Joy & Gladness

Are you wishing for some joy and gladness in your life today? 
 
When wracked with the many, many ravages of Lyme- it may well be hard to find such things as joy and gladness in life.
 
But therein lies the problem- we look for joy and gladness in life. 
 
Life never promises joy and gladness.  Sure, we may bump into those moments along the way- but the can disappear as vapor, and can be as difficult to catch as grasping for a butterfly on a summer breeze...
 
But God's Word tells us where we can find joy and gladness, and the Good News is that we can do it even on days that may find us bedridden. 
 
Look here at this portion of Psalm 40:11-17 (New Living Translation)- I added the highlight:
 
¹¹ Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
¹² For troubles surround me—
too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
I have lost all courage.

¹³ Please, Lord, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
¹⁴ May those who try to destroy me
be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
be turned back in disgrace.
¹⁵ Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

¹⁶ But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
¹⁷ As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay.

 

Can you relate to this Psalmist:  trouble surrounds, loss of courage, others don't understand- and even put us to shame or seem to delight in your troubles.... The turning point is at verse 16-  But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. 

 

That is my prayer for you today Dear One-  that as you search out the LORD, seek Him- that you will be filled with the joy and gladness that is only found in Him.   Even to the point of great exaltation, with gladness- may you exclaim: "The LORD is great!" today! 

 

 Need to fee on the Word and yet you are too weary to read it?  Don't forget that you can go to Biblegateway.com and there you can click on audio to listen to passages. 

 

May His presence bring you true joy & gladness today~ 

 

Blessings-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Battle Buddy's Poem

This evening, a fb friend of mine posted a wonderful poem she wrote awhile back-  I think many of us can relate, and she has done a nice job of putting it into expression- 
I hope it blesses you~ 

THE LIGHT IN THE TUNNEL

I asked the Lord one night before bed
As a million questions poured through my head
"This pain I'm having to endure --
When will it cease? I can handle no more."

"This tunnel you're making me travel through
It's dark and scary; what can I do?
A beacon of light I do not see
At the end of the path you've laid for me."

I've finished my prayer and wait for a reply
But I hear no answer, and I start to cry
I wonder if He even hears my plea
Does He really care for a lost lamb like me?

Then suddenly, I sense He's here
As I hear Him whisper into my ear,
"This tunnel I'm making you travel through -
It seems dark and scary; but I know what to do."

"This beacon of light you do not see
Is right beside you; It is me.
So take my hand and I'll show you the way
From this treacherous night into light of day."

As I ponder His words, I am filled with sweet peace
My Lord is with me; I can rest with ease
So taking His hand, I follow His light
And my Shepherd guides me through the night.
~Kimberly Averitt Popov, 2004  (c)

He Gives and Takes Away

What a truism.  God does give and take away, according to His sovereign will.  Do you trust in Him? 

It is a nice song we sing, but what happens when we are face to face with this truism? 

Our Good God, does allow pain and suffering.  There is sin in the world, and with the character of His Redemptive heart- He works His plan out, even using the inherent sin of the world (brought on by Adam and Eve in the Garden), for good. 

For GOOD?!   How can this be?  All this misery, multiple points of misery- be for good?! 

I don't admit to understanding how it all works- just like I don't understand things like: how computers work, how electricity works, how the planets keep their required distance from each other... but, they work.

None of their workings depend on my understanding. 

Today my daily Bible readings brought me to the book of Job.  How appropriate.  Job chapter one-  God allows Job to be sifted by Satan, confident in the integrity of Job's heart.  Satan is allowed, by God Himself- to take away all of Job's children, and lively-hood/investments. 

With grief-  Job fell to the ground, before God and said, (Job 1:21) " I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die; The LORD gave me everything I had, and the LORD has taken it away, Praise the name of the LORD!"

Stunning-  his response, his landing point:  praise the name of the LORD!

In  chapter  Two, his wife admonishes Job- as Satan has added great physical afflictions to Job's trials.  She encourages Job to 'curse God and die'.  In verse 10, Job tells her, "You talk like a godless woman.  Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" 

Job continued to show integrity in his relationship with the LORD.

