A huge thank you for praying...

That last post I wrote was where I was.... exhausted and in need of the prayers of my sisters.  Thank you so much for reading and praying.  You are all good at that.

God has answered... Larry has slept much better for three nights now... much better, and perhaps we have a habit forming.  Only got up 3 times last night.  Some might say "Only?????" Yes, but that is good and one of the times was four hours between.... (Remember those days of infant feedings at night?)

He is still walking very bent over....can't quite figure that out, but would so appreciate prayers for that issue.  Not standing up means someone has to pretty much walk everywhere with him so he doesn't topple over. I am doing the "hamstring stretch" with him twice a day now. I have to say that at one point, after Sunday morning, when I was wondering if we would get him to the car without carrying him, I pled, "Holy Spirit, I need help here....what to do."  Shortly after I remembered the hamstring stretch thing....seems to have helped some.

Anyway all of this to say "THANK YOU!"  After the last post, there were times when it would hit me that life was better, I wasn't so exhausted, and Larry was doing okay.  "Oh my, people are praying..."

Thank you all!!

This semester in our women's Bible study, we are studying Ecclesiastes.  And to be honest, that is not a book I would have chosen.  Preachers don't choose it much either.  Most of us have the idea that it is a very negative book, dealing with the futility of life.  You know phrases like "all is vanity" and "it is just striving after the wind," don't help our perception.

But as I was working on lessons 3 and 4 last night, I was overcome with God's goodness and love for us because of his sovereignty in the plan he has for each of our lives.

When we try to plan our lives,
     when we strive for control of what is happening in our lives,
            when we try to fix things,
                 when we try to figure it all out "under the sun",
we get discouraged, disillusioned, and defeated.
Because of the hard things in our lives, we begin to think life is hopeless, unbearable, and absolutely no fun.

But when we realize that God is indeed in control,
     that he has our life planned for good (even if it isn't what we would have chosen),
           that he is above the sun where there are riches and wonders we can't imagine,
                that his Son paid the ultimate price so we could spend eternity with him,
Then we will be able to have the joy that God has for us.
Yes, we will understand that all of life here is a gift from God including eating, drinking, working, and the hard things that draw us into dependence on him.

During these last weeks, I have been able to finish a book that I started months ago, Unbroken.  I can't imagine anyone going through what Louie went through as a Japanese POW during WWII. But through the book, over and over, the reader sees how God and only God spared his life...to be sure barely at times.... but spared his life so that one day Louie would come to the realization of who God is and what God had done for him. Definitely put what we were dealing with in perspective.

Again, I thank you all for your prayers....My prayers for you continue along with my thanks to God for each one of you.

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

A new normal?

About five weeks ago, life at our house changed.  Larry fell, which he tends to do once in awhile but until now those falls only gave him bruises and even swollen areas around joints but he recovered quickly, probably because he didn't remember he had fallen more than a few minutes so didn't know he should hurt.  He also can't remember what it is like not to hurt so whatever "hurts" he has become normal to him.

But this "fall" was different.  After trips to ER, Urgent Care, a doctor visit, a ct scan, blood work, and a colonoscopy we only know that he has a compression fracture in his back, and a few other normal issues for someone his age (actually he is better than many his age).

But something is wrong.

Now comes the hard part...change in what he can and can't do resulting in needing someone with him all the time.  He is weaker, he falls much more easily, he gets up many more times at night to go to the bathroom and needs help each time, he is less alert, but he doesn't realize anything is different.

For me this means CHANGE of routine.  I can't leave him with others because they can't be with him all the time, deep sleep at night has to be avoided for me, and most of the activities I was involved in before have been set aside.

The hardest part is I don't really know what is wrong.  The tests haven't revealed anything so far, so the question becomes, "Is this the new normal?"

And I liked the old normal.  I liked to be able to go places, be involved, do things with others.

And then comes fear of the unknown....what lies ahead? Is this really our new normal? How can I make this work? How do I get some sleep?

Thinking about all of this wears me out....
    Trying to figure out what is happening wears me out...
          Planning what to do wears me out...
               Worrying about all of it really wears me out.

In all of this I realize just how much I don't like change, the unknown, or being helpless.

