God’s Healing Touch

 

 

Every afternoon or later, I take some time to read A More Excellent Way: Be in Health by Dr. Henry W. Wright. I read the Bible earlier because I’m aware that I need God’s input sooner, before I’m scrambling.

I own Dr. Wright’s book copyrighted in 1999, 2005, and 2009 by Be in Health®, Inc.https://resources.beinhealth.com/

Whitaker House, New Kensington, PA published it. On page 13, Dr. Henry Wright emphasized this statement: “The beginning of all healing of spiritually rooted diseases begins when you make your peace with God, and accept His love once and for all, accepting yourself and others.”

After giving two Scriptures from the Old Testament: Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, he tells us how Jesus put the two together in the book of Matthew: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 KJV)

God helps us to love Him wholeheartedly. God restores our emotions, our mind, our physical being so we can love ourselves after we’ve been condemned by people and the enemy of our soul. Then we’re able to love others.

In Romans 12 it says: I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 NRSV)

I wrote, “So much to think about as I rest.”

Then, on yesterday I thought I heard the still, small voice of God say, “You are healed.”

I felt a tiny increase of health, so I said, “Thank You!”

Then, I found I was needed for Celebrate Recovery at night and I had the strength to go and cover a couple of the leadership spots because we had just enough leaders. Praise God!

I hope this finds you well. May God bless you!

Doctor’s Office

https://www.rd.com/health/conditions/doctors-really-thinking/

I went to the doctor’s office today and met with a doctor I didn’t know before because my practitioner was on vacation. She listened and took her time and encouraged me, so it was nice. I’ve been surrounded by people with the flu, pneumonia, strep throat and other maladies. So, I’ve been trying to eat healthy and get some exercise and get enough sleep and read the Bible and pray.

But a while ago, my throat started to hurt just a little and I’d been battling sinus issues and an earache, so when a rash popped up, I hoped I didn’t have strep throat. Sometimes I wait a little too long to go to the doctor. I don’t fool with strep throat because a cousin-in-law tried to treat it herself at home and she ended up losing her kidneys. This was years ago, but when it comes to throats, I’ve always been proactive.

It was nice to drive on clear roads and not be buffeted by winds filled with drifting snow. More snow is forecasted and a visitor from the East of us said she just wished we had more sunshine here. She left sunny skies and drove into this area of gray clouds and it’s been about the same ever since. I blamed it on Lake Ontario. I’m used to clouds. Those who suffer from SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder use lights that mimic natural light to help them cope. Every piece of this earth has pluses and minuses, from what I see and hear from others. I’m content where I live, although sometimes I long for Spring to arrive before schedule.

I hope you are avoiding the need for medical personnel, but if not, there have been times when I’ve been tremendously happy to have them in crisis situations. So, I pray you have assistance with your trouble. I’ve had God heal me without the need for antibiotics and I love that!

Today was not one of those days.

May God bless!

Get Ready, Get Set, Go!

 

Earlier this week, I wrote in my planner for today, 8:00 a.m. appointment for a doctor’s appointment – that’s not earth shattering, Thank You, God.

Then I wrote, visit a friend – who had a stroke many months ago. She finally got into an apartment possibly eight months ago and I don’t see her very often.

I chose to shop today because my doctor was close to a number of stores, which is not the norm for me. After going to the second store, I called my friend to see if today was good for her. It turned out that she’d be available, so I set up a vague time frame. Then I received a text message. My brother and sister-in-law were going to be passing by and wanted to stop in to see me. I never turn those opportunities down if I can help it because I don’t see them very often.

I called my friend back at a convenience restaurant which was swamped with customers to see if she wanted me to get her a coffee I’d promised to pick up for her, since our time was limited. Her aide said she was downstairs waiting for me and finally the line began to move, so I told her I’d get the coffee after all and to please tell her I was running late. Then, my daughter called. She needed a favor. She has a part time job and her husband wasn’t going to be home in time for her to get to work. Could I please come and babysit for the eighteen month old under their care? That was for about a couple hours after my brother and his wife were due to get to the house and she lives a half hour away.

So, sad but true, my visit with my friend was short and I could feel the caffeine and the adrenaline causing my insides to race. She’s a little more distracted than usual since her stroke. She did laundry and had brought her lunch downstairs to eat while she did laundry and spoke to her aide and to neighbors and fit me in when she could. So, it was a little bizarre anyway.

When I got home, I brought a couple of the purchases inside and put them away and then I started straightening the house up. I lived next door to a lady in the early 1980’s. She did her housework early in the day and finished what she started and gardened for peace of mind and had a place for everything and everything in its place.