Oh may the LORD encourage our hearts to be as Job's.  May we so well thirst after God, that the pleasure of communion with Him, knowing Him- even in His mystery, shore our integrity as His follower. May we not grow weary of serving Him, though our bodies and minds are beyond weary- may our hearts sing in His presence. 

Praise the name of the LORD!  Together, let's bring our sacrifice of praise to Him this day~

Blessings-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0il6d-DAk

Resource & Outlet for those with an Invisible Illness

A couple weeks ago I came across a good new resource about healing, written by Joni Erickson Tada.  The version I got was via a Kindle app onto my phone.  I'm only about a quarter of the way through reading the book- but can't wait any longer to recommend it to you.

Whether you are struggling with the whole subject of 'healing' personally, or have been trying to explain your biblical view on healing to someone else- this is a great tool. 

The book is available through several retailers and comes in book, Kindle and audio.   I will post a link for the audio- as it may be too tiring to read. http://christianaudio.com/a-place-of-healing-joni-eareckson-tada

No matter what venue of the book works best for where you are at right now- I do encourage you to take a look at it~   "A Place of Healing- Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain and God's Sovereignty"  

Our funds are usually challenged greatly-  don't be shy to ask friends if you may borrow a copy, or check with a local church who may have it in their library~ 

Also- September will bring 'Invisible Illness Week', which is through Lisa Copen's Rest Ministries. 

You are invited to participate!  Check out this site on how you can help communicate to others about having an Invisible Illness challenge: http://restministries.com/2013/08/19/invisible-illness-week/


 Meanwhile Dear One-  "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires." Psalm 37:4  

Too many times, when were are wracked and immobile- we think, 'If I could only do...'  But remember- you already have the King of Kings with you- feast on that; make that communion with Him a desire of your heart'- the rest (like when you 'get to do something') will be icing on the cake~ 

Blessings-

"Health- an Illusion of Certainty"

Basically- I am paraphrasing a quote I heard by Kim Snyder, who put together a documentary about ME several years ago. (1999?) 

I watched it on youtube.com yesterday. 

Being I've lived with ME for almost 30 years- and there is such an overlap with Lyme- it was interesting to watch (although not necessarily uplifting, it was affirming- like an Under Our Skin, but for ME- which is myalgic encephalomyelitis).

Toward the end of the documentary- Ms. Snyder is looking back on what was 'normal', was there such a thing, and her conclusion was that perhaps 'health is an illusion of certainty'.

Although Ms. Snyder and I would perhaps differ on some worldview points- I can relate to much of what she goes through in the film, and I was struck by the truism of her statement.

She really put into words something I've had run around in my head.  And it is actually another Gift of Lyme... and as with all things Lyme, there is a twist, especially when it comes to it's gifts! 

The twist is, you have had to experience Lyme to 'get it'.  Just like with ME, or a myriad of other diseases.  Getting any life altering illness causes one to re-evaluate and ponder life in many new ways. 

So why would I agree that 'health is an illusion of certainty', and even more so- why would I say ill health/Lyme then is a gift?

In our struggles, challenges, pain, ups-n-downs... we know the reality of life being uncertain.  There is no more 'life according to my plans'.  We have learned to expect the possibility of changes; things being uncertain. 

We can be 'okay' one minute, and on the floor the next.  One day we may be able to be out at a function, and then be in bed for days/weeks... 

The way we 'plan', if we dare to plan- is much different than our healthy counterparts- who have this unrealistic, but understandable, belief that pretty much whatever they've put on the calendar, or take off their calendar is primarily under their control.  They feel certain they will be able to do whatever it is ahead of them.  They live quite independently.

The gift for us is the realization that our plans our not our own- at least this is a gift to a Believer.  A Believer who is afflicted has a much more palpable understanding of uncertainty.  And, although at first it is anything from an awkward reality, to a terrifying reality- It can drive us to a deeper understanding that ultimately Our God is in control, only He is certain/sovereign, only He is stable/secure.  Everything else is 'just an illusion of certainty'.

