I believe I have written to you before about what I am about to relate, but it bears repeating.
I have written a lot about prayer and how important it is. I could never stress the importance of prayer enough. Those of you who are not able to work have been blessed with days filled and brimming over with opportunities to pray. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. It also says that God's house is a house of prayer. These bodies that we dwell in - like the Israelite's tent dwellings - when they wandered in the desert for forty years - are temporary "tents". Your body is the temple of God on earth. It should be a house of prayer.
Recently, my mother-in-law had a mini stroke and had to be taken to the ER of a local hospital. I was there with my husband. It was a creepy experience as the ER was quite lively that night. The first thing we were confronted with was a man that looked homeless walking up and down the hall muttering and talking to himself. He had a disturbed expression on his face.
Moments later we heard cursings and screams from a young man declaring that nothing was wrong with him and he wanted to go home. He was drawing quite a crowd of hospital staff.
Finally, there was an elderly man in the bay next to us, and every 3 or 4 seconds he would wail. No one paid him any attention.
After about 2 hours, still bothered by all the commotion, I thought, "All these outbursts are stealing the peace that should be here." Then out of "no where" the thought came that the man who was wailing was being tormented (not physically but mentally). God seemed to say to me, "Pray for him - he's being tormented." So, I did............
Immediately the man was quiet. There were no more wailings! I realized that as Believers we are the light of the world. Everywhere we go, we are to pray for people. Our prayers can bring peace and God's love into any situation. Be creative today. Find as many people as you can to pray for. You will be a peacemaker.
Friday, July 20, 2012
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....
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Face Giants by Remembering God
Our lives are populated with giants. Giants are really big problems and they show up in our heads, our friendships, at work, at church, in marriages, at the doctor's office, in our families and every other place we go. They must be faced and overcome or they will devour us.
L. B. Cowman in Streams in the Desert says: "'We will be stronger by overcoming them than if there had been no giants to defeat.' In fact, unless we have overcoming faith, we will be swallowed up - consumed by the giants who block our path. 'With that same spirit of faith' (2 Cor 4:13) that Joshua and Caleb had, let us look to God, and He will take care of the difficulties."
Cowman says it so much better than I can, so the following is taken from the same devotion book as above: "We encounter giants only when we are serving God and following Him. It was when Israel was going forward that the giants appeared, for when they turned back into the wilderness, they found none.
Many people believe that the power of God in a person's life should keep him from all trials and conflicts. However, the power of God actually brings conflict and struggles. You would think that Paul, during his great missionary journey to Rome, would have been kept by God's sovereignty from the power of violent storms and of his enemies. Yet just the opposite was true. He endured one long, difficult struggle with the Jews who were persecuting him. He faced fierce winds, poisonous snakes, and all the powers of earth and of hell. And finally, he narrowly escaped drowning, by swimming to shore at Malta after a shipwrick nearly sent him to a watery grave.
Does this sound like a God of infinite power? Yes, it is just like Him. And that is why Paul told us that once he took the Lord Jesus Christ as his life in his body, a severe conflict immediately arose. In fact, the conflict never ended. The pressure on Paul was persistent, but from the conflict he always emerged victorious through the strength of Jesus Christ.
Paul described this in quite vivid language: 'We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body" (2 Cor 4:8-10)."
Don't be dismayed and lose heart because tragedy has struck and you are faced with the impossible. You will make it through your day - one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time and one decision at a time. The mountain of accomplishment is scaled one persistant step at a time - one effort at a time - one bit of knowledge at a time.
The giants will be defeated through continuous application of Truth and the works which flow from this Truth. Rabbi Michael L. Munk in The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet says, " Do not believe that you have tried and failed. Rather understand that you have not tried hard enough."
When you see giants, take a step back and remember Who God is then remember who your are. Then taking one step at a time make choices and let your actions be in agreement with those two things. Getting through your day is a process and it occurs time after time as the days go by.
L. B. Cowman in Streams in the Desert says: "'We will be stronger by overcoming them than if there had been no giants to defeat.' In fact, unless we have overcoming faith, we will be swallowed up - consumed by the giants who block our path. 'With that same spirit of faith' (2 Cor 4:13) that Joshua and Caleb had, let us look to God, and He will take care of the difficulties."
Cowman says it so much better than I can, so the following is taken from the same devotion book as above: "We encounter giants only when we are serving God and following Him. It was when Israel was going forward that the giants appeared, for when they turned back into the wilderness, they found none.
Many people believe that the power of God in a person's life should keep him from all trials and conflicts. However, the power of God actually brings conflict and struggles. You would think that Paul, during his great missionary journey to Rome, would have been kept by God's sovereignty from the power of violent storms and of his enemies. Yet just the opposite was true. He endured one long, difficult struggle with the Jews who were persecuting him. He faced fierce winds, poisonous snakes, and all the powers of earth and of hell. And finally, he narrowly escaped drowning, by swimming to shore at Malta after a shipwrick nearly sent him to a watery grave.
