Provoking thoughts for June 2012

Note the title, just in case I blogged under 'Provoking Thoughts' before. I have been reading the 5th chapter of James over and over and have begun to ponder and re-think some of my previous conclusions. 1. When the sick call for the elders of the church to come and pray, it is the elders faith that is needed, not the sick persons faith. (whew, that takes some of the pressure off the guy who is already suffering). 2. WE always think that the sick person should confess their sins and be healed, how about if those praying confess their sins and therefore their faith is no longer hindered and healing takes place for those they are praying for.....just a thought! 3. the patience of Job is often thought of as being in a place of peace waiting for God to show up......what if having peace is not the key, but the strength to endure and keep believing God loves you. Endurance does not always include peace. I know Job was discouraged, for goodness sake, he sat in sackcloth and ashes....that does not create a picture of peace in my mind. 4. We always think that verse 9 means Christ is about to appear in the clouds of glory, I'm talking imminently here, but the verse says he's standing at the door.....who knows when he will open it....all we know is that HE WILL!!!! 5. It is our responsibility as the redeemed, who have experienced the love of God, to be busy trying to convert others from the error of believing that sin is not going to be punished. We are to snatch them from the very fire of hell.

New thoughts regarding how much I love God vs how much HE loves me. I can never love him enough to be found righteous....HIS love for me, however, allows HIM to see me as righteous and I am compelled to live righteously because I have experienced the magnitude of HIS great love for me. I don't serve because I love HIM, I serve because HIS love compels me to serve; HIS love becomes the enablement to live upright among fallen humanity.

If these thought provoke you to know God more, great! If they do not, just put them in your mental junk mail and carry on being loved by the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth.

Questioning Thoughts

Time is passing very quickly! I find myself questioning my accomplishments for the day; questioning my motives for service and even questioning my personal resolve. I find it very comforting to know ONE who never changes, who is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Of greater comfort is to be known by HIM and still be accepted and loved. I find the simple but complex demonstrations of love bestowed upon me as contemplative as any elusive diagnosis. Others choosing to love me by the mere exertion of their will has provoked me to find a true Christ-likeness I desperately want to imitate. I seem to be caught up in this season of life between loving God and people and questioning the effects of a rare disease. Poor Papa, he troops through it all like a stedfast soldier bent on making his maker proud. I sometimes want to throw up my hands and say "I quit"; however the sounds of those words don't change the reality of my current life and I am left with questioning thoughts!

Questioning

I wonder THOUGHTS!

I wonder what this season in our lives is really about. I wonder if we are gaining wisdom as we traverse through these difficult passages. I wonder if our hearts and minds are focused on the things that really matter. I wonder...........................................

Papa has had four eye surgeries since December 21st, 2011 and his eyesight is not stable; I no longer wonder if we take sight for granted. Papa has had to be in a specific position for adequate healing of the macular hole; I no longer wonder if the human body can remain face down for seven weeks and survive. Papa has had to let me do all the driving. I no longer wonder if I can drive in excessive traffic at all times of the day and night. Papa has had to let me do all the lifting; I no longer wonder how much I can lift and how often I can lift it. Papa has been house bound; I no longer wonder if we can maintain our sanity if we don't get out at least once a day. Papa has devoured the word of God; I no longer wonder if he can live it out. I have witnessed first hand what it means to be content whether we are abased or abounding. I only wonder if we are pleasing unto our Maker; I do not wonder if we volunteered to be made into HIS likeness.

Wonder is thought provoking and leads us to self examination.....this can be a good thing! We all get to make choices, I wonder......will we choose to be like Jesus?

Thoughts of 33 years ago today!

My third daughter was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka at Joseph Frazier hospital thirty-three years ago today. Where have the years gone? She is a lover of God and family. I am amazed at her determination to walk upright even in difficult situations. My heart is filled with awe and pride that she is my offspring. How did God do that in spite of who I am? I love who she was as a child and I love who she is as an adult. She is a great wife and mother and her family does called her blessed. Her compassion never fails and she serves with a great heart and attitude; one that inspires others to raise their own standards. May she find the necessary grace and strength to rise to new heights this year and may her life exemplify Jesus in all she does. Happy Birthday, you are a treasure and we celebrate YOU!

Thoughts of Loss

Papa's brother passed into the portals of heaven last evening. It is bittersweet! He is enjoying the rewards of eternal life with Jesus Christ and we are still here striving to be more Christ-like even in loss. He was a very strong opinionated man, strict ethics, high morals and sometimes even legalistic. One of the qualities I admired about him the most was the legacy he forged in his children. The bible says our children qualify or disqualify us and well if you look at his off-spring they speak volumes of good stuff about their Dad. Papa always said his brother had excellent taste in women and I think that somehow filtered into my being picked to be Papa's wife. One of his best qualities was the ability to forgive even when he did not want to...in the end the Christ in him would win out and he would stop judging others and grant the priceless gift of forgiveness. May we all become better at this. We became family out of a difficult time but remained family out of personal choice on both sides to be accepted and loved. We will miss Ron, we loved him and we know he loved us! Our prayers for added grace during this season of transition for his immediate familyl.

Thoughts of pain and age, etc.

After a busy Thanksgiving week-end with lots of guests, I find myself with an ache in my shoulder. The intensity of the pain is unbelievable; I am having trouble putting my arm in my sleeve and raising my arm above my head. I don't feel old in my head, but the body is another story all together. I was blessed by Papa's revelation last year that our spirits never age, Hallelujah! It would be terrible to wear out all at once. Papa is trouping through everyday himself. His eyesight has deteriorated and there are some challenges ahead. God is still God and we trust in HIS infinite care of our lives. Can't wait for the awesome testimony that will come out of this ordeal. Look out, we will be more than conqueror's. How do I know this.... because God's word declares it to be so. Everything that comes our way is a testimony in the making. Praise God for HIS never ending care of our lives. Pain is fleeting, but life in Christ is eternal.