Once we begin to turn our desire for certainty, stability- to Him, so that we are dependent on Him- and not our plans, circumstances, wishes...  Peace, Comfort, Strength, Joy, forbearance... begin to unwrap themselves within us... 

Are things uncertain for you today?  Embrace it- and give those concerns to the LORD- ask Him to establish your footsteps, one step at a time...ask Him to reveal His presence, and His presents to your soul as you seek Him~ 

Blessings-
Psalm 34
Psalm 40:2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

Wait

To me, the word 'wait' is one of the most challenging words in our language.

Not so hard to say or write- but in the doing of it, that's where it gets tough.

Especially so living in a culture of NOW!  Even having to wait for the computer screen to come up, we can become impatient (until those of us oldies remember what it was to not have a computer at all, or how long a boot-up took in the beginning days of home computers)! 

One of the most often lamented phrases for Lyme Fighters is "HOW LONG!?"

Most often, the answer is wait...from our family, our friends, our doctors...wait. 

Even more, the LORD calls to us to wait. 

This morning I read a familiar passage from Isaiah 40, verse 31:

^31" Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary."

To be honest-  I usually rush ahead and camp out on the ending strains- of gaining new strength, mounting up, running, not being tired (did I hear an Amen?!) , not becoming weary--  Oh my but all these sound deliriously delightful! 

But, who gets to taste these delights?  "Those who wait for the LORD"   Oh, wait. 

Figuratively we can get ahead of the LORD, moving ahead with plans that are ours, not His; we can rush ahead to give our affections to the gifts He offers to us, instead of setting our affections first on Him...

But in reality, the LORD is always literally in the lead.  Our mortal perspective is often skewed. 

Being laid low by Lyme can be a great opportunity to learn more deeply of what it means to wait for the LORD.   Many of us have no choice but to do so- we no longer have our own strength with which to muscle forward.  We lie waiting.

And while we wait, we seek.  We praise.  We learn.  We watch.  We listen.  We meditate on His Word.  We pray. 

In these, He meets with us. He ministers to us.  He reveals glimpses of mystery.   He is at work- we must take the waiting time not to be equivalent to void, to nothing happening-  in fact, spiritual, dimensional, mysterious things are happening.  All while we wait. 

In our waiting, may we be preparing for the days when strength returns, we are mounted, we are no longer weary or tired... 

Are you waiting today Dear One?  Go to the LORD in your waiting with thanksgiving- seek Him out today, enjoy His presence and His Word.  Trust in Him, that He is at work- this is preparation time, seize the moment with whatever strength you have. 

Blessings-

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

⁸ Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. ⁹ And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Isaiah 40
²⁸ Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
³⁰ Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
³¹ Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

Successful Outcomes

During the worst of times with Lyme, and it's treatments- I was quite isolated.  However, I did have Internet access.  Many, many times, I'd Google search to try to find stories of people who were better! 

Almost all that I read were tragic stories.  I was living that.  Somewhere, was anyone getting better? 

Slowly, I found a story here and there of people who'd gotten better.  Mostly, it seemed, those who got better, understandably, just wanted to leave Lyme behind them; and so there wasn't much to find on the web. 

Lately, I've been finding more encouraging stories, of people thriving in spite of Lyme (like the Beauty Pageant winner I posted about recently).  This is a good trend!

The other day, I came across a post, and video by Dr. Horowitz, who has coined MSIDS to describe many of us (Multi Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome).  He recognizes fifteen areas that must be attended to in us for a successful outcome. 

Is your doctor keeping these ares in mind as you are treated?  Your doctor needs to keep a 'wide view' in treating you.  Perhaps there is an aspect your health is hung-up on- if so, ask your doctor about it~

1. Infections: Bacterial, Parasites, Viruses, Candida...

2. Immune system (?dysfunction)

3. Inflammation Sickness syndrome

4. Toxicity:  Multi. Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental Illnesses, Heavy metals, Mold and Neurotoxin...s

5. Allergies

6. Nutritional and Enzyme Deficiencies/functional medicine

7. Mitochondrial Dysfunction

8. Psychological Dysfunction

9.Endocrine Disorders

10. Sleep Disorders

11. ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) Dysfunction  (disautonomia; low blood pressure...)

