Sunday, August 21, 2011
Was I Snoring???
I remember the scripture that explains to us that only God knows our heart. I understand and believe that. I also know that sometimes people around us think they understand our heart...crazy to me, since we don't know it our self.
Some days it seems my heart is laid out for all to see and interpret their way. In the midst of all this confusion and chaos down here, it is refreshing and comforting to know that God indeed understands my heart. Its OK if I do not, because He does. Ahhh...like a cool breeze when I surrender and accept His purposes in my life.
You'd think that by now, at my age (not going to write THAT down), I would understand my heart; know my goals, my desires and my strengths. But alas, it seems the older I get and the longer I walk on this earth, the more I know that I don't know.
Is anyone out there with me on that? Do you also find that days go by when you ponder on where you are going in this season of your life? Sometimes it seems I am treading water with no particular motive then all of a sudden - WHAM - something hits and I'm off on an adventure I never expected.
This one thing I do know: when you are in a season of treading water its best to be preparing yourself for the next onslaught - adventure - assignment, because when it comes there is rarely time for preparation. I'm thinking of the parable of the virgins who did not have enough oil when the Bridegroom arrived. Treading, sleeping, waiting; it is all difficult because I am tempted to be lazy and forget my purpose here.
Today, Lord, help me to prepare while I wait that I might be ready when you call.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Beauty
Years ago I was in a place of believing that God, although loving, was sober and required immediate obedience. Of course this was true, but one summer afternoon while Royce and I were driving to Jekyll Island, I discovered another side of my Heavenly Father's personality. I remember very clearly driving along looking at the sky, the flowers that were blooming everywhere and the trees - I dearly love trees. My heart spoke to me and said, "I want to know the God that created all this beauty."
That day was a fork in the road for me. Even though it had not been a conscious prayer, the Lord heard the desire of my heart and began to show me the beauty of His creation all around me. I continued to honor His laws and strive to please Him, but now, deep in my spirit I served a beautiful, loving, kind, generous Father whose idea of beauty was overwhelming.
Several years later I re-discovered my love for photography and the idea of our Heavenly Father as a God of beauty slowly worked its way outward and through my camera lens. No matter how hard I try though, its impossible to capture on a photograph the magnificence of His world. He is an awesome God!!
How could a God who creates all this beauty with the words of His mouth be anything other than loving and good? The whole earth is filled with His glory...
Friday, August 12, 2011
God's Promises Are True
Several people have asked why Royce was in the hospital this week. Because FB limits the amount I can write, I thought it would be easier to post it here on my blog.
In April Royce started having shortness of breath, tightness and chest pains. We went to his doctor who immediately sent us to a cardiologist, who immediately said he had blockages and needed a heart cath to determine the severity. We were sent to Piedmont in Fayetteville. During the cath procedure, the doctor came out and said they had found three blockages and it would take 45 minutes or so and then he would be feeling like a new person. We celebrated and expected quick results. . . Silly us.
He was on the table for 3 1/2 hours that day but when the doctor came out he reported the first blockage was calcified and was so hard they could not break through. Because they were limited as to how long they could keep the x-ray on him, they did not have time to work on the other two blockages. He also had a severe reaction to the anesthesia. It took a couple of days for him to get his thought process clear again.
They were doing all they could to avoid bypass surgery so the next week we went to the big Piedmont hospital in downtown Atlanta. They have more sophisticated instruments for difficult cases.
The doctor explained they would use a diamond tip roto rooter and it should take about an hour. That day he was on the table 3 1/2 hours and when the doctor came out he explained they were only able to cut through the first blockage, even using the roto and the laser. This time he went through it with no anesthesia. Because once again he had been exposed to the x-ray for an extended period of time, they had to wait three months to do the other blockages. They released us, full off meds to slow down his heart and a little bottle of nitro pills to carry with him at all times.
