Have you heard the saying that it gets darker just before the light comes? Is this what the Bible teaches? Can we be encouraged in the midst of deepening darkness and gloom? We know that the Hebrew day starts at sunset, as light is fleeing. The darkness goes on for hours until the sun comes up.
We know that this world that we live in, started in darkness - formless and void. But God established light in the midst of the darkness.
God has given us light even within the darkness - the moon and stars. These are pinpoints of light by which we navigate. By seeing the position of the stars in the night sky, we can gauge where we are and plot where we need to be and whether or not we are on course.
The darker the sky is, the brighter the stars seem to shine, and countless multitudes more can be seen.
The stars look tiny from our viewpoint on this earth. But in reality they are huge. Though we cannot see it, we know they move around.
Your day - today - has started in the darkness of Parkinson's Disease. Or perhaps it is the darkness of loneliness, financial ruin, a reputation that has been destroyed, a betrayel, a family torn apart, fear of the unknown, or even persecution. You may experience a deepening of the darkness as your day proceeds. But don't be alarmed. You are not alone. Neither are you without the stars that remind you of the goodness to come.
You may be unaware of God's presence with you, Believer, but if you look, you will find stars in your particular darkness that God has placed there for your encouragement. He wants you to know that the dawn is coming. The night is going to break into day for His children. Your stars might be particular people in your life; certain medical advancements that bring you relief; the blessing of children; access to the Word of God, or many many other things. You fill in the blanks.
God can create a beautiful world for you from the darkness you now endure.
Just as the stars in your life may not appear large, know that they are bigger and greater than you can see. There is SO MUCH goodness that God works for you - the Believer - that only faith can see. Without faith (the belief and resulting actions) in God you cannot take hold of the hope He offers.
You can't have belief in what you can't see, you say? Oh yes you can and you do. Can you know the true size of a star as you look from earth? No, not with the naked eye. But we have scientists who have shared knowledge with us about the stars so that we CAN know the truth. Can you see the end of night from your particular spot in life today? No. Not without faith in the God who created the stars above. And that is what I am sharing with you today. I am sharing with you the hope that God has shown me so that you too can see the truth.
Like night flowers, you can bloom in the darkness of PD or whatever your challenge is. The beauty and fragrance of these unique flowers are essential to the life of others, just as you are. Bloom in your darkness today! Spread the fragrant hope that you have in the Creator and Sustainer of all things. For darkness heralds the coming of the light.
Showing posts with label surviving parkinson's disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label surviving parkinson's disease. Show all posts
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Saturday, August 4, 2012
On the Cross With Jesus
This world we live in is a stressful place. There is evil, greed, and every kind of selfishness. Danger is always present. But we can also find light, kindness, goodness, and people who are willing to share.
We have no control over the actions of other people, so we can't control the amount of stress around us that we have to deal with. I find that trying to find that place where stress is non-existant is a waste of time. A better thing to concentrate on is facing my problems, my fears, and my insufficiency and learning what to do with them.
I don't think I'll ever reach the place where there is no fear. At least not on this earth. Having Parkinson's Disease brings up all kinds of fears. I can't help that. But rather than trying to battle them in my own humaness, hoping against hope for a reprieve, I can put those fears where they belong - at the feet of Jesus.
To do this, I must first identify and face these fears. It won't help to try and forget them or pretend they are not there. Running from them will only wear you out. Once I have identified them, then I mourn, and cry and grieve in the presence of God. Tell Him all about your agony. You can even go to God with your anger. Then admit your powerlessness over these things you fear. Our struggle to maintain control is nothing more than a mirage.
It actually gets simple at this point. I didn't say "easy". But we now trust God to do as He pleases, believing that He is a loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God who works out His purposes in every day He gives us.
I remember as I struggled through this process (it will take longer for some than others), giving up my own hopes and dreams for this life, I told Him in all sincerity, that if there were any other place in the world I could go, that's where I would be. But I had exhausted all other possibilities. I found myself on the cross with Jesus. My old self had to die with all of my old dreams, desires, and plans. I did not choose it to be so, but this is where I found myself.
It was agonizing - letting go of my cherished hopes and dreams. But Jesus knew exactly what I was going through. In the Garden of Gethsemene, He too struggled with the impending reality of the cross. He asked the Father 3 times to "let this cup pass" yet when He did not receive the answer He so desperately desired, with resignation He faced death.....death on a cross.