12. Gastrointestinal Disorder

13. Elevated LFTs  (liver function tests)

14. Drug Use/Addiction

15. Deconditioning: need for PT

Dr. Horowitz states there are over 300 strains of Borrelia worldwide- having many variations in presentations, from indolent slow to aggressive fast.   There are multiple strains of other co-infections as well, like Babesia. 

To me, many of these 15 areas can overlap as well-  it takes a good diagnostician to discern the intricacies and relations of these areas.

I would also add that an important component for successful outcome is spiritual well-being.  Knowing Truth and Hope makes a huge difference in getting through the Lyme Fight.  It is important to life, and eternal life!  

Keep seeking our Great Physician- asking Him to give you His wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  Ask Him to guide you, and your health care practitioner, in the best direction for you. 

Having Lyme is like having a huge basket full of tangled balls of yarn...  it takes skill and patience to sort through all of it! 

May our Great Physician provide what is needed for your care in this Lyme Fight today~

Blessings-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvIEJ_PmqJ8


Mark 2:17

And hearing this, Jesus *said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Spaghetti & Mountains

I've been feeling a lot like what energy I've had these days has been spent by throwing the proverbial 'spaghetti against the wall', seeing if anything sticks.

A couple strings of thin spaghetti are clinging, but vicariously so.  Time and conditions will tell if they fall, or cement themselves. 

This afternoon I had this in mind, and my mind switched to a neighboring channel where I began to think of how twisty-turney our lives are, especially so when we are walking with the LORD.

This seems counter-intuitive to me.  As a Babe in Christ, I'd adopted the presupposition of a linear walk with God.  Instead, He's led me in many directions- up, down, across, this-way, that-way, here, there, nowhere, everywhere... rushing, slowly, with a smooth gait, with a limpy gait, a slow gait, sitting, lying down, being still (imposed, and self-imposed)...

 

Sometimes even a day where the goal is to get out of bed long enough to use the bathroom, or try to eat something, is as strenuous as a mountain climb! 

Or,

Perhaps the way looks impassable- and we seek God to direct us as to whether we are to stop and turn directions, or to see if He provides tools to help us pass through...Is it an ending, or a new beginning?

In all this, the main thing is to keep moving, keep seeking.  Even if it is a day in bed- seek Him, what could you do for Him this day?- Praise Him, encourage someone else, pray for someone else...

Or for stronger days-  where you breathe, and it doesn't hurt; you look out, and you can embrace and enjoy the colors and tones, not having to quickly cover your eyes because of the pain and sensory overload... Yes, those wonderful days (minutes/hours) where we get a glimpse, a whiff- that there is still life around us, and we are still a part of it!  For these, we prepare. 

Even in the quiet days- time and effort are not lost.  We are learning from Him, and there are so many great life and truth lessons to be learned on the bed of affliction! 

After many months on the bed of affliction I'd wonder-  what's the point!  Even if I were learning more and more about God, His Word, His ways... what did it matter if I couldn't get out there and "DO  something"! 

But the LORD would remind me that He is more concerned with my "BEING"...; out of my being, the doing will come. 

He would also remind me that I had become myopic.  The Teacher would show me that there is so much more than this life yet to come.  Anything I was learning, my Redeemer would use for His glory and to build up the Church, in this life, and the next! 

Nothing goes 'to waste' in His economy, in His time.

Dear One-  keep an attitude of adventure.  We are on a great, mysterious journey- well beyond our mortality. In this present, He is seeking to teach us His ways, to prepare us for His divine appointments in this life and the next. 

Seek Him.  