Oh, I know what you are thinking... I'm thinking the same thing:
"This should be yet another time to really trust God."

"Trust God."  Boy, hasn't God been teaching me how to trust for the last 36 years?  Hasn't he taken me through lots of other trials to teach me who He is and how He provides and cares for us?

Of course He has and now comes another time, another chance to learn who He is. To watch for Him every single day and rest in His Steadfast Love and Faithfulness.  But along with that comes my mind and the plans and control I want to have.

I really have been asking Him to lay it on the hearts of those I know to pray for me as I am praying for those I know.  And one thing I do know is that I'm not the only one struggling today.... as I just read in Glorious Ruin, "Every person suffers every single day of their life in some way."

One thing for sure....as I am home more...there is time to read more, pray more, write more, and enjoy the presence of my Savior without all the things "out there" to keep me busy.


"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." II Corinthians 4:16-18

Through it all....God

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to spearate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39


What a beautiful morning....cool, clean and charming with flowers still blooming, butterflies still flying, and birds still chirping.  Fall is here with its promise of tall aspen's color, pumpkin pies, chili, and flames in the fireplace.

I love fall and I love spring....but winter and summer are months I walk through enjoying what they

offer but dreading their extremes, times of off the charts heat and cold and all that comes with those.

And so it is with life...

Days of color and butterflies fluttering...
    Days of perfect temperatures and soft flames flickering...
        Days of flowers blooming and pumpkin pies covered in whipped cream...
               Days we give thanks for.... days we see God's presence everywhere.

And

Days of bitter cold penetrating to our bones...
    Days of suffocating heat wilting not only the flowers and trees but our energy....
          Days of little light, allowing the darkness to envelope all the light around us....
                Days of sadness and grief because of want or loss.
Days where God's presence is beyond our grasp.









This is where the indwelling Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance what Jesus taught us; the truth he taught.

"I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

"The thief comes only to steal and to kill, but I have come that you may have life and more abundantly."

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle, and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Be comforted and lifted up each of us, in the trials we face today....

Thank you Lord, for water...

This summer there will be water restrictions here ....only two days a week  and not between the hours of 10 AM and 6 PM.  And if we use over a certain amount, the price of the water goes up to a cost that is prohibitive. (60 cents a gallon)

Guess I will be praying for rain... and carrying an umbrella.

Growing up in Colorado on a farm, water was a big deal.  Since it didn't rain a lot, my dad depended on irrigation to grow alfalfa and corn to feed the dairy cows.  All eight of us kids took our turns moving the irrigation pipes through the fields, snakes and all.

To this day, I love dark, dark clouds in the summer along with lightening. I'm sure it goes back to all those times we looked longingly and prayerfully to the skies for clouds  that would actually produce rain.

I guess Colorado hasn't changed that much...still semi-arid on the Eastern slope and always needing more rain.  Now they can forecast the weather better than back in the 50's and 60's. And it sounds like could be in for yet another year of drought.

Like I said, I will be praying for rain.....and carrying an umbrella..

My garden? Well, I won't be planting new things, unless they are drought resistant. But I will be thanking God for every bloom that comes, every zucchini, tomato and squash picked.  Maybe I will have time to sit down and really enjoy the sound of the waterfall, and I do love waterfalls.

There is just something about water, rushing water: the reflected, dancing sunshine, the bubbles, the foam, the sound, and of course the fresh smell.


God's grace and love around me....Thank YOU for:

#653...waking up to see sun shining on wet wood and ground....raaiinnnnnnn.................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

#654...reminder in sermon of "hesed" love from God....steadfast and faithful love...

#655... moments to be still and watch fish, gold, orange, red and white, realize it is warming up and spring really is coming....

#656...YOUR WORD....always new, always true, always life giving, always comforting.

#657...prayer...O THANK YOU for the privilege of approaching YOUR throne, of talking to you, of just  telling you what's going on and asking YOU, who created all things, for what I need.

#658....babies.  For every single one of them.  For life...

#659...the green blades of new life coming up through brown left-over winter...

#660...provision to pay bills and to give to others...