When the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease comes, recognize the dread of not knowing how your life will play out or how you will die. Consider that you may lose loved ones because they can't deal with your tragedy. But do it all in light of the wonderful reality that He will never leave you or forsake you ("He Himself has said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5). He will never ask you to do what He hasn't done before. And know that your life will be what He has planned it will be ahead of time. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
Now I can truly say with Paul and Timothy in Philippians 3:8 - "I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ." Trust Him, dear ones. You will not be disappointed. Trust and wait.........
We have no control over the actions of other people, so we can't control the amount of stress around us that we have to deal with. I find that trying to find that place where stress is non-existant is a waste of time. A better thing to concentrate on is facing my problems, my fears, and my insufficiency and learning what to do with them.
I don't think I'll ever reach the place where there is no fear. At least not on this earth. Having Parkinson's Disease brings up all kinds of fears. I can't help that. But rather than trying to battle them in my own humaness, hoping against hope for a reprieve, I can put those fears where they belong - at the feet of Jesus.
To do this, I must first identify and face these fears. It won't help to try and forget them or pretend they are not there. Running from them will only wear you out. Once I have identified them, then I mourn, and cry and grieve in the presence of God. Tell Him all about your agony. You can even go to God with your anger. Then admit your powerlessness over these things you fear. Our struggle to maintain control is nothing more than a mirage.
It actually gets simple at this point. I didn't say "easy". But we now trust God to do as He pleases, believing that He is a loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God who works out His purposes in every day He gives us.
I remember as I struggled through this process (it will take longer for some than others), giving up my own hopes and dreams for this life, I told Him in all sincerity, that if there were any other place in the world I could go, that's where I would be. But I had exhausted all other possibilities. I found myself on the cross with Jesus. My old self had to die with all of my old dreams, desires, and plans. I did not choose it to be so, but this is where I found myself.
It was agonizing - letting go of my cherished hopes and dreams. But Jesus knew exactly what I was going through. In the Garden of Gethsemene, He too struggled with the impending reality of the cross. He asked the Father 3 times to "let this cup pass" yet when He did not receive the answer He so desperately desired, with resignation He faced death.....death on a cross.
When the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease comes, recognize the dread of not knowing how your life will play out or how you will die. Consider that you may lose loved ones because they can't deal with your tragedy. But do it all in light of the wonderful reality that He will never leave you or forsake you ("He Himself has said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5). He will never ask you to do what He hasn't done before. And know that your life will be what He has planned it will be ahead of time. Jeremiah 29:11 says, For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
Now I can truly say with Paul and Timothy in Philippians 3:8 - "I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ." Trust Him, dear ones. You will not be disappointed. Trust and wait.........
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Weakness and Winks or Power and Love
I'm having a quiet day today. My thoughts are uninterrupted and I am trying to listen to what the Spirit has to say.
I want to talk about a side of God that we don't normally mention. I find that most people like to think of Him as a warm, fuzzy, positive presence. We like to think of His angels sent to protect us. We believe that God wants us to be happy and without suffering and without pain - ever. I think many of us see Him as a benevolent Presence that either does not have the power to really change much, or does not care to. This is a God Who is weak. He wishes that we would obey His commandments, but winks at us or shrugs His shoulders when we don't. We tend to think He does not punish rebellion or disobedience. We just aren't that concerned with comitting a sin here and a sin there because we know He will forgive.
Think about this. Take a moment to ask yourself if any of this sounds familiar. Ask God to show you if these ideas are like some of your own. Then listen for His answer. Really listen. Your life may depend on it. Matthew 13:14-15 says this: "You will keep on hearing but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull. And with their ears they scarcely hear. And they have closed their eyes lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I should heal them." These are the words of Jesus.
Louie Giglio says that God is big - really really big, and FEROCIOUS and POWERFUL. Also loving. Genesis 1 tells us that God designed and created the universe and the earth and everything on it. (What kind of power would that take?)
He HATES sin (not dislikes or overlooks). The Bible is very clear that He is not nuetral or half-hearted about sin. Proverbs 6:16-19 says, "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: a haughty look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet swift in running to do evil, a false witness who lies with every breath, and him who sows strife among brothers."