The pictures I've included here of are from a couple of  family trips we took- yes, long ago!  I posted them to reminding me to keep on God's trail, wherever He leads- that is where He wants me- No matter the heights, or the lows, or seemingly treacherous ways~ I need to keep an adventurous attitude along the way, just as I had as a child on these adventures with family.  My Father knew the way, he was trustworthy and led us through; Just as my Heavenly Father is trustworthy, and has sent His Son to show the way through~

Blessings-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ODe4sGCKxc   I Will Follow, by Chris Tomlin

Isaiah 49:13

Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people And will have compassion on His afflicted.

Isaiah 52:7

How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 54:10

“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you.

Encouraging Lyme Thriver Article

This was posted on fb tonight-  I just thought it was a good encouraging article about someone whose battled through Lyme and is thriving! 
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/8/prweb10991588.htm

Blessings-

Garden Delights

My husband is a farmer at heart!  And, he has the green thumb to go with it!

I did not get the 'farmer's wife' gene, and having Lyme makes gardening near impossible for me. 

Finding adaptive ways (easy ways) to deal with the garden harvest is a must.  Thankfully, there are a few people on whom I may call as harvesting comes for various garden delights-  we trade out help for produce, and have the bonus of fellowship.   

This past week I found a new plant in the garden-  my husband tunes in when I mention veggies that are good for me to use in juicing, and he had planted chard this year.  Not only did he plant chard, but 'rainbow chard'! 

It is a beautiful plant! 

Now- I am not naturally a 'veggie-fanatic'!  But due to Lyme, I have become all the more aware of the importance of organic/natural foods in cooking and in juicing.  So- if there can be a plant I can actually eat (bc of so many allergies/intolerances), one that is nutritious and versatile, and  it is such a beautiful plant on top of being able to eat it- all the better! 

Another bonus- it is not as fibrous as kale! 

All I have to do is rinse it off and chop it up!   I plan to freeze much of it; a friend told me it can be dried as well!  The other evening, we put some in with our summer squash dish- nummy! 

Yep- must be good if I like it! 

For the summer squash recipe-  here is the idea of it, the measurements are exact:
-Cut up, summer squash and zucchini into lengths (younger ones, you don't have to remove seedy parts)
-Cut up rainbow chard
-Cut up, slice, yellow onion into lengths
-Cut up, dice, roma tomatoes

Heat up olive oil in large sauce pan
add onion, saute til transparent
add the summer squash and zucchini
Once the squash begin to just cook through- add the chard, cook a couple minutes, then lightly add in the tomatoes-  cook/heat thoroughly    (Squash should be tender, not crunchy, not mushy)
Also toss with an Italian herb mix
(if you want/can- before serving, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese, serve when cheese is melted- Or substitute with another cheese of choice)

Also- I tried a recipe for broccoli that I saw on fb the other night- preheat oven to 375 degrees 
take a head of broccoli, cut up
toss with:
2 TBSP of olive oil
2-3 cloves of minced garlic
salt/pepper to taste

place broccoli mix, single layer, on baking sheet
Place on top rack of oven,
bake 20-30 minutes til broccoli is 'crunchy' 

These are fairly easy recipes, and quick to make- and good ways to get those veggies in. 

The best garden we have from which to eat, is the garden of Scripture-  always plentiful in produce, ripe and ready to be picked, whenever we need sustenance!

This has been a trying week on so many levels here.  Yesterday Psalm 130 caught my attention.  I think I shall be supping on it for some days~  especially verses 1-6
Psalm 130 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.² Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
³ If You, ^[a]Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,
And ^[b]in His word do I hope.
⁶ My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.

 

Many of us have had nights awake and understand the earnestness of a watchman waiting for those first rays of light to show after a very long night.  

 

As the Psalmist- let us wait for the Lord, and put our Hope in Him~

 

Blessings-

 

Already, Another Truck!

Within minutes of posting the last post-  I learned another truck has struck our family-

Please pray for my four month old grand-neice, Lilly.  She is extremely ill.  They are doing a blood exhange at this time.  The current diagnosis is leukemia, but we know nothing more than that.

God have mercy-  walk this family through~  Hold all tightly in Your care~

Thank you for your prayers!