My sister-in-law keeps her house tidy and pretty, as well. As they entered I was extremely glad that I’d vacuumed the night before and put some things away. Yet, some things left undone stood up and shouted, “Look at me!” in my imagination. I stifled a groan, swept my arm up and around and said, “You’ll have to take me as I am.”

My gracious sister-in-law smiled and said, “We don’t come to see your house, we come to see you.”

What a sweetheart. Anyway, the phone rang and we couldn’t talk because my brother needed to exchange important information. Then he passed the phone to me, and then I passed the phone to her and then as the time conscious person that she is, almost immediately after she hung up the phone she told me it was time for me to go to my daughters’ house. I laughed about that and thanked her.

I drove to my daughter’s with the non-perishable shopping items in the car, began to babysit and his mother and grandmother showed up and I hung around making myself useful getting supper while she played with her son. I thought, as long as I’m here, I’m going to stick around. When my son-in-law came home, I visited a little and then went on my way.

Once home, I grabbed one of my many books on organizing, this one is entitled, Emile Barnes’15 Minute Home and Family ORGANIZER: Two Bestselling Works Complete in One Volume. Inspirational Press, a division of BBS Publishing Corporation, New York, NY published it in 1998 by arrangement with Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR because they had published separately, The 15 Minute Organizer in 1991, and 15 Minute Family Tradition and Memories in 1995 and they hold the copyright.(photo from http://www.goodsearch.com/search-web?utf8=%E2%9C%93&keywords=Emilie+Barnes%27+15+Minute+Home+and+Family+ORGANIZER&button=)

These fifteen minute activities sometimes show up on a page and a half with a Scripture reference that is applicable right under the title of the chapter. Chapter 1 is “Goal Setting Made Easy.” Chapter 2 is “Establishing Daily Priorities.” After a day like today, I need  bite-size encouragement. I’m also going to end my day earlier than normal to the best of my ability. “Please, God, please!”

Has your day ever gone off in directions like water escaping over the top of a plugged sink?

I plan to blog tomorrow and intend to spend more time catching up with others through their blogs. I really enjoy seeing what other folks are up to. 🙂

May God bless you.

A Change in Course

I’ve said it before, “My life is not my own.”

Early Sunday morning I thought about the day ahead and then the phone rang. My daughter from up north was calling. I said, “Oh, no.”

Because of the time of day, I rightly assessed the nature of her call, it wasn’t good news. She didn’t ask for my advice but when I heard my young grandson had another fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit and the pain in his legs from five days ago had now turned into him only being able to stand on his tippy-toes, I told her to take him to the hospital with the best care for children. Her pediatrician agreed, so off they went.

Many years ago one of my sons’ needed to see a specialist for a problem and the doctor told me he didn’t need to see a pediatric specialist. “We’ll just watch it for a while.”

I felt uneasy about it, but I trusted him. Two-three years later, the office hired a pediatric specialist. He told me my son needed an operation. Cosmetically it ended up helping him, but internally and functionally his body had adapted to work around the incorrect configuration. Once the doctor fixed the structure, the body ignored the repair and worked as it always did, imperfectly. “He needed this operation two-three years ago,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

So we’ve dealt with it and moved on.

Last week my grandson had been diagnosed with the flu by his pediatrician, sight unseen. At the hospital, they said it was a virus and his body’s immune system sent enzymes to fight it. They were too high, although not alarmingly off and he was dehydrated. So they monitored his enzymes overnight and gave him an IV to get his fluids up.

As soon as I heard about it, I told her I’d drive up. We asked people to pray. I’ve found this Bible verse true more than once in my life: Philippians 4:6, (KJV):  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

My husband and I rearranged what we could of our schedules. The dr.’s told her the virus could affect individuals in various ways. That night, her oldest son’s digestion erupted and the three adults in the house pitched in to clean up the vomit.

I was the first on the scene, so whenever we babysit and something like that happens I always tell her “You owe me,” and sometimes I add, “big time.”

Her response varies from a laugh to a smile or a comment. Yesterday she said, “I know it!”

We only saw them for about half an hour once they got home in the afternoon. My husband needed to be at work.

When my grandson came in pale and shaky and still on his tip toes a bit I almost started crying. My husband told him to flatten his feet out and he worked at it and then smiled as he regained total balance.

I guess he slept from the afternoon all the way through until morning. The oldest finally got his stomach to settle just after we left.

