I get such comfort from knowing how powerful God is. I really believe His angels are sent to watch over us. I love the story of Elisha and Gehazi, when Ahab is after them and Gehazi tells Elisha they are surrounded and asks what they are going to do. Elisha prays for his eyes to be opened and Gehazi sees that between them and Ahab's army(I hope I'm naming the right evil king, but you get the drift), is an army of chariots and horses of fire. I like to remember the power God has at His disposal. I also love the story of Daniel and the lions den and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. When they are faced with overwhelming destruction, they are confident that God can save them, but say quite clearly that whether God chooses to spare them or not, they will serve Him. It reminds me that those faithful servants didn't try to determine what God would do, they just trusted Him. That has served me well, too. I won't compare myself to them except to say that when I put myself completely in God's hands, He never lets me down. I may not get what I pray for the way I want, but I know He loves me and knows best.
When mom died and when my brother died 16 years ago, I didn't understand, but was so comforted that I knew where they were, that they were in the presence of the Lord and happier than they had ever been. It helped me to know that I was grieving for myself. It didn't stop me grieving, but gave me perspective. I love that our lives here are but a vapor. They seem long to us, but in the scheme of eternity are not. I was comforted to think when mom died that I didn't have more than a half a vapor left before I was with her again.
Some glad morning when this life is over, I'll fly away;
To a home on God's celestial shore,
I'll fly away (I'll fly away). [Chorus]
I'll fly away, Oh Glory I'll fly away; (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah, bye and bye, I'll fly away (I'll fly away).
/II/ When the shadows of this life have gone,
I'll fly away;
Like a bird from prison bars has flown,
I'll fly away (I'll fly away) [Chorus]
/III/ Just a few more weary days and then,
I'll fly away;
To a land where joy shall never end,
I'll fly away (I'll fly away) [Chorus]
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Much better morning today. Got my swim in. Redirected my "fell off the wagon so I'm depressed" to "I deserve to be healthy and today is another day!" I find that it's all in my mind. I can defeat myself with my thinking.When you have used food for comfort in the past, it is easy to slip into thinking that you are depriving yourself. Not! If I remember that I want to change my unhealthy habits to healthy ones because I deserve to feel good and be healthy, if I remember that none of my bad habits made me happy, if I remember that my bad habits depressed me and the new ones make me happy, if I remember that one or two bad days are just that- one or two bad days and not a lifetime of bad habits whichever way I want to go etc.....I can get back on track! We can do anything we decide to do. I like to remind myself of that because I often feel controlled by life. P.S. OK, I was scared to get on the scale, but made myself and YEAH! I didn't gain anything! What a relief! It is so hard to get those stupid pounds off! I was unhappy with myself for falling off the wagon! Yeah! Have a Blessed Healthy Day!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
God has answered my prayers for my friend. She appears to be on the road to recovery. Her oxygen saturation is up. Her fever is down. The doctor thinks the abcess is resoving.
Her daughter, who has been in many ways estranged from her because of a long distance relationship since her husband divorced her, has been at her side for a week and doing a wonderful job of taking care of her. Her ex was very concerned and demonstrated that before his children. Her father came and has been here for several days. Many friends rallied to her side. I love how God has a plan for blessing in the midst of adversity. I feel certain that He is healing her. I am so grateful. Her family still needs her.
Her daughter, who has been in many ways estranged from her because of a long distance relationship since her husband divorced her, has been at her side for a week and doing a wonderful job of taking care of her. Her ex was very concerned and demonstrated that before his children. Her father came and has been here for several days. Many friends rallied to her side. I love how God has a plan for blessing in the midst of adversity. I feel certain that He is healing her. I am so grateful. Her family still needs her.
The preacher preached another really good sermon tonight. I loved it. A forshadowing of the Savior.
Similarities between Jesus and Isaac.
1. Both miraculous births.
2.Both only begotten sons.
3.Both carried the wood to the sacrifice.
4.Both bound to die on Mt. Moriah. Abraham names the place Jehovah Jireh, God provides. And He does.
In Genesis 22, God calls Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mt. Moriah.
