My Walk

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding ~ Proverbs 3:5

My dad, woke up two Thursdays ago and realized he had no mobility in his legs and was very limited use in his arms and he had to force his hands open.  He got worse each day after, to the point of his breathing muscles being compromised to where he could not breath on his own. When the doctors in Fort Smith could not figure out what was wrong with him, they flew him to Springfield, MO.  The doctors have been treating him for Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disorder where the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.  You can learn more about it at  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/gbs/detail_gbs.htm    The doctors believe this condition was set off by a pneumonia dad had in one of his lungs. The medical team at Mercy in Springfield, MO impressed me.  They each took the time to explain what they were doing and why they were in the room with dad.  There is a sense of caring for the family as much as the patient.   He has had 7 plasma exchanges and tonight they are transporting him back to Fort Smith for rehab.  

I have been praying every day.  The verse at the top came to mind early on, during this time with dad.  My mom and I have talked and we have had an inner peace that surpasses all understanding during this whole time.  There have been a lot of people praying for my dad.  That is truly a precious thing to me, as I believe in the power of prayer.

Today, dad was trying to sit up.  He was moving his torso, chest and shoulders. One of the nurses saw him trying to sit up, so he helped dad to sit up.  Dad was wore out by the time he was sitting up, but his trying is a good sign.   He is weak from laying in bed with no motion for the past two weeks.  I'm trusting God to continue to work in my dad.  I've been praying that dad recovers in such a way that all who see his recovery will know it is because of a Higher Power.  I'm amazed that he was trying to sit up today, because when I left him on Saturday, he was non-responsive.  In my mind and heart that is a God thing.

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I'm doing a study in the book of Philippians on my lunch break.  The lesson yesterday was on grumbling and it hit me right in the heart.  I realized that I have started grumbling and grumbling a lot.  This lesson sent me to the book of Ephesians to memorize a verse and post it where I grumble the most.  So I did.  It is right in front of me most days, posted on my keyboard at work.

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When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. ~ James 4:3 (NIV)

I read this scripture and it says to me that often when we pray, we pray amiss and for the wrong things.  We pray for our desires and I think we have to be careful not to let our desires become idols in our life, being put before God or His will.  Three questions came to mind.

1. What if we seek God's approval of the desires we ask for?
2. What if we ask God to change our desires so that they are in tune with His will for our life?
3. What if God's purpose for our life was our desire?

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The other day, my husband and I was on the way home from Fort Smith.  It was a rainy day.  We had a CD by Canton Junction playing and as the song Glorify played, the sky began to clear with the setting sun lighting up the clouds.  It was as if the earth and sky were glorifying God too.  It was a Hallelujah moment.  :)

Here's the song if you'd like to hear it.

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Tonight we sang a song, at church, I haven't heard in a long time.  It's one I have always liked and tonight when I sang it I sang from the heart.

I've been going through some stuff... not sure what to call it other than I needed to get back on track physically, emotionally and spiritually.   I had gotten to point of feeling bad everyday with headaches, no energy, no enthusiasm for life and being down in spirit, though each day I prayed and read my Bible.  I knew I had a problem and prayed fervently for the Lord to help me.  That's when the thought of the Daniel Diet came to mind ~ Daniel 1:8-21.

I have done the diet in the past and it has helped me, physically.  This time though, I used it for more than just the physical benefit.  The only way I made it through it was through prayer to my Heavenly Father.  I suffered the most intense headaches I've had as I went through withdrawal from sugars, leavening's, meats, etc, and the hunger.   As each day progressed I learned I can live without those "comfort" foods I take in when I'm stressed, and that has been a lot over the past two years.  I learned that no matter what, I don't suffer alone.  I have the assurance of the Heavenly Father being there.  I learned too, that it is up to me to listen when He speaks.  I have prayed and committed to changes in my life that I feel will help me to glorify the Lord more in my walk with Him.

Last week I received a text from one of my friends.  She wished me a good day and told me she missed my smiles and my words of witness.  That was nice to know, but it also brought a question up in my mind.

Is my life a witness?   I realized how broken-hearted I would be if someone told me my life is not a witness of my faith in Jesus Christ.

This journey I'm on is not over.  He's still working on me.  I'm not sure where He's taking me, but I know that to whatever or wherever it is, it will be for my good and His glory.