I’d been doing laundry and cleaning and bringing him water with advice to take it slowly –which he ignored the first time. His poor tummy. I tucked blankets around him and felt his forehead for fever. His grandpa went to buy him ginger ale.

When his mom got home, she sat close to him and I gave her the watered-down ginger ale that I’d swirled to get the bubbles out of.

She fed him a teaspoonful and got close to look in his eyes. She spoke softly and they seemed to be closed off from all the rest of us. I could sense him relaxing. “Mom and my brother are home, all is well now,” radiated from him.

It was so hard to leave. We haven’t seen them in a while. Yet, I’m the one who invited my husband which knocked a day off of our availability.

He took her some pajamas and stuff into the city in the dark of night. I hadn’t thought of that when I asked him to accompany me.

He’s the kind of dad that listens to his kids, so I’m sure she found comfort in him showing up. She said she was glad he made it there, too. She was just trying to figure out if I could extend my stay. I had an appointment today, so that’s the way it goes sometimes.

I’ll see her before too long if my time doesn’t get hijacked again. I make plans and then adjust them when life rears up with an alternate scenario.

I wonder if my son’s misfortune happened to prevent my grandson from going to the wrong hospital and ending up with kidney damage. Only God knows.

May God bless you this last week of February.

Disease Fighter

I cleared a cluttery spot on Friday night before accompanying my husband and friends to a person’s home for a macro nutrient-filled meal. We liked everything from the soup to the dessert except for a red cabbage dish that tasted bitter. I added a ground sesame seed/salt combination on top and it tasted better. This family has opened its doors for over twenty years to the community for a Friday night meal for a donation. This was our first time being there in Upstate NY.

It’s quite a drive from our house so I don’t know how often we’ll get there. After eating an all whole food vegan meal with different kinds of seaweeds incorporated into the recipes I stumbled upon a DVD once home, from de-cluttering earlier in the day.

My husband and I just watched it: “Forks Over Knives” in combination with “Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue” which showed shopping and food preparation.

     (image from http://www.benbellavegan.com/book/the-china-study/

T.Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell II, MD in The China Study: Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-Term Health stated that people who changed to a whole food, plant-eating diet found reductions in cancer, heart disease, diabetes 2, immune diseases, bone diseases, mental deterioration and eye diseases, etc. This book was copyrighted in 2004 and published by BenBella Books, Dallas, TX.

Protein from meat and dairy is hard on the body according to many researchers and a handful of doctors that I’m aware of.

When my husband and I were eating vegan a few years ago and making raw carrot juice with celery or greens in it, I went to the eye doctors for an exam. The cataracts the doctor kept track of from a previous visit had completely disappeared.

Dr. T. Colin Campbell suggests as a person increases their fruit and vegetable intake by four servings (1/2 cup), their chance of stroke goes down by 22 %. By adding additional varieties of veggies and fruits, the chance of stroke decreases accordingly until there’s a 100% chance of no stroke. Over sixteen servings a day is what I figured. This includes potatoes, corn, etc.

What I like about this kind of diet is that a person can eat until they’re full as often as they want and they will lose weight. The only time I gained weight eating this way was to reach for the bread and nuts too often. They are higher in calorie.

In the Bible after Creation, in Gen_2:16, (ESV):  And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden.”

According to the Bible, mankind didn’t eat meat until after the worldwide flood.

Here’s food for thought.

May God bless you.

God is on the Move

I’ve noticed that God accomplishes all that He wants to accomplish despite economic downturns, drought, troubles of any kind, and people’s predictions. He put Babylonian visitors inside the king of Israel’s home. King Hezekiah showed them every bit of riches he’d accumulated. The Babylonians were not close to Israel in proximity. God knew He was going to use the Babylonians to punish the Jews for their idolatry and also to strengthen them through adversity so as to draw them closer to Him.

2Kings 20:12, (KJV),  At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

2Ki 20:13  And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

2Ki 20:14  Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

2Ki 20:15  And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

2Ki 20:16  And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.

2Ki 20:17  Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

2Ki 20:18  And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

2Ki 20:19  Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

Hezekiah used to pray to the Lord when he was sick or in trouble. Then he changed and turned to other kings for help in time of war or went to the physicians when he was sick. He lost his way with God. He was not concerned for his offspring.