Sin brings death, and God is all about life. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Would you - as a loving parent be tolerant of cancer or some gross deadly deformity in your child's life? Certainly not! And neither is God tolerant of sin in a person's life, because it results in death - eternal separation from Him. Hell, is the finished product of sin. God doesn't just send people to Hell. They wind up there because sin has them in Hell's grip. Unless a person receives the gift of cleansing and is delivered from sin and death by God's Son - Jesus Christ - he will have no hope of being saved. Because we are born tainted in a tainted world we are not clean - we are full of sin.
You may be thinking, "But I'm a pretty good person. I don't sin." However the Bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Indeed we are born in sin. It is attached to us with chains that cannot be broken with human hands alone. In God's fierce love for us He came up with a way to free us and be with us, and keep us from death and darkness.
God is love. He has such incredibly deep and abiding love for you, and for me, that He gave His Son . "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:17-18). Did you get that? God doesn't condemn, but we are condemned already. God is fearless and will go to any length to save you. Indeed He already has.
Would a weak dispassionate God who winks at sin do all this??? Ask God Who He really is. Respectfully ask. Whoever He is, He is greater than mere man
I want to talk about a side of God that we don't normally mention. I find that most people like to think of Him as a warm, fuzzy, positive presence. We like to think of His angels sent to protect us. We believe that God wants us to be happy and without suffering and without pain - ever. I think many of us see Him as a benevolent Presence that either does not have the power to really change much, or does not care to. This is a God Who is weak. He wishes that we would obey His commandments, but winks at us or shrugs His shoulders when we don't. We tend to think He does not punish rebellion or disobedience. We just aren't that concerned with comitting a sin here and a sin there because we know He will forgive.
Think about this. Take a moment to ask yourself if any of this sounds familiar. Ask God to show you if these ideas are like some of your own. Then listen for His answer. Really listen. Your life may depend on it. Matthew 13:14-15 says this: "You will keep on hearing but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull. And with their ears they scarcely hear. And they have closed their eyes lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I should heal them." These are the words of Jesus.
Louie Giglio says that God is big - really really big, and FEROCIOUS and POWERFUL. Also loving. Genesis 1 tells us that God designed and created the universe and the earth and everything on it. (What kind of power would that take?)
He HATES sin (not dislikes or overlooks). The Bible is very clear that He is not nuetral or half-hearted about sin. Proverbs 6:16-19 says, "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: a haughty look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet swift in running to do evil, a false witness who lies with every breath, and him who sows strife among brothers."
Sin brings death, and God is all about life. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Would you - as a loving parent be tolerant of cancer or some gross deadly deformity in your child's life? Certainly not! And neither is God tolerant of sin in a person's life, because it results in death - eternal separation from Him. Hell, is the finished product of sin. God doesn't just send people to Hell. They wind up there because sin has them in Hell's grip. Unless a person receives the gift of cleansing and is delivered from sin and death by God's Son - Jesus Christ - he will have no hope of being saved. Because we are born tainted in a tainted world we are not clean - we are full of sin.
You may be thinking, "But I'm a pretty good person. I don't sin." However the Bible says that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Indeed we are born in sin. It is attached to us with chains that cannot be broken with human hands alone. In God's fierce love for us He came up with a way to free us and be with us, and keep us from death and darkness.
God is love. He has such incredibly deep and abiding love for you, and for me, that He gave His Son . "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:17-18). Did you get that? God doesn't condemn, but we are condemned already. God is fearless and will go to any length to save you. Indeed He already has.
Would a weak dispassionate God who winks at sin do all this??? Ask God Who He really is. Respectfully ask. Whoever He is, He is greater than mere man
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
How Is Your Faith Today?
How is your faith today? Is it dependent upon your circumstances? When things get bad does your faith weaken and falter? Do you have to see to believe? Or is your faith healthy and robust?
As you deal with Parkinson's Disease (or whatever your problem) are you able to believe in the goodness of God? Are you able to believe that God is sovereign when just days ago a young man went berserk in a movie theater and murdered people indiscriminantly and without mercy as he shot them? Are you able to believe in God when you're living in a world ruled by mad men just itching to go nuclear?
