a new set of rules!

As a patient in the hospital, you live according to a new set of rules. 

Time is marked by visits from family and friends, medication administration, IV machines beeping and humming, Doctor’s visits and vital signs.

 Yet in this mechanized world there is a heartbeat of Heaven. I heard it during my stay. I felt God’s care and love through each staff member, loving friend and my precious family as they spoke to me, touched me gently, informed me of tests and procedures, comforted me and listened.

Another nugget of truth during this time:

During our difficult times,

Our unpleasant experiences,

He stands beside us

He is in –

A touch during pain

A hand to hold during a scary procedure

A kind word

A helping hand

A giving spirit

A phone call with encouraging words

A smile

An ear and time to listen

All through the Bible we read of God using others to fulfill His purpose and will. How wonderful it is to know that we can not only be touched by God through others but can be used of God to reach out to do His bidding and show in a real and tangible way His love and tenderness in times of need.

Anxious about the future?

“Anxiety is the result of envisioning the future without ME!”

Jesus Calling – October 17th
So appropriate for today. The daily devotional goes on to say the best defense against worry is communication with Jesus. In considering events in the future – don’t allow your mind to dwell there (we become anxious), remember Christ’s promise that He will be there with You!

Luke 12:22-31 encapsulates God’s care and provision for us. His love is infinite and He will meet our needs.

We see our needs as comfort, ease, health, lack of want. We seek our security in things, in bank accounts and relationships. He gently pries our fingers off these things and places our hands in His. He redirects our focus back to Himself. He shows us in Luke to not run after clothes, food, riches, security of things, but to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto us.

His work is to “clear out the debris and clutter, making room for the Holy Spirit to take full possession of our hearts” (Jesus calling today)

Our job is to allow Him to reveal those things we cling to for our security and safety and let go. Things, people, money, investments, government cannot provide the type of Security – eternal provision, that Christ can.

HE KNOWS WHAT WE NEED. He delights in giving us the desires of our hearts. He promises us life abundant. He stands ready to bless us till our “cup runs over”

 BUT FIRST HE MUST TRAIN US TO DEPEND ON HIMSELF ALONE

Truly it is time to take our faith in Christ seriously.

 We see the devastation brought on by Sandy and the loss of everything to many. Can we say with confidence “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord?” He is dealing gently with us – we still have our homes, our bank accounts and our loved ones. Can we release our hold on these  things and the future, putting them trustingly into our loving Father’s hands? In doing this, can we say to our Lord, “Your will, not mine”, “You lead, I will follow”, “You will meet my greatest need – a vibrant, life changing, trusting relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – all else is your bountiful blessings to me. “

This day did not go as planned!

Written Day 6 in the hospital. OCT 23, 2012

Friday, Bruce and I were up early, getting ready for the day’s procedure – and endoscopy and colonoscopy. I had plenty of time to sit and read the Bible and read the devotional for today. “Be real in God’s Presence” so that we can be real with those around us. Our primary focus is to be communing with the Lord, worshiping Him, glorifying Him. Then we can share His Joy and His Love with others.

Bible Verses:

Exodus 33:14 –

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest!”

Phil 4:8-9 (my eyes rested on verses 4 on down.)

To rejoice in the Lord always

Let your gentleness be evident to all

The Lord is NEAR

 Do not be anxious for anything

But in everything by prayer and petition

With thanksgiving

Present you requests to God

 And the PEACE of God

Will GUARD you HEARTS and MINDS

IN CHRIST JESUS

(the correct focus of our thoughts in v 8-9)

We did not know just how important these words were at the time of our reading them that morning. But the Lord used these words to comfort and give His peace and rest just a few short hours later.

All went according to plan. As usual, one minute I was wheeled into the procedure area and the next I was trying to open my eyes in recovery. Only this time something was wrong. It hurt to breath, I felt like our dog Wendy was sitting on my chest and I felt nauseous. An EKG was done and cleared our fears of heart issues and the pain subsided so I was discharged home with Bruce so sweetly caring for me.

