abide

I haven't had even a couple of minutes to write recently.   I'm sure it means I'm not managing my time well, but here I am!

I've been occupied by many things including being concerned by several people around me that have been ill recently.  One seriously ill, the others more 'regular' sick.

In thinking about them and what they're going through, I'm not sure if anything brings focus and inner reflection like illness does.

The most serious thing I've ever had to deal with were the 2 night-time seizures I had over the past 3+ years.  The only residual effect they had was my friends lecturing me about going to bed earlier and avoiding stress, waking up with a chewed tongue and being confused for a few minutes.  (wait, actually that's a daily thing!  ha ha)

I cannot imagine what it's like to go through illness that's life threatening!

I would think it is completely consuming as if life stands still - takes a time-out, while you watch the goings-on from a far.  Being around it should bring perspective to those of us watching - revealing how we should spend our precious few years here on earth.  And forcing an evaluation of how our time is being spent.

Looking at my day as I sit on my deck I wonder what was eternal about it?

My determination to try to the best of my ability to prioritize my days to reflect that God is first place in my life - as if His existence is the driving force behind my choices is renewed once again as I think about my friends and pray for them.

I would love to not only trust Him each day, but actually, completely ABIDE in Him.  So I leave you tonight and plan to study about abiding…what does that look like and require - and am I capable of it?

If you too study about how to live a life of abiding completely in Him - please comment and share the information you find with all of us!  Let's learn together as we do this life together!

not a good patient

Being sick is NOT in the plans!

I admit it - I am a very bad patient. I don't like to be waited on (good for my husband), I don't like sympathy and have too much to do to be sick!

So...here I sit wiping my nose and popping vitamins and wonder whether I have to go to the doctor or not!

This could potentially be the busiest week of my life - second only to our daughters wedding last summer! So - terrible time to be sick.

So why? Of course a cold gives me no room to complain when there are so many around me really suffering. This puts my little problems into perspective and makes me praise the Lord for His ongoing protection of our health. So, I'll try not to whine too much and focus on the coming week. Got to go - need to sleep!

Stay well!

sad today

I got a call today that my uncle who is suffering from cancer just had to go into hospice care. My uncle received the Lord a few months ago, so we are very, very thankful for that, but it is sad when you consider that a whole life could have been spent walking with God.

I wish he had accepted the Lord early enough to really know Him. So, I am waiting to hear from my mother for more details, the kind of call you dread. This makes me very sad.

Then right after church today we went to see one of our favorite Crossroads members, Ben. He was not feeling well the past few days and by the time they got him to the hospital and diagnosed he was in really bad shape! It was very hard to visit him because we care so much about him. He has congestive heart failure and his kidneys were failing as well. We prayed with him, talked to him and tried to comfort and reassure his wife. Even in the shape he was in, as he drifted in and out of consciousness, he teased me. I gave it right back to him which made him smile. It made me very sad to see him this way.

Some preachers teach the false doctrine saying if you pray to the Lord believing strongly enough, He will grant your every wish. False! He sees the universe in its entirety, every age all at one time. He knows what will happen next, He knows how our action or lack of action today will affect our tomorrow. He knows every sick person by name, they are after all His creation. I understand as much as I am able with my limited perspective. One thing I do know is that He chooses not to heal every person. This makes me sad, but I totally trust Him.

"And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good." Romans 8:28 esv

My uncle and Ben both know the Lord and believe this promise, and tonight they both rest in his arms as they sleep.