I hope so. If you are not able to trust in God and believe He is all the Bible claims Him to be, today, then how will you survive through tomorrow? Our world is precariously perched on the edge of an abyss. God told us ahead of time this was coming and He is warning us in many ways,that if we don't change course we could face what Joel Rosenberg refers to as "implosion".
I don't know why we see evil that befalls the innocent, but I don't have to see to believe. My mind is only able to understand so much, and then the rest must be taken on faith. I believe that God is love, that He is all knowing and all powerful and present everywhere. My mind is like a car that runs out of gas. It can only take me so far. Then I need gas to get me where I'm going. The gas is faith.
Now is not the time to doubt or to be unsure. Make sure your faith is healthy today.
As you deal with Parkinson's Disease (or whatever your problem) are you able to believe in the goodness of God? Are you able to believe that God is sovereign when just days ago a young man went berserk in a movie theater and murdered people indiscriminantly and without mercy as he shot them? Are you able to believe in God when you're living in a world ruled by mad men just itching to go nuclear?
I hope so. If you are not able to trust in God and believe He is all the Bible claims Him to be, today, then how will you survive through tomorrow? Our world is precariously perched on the edge of an abyss. God told us ahead of time this was coming and He is warning us in many ways,that if we don't change course we could face what Joel Rosenberg refers to as "implosion".
I don't know why we see evil that befalls the innocent, but I don't have to see to believe. My mind is only able to understand so much, and then the rest must be taken on faith. I believe that God is love, that He is all knowing and all powerful and present everywhere. My mind is like a car that runs out of gas. It can only take me so far. Then I need gas to get me where I'm going. The gas is faith.
Now is not the time to doubt or to be unsure. Make sure your faith is healthy today.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
A Prayer to Start the Day
Lord, in the darkness of early morning, the possibilities of my day stretch out before me. With trepidition I venture into the possibilites of this day as if they were patches of fog in a valley untraveled. Already I am perplexed as to which way to go or what to do... so here I am - before your throne - in the presence of my King and my Father.
Please lead me through this day of endless options. I don't know what I will face, so I am afraid. This is not becoming to a child of the King. I give You my fear, and You give me Your courage. On this morning, I give you my weakness and You replace it with Your strength. My sin for your righteousness. Anxiety for Shalom....
I'm putting myself into Your own dear hands. Guide me, protect me, and use me to Your glory. I will hope in the good end of this day and believe that You have grown my faith and excercised it in the face of darkness and the unknown.
Together we are prepared. Today we will move forward - You and I. Thank you for hearing. I love You so....
Please lead me through this day of endless options. I don't know what I will face, so I am afraid. This is not becoming to a child of the King. I give You my fear, and You give me Your courage. On this morning, I give you my weakness and You replace it with Your strength. My sin for your righteousness. Anxiety for Shalom....
I'm putting myself into Your own dear hands. Guide me, protect me, and use me to Your glory. I will hope in the good end of this day and believe that You have grown my faith and excercised it in the face of darkness and the unknown.
Together we are prepared. Today we will move forward - You and I. Thank you for hearing. I love You so....
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Spiritual Ticks
I was recently doing some reading on Lyme's Disease. I read that some people with Lyme's have been misdiagnosed as having PD. I don't know whether that's true or not, but it got me thinking of spiritual parallels. Just like the danger of getting a tick bourne disease from a walk through the yard, we must be aware that there is much in the world that is evil. Unsuspecting the risk, we go through our day without a thought for the scheming the enemy (Satan) has done and the pits he has dug to try and trap us. He wants to shut us down – put us out of commission. He lurks in unsuspected places.
But thinking we are safe - and that there is no risk – and that we have matters under control – we are unaware of the danger. Evil does exist and it is sometimes unseen, or invisible to us just as a tick bourne illness that resides in the infected tick is not seen. Though small and undetected, it is not to be underestimated.
I'm not trying to scare you, and I'm not suggesting that behind every encounter or opportunity lies something evil. I'm merely suggesting that we are more dependent on God to keep us safe than we know.
Evil predators searching out a victim rove back and forth across all of creation – quick to detect our movement or catch our scent. Feeling the warmth of our breath these parasites stealthily follow our trail.
Just don't forget Who has you in the palm of His hand. Don't forget Who gives you armor for protection. Don't forget Who gives you warnings in His Word and tells you how to live and avoid calamity. He is at work protecting us even when we don't know it. Where our bodies are weak, He is strong. Let that encourage you today. He will never leave you, or forsake you!