Here is the song we sang this evening.

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As I've been reading through the Bible, I see that God has a plan and order to everything.  I also see that the bad that is in the world today has been here since the beginning of time.

In the Old Testament God provided a way to atone for sin through sacrifices.

Then in the New Testament He provides the ultimate sacrifice for our sins through His Son, Jesus Christ.  God knew, that as sinful humans we could not live a perfect, sinless life, so He sent His Son. Who lived a sinless life, then paid for our sin by being crucified on a cross for something He didn't do.  He died on that cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, but then... He conquered death, rising on the third day, giving us the opportunity to be forgiven and live with Him in eternity if we believe.   I think Todd Agnew puts it down pretty good in this song.

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On the tab title About Me, I tell you little about my life.  I'd like share a little more.

I feel led to serve God through my quilting, writing, and prayer.

Quilts are a tool He has me use to bring hope, encouragement and sometimes a witness to someone.  Most of my quilts have gone to people I have never met, but have the need.  My most memorable one was for a man in Tennessee, the purpose was to share Jesus with him.  The Lord later asked me to follow up with a letter.   I don't know the outcome, but I believe God is at work in that man's life.

Prayer; there are times He calls on me to pray for people I don't know, people I see either on the road or across a shop store.  Often times I know exactly how I should pray for them but at times I don't, so I simply ask Him to provide what ever it is they need.

Writing; I have started an inspiration story, though I admit I have been away from it for some time.  One day it will be complete to share the hope and security that is available for each one of us.  I share my walk with the Lord because I feel there is a hunger out there all over the world, as my stats show my blog viewing is higher when I post new thoughts and lessons learned in my walk with God. .  I have many visitors from all over the world and I pray that my blog shows them the love I know from Jesus Christ.

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I've been reading the book of Job.  There is so much in the book, I couldn't begin to share it all, but at first glance I was struck by how mean his supposed friends were to him in his time of trial and tribulations.   There were two scriptures that have jumped out to me in Job's responses to those "friends".

After Bildad reproves Job in chapter 18, Job responds in chapter 19.
      vs. 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He will stand as the latter day upon the earth:
      vs. 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh will I see God.

Then again after Eliphaz accuses Job for the second time in chapter 22, Job responds in chapter 23.

      vs. 10  But He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I will come forth as gold.

You see, Job, though he was going through a horrible time, knew he was right with God and didn't back down. 

I think that is a good lesson to take and store in the heart.  Know you are right with God and don't let anything make you want to back down.

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Have you ever known that God was giving you message and there was no doubting about it?  That's what I have experienced today.  It came to me as I heard the message this evening.  It has been several things all leading to the same message, a book I'm reading, my daily scriptures for today, the morning message and evening message at church.  All of them leading to the same message.

The message... a reminder that no matter what's going on in my life, the disruptions to my well laid plans, the trials and sorrows, the good and joy are all part of God's plan for my life and I need to view it all as such and not lean on my own understanding of  what's going on.

So I'm going to press forward trying to view it all as Divine intervention and trust God to help me through it all.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

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Since we only have 7 days until Christmas, I thought I'd share the reason I celebrate.

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This evening I sat down to schedule out my week.  I have an organizer I carry with me all the time, it helps me keep on track with things I need to get done.  My organizer is set up with a Monthly Devotional, then weekly scriptures or inspirational thoughts that tie in with the devotional.  As I was writing, what needs to be done this week, I read one of the weekly thoughts.

I've been going through some stuff of late in regard to physical health and emotional health.  At times it has been hard to see the "light at the end of the tunnel".  This morning I heard a sermon, saying when you are down, praise the Lord and continue on.  I got this from my Sunday school lesson too.  Then I read this reminder this evening.  I think I got the message.   Though I'm feeling worn down, I have the hope and assurance of a better day.  I have the continuing prodding of the Holy Spirit to carry on and I know I am never alone.

So I will hold tight to the hope of God's goodness and remember a new day is dawning and remember that all God has promised will be fulfilled.

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We will celebrate Thanksgiving next Thursday.   My church, First Baptist in Branch, AR, has a project going on.

#ThankYouGod - we received a sign and the project is to take a picture of things you are thankful for with the sign in the picture.

There are so many things to be thankful for, I decided to put a collage together.