Does this sound like a God of infinite power? Yes, it is just like Him. And that is why Paul told us that once he took the Lord Jesus Christ as his life in his body, a severe conflict immediately arose. In fact, the conflict never ended. The pressure on Paul was persistent, but from the conflict he always emerged victorious through the strength of Jesus Christ.
Paul described this in quite vivid language: 'We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body" (2 Cor 4:8-10)."
Don't be dismayed and lose heart because tragedy has struck and you are faced with the impossible. You will make it through your day - one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time and one decision at a time. The mountain of accomplishment is scaled one persistant step at a time - one effort at a time - one bit of knowledge at a time.
The giants will be defeated through continuous application of Truth and the works which flow from this Truth. Rabbi Michael L. Munk in The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet says, " Do not believe that you have tried and failed. Rather understand that you have not tried hard enough."
When you see giants, take a step back and remember Who God is then remember who your are. Then taking one step at a time make choices and let your actions be in agreement with those two things. Getting through your day is a process and it occurs time after time as the days go by.
Friday, June 29, 2012
How to Start Your Day
There are some things we all need to know in order to get through our day (and to do it successfully). It's equally important for people who have disabilities as for those who don't. The very first thing is to know there is a God. Not just "a" God, but "THE" God. Everyone knows that if the compass is not set properly, the destination will not be reached. When I think about things from this premise- when I start out my day from this point - I have the right perspective. My starting point is grounded in Truth - not fact or fiction. I find that my center becomes God instead of me, myself and I! From there, I remember that He is the Creator - MY Creator. I find my purpose in Him. I realize that He has work for me today. I am not left with empty desires or fruitless jobs, but if I stay tuned into Him, I will be about His work. At the end of the day, I will have a sense of accomplishment and contentment. When I am doing those works He has designed for me, I find that I have sufficient strength, hope, faith, love and inspiration to work.
Does this mean I never experience fear or fatigue? Does this mean my faith is not challenged or that I never lose sight of what's real? No, that's not what it means. If I make a mistake and make the wrong choices, I will see warning flags like confusion or guilt or remorse. I am to take that directly to Jesus, Who will forgive, cleanse me and reset my compass.
I will have stress and difficulties along my path. I will have to give up some of the things I would rather not in order that I may possess the better things.
When the Israelites sent spies into the promised land, all but Joshua and Caleb were cast down and lost the vision that God had given them. They looked at the situation from a strictly human perspective and as a result they saw giants. They forgot Who made them, guided them and empowered them. They forgot all God had done up to that point to beat the odds and to deliver them through EVERYTHING. They forgot that even the Egyptian Pharoah and his army had been annihilated when they held God's people in bondage and would not let them go.
I'll speak more tomorrow about giants and what they represent and how we can deal with them....
Does this mean I never experience fear or fatigue? Does this mean my faith is not challenged or that I never lose sight of what's real? No, that's not what it means. If I make a mistake and make the wrong choices, I will see warning flags like confusion or guilt or remorse. I am to take that directly to Jesus, Who will forgive, cleanse me and reset my compass.
I will have stress and difficulties along my path. I will have to give up some of the things I would rather not in order that I may possess the better things.
When the Israelites sent spies into the promised land, all but Joshua and Caleb were cast down and lost the vision that God had given them. They looked at the situation from a strictly human perspective and as a result they saw giants. They forgot Who made them, guided them and empowered them. They forgot all God had done up to that point to beat the odds and to deliver them through EVERYTHING. They forgot that even the Egyptian Pharoah and his army had been annihilated when they held God's people in bondage and would not let them go.
I'll speak more tomorrow about giants and what they represent and how we can deal with them....
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Thank You, Daughter
I just returned from a visit with my daughter and two grandsons. Not only did I have a wonderful time with them, but also enjoyed my daughter's bee hives, garden and excellent cooking. I'm home now with renewed inspiration to prepare healthy foods and enjoy eating right with my family. I've been going through a book (called Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig., PHD) that my daughter gave me to find some new recipes, but I was a bit overwhelmed at the huge amount of information along with tasty dishes. So I decided to learn just one new thing at a time. I have chosen chicken stock which is used in many different things. It's incredibly nutritious.
At times I am tempted to think it's a waste of time for me to eat nutritiously, because I have already suffered much damage to my body with the Parkinson's Disease. What good is it going to do now? But I am going to throw that thought away. I believe that nourishing my body now can only fuel it to heal itself. It may slow or halt the progression of PD. It makes sense that it can only be beneficial for me AND my family.At the very worst, I will enjoy eating what I prepare with my family.
I have already found that I am energized as I put good things into my body. Join with me in this endeaver. Share with me any recipes made with organic foods that you have, and let's get to work getting healthy!
At times I am tempted to think it's a waste of time for me to eat nutritiously, because I have already suffered much damage to my body with the Parkinson's Disease. What good is it going to do now? But I am going to throw that thought away. I believe that nourishing my body now can only fuel it to heal itself. It may slow or halt the progression of PD. It makes sense that it can only be beneficial for me AND my family.At the very worst, I will enjoy eating what I prepare with my family.