I had of course been praying and seeking God for His assurance. Dealing with heart problems was a difficult area for me. One morning I sat down to read my Bible; not looking for a word, just reading. When I opened the Bible I noticed the following verse underlined and dated:
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
I Samuel 1:17 & 18
The date on the scripture: July 3, 2000 --- the day we were praying for Royce's heart back in UT. The day God brought his heart back into rhythm so the doctors there could operate. Same God, same heart, same promise. Funny thing was, I did not remember being given that scripture. I was using an old Bible that I rarely look at any more and there it was, a reminder of God's faithfulness in our lives.
About a month later, a radiation burn appeared on Royce's back. The doctor was more concerned than we had expected and explained he could not touch him til the burn was completely healed. He was vague about how long that would be. Some burns take several months to heal. Meanwhile, it was business as usual - take it slow - do not exert - no stress ..keep your nitro pills with you at all times...call 911 if the first one doesn't work....etc etc etc. Sure, no prob.
God was good and the burn healed more quickly than the doctor expected so we scheduled his last procedure for last Monday. We were thrilled to be finishing up with this problem that should have been corrected last April.
Then on Friday, Royce's cousin passed away unexpectedly after struggling with heart problems for several years. He and his wife have spent many wonderful visits here at our home and we were devastated at the news. We postponed the surgery and went down to FL for the funeral. We returned about midnight on Wednesday and reported to the heart lab early Thursday morning. They took him down about 1:30 and the doctor said this would only take 45 minutes to an hour and should go well.
Two hours later I was beginning to stress a little. I looked around for the lady from UT; the one who danced in the halls and sang praises to God with faith and trust. She was difficult to find here in Atlanta yesterday. Somewhere deep inside I held on but I must admit; after such a fresh day at the funeral and a long extended downtime with delay after delay, I was struggling inside. Once again, pray-ers held us up and fought with us. The Body of Christ continues to amaze me with such love and patience for Royce and me.
Finally, after 2 1/2 hours, they rolled him out; all smiles; looking great. The doctor said they actually inserted three stents. A new blockage had appeared since his last time so they took care of all of them. The doctor's words were: perfect, perfect, perfect. Of course he was describing Royce's heart but he was also talking about my Jesus and his faithfulness: perfect, perfect, perfect!!!
We appreciate all the prayers and encouragement over the summer. Its been a slow one but a good one with much time to rest, contemplate and mull over who we are and where we are headed. One more season is coming to an end and we are excited to see our next step.
Livin' in the Season...
In April Royce started having shortness of breath, tightness and chest pains. We went to his doctor who immediately sent us to a cardiologist, who immediately said he had blockages and needed a heart cath to determine the severity. We were sent to Piedmont in Fayetteville. During the cath procedure, the doctor came out and said they had found three blockages and it would take 45 minutes or so and then he would be feeling like a new person. We celebrated and expected quick results. . . Silly us.
He was on the table for 3 1/2 hours that day but when the doctor came out he reported the first blockage was calcified and was so hard they could not break through. Because they were limited as to how long they could keep the x-ray on him, they did not have time to work on the other two blockages. He also had a severe reaction to the anesthesia. It took a couple of days for him to get his thought process clear again.
They were doing all they could to avoid bypass surgery so the next week we went to the big Piedmont hospital in downtown Atlanta. They have more sophisticated instruments for difficult cases.
The doctor explained they would use a diamond tip roto rooter and it should take about an hour. That day he was on the table 3 1/2 hours and when the doctor came out he explained they were only able to cut through the first blockage, even using the roto and the laser. This time he went through it with no anesthesia. Because once again he had been exposed to the x-ray for an extended period of time, they had to wait three months to do the other blockages. They released us, full off meds to slow down his heart and a little bottle of nitro pills to carry with him at all times.
I had of course been praying and seeking God for His assurance. Dealing with heart problems was a difficult area for me. One morning I sat down to read my Bible; not looking for a word, just reading. When I opened the Bible I noticed the following verse underlined and dated:
Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
I Samuel 1:17 & 18
The date on the scripture: July 3, 2000 --- the day we were praying for Royce's heart back in UT. The day God brought his heart back into rhythm so the doctors there could operate. Same God, same heart, same promise. Funny thing was, I did not remember being given that scripture. I was using an old Bible that I rarely look at any more and there it was, a reminder of God's faithfulness in our lives.