On the way home the symptoms began slowly and by the time we got home and I climbed onto the bed the pain returned with a vengeance. Breathing became extremely difficult and pain radiated up both sides of my jaw, out my back as well as feeling like my chest would explode. Fortunately, and by God’s grace (another answer to His provision) I was still under some of the effects of the anesthesia from that morning.

On the way back to the ER “My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest”, “I will never leave your forsake you”, “I am with you always” pulsed in my head with each beat of my heart.

I wondered if I might see my Lord and King. It was not a frightening thought!

Excellent care was given in the ER and after it was again established my heart was not the issue they worked diligently to find the cause of the pain. Pneumomediastinum was the diagnosis after several CT scans and x-rays, an air leak into my chest cavity causing irritation and pleurisy to the chest wall and surrounding tissues. Apparently, a tear in scar tissue from past surgeries was the culprit. Praise God, (again His hand and touch of protection) there was not fluid just air!

You don’t want to go there!

So I sit here Tuesday morning with the NG tube removed, IV still doing its’ thing with the electrolytes and antibiotics infusing, caressing a container full of ice water (first drop of liquid on my tongue since Thursday) and hand on the phone to call in my first breakfast since last Wednesday. Clear liquids – ambrosia from Heaven!!!!

Another nugget learned from all of this! I share it joyfully with you . . .

GOD IS WITH ME IN ALL THINGS!

He sees all circumstances before they occur

And His arms are always around me!

His Word is my lifeline

His promises are my anchor to His heart!

When God prepares our hearts now for tomorrow!

Looking back over the past several months in my journal I see the hand of God preparing my heart for these past two weeks. He lovingly, consistently and constantly saturated my heart with His promise of protection, His mightiness and power, and that His plan is perfect.  His assignment for me;  to trust, to obey and to be thankful.  Again and again HE reminded me:

He is in control

Listen to what I am saying and be quiet

Cease from striving and know I am God

Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?

Meditate in your heart and be still

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him

Do not fret

Do not be afraid of evil tidings; be steadfast in trusting the Lord

I am with you always

I will never leave you or forsake you

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God-that He may lift you up in due time

Cast all your care on Him because He cares for you

I wrote on September 23:

Lord, give me wisdom to -

See Your hand

Trust Your heart

Praise Your name

Deuteronomy 33:27

The Eternal God is my refuge and

Underneath are the everlasting arms!

“Trust Me when things appear to go wrong

Thank Me when life is out of control

And My peace will embrace and fill you!”

Jesus Calling on Oct 4^th

The Holy Spirit, our Divine Helper

ASK HIM to help you!

Oct 6^th – Psalm 46

God’s incredible protection

Mighty power

My Refuge and Strength

Cease from striving and know that I am God! Again!!!!!

Phil 4:19

And my God will supply all your needs

According to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus!

Psalm 62

Find rest in God alone

I will not be shaken

And on the 19^th

Phil 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS

Again I say REJOICE

Let your gentleness be evident to all

The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious for anything

BUT in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving

Present your requests to God

AND the peace of God – which transcends all understanding

WILL GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND

In Christ Jesus

God lovingly prepares our hearts in the present for the unknown tomorrows. He sees, He knows, and He is never blindsided! He strengthens us to stand confidently in His power and His strength for a victorious testimony to those in Heaven and Hell!

Grits or Cream of Wheat?

Here I sit, propped up in my hospital bed, looking at the menu and wondering if I should choose grits or cream of wheat for breakfast!

 Now to some this might be an easy decision, a simple question. But to me at this time, on this day, it is one of paramount importance! I like them both -  really, really  like them both! Do I go with the creamy sensation on my tongue from the cream of wheat or the grainy feeling of grits? I can't decide!