Blessings-

You Can Do Everything Right, and Still Get Hit by a Truck!

As a Believer, for years I held the notion that if I was obedient to the LORD, lived a 'good life',  stayed out of trouble...trouble would stay away from me.   I even affirmed this notion with Scripture, particularly ones from the Old Testament (often mistaking principles for promises).

Then- I got hit by a truck.

Yes, a literal truck.

I was headed homeward after doing some Christmas shopping, in November no less.  This was such a treat:  I had gotten the majority of shopping done early for once, and a girlfriend of mine had kindly been taking care of my three young children for me so that I could have the luxury of shopping by myself. 

Hidden away in the trunk, lay all the Christmas treasures we would have for our children that year.  With only about 15 minutes left of my journey, I was enjoying the quietness of the car ride, and taking in the scenery. 

Coming to a crossroad, I looked to the left where a nursery greenhouse business was at the corner, the approaching road covered by foliage; I then looked to the right and noticed the house on the corner- which had also been some .....

BLACKNESS

TOTAL and utter blackness is all I can recall next.  I'd never in my life experienced anything like it.  It was confusing.  Seemingly from far away, I heard voices calling.  At first it was hard to tell what they were saying, to whom were they speaking... Slowly, the blackness lightened, and the sounds of voices got louder.

I realized my eyes were closed.  With effort, I opened my eyes to more confusion.  What in the world were people doing looking in at me through my windshield!  What were they saying?  Was I 'alright'?  Was I? 

Trying to remove the cobwebs in my mind, I turned my head to try to look around and come to my senses.  Immediately, I could tell that was not a good idea- pain shot through my neck. 

After a becoming a little more sensible, I realized these people were trying to help me.  Something was terribly wrong.  They wanted me to unlock the car doors. Which I did.

One gentleman came in and asked if there was anyone he could call for me.  (This was way back when having a 'car phone' was still pretty new.)  He called my friend to let her know I'd been in an accident, and an ambulance was on its way; she would call my husband to tell him.)  

Thankfully- even though in a rural area, blessed First Responders arrived quickly; as well as Sheriffs,  more emergency personnel, and the 'jaws of life' with which they cut me out of my vehicle... 

As I'd come to the crossroad, within a fraction of time of my looking to the left, a man driving a pickup truck blasted through the stop sign (witnesses say he was airborne when he struck me) and T-boned my vehicle only inches behind my driver's seat; sending me whirling into the ditch. 

(Once his vehicle stopped, the other driver got out and fled the scene by foot.  It was possible he had been influenced by a substance.  In his vehicle was found a semi-automatic that did not belong to him, nor did the truck belong to him.  And, he was driving with having had his license revoked.  They had helicopters looking for him; finally, they located him about three days after the accident.  He got a few months in jail- and, drum roll:  his driver's license, which he'd already lost, was 'taken away'.)

To shorten the story-  To this day, I deal with the marks left on my person from that trauma.  Neck injury, internal bleeding, concussion, seat belt injuries... Still, I'm thankful that it was not worse, and that my children had not been in the car with me that day!   We lost most of the Christmas presents- although the kind people who stopped to help, had done their best to harvest as many things as possible from the roadway.  (When struck- the contents of my vehicle left it explosively.) 

So, what's this have to do with Lyme-  Well, maybe Lyme is your truck?

Lyme is just one of several 'trucks' in my life.  Over  time, I have done much praying, searching out the Word... trying to reconcile why these trucks come into my life, even when 'I'm doing things right'!

Finally, I've come to understand that the Lord Jesus didn't come to keep me always away from the trucks that come into my life-  but He did come to see me through them, and lead me to an eternal life where there will be no run-ins with trucks! 

Also, I've come more and more to appreciate Him as Redeemer.  Looking back over my own truck events-  each one has taught me a deeper understanding of the LORD, and with that, He has brought some glory to the situation, a redemptive quality. 

Do I want more trucks to come into my life?  NO!  But, now if/when they do, I'm fortunate to have a certain history of walking through those times with the LORD.  It's never easy, but I'm all the more convinced that He will be there for me, to help me, and to redeem the situation. 