Be as wise as serpents, but as innocent as doves.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Talk
How are you with talking to people about your disability? Maybe you're embarrassed, or fearful to talk about it. Maybe you feel like if you can ignore it or talk around it then somehow it's not as bad, or not there at all. Maybe it's somehow not real if you ignore it.
WRONG!
When we tell others our stories or share some of our problems with friends, it somehow lightens our burden. Others are blessed when we share a little bit about OUR burdens. Some are inspired by our courage and strength, and some are an encouragement to US. Don't waste all that you have learned by not telling. Let others in on the lessons that you have had to pay dearly to learn. Lighten your burden by sharing and bless someone by acknowleging your struggles. I believe that's part of our purpose here on this earth.... taking what we have and giving it to someone who needs it.
I have realized anew that life is not all about me. I am a vibrant and necessary part in this world, at this time, and so are you, but there is so much more. It's actually a relief to realize that and forget my inhibitions or discomfort for a while and speak freely.
So, now having said that, I'll touch on opportunities to share. I find that God almost always brings someone to me, and they will usually lead the conversation quite naturally in the direction of an openning for me to share. Pray for opportunites like that. He is just LOOKING for someone to share our life in Him with someone who needs to hear it. Ask Him for a chance to do this. If we are willing and make ourselves available, He will honor that request.
No matter if you are sick or what your burden may be, you have something to share and somebody has a need to hear it.
WRONG!
When we tell others our stories or share some of our problems with friends, it somehow lightens our burden. Others are blessed when we share a little bit about OUR burdens. Some are inspired by our courage and strength, and some are an encouragement to US. Don't waste all that you have learned by not telling. Let others in on the lessons that you have had to pay dearly to learn. Lighten your burden by sharing and bless someone by acknowleging your struggles. I believe that's part of our purpose here on this earth.... taking what we have and giving it to someone who needs it.
I have realized anew that life is not all about me. I am a vibrant and necessary part in this world, at this time, and so are you, but there is so much more. It's actually a relief to realize that and forget my inhibitions or discomfort for a while and speak freely.
So, now having said that, I'll touch on opportunities to share. I find that God almost always brings someone to me, and they will usually lead the conversation quite naturally in the direction of an openning for me to share. Pray for opportunites like that. He is just LOOKING for someone to share our life in Him with someone who needs to hear it. Ask Him for a chance to do this. If we are willing and make ourselves available, He will honor that request.
No matter if you are sick or what your burden may be, you have something to share and somebody has a need to hear it.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Autobiography - the Final - Nine
I cannot even begin to describe the joy that rose up in me after the surgery. God had given me the answer to my prayers. Through technology He had done the impossible. Through the doctors that He chose, He worked a miracle in my life! Through the brilliant minds that He gave them, and the hands He instilled with skill, came the dream I had so long hoped and prayed for. I was overwhelmed with a sense of His tender love for me.
God has been with me through every step of my life including the Valley of Parkinson's Disease. He listened to my cries for help and healing. It is through Him that healing has come. Truly He is the God for whom nothing is too hard. I am so grateful. If I had not been living in New York, near to doctors who perform the surgery it wouldn't have happened. My symptoms just "happened" to be the very ones that the surgery corrects. It is not helpful to all people. God had planned my life so that I would be where He wanted me and when so He might be glorified. I rembered the verse He had given me years before: "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God that the Son of God may be glorified by it." (John 11:4)
Today, I enjoy moving around without discomfort and going where I choose and when I choose. My body is no longer my prison. Praise to His name!
God has been with me through every step of my life including the Valley of Parkinson's Disease. He listened to my cries for help and healing. It is through Him that healing has come. Truly He is the God for whom nothing is too hard. I am so grateful. If I had not been living in New York, near to doctors who perform the surgery it wouldn't have happened. My symptoms just "happened" to be the very ones that the surgery corrects. It is not helpful to all people. God had planned my life so that I would be where He wanted me and when so He might be glorified. I rembered the verse He had given me years before: "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God that the Son of God may be glorified by it." (John 11:4)
Today, I enjoy moving around without discomfort and going where I choose and when I choose. My body is no longer my prison. Praise to His name!
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