or WORSE. My outlook changes. Today doesn't seem so bad anymore. I have choices to make that will bless me and those around me or not. I choose blessing. Lord, help me to always choose your green pastures........
I know we all have expectations and wonderful memories when it comes to special anniversaries or celebrations. And some of us have associations with these special days that we would prefer to forget. But no matter what the past was......it IS just that - the past. It has something to do with the present, but the knowledge of it should be used to keep us moving forward.
Based on the past, our hopes for the future can be a recipe for disaster....... So, what do I have to say about all this? I have found that no matter what day it is, something is bound to sadden or disappoint me. It is a temptation to be pulled under the blanket of depression. But this is where I have a choice. I can live the rest of the day out as a victim of dashed hopes, or I can use the past to remind me that there have been days I have faced worse......... Gratitude floods my being as I experience relief that I am not repeating those dark days or WORSE. My outlook changes. Today doesn't seem so bad anymore. I have choices to make that will bless me and those around me or not. I choose blessing. Lord, help me to always choose your green pastures........
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