I have already found that I am energized as I put good things into my body. Join with me in this endeaver. Share with me any recipes made with organic foods that you have, and let's get to work getting healthy!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Who Will Be There?
We never know what another person goes through just t get through the day. We may know what it looks like on the outside, and we may think we know how we would feel in the same circumstances, but in reality it's only our best guess. How can we understand the miles a person has traveled from their beginning until now? How can we know the toll it has taken - this journey?
On the other side of that coin, how can we expect another to comprehend what it would be like to live in my skin?
When I am feeling unappreciated or misunderstood I have to remember it's God who supplies my needs. People cannot fill my void, or take away my low self-esteem or any other sense of inadequacy. They can certainly minister to me, but in the end only God can "fix" me.
People can make things more pleasant, but sometimes I'm surrounded by people who have their own problems and are already overwhelmed by the needs of those around them. Sometimes we don't have the loving support of our families or even friends. Sometimes we are rejected and cast away because of our own sins against others. We know we don't deserve anything better, but we NEED to be loved, forgiven, helped.
Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn't feel lower or more unloved and devalued than you already do? I'm pretty sure you have. And if you don't already know it, I have a word for you. Jesus is your answer. He says that He will never leave us or forsake us (though people sometimes will). He says that nothing can separate us from His love. He says if we confess our sins He will forgive. And His Word tells us that He is love, and has all power with all wisdom and knowlege.
You have to want what He offers to you. But what He offers is real. Try turning to Him when you are hopeless and helpless to change. Give Him your difficult life along with your disappointments. You don't have to wish for a perfect family, or a perfect spouse or SOMEONE to be there for you because no one else is. Just turn to Him. He's right there
On the other side of that coin, how can we expect another to comprehend what it would be like to live in my skin?
When I am feeling unappreciated or misunderstood I have to remember it's God who supplies my needs. People cannot fill my void, or take away my low self-esteem or any other sense of inadequacy. They can certainly minister to me, but in the end only God can "fix" me.
People can make things more pleasant, but sometimes I'm surrounded by people who have their own problems and are already overwhelmed by the needs of those around them. Sometimes we don't have the loving support of our families or even friends. Sometimes we are rejected and cast away because of our own sins against others. We know we don't deserve anything better, but we NEED to be loved, forgiven, helped.
Have you ever been in a situation where you couldn't feel lower or more unloved and devalued than you already do? I'm pretty sure you have. And if you don't already know it, I have a word for you. Jesus is your answer. He says that He will never leave us or forsake us (though people sometimes will). He says that nothing can separate us from His love. He says if we confess our sins He will forgive. And His Word tells us that He is love, and has all power with all wisdom and knowlege.
You have to want what He offers to you. But what He offers is real. Try turning to Him when you are hopeless and helpless to change. Give Him your difficult life along with your disappointments. You don't have to wish for a perfect family, or a perfect spouse or SOMEONE to be there for you because no one else is. Just turn to Him. He's right there
Monday, June 4, 2012
Cool and Cloudy
Today is unseasonably cool. It's cloudy with temperatures in the 60s. Definitely sweater weather! This is not my idea of a typical June day.
Emotions are sort of like the weather. One day you are hot only to be cool the next. Our comfort levels change as circumstances outside of our control may be all over the map. In other words, we are directly affected by the "weather" around us and we have no control over what may come.
Certainly, for people with PD we are faced with new problems, new circumstances and unforseen events every day. It can be more than we can handle at times. So how do we stay steady and remain grounded in an unpredictable climate? I do it through my relationship to Jesus. If I didn't know that He is all powerful and loving I know I wouldn't make it through my crazy days! I know that He has all knowlege and that He is merciful and forgiving. I may not understand the why of what He does, but I don't have to. Knowing who He is will be enough.
When the weather turns bad suddenly, I know He is my shelter. I trust Him to know what I don't, and I trust Him to be who He says He is. Read your Bible today.......... You'll learn something new about Him. It's all there - in the Bible.......... The answers....
Emotions are sort of like the weather. One day you are hot only to be cool the next. Our comfort levels change as circumstances outside of our control may be all over the map. In other words, we are directly affected by the "weather" around us and we have no control over what may come.
Certainly, for people with PD we are faced with new problems, new circumstances and unforseen events every day. It can be more than we can handle at times. So how do we stay steady and remain grounded in an unpredictable climate? I do it through my relationship to Jesus. If I didn't know that He is all powerful and loving I know I wouldn't make it through my crazy days! I know that He has all knowlege and that He is merciful and forgiving. I may not understand the why of what He does, but I don't have to. Knowing who He is will be enough.
When the weather turns bad suddenly, I know He is my shelter. I trust Him to know what I don't, and I trust Him to be who He says He is. Read your Bible today.......... You'll learn something new about Him. It's all there - in the Bible.......... The answers....
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