You see, since Friday I have not eaten or had anything at all by mouth. After a procedure at an outpatient surgery center I found myself on the way to the ER not knowing the cause of the extreme pain in my chest. The diagnosis was made in the ER (not a heart attack) and 6 days later here I sit.

Good news, I am going home today. Antibiotics are not swinging happily from the IV poles, heart monitor is disconnected and a lovely tube (I called Fred, my friend) no longer lives in my nose.

Lessons learned from this experience would make this blog very long indeed. So I, with your permission, will write several to share with you just how incredibly awesome our God has been through this unexpected and not so pleasant experience. Let me share one precious nugget!

IN HIS TIME

 

The reason for the pain

the waiting for tests to be run

the unknown

when can I go home

when can I eat, drink

the concerns of the heart that are long standing

 

IN HIS TIME

 

the tests have been run

the diagnosis is made

the unknown is now the known

today is going home day

I am enjoying broth, ice water and cream of wheat!

the concerns of the heart will be addressed

 

IN HIS TIME

 

 

I have been home for several days now, spoiled by husband, family and friends and healing under the care of the Great Physician! (Oh, I have branched out my food selection to oatmeal and good, old scotch broth, yum!)

 

 

 



Sleepless nights

I have to be honest with you. There are nights sleep leaves me and I think about our country and “what might happen”. Trillions in debt, health care costs rising, food costs and gas prices on the increase, housing market still shaky and a growing population dependent on Medicare and Social Security. 

Jesus Calling – again touched my heart and encouraged my soul. 

In Luke 12, Jesus reminds His “little flock” that the ravens go about their business, looking for food, building their nests, raising their young with God, the Father, providing bountifully for them. “And you are much more valuable that these” Jesus states tenderly. God, in His love, cares for His creation. He sees the need and supplies it. 

Jesus addresses our concerns - food on the table and clothes on our back. But it is more than that. Are we obsessing about these things – the newest fashions, the biggest house, the freezer and cupboards full to overflowing? 

 

We can plan for the future – tuition, retirement, house, cars, food and clothes – all these things everyone seeks.  It is the worrying, striving, fretting – selling ourselves and our families to the getting and the gaining. It’s pushing God out of our lives, depending on ourselves and money for security and safety. 

Jesus shouts, “STOP!” 

 He the quietly continues,

“My Father knows what you need.

He made you.

 He loves you.

He knows your thoughts, your dreams, and your needs:

Physical: food, clothing, shelter

Emotional: love, acceptance and sense of accomplishment

Family: security, protection” 

He then brings the focus back to the real issue: 

Our GREATEST NEED–

A vibrant, loving, confident, trusting relationship with God.

To BE STILL and KNOW HE IS GOD 

His PROMISE!!!!

 

“Seek the Kingdom of Heaven and all these things will be added unto you”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IF I know He is God, Then I will BE STILL

 

IF : I know that He is God:

He has undisputed supreme power (Sovereign)

He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings

He is present everywhere and at all times (Omnipresent)

He has unlimited authority (Omnipotent)

He is mighty to save

He is Holy

His love is infinite, unconditional and unfailing

His gift of grace and mercy

He is Creator of all things and holds all things together

He is my Shepherd

He cannot lie

He cannot deny His own

He is my Father, my Abba (Daddy)

He is Prince of Peace

He loves me

I am His

He knows my name and listens to my voice

He sings over me with gladness

My name is written in the palm of His hand

He is my refuge

He is my strength

He is my Rock

He is my Fortress

He is my Deliverer

and my Protection

He is my Provider

He is unchanging, the same yesterday, today and forever

He is the beginning and the end 

And on and on and on 

THEN:  I cannot help but to BE STILL (cease from striving). 

We are lovingly shown in the pages of scripture – GOD. When the realization of who He is drops us to our knees, when the truth of His love for us overwhelms our hearts and we believe, we see ourselves, we see Him and we are STILL.