#661...hard things our lives like cancer, altzhimers, accidents, lost jobs, unbelieving children, broken marriages, hard separations by death....circumstances that drive us to you...to learn more about you and that trust is the answer....and heaven is the hope; that the best place we can be is dependent on YOU.

#662...healing here and the hope of heaven ever after...

#663...a vacation trip with my sister...the views, the water, the food, the warmth, and the laughter. Oh, and for Scrabble games.

#664... Renee and Greg and their willingness to take care of Larry.

#665...snow, snow and more snow with moisture.

#666...lunch with a friend who brought it here.

#667...the gym.

#668...second hand stores for needed things and surprise finds.

#669...being able to still have lunch with my 96 year old dad and his "little" sister, in her 80's.... and my sister and brother and wife.

#770...fun sunglasses that made a splash in Jamaica.... :-)







.

Thank you, LORD, for music...

"Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flue,
praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD."  Psalm 150:3-6 (NIV)

Someone posted this video on Facebook this morning.  Watching it, I found myself worshiping my God as I praised and thanked Him for the gift of music; for the joy that comes because of the skills of others.

Music draws us all together as it lifts our spirits, fills our hearts with gladness, and envelopes us with joy through what we hear and see. Watch this short video and you will see what I mean.

The children were what caught my eye in that video.  They couldn't stand still, they couldn't contain what the music did in them and they moved.  Oh that we could be so expressive as we get older.

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs."

--Psalms 100:1-2 (NIV)

Musical skill was not one of the things that Larry and I had in common when we began dating.  He was getting his Masters degree from UNC in music education.  He not only played the trombone extremely well, but he could play every instrument there was.  He also loved singing harmony with other guys and had a beautiful bass voice.  And then there was me....who in 6th grade had been asked to just mouth the words in the choir for a concert, [I later had a music teacher who told me I really could sing if I just thought a little higher so I didn't go flat.].  I did play the piano for church, but as Larry often said "She plays by blunt note...not pretty but sufficient."

But music has always been a huge part of who I am....

Maybe it goes back to all the Saturday afternoons growing up when the house was cleaned, the baking done, and Mom turned on the radio to the "Metropolitan Opera."  Every single Saturday afternoon we listened while we quietly read or worked.  There was no TV on those afternoons it was just opera.

Maybe it was the hours Mary Jane, my BFF, and I cleaned the church each week.  We would clean as fast as we could and then sit at the piano.  I would play hymns and we would sing every verse of every hymn as loudly as we could.  Oh the joy of those times. We thought we sounded great.

Or maybe it was even all those senior recitals and concerts I went to in college that year I was dating Larry, and then all the junior high and high school concerts I went to with Larry when he taught music.

All I know is music puts me closer to my Creator...
    -music gives me a desire to talk to Him....
        -music teaches me about Him.

Today, I do thank Him for His amazing gift of music...

"Sing for joy to God our strength; should aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre.
Sound the ram's horn at the NEW Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast;
this is a decree for Israel, and ordinance of the God of Jacob."
Psalm 81:1-4







"And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name.
They held harps given them by God
and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
'Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. 
Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.'"
Revelation 15:2-3 (NIV)

"David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets." I Chronicles 13:8 (NIV)

"David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals." I Chronicles 15:16 (NIV)

Thank you Jesus for...

640... music to praise You...
641... music to lift up hurting hearts...
642... music to calm....
643... music to share in joy and laughter...
644...music for sadness...

645... moisture....
646... testimony of a prayer warrior to challenge...me.
647...tea....blessed tea to comfort and sooth...
648...books to help me understand the plans You have for others..
649...air to breathe...
650....water to drink,,,
651....food to eat...and enjoy...
652...sunshine on ice over waterfall...

Another post you might enjoy

Knowing the presence of God involves focusing on his gifts...

[Won't you grab a cup/glass of tea, take a deep breath, and give yourself some time to just sit and reflect on God and his presence.]




How I long for heaven....for a perfect body and heart that won't be concerned with things here, that won't get distracted by the world and its attractions, its stuff, its problems, and its false provisions...