I get concerned when I learn that a king whom God healed turned to the physicians and ignored God altogether. I know God doesn’t object to doctors. Yet, I remember a time when I had a sinus infection from November until February, going to the doctor every time the antibiotic ran out because I wasn’t healing up. I was younger then, maybe in my thirties. Finally, after three months I cried out to God. Within a couple of days the sinus infection cleared up. I learned my lesson. I pray first and do natural healthy things, like drink more water, eat an apple, try to get more vitamin C in my body, exercise, rest and sometimes drink Echinacea tea. If those don’t work, I ask God if He wants me to go to the doctor.

I don’t always hear from God, so then I’ll make the decision to go. All I know is that we have an enemy of our souls that’s been caricatured in cartoons and publications so people don’t believe he’s real.

The apostle Peter wrote to the followers of Jesus:

1Peter 5:5, (KJV),  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1Pe 5:11  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

God knows who will be president of the United States of America and which nations will align with other nations. He’s got everything under control. Everything. We’re to do our part and He will do His part and we can rest and be at peace. He’s calling more believers into His kingdom in these end times, and unfortunately, many believers will leave the faith in end times because of the wiles of the enemy. That is why Peter tells us to beware of the evil one and to resist him and to draw close to God.

Jesus defeated the devil with His death on the cross, but He also warned His disciples that some would hear the word of God and believe and then leave Him when times get rough, in the parable of the seeds and the sower:

Luke 8:4, (KJV),  And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

Luk 8:5  A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

Luk 8:6  And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

Luk 8:7  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

Luk 8:8  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luk 8:9  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

Luk 8:10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

Luk 8:11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Luk 8:12  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Luk 8:13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Luk 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Luk 8:15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

I’d rather go through hard times here on earth than to suffer for all of eternity in the lake of fire that was designed for Lucifer, the fallen angel and the angels that followed him instead of remaining with God.

Isa 14:10  All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?

Isa 14:11  Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

Isa 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Isa 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

Isa 14:14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Isa 14:15  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Isa 14:16  They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

Isa 14:17  That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

And in Matthew 25:41, Jesus said,   “Then the king will say to those on his left, ‘Get away from me! You are under God’s curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!’”

2Peter 2:4, (KJV),  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

2Pe 2:5  And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

2Pe 2:6  And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

2Pe 2:7  And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

2Pe 2:8  (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

God is on the move and I believe He wants us to be on the move for His righteousness sake as well as for the welfare of others.

May God bless you.

Forgiving God

A retired pastor at our church started a Bible study last week based on the book, Totally Forgiving God by R. T. Kendall, copyrighted in 2012 and published by Charisma House, Lake Mary, FL.

It’s not like God is capable of making mistakes because He is perfect. With our human thinking, we can’t understand why He made mankind with the ability to act in an evil manner.

This author brings up lots of things to think about. God is perfect but He allows things we can’t fathom. Forgiveness always releases the person doing the forgiving from bitterness and depression and stress and sometimes a devastating illness.

Thelma Wells spoke to a large gathering of women in Syracuse, N.Y. I was privileged to attend with over three years ago. She related about an offense she carried against three women at her church. Not the details of the hurt, but how a really good friend approached her.

She told Thelma something to the affect that Thelma may not want to hear this, but she thought God wanted her to forgive these three ladies.

Thelma wasn’t ready to hear her at that time, but the friend brought it up again later. When she finally took action to forgive the women, something happened.

Thelma had been battling a life-threatening illness that puzzled the doctors. Suddenly, she began to heal and that didn’t make sense to them either. After a total healing over a bit of time, she decided to let the doctor know about her act of forgiveness and that God had healed her!

She wrote a book with many anecdotes and lots of Scripture entitled, Don’t Give In, God Wants You to Win. I also purchased the DVD to show at our church. Harvest House Publisher, Eugene, OR published both items and they were copyrighted in 2009.

She is a great speaker, if you ever get the chance to hear her, I think you’ll be blessed.

Well, tomorrow is a full day and once again, it’s after midnight, although not far past midnight. So may God bless you and keep you in the palm of His loving hand.

“God is love,” 1 John 4:8a (CEV).

Great Expectations Foiled

I usually see some friends at the voting site, every election day. I anticipated the same this last Tuesday, but when I went to a cafe to order a chai tea, the barista and I got talking and I felt like I was missing out on something. Sure enough, later I discovered they were voting when I was not there.

So, knowing we were all set to have breakfast today, I expected to see them and enjoy their senses of humor. This couple comes from Britain and they are both clever with comments that get others laughing.

My husband felt under the weather and so we canceled our breakfast outing. It’s funny how I know that life throws curve-balls, yet I rarely expect them. So I thought of what the book of James has to say:

Jas 4:13 (GNB): Now listen to me, you that say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to a certain city, where we will stay a year and go into business and make a lot of money.”
Jas 4:14 You don’t even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears.
Jas 4:15 What you should say is this: “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
Jas 4:16 But now you are proud, and you boast; all such boasting is wrong.
Jas 4:17 So then, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin.