Faith calls us to reason, it isn't 'blind' per se.  But, faith is believing in that which is unseen.  Again, it is the Object of our faith that is most important. 

What is the Object of your faith today?  May I encourage you to not be so much concerned with the amount of faith you may have- but concern yourself mostly about in what/whom you are placing your faith. 

My faith is in Jesus Christ.  I have found Him alone to be worthy of that trust. 

If you are up to it, read or listen to the Book of Job.  Watch how redemption comes. 
It may look different for us, but hang in there Dear One- redemption comes! 

Blessings-
Job 19:25
“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
Psalm 78:35

And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer.

Proverbs 23:11

For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their case against you.

John 10:10

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and ^[a]have it abundantly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=du0il6d-DAk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC6RXAJpPjo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-pZNULbJws
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Matthew 19:
¹⁶ And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” ¹⁷ And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸ Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; ¹⁹ Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁰ The young man *said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?” ²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be ^[j]complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²² But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

²³ And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁶ And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Are You Having Fun this Summer?

I have to admit, I was taken back a bit when my primary physician asked me if I was having fun this summer.   But even more, I surprised myself with my answer, "Yes!"

My doctor's context was in the realm of something called 'summer vacation', as in- going places, doing things...away.  In my reply, I included, "I've learned that I don't have to leave the house, or take much time to take a mini-vacation without leaving home."

Another gift of Lyme.

Not that I wouldn't enjoy being at a point that physically, and economically I could 'go on vacation'.  It sounds like fun, and I enjoy celebrating with my friends who do get to do this as I watch their adventures unfold as they post vacation pictures... 

I don't remember our last vacation- away.  Must've been about four years ago, or more....

But, part of of personal resilience protocol has been to learn the art of taking a mini-vacation while right at home. 

This can be done in any number of ways~  perhaps by:
-listening to a favorite song/album, light a couple candles (not scented ones for me), pour up a glass of Perrier, and enjoy the concert.

- putting on an audio stream of outdoor/nature sounds, lying down with my eyes closed- picturing myself in an outdoor setting (maybe even put a low fan on, just to add a breeze)

- in warmer weather, I go out to sit on the porch- look at the nature around me (I'm blessed to live in the country)-  I am quite entertained by the dragonflies and hummingbirds dancing in space, the colors of the sky changing as evening draws on, looking at my garden (a few potted plants)..

- writing a simple card to someone to thank them for being who they are- something specific I appreciate about them

- when you have to lie down and rest, how about getting out that beach towel in the back of the closet, set that down to lie on, put on a little summertime music (to what degree you can handle volume/sound), or maybe play an audio of sea gulls..

None of these may sound fun to you-  but you get the idea.  

Fun is a state of mind.

It's maybe been a long time since you've entertained the idea of fun in your mind.  I do so understand that!  Much of our day is spent just trying to SURVIVE.

But, I want to encourage you, for resilience sake, to begin to think about ways you can incorporate a little fun into your day.  It is actually a choice you can still make-  it's just been pushed to the back of your mind for so long, or maybe you need to contemplate redefining fun... Whichever, I encourage you to see what you can come up with, that is doable for you- and incorporate it into your day. 

I'd enjoy hearing from you about the mini-vacations you discover!

(Below, I added a couple pics I took of the clouds today-  they are perfect for imagining what the shapes may look like!  Antother mini vacation idea!)

In a way- it can also be a way of  taking a sabbath.  For us, it is taking time to recreate from our work of survival.  I don't mean to minimize one of the Commandments, to keep the Sabbath- or to take it out of context.  But, I am saying it is an important principle for us to incorporate into our lives...

In a mini-vacation of sabbath rest, we can intentionally take that time to meditate on His Word, thank Him for who He is, concluding it by giving praise to the LORD for His care, and for the ability of being able to have that time 'away'. 

May you be inspired to have a spot of fun in your day today!

Blessings-

Exodus 20:11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.