Encouragement For Lyme Fighters

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Light of the World

Isaiah 9:2

²^[a]The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.

1 John 1:5

⁵This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

John 12:45-46

⁴⁵He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. ⁴⁶I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

We were able to put up a Christmas tree. I enjoy the soft glow of the Christmas lights! There's something so wonderful about them.

When I was little, one of my favorite things to do was to curl up under the tree at night, and look up at the lights through the tree branches and decorations.

It is always amazing to me that in darkness, it really only takes a little light to brighten things.

Lyme brings many dark nights, and days seem to be in 'grey-scale'.... Bright lights can be torture to our eyes...

But, the Light of Christ reaches in any time, anywhere- He can bring comfort, as well as conviction. Just the right value of light to suit the needs of the soul.

Jesus is Light. He is Truth.

He brought His light to us once long ago..when born into a cave and laid in a lowly manger. The shepherds saw a great light, with a host of His angels telling them of His birth... Wise men later followed the light of a great star, leading them to His presence...

Dear One, are you in a dark place this Christmas- in a dark cave of your own?

Invite the Light of the Universe, Jesus, to come. He will meet you where you are- and just as with the Shepherds, he will meet with you as you are...

Look into His Word, the Bible, to see His light even more clearly

He is great in His mercy to those who are afflicted. He will bring Light into your dark circumstances and in it reveal His presence- and His guidance.

May His light warm your soul this Christmas~

Blessings-

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Songs for the Season...

The LORD has been teaching me about 'seasons'.

I used to operate with a 'straight ahead' mentality... and was disappointed often. I falsely believed that if I just did the right things, in the right way, headed my way- things would go fine.

Well, life happens- and the LORD reminds me that what matters is: His way. And to live according to His way...not what my own mind has decided is 'right and good'...

Lyme can throw you off life's track in so many ways. Certainly heading you down a road you did not want to