About a month later, a radiation burn appeared on Royce's back. The doctor was more concerned than we had expected and explained he could not touch him til the burn was completely healed. He was vague about how long that would be. Some burns take several months to heal. Meanwhile, it was business as usual - take it slow - do not exert - no stress ..keep your nitro pills with you at all times...call 911 if the first one doesn't work....etc etc etc. Sure, no prob.
God was good and the burn healed more quickly than the doctor expected so we scheduled his last procedure for last Monday. We were thrilled to be finishing up with this problem that should have been corrected last April.
Then on Friday, Royce's cousin passed away unexpectedly after struggling with heart problems for several years. He and his wife have spent many wonderful visits here at our home and we were devastated at the news. We postponed the surgery and went down to FL for the funeral. We returned about midnight on Wednesday and reported to the heart lab early Thursday morning. They took him down about 1:30 and the doctor said this would only take 45 minutes to an hour and should go well.
Two hours later I was beginning to stress a little. I looked around for the lady from UT; the one who danced in the halls and sang praises to God with faith and trust. She was difficult to find here in Atlanta yesterday. Somewhere deep inside I held on but I must admit; after such a fresh day at the funeral and a long extended downtime with delay after delay, I was struggling inside. Once again, pray-ers held us up and fought with us. The Body of Christ continues to amaze me with such love and patience for Royce and me.
Finally, after 2 1/2 hours, they rolled him out; all smiles; looking great. The doctor said they actually inserted three stents. A new blockage had appeared since his last time so they took care of all of them. The doctor's words were: perfect, perfect, perfect. Of course he was describing Royce's heart but he was also talking about my Jesus and his faithfulness: perfect, perfect, perfect!!!
We appreciate all the prayers and encouragement over the summer. Its been a slow one but a good one with much time to rest, contemplate and mull over who we are and where we are headed. One more season is coming to an end and we are excited to see our next step.
Livin' in the Season...
Friday, August 5, 2011
Dirty Feet and Warm Hugs
There is something so sweet about a little child who has been outside playing, running and getting all hot and sweaty. Their hair sticks to their forehead and their feet get all grimy and nasty, even with shoes on. I love to see red faces flushed with excitement over a new game or just running ... wide open running.
But with every good mom, the time comes to hit the bath and wash away all evidence of outside play.Of course the bubbles in the bath are as much fun as the outside play and is yet another game to be enjoyed. I love that about children; their ability to play and enjoy life with an open heart and a mind ready to absorb new ideas and concepts. Childhood is a beautiful season of imagination and love whether its a day of dirty feet or clean baths, the warm hugs are priceless.
Daily baths are essential for children romping outside for hours at a time. They are also essential for us if we want to stay close to Jesus and spend time cuddled in His lap; just being with Him.
He wants us to run, play, enjoy life and be open to new ideas and adventures. Sometimes, however, in our zest to live life fully we stumble into dirty puddles and muddy paths. This world is full of such and no matter how hard we strive to stay clean, we often manage to find the exact puddle we were trying to avoid! Its then we quickly run to Jesus to have our feet washed. His bubble bath is his Word and His presence. And just like the bubble baths our children enjoy, the time of washing with Him, even though He sometimes scrubs pretty hard, is filled with love and acceptance.
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." John 13:8 (b)
Bring on the bubbles, Lord. My feet get dirty!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Funerals, Trains and Ramblings
Yesterday was an unusual day for us. We were at a Memorial Service in Cedartown for a neighbor from years ago and when we arrived Royce was asked to speak and pray. Its a good thing the Lord had already prepared him on the way up. . . nothing is "unexpected" with God.
It was a nice time of remembering our friend, reconnecting with old friends and meeting new people that were also in his life. On our way home we rambled around the backroads of Cedartown looking for photo opps and remembering friends and times past.
While my mind was wandering around over years past, I remembered another friend from that season. She was raised in a Pentecostal home and when she was very young had ambitions of being a preacher. She and her friends would play this "pastor/church" game where she would climb up into the apple tree and preach. Her sermon went something like this:
"Are we going to heaven on a train?"
"Noooo" (response from ground congregation)
"Are we going to heaven on a plane?"