Abraham waited 100 years for Isaac. If he lost Isaac, Ishmael was already gone, his hope of a descendant would apparently be gone. But his hope was in God. I wonder if Abraham wasn't thinking, that if God let Abraham take Isaac's life, God would give Isaac back. At this point in the Bible, God has not raised the dead, but such was Abraham's faith, I feel certain of that. Abraham assumes that what God asks of him is right, and he obeys. As Abraham works through this, he discovers how much he loves God and how much he trusts Him. Can I trust God for more than I've seen Him do personally in my life?
All the evidence of how much I can trust Him is there. He has done miraculous things in my life. I want to say that definitively now! He has been incredible, miraculous, amazing!
The evidence of how much more He can do is in the scriptures.
How much are you willing to trust Him for?
1. In the toughest of times, how much do you expect of God?
2. Do you expect God to have a reason for what He allows?
3.In your mind, is God on your side?
4.Do you trust God or are you suspicious?
5.Do you think God knows your breaking point? Did He know Abraham's?
6.Do you expect God to know your heart?
7.Do you expect God to come to the rescue?
8.Will He really come through?
9.Do you expect there is something God wants to teach you?
10.Do you expect God to bless you?
God brough Abraham to Mt. Moriah to expand his blessings. "In your seed, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed my voice." All peoples and nations will be blessed by him. Jesus is a descendant of Abraham. God fulfilled this promise.
In the midst of your crisis, claim your blessing, expect and obey. Then watch as God makes sense of your crisis and blesses you.
I am not saying you will always get what you asked for. That doesn't always happen. But trust God enough to know that He has a reason and His heart is for your good.
"Know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you."
"God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him."
Similarities between Jesus and Isaac.
1. Both miraculous births.
2.Both only begotten sons.
3.Both carried the wood to the sacrifice.
4.Both bound to die on Mt. Moriah. Abraham names the place Jehovah Jireh, God provides. And He does.
In Genesis 22, God calls Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on Mt. Moriah.
Abraham waited 100 years for Isaac. If he lost Isaac, Ishmael was already gone, his hope of a descendant would apparently be gone. But his hope was in God. I wonder if Abraham wasn't thinking, that if God let Abraham take Isaac's life, God would give Isaac back. At this point in the Bible, God has not raised the dead, but such was Abraham's faith, I feel certain of that. Abraham assumes that what God asks of him is right, and he obeys. As Abraham works through this, he discovers how much he loves God and how much he trusts Him. Can I trust God for more than I've seen Him do personally in my life?
All the evidence of how much I can trust Him is there. He has done miraculous things in my life. I want to say that definitively now! He has been incredible, miraculous, amazing!
The evidence of how much more He can do is in the scriptures.
How much are you willing to trust Him for?
1. In the toughest of times, how much do you expect of God?
2. Do you expect God to have a reason for what He allows?
3.In your mind, is God on your side?
4.Do you trust God or are you suspicious?
5.Do you think God knows your breaking point? Did He know Abraham's?
6.Do you expect God to know your heart?
7.Do you expect God to come to the rescue?
8.Will He really come through?
9.Do you expect there is something God wants to teach you?
10.Do you expect God to bless you?
God brough Abraham to Mt. Moriah to expand his blessings. "In your seed, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed my voice." All peoples and nations will be blessed by him. Jesus is a descendant of Abraham. God fulfilled this promise.
In the midst of your crisis, claim your blessing, expect and obey. Then watch as God makes sense of your crisis and blesses you.
I am not saying you will always get what you asked for. That doesn't always happen. But trust God enough to know that He has a reason and His heart is for your good.
"Know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you."
"God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him."
OK. My week went crazy, literally. A friend was deathly ill, and I do mean deathly. She was diagnosed with a liver abcess and the mortality rate, treated, is 15 to 35%. I've spent the first part of the week in the hospital and today at church. All my plans fell through. Next week is another week. I don't think I'll start tomorrow. It is William's birthday and the house is a wreck and I want to take care of my friend and her daughter again tomorrow. I am still determined to achieve a schedule. I may change my plans though. William covered nearly a third of a history book on Monday. I may do math every day and use the rest of the day for one other subject. All that switching around and getting them started wastes time. We'll set a schedule for subjects by days.
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