Maybe it is this study in I John, maybe it's the Spirit, maybe it's last nights concert with Michael Card and the lyrics to the songs about just what Christ did for me when he died for me....
and probably it is all those things;
 but I do pray for more focus on...
     my God and Savior,
        my Father and my LORD,
             my Creator and my Provider,
                 my Rock and my Victory.
                      my All in All
                         Who really is all-sufficient.

A YOUtube video making the rounds on FB is one with two twins, clad only in their diapers, standing in front of the refrigerator "talking."  And I mean they are talking, without reservation, without one coherent word in any language. Their body language is amazing and they even laugh. click to watch,

I can guarantee a few things about that conversation....
   They weren't trying to say the right thing in the right way.  They spoke with total abandon sharing what was in their hearts.

Oh that we could do that with our Father.  I know if I would just "talk" to him without trying to do it right, sharing my deepest hurts, needs and desires, telling him about what is happening, what I love, what I see around me that he gave me, what bothers me, what I'm not doing well, and what I would like to do,  my days would be filled with his love because I'm in contact with HIM.

 Perhaps then I would just know that he is here, right now in this very place and he cares more deeply that I can understand.

But to get there,
   I have to be thankful, grateful....
       I have to see his work in me and all around me....
          I have to ASK...
And then be grateful....

I love this verse with all the feeling and emotion of what we need to express to our God.

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." Revelation 7:12

And so "Father, I thank you for....:

#616...pastor's wives....for the gifting You have given to bless many

#617...mountains...Pikes Peak all alone that screams God's majesty...every day.

#618...tea...fellowship, smiles, warmth.

#619...blankets to enfold tiredness.

#620..."A Violent Grace" concert with Michael Card...so full of truth, grace, the message of the gospel. "Come to the Table"

#621... suffering that strengthens our trust in You.

#622...time with friends who share desire to help others.

#623...friends staying overnight.

#624...a clean house.

#625...for the motivation to clean.

#626...the fragrance of rain, even a little.

#627...telephone to keep in touch with children, to encourage children, father, brothers, sisters, to share circumstances, feelings, blessings, love.

#628...a card from a friend just to say, "I care."

#629...spring surprises pushing through brown, dry soil.

#630...Zeus, a big dog, who with unbridled happiness remembers the toy I like to play with him.

#631...______ who takes time in SS to say "hello" to Larry and visit for a few minutes.  Bless him abundantly.

#632...for mangoes.

#633...for a grandchild coming soon...July 2 or 3 or 4 or.......

#634...silence...coughs gone.

#635...abundance to give from...

#636... new snow sparkling on Pikes Peak.

#637...trails to hike.,,,the anticipation of new pictures.

#638...grace, given to me over and over when I don't deserve it.

#639....grace, to show to others because of your example of love undeserved.

[You might also enjoy an archived post
"Spring at the Right Time of the Year."]

Giving Thanks for God's love....

Isn't it strange how we forget so easily that we are loved....

   How often we forget that God is right here, right now, righteousness in me...

         And the answer to my forgetfulness is THANKFULNESS.... remembering what He does...
           
                  "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7

"...abounding in thanksgiving..." I love that word "abounding"...maybe like a kangaroo, or a jack rabbit, or a deer sailing through the woods or just in front of my house.  The fact is the more we give thanks, the more abounding will happen and that sounds like pure JOY.

So here goes....I don't remember where I left off...I think somewhere around #600 but I am going to join with Ann and make this a habit, to remind myself daily how much I am loved.

#601...for bodies that are made to get well.

#602...for joy that washes over me when I think of that grand-baby coming in only three-and-a-half months.

#603...for John (the Disciple) and the inspired words in I John about abiding and loving and light and eternal life and His Spirit.

#604...for friends who care and love and listen.

#605...for warm cups of tea on cold days.

#606...for the websites to listen to sermons when coughs keep us home.

#607...for snow that is white and clean and sparkles.

#608...for moisture and springs of living water to nourish.

#609...for sunlight shining in...making life bright and warm.

#610...for pictures to see on FB...places I haven't been...showing your design and beauty

#611...for books...to enjoy,
#612...for books...to learn from,
#613...for books...to share,
#614...for books...to see your work in others.

#615...for love....God's steadfast love and faithfulness that saves sinners....wretched sinners and makes us, each one wondrously clean...white as snow.

Thank YOU