Which got me thinking that tomorrow we’re invited to some friends’ home for a Seder meal and I’m not certain if my husband will be okay or not. He went to the dr.s’ office today and they did a test. We’ll know tomorrow if it’s something needing an antibiotic or not, and he’ll be able to tell if he’s mending rapidly or not.

After reading the passage from James, I’m thinking I’d better get back to my list from yesterday. I’ve done some work around the house, but not the priorities from the list.

I’m rarely bored, even when my great expectations turn into making soup for someone hurting or throwing in a load of laundry. Almost every group outing I usually go to in the course of the year is being put aside this year, it seems. One didn’t spark my interest and when a friend asked why I wasn’t there, I felt bad.

Jesus is working on me, is what I’m thinking. Getting me out of a rut. Broadening horizons sometimes, limiting opportunities other times. Take care!

Easter Dinner Tomorrow – I Hope

Hi! I keep putting off Easter Dinner, waiting for the time when the kids are free and the hubby is available. Now, it looks as though maybe just one or two of the kids are coming over, maybe the husband will be around and a handful of grandchildren.

 

Do you ever make plans and see them float downstream? I’ve been hearing from my spouse, and reminding myself, God’s got this. Lots of things are going in a direction I’m almost sure is the wrong way. Then, since I have no control over any of the results or the decisions leading to the results, I’ve decided to let go. Let what’s going to happen, happen. Then, sit back and watch what God has in mind.

I may have already written that last week or a little more than that, the keys to my car were with my husband in another town. I had a dr.s appointment and I called them to cancel. When I arrived at a later appointment I ran into two people I know. One I prayed for, the other I talked to, and then a little girl barely old enough to walk was there. Cute as can be, with a virus that she couldn’t shake. So, even though the parent didn’t know  it, I also asked God to intervene for her.

I thought, maybe that’s why my appointment got changed. For those people. To see a different physician’s assistant who’s about ready to retire at the end of her day, when she’s not stressing to get me out before the next patient. Maybe she wouldn’t be that way, but I don’t know. I told her ladies at my Bible study sat around a table and said she was going to be missed. Maybe she needed a word of encouragement. Another thing I don’t know for sure.

All I do know is that when I rest in God’s control over my life and this world, I have lots more peace than when I keep my hands knotted on the ship’s wheel.

When I was driving my little car in the wind today in NYS, I was thinking, “Jesus, take the wheel,” like the Carrie Underwood song’s lyrics. I took a tree lined route to avoid wind without any barriers on an expressway.

Driving along,I got thinking, if we have a delayed Easter dinner tomorrow, so be it. If it falls apart, there’s always another day. “Your will be done, Lord.”

Just Show Up

Sunday night after church I got thinking about this blog. Crazy week, last week. When I went to the Montrose Christian Writers Conference, SuzyQ made a point of telling me if I was going to blog to make sure I showed up. So I’ve been trying to write once or twice a week. I didn’t make it last week.

I went to a doctor on Thursday for a small problem, he got telling me I needed to know every procedure I ever had done and what the blood results were. I rely on the doctor’s records, even though a friend told me years ago that I should keep a journal of medical stuff. I thought it was a good idea, I just never did it.

I told him what I remembered. He told me it wasn’t good enough. Never met a doctor quite like him. His first question to me was, “What are you doing here?” It seemed to go downhill from there. After a thorough exam, he decided I needed to see a different specialist. He told me a couple of things I didn’t know, which I appreciated. Then he began telling me that I was an unhealthy person. I saw my regular doctor the day before and she was telling me how good things looked. So I told him I was healthy, he told me I wasn’t. Back and forth a couple of times. Unbelievable. Laughable today, no where near laughable last week.

It’s a funny thing, my husband asked me if I wanted him to come along. I told him I planned on stopping at a few different stores and having lunch somewhere. He agreed to all that and when I came out of the doctor’s office, my emotions all messed up, it was nice to have someone to lean on.

Sometimes you just have to show up. I’m learning that with him. Sometimes I just need to be there to listen and not say anything. I appreciated him being there and giving me insights that the doctor might have been trying to get across. And he listened without saying anything after his initial response.

He showed up on a whim. I’m very aware that God’s word says that He orders a good mans’ steps. (Psalm 37:23)

Yay, God!