"Nooooooo"
"How are we going to Heaven?"
"On the wingggggs of the the Lowrdddd."
Not sure why I remember that story or why it came to mind yesterday, perhaps the train track reminded me.
Our friend who had passed on was an unusual character; a crusty sort of guy. It was interesting listening to the different accounts of his personality. Everyone seemed to be sidestepping around particular issues. One of his old high school buddies recounted when Tommy received the Lord and how he had thought about it for a long time before making the decision. There was an sigh of relief from several when that was told.
In the midst of all the talk about him being crusty, stubborn and hard headed - his teen age granddaughter stood and spoke. I loved her view of Tommy. What others saw as a negative she saw as strength, and security. I think perhaps Grandkids are a little like God: they love grandparents unconditionally and see the best in us.
She obviously loved her grandad with abandonment and in return he showed her the very best of his heart. His heritage to her was one of acceptance and she had no doubt that he always had her back. To some he was cankerous but to her he was a refuge. God took the best in him and passed it on to his granddaughter. Strength is an awesome gift of God; one I'm sure she will use to His glory.
There is a song that talks about "This Old House," and how the inhabitant is getting ready to leave it. The house was once new and shiny just like Tommy when he accepted the Lord in high school, but now it was run down and shabby. The owner was ready to leave.
Tommy doesn't need his old house any longer, he has moved up to his new mansion in glory. Its odd to think of him singing with the angels but once again I'm reminded not to judge a life on one short season. God sees it all, from the beginning to the end. He is gracious and loving and not willing that any should perish - even if the old house looks a little rough.
So we said goodbye to our friend, with prayers for the family and promises to reconnect soon. We headed home to our house with a reminder that even though we get older and our personalities change, God is constant. His love is unconditional and forever.
Feel like travelin' ...
It was a nice time of remembering our friend, reconnecting with old friends and meeting new people that were also in his life. On our way home we rambled around the backroads of Cedartown looking for photo opps and remembering friends and times past.
While my mind was wandering around over years past, I remembered another friend from that season. She was raised in a Pentecostal home and when she was very young had ambitions of being a preacher. She and her friends would play this "pastor/church" game where she would climb up into the apple tree and preach. Her sermon went something like this:
"Are we going to heaven on a train?"
"Noooo" (response from ground congregation)
"Are we going to heaven on a plane?"
"Nooooooo"
"How are we going to Heaven?"
"On the wingggggs of the the Lowrdddd."
Not sure why I remember that story or why it came to mind yesterday, perhaps the train track reminded me.
Our friend who had passed on was an unusual character; a crusty sort of guy. It was interesting listening to the different accounts of his personality. Everyone seemed to be sidestepping around particular issues. One of his old high school buddies recounted when Tommy received the Lord and how he had thought about it for a long time before making the decision. There was an sigh of relief from several when that was told.
In the midst of all the talk about him being crusty, stubborn and hard headed - his teen age granddaughter stood and spoke. I loved her view of Tommy. What others saw as a negative she saw as strength, and security. I think perhaps Grandkids are a little like God: they love grandparents unconditionally and see the best in us.
She obviously loved her grandad with abandonment and in return he showed her the very best of his heart. His heritage to her was one of acceptance and she had no doubt that he always had her back. To some he was cankerous but to her he was a refuge. God took the best in him and passed it on to his granddaughter. Strength is an awesome gift of God; one I'm sure she will use to His glory.
There is a song that talks about "This Old House," and how the inhabitant is getting ready to leave it. The house was once new and shiny just like Tommy when he accepted the Lord in high school, but now it was run down and shabby. The owner was ready to leave.
Tommy doesn't need his old house any longer, he has moved up to his new mansion in glory. Its odd to think of him singing with the angels but once again I'm reminded not to judge a life on one short season. God sees it all, from the beginning to the end. He is gracious and loving and not willing that any should perish - even if the old house looks a little rough.
So we said goodbye to our friend, with prayers for the family and promises to reconnect soon. We headed home to our house with a reminder that even though we get older and our personalities change, God is constant. His love is unconditional and forever.
Feel like travelin' ...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)