Jesus Alone

This past year I have had an enforced time of sitting in my comfy chair because of the pain in my back. I have been feeling good about myself because I have spent the time doing Bible studies and reading Christian books. Because I like to do those things. But I was convicted last night at church (another Bible study)  that I have been too much doing and not enough being. That's right. I can sit in my easy chair and do too much. Because being is harder than doing. Our fast-paced society makes it hard to just sit in Jesus' Presence. But I'm resolved to do that. I'm going to spend some time each day reading the Word and being with Jesus alone. I'll let you know how it goes. "My heart has heard You say, "Come and talk with me". And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming", Psalm 27:8. NLT

Team Jesus

I live in a little college town where just about everybody lives and breathes according to what their beloved football team does during a Saturday night game. This year, they have lost two in a row. It's unthinkable! But understandable, because last spring they lost their coach after a big scandal and an interim coach has come to hold his finger on the dam to keep it from breaking through but it's not working. You've never seen so many people venting their frustrations on call-in shows, Facebook, Twitter, etc. You get the picture. But, why? Why pin your hope on something so fleeting, so worldly? Why not pin your hope on Jesus, who never disappoints? I, for one, choose Team Jeaus. "I love you, Lord; You are my Strength. The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior; my God is my Rock, in whom I find protection. He is my Shield, the Power that saves me, and my place of Safety", Psalm 18:1-2.

Fixed On

I've been discouraged because my all over body pain has come back with a vengeance as I've been healing from my breast reduction surgery. It seems while my mind was focused on my breast pain, I didn't notice my other pains and thought they were gone. My pain management doctor says our minds play tricks on us like that. Hmmm! There's a lesson to be learned from this about controlling my mind. I just need to fix my mind on Jesus as I go through my day, and all the other stuff will be less important. Fix means: to remain stable, to attach, to be glued. I resolve right now to keep my mind glued to Jesus and watch the other junk fall away. It's even Biblical: "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all those whose thoughts are fixed on you", Isaiah 26:3. "So we don't look at the troubles we can see now, rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever", 2 Corinthians 4:18. "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise", Philippians 4:8.

Perseverance

I love zinnias! We had a whole row of them across the front of our house this summer. They lifted their perky, colorful faces to the sunshine and winked at me every time I walked by. Only a few hardy blooms remain, stricken by drought, fungus, and a husband eager to prepare for fall. But a few persevere, not willing to sucumb to the end of summer, and they daily lift my spirit.
I can relate. Now that my back pain is better, and my breasts are healing after my breast reduction surgery, the allover body pain I've had for six years (which may be fibromyalgia), has come back with a vengeance. But I'm going to persevere. With God's help, I'm going to confess that Jesus is my Healer instead of confessing my pain. I'm going back to my pain management doctor and see if I need a change of medication.I resolve to keep my focus on Jesus every day and not give in to the pain that threatens me. I choose to claim the promises of God spoken through His Word.

"Let us hold tightly, without wavering, to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promises", Hebrews 10:23.

"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. So we don't look at the troubles we see now, rather we fix our gaze on things which cannot be seen", 2 Corinthians 4:16, 18.

A Mighty Savior

I ran across this Bible verse in my reading this morning and I'm going to let it speak for me. Because, really, what more needs to be said? Have a wonderful day! "For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a Mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His Love He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs", Zephaniah 3:17.

The Three Ls

My life-long tendency has been toward depression. It's a comfortable place for me to be in. I can lay on it or wallow in it, like an old soft blanket that wraps around me and asks for nothing. If it weren't for Jesus' Three Ls, I'd never throw it off. But Jesus has offered me Light and Life and Love. So I pray every day that He will shine these into all my cracks and crevices, and dispel all the darkness in me. Because what He offers is so much greater than what I have settled for. "I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark," John 12:46.

Worth It All

"You crown the year with a bountiful harvest, even the hard pathways overflow with abundance", Psalm 65:11. This has been the most difficult year of my life, health wise, but it has also been a year of overflowing blessings. I suffered with severe upper back pain for a year and a half. After 3 specialists, 2 chiropractors, numerous pills, pills, and more pills with an injection or two thrown in, the last thing left to try was breast reduction surgery, which I had on July 31. And my back pain is gone, praise God! Alas, my front hurts awfully bad right now, but that will heal. Praise God there was an answer for my back pain! It's been hard, and still is, but this past year of enforced quietness, stillness, sitting, sitting, and sitting has resulted in more time basking in God's presence, in prayer, in the Word. And that has been worth all the pain. "For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and He will guide us until we die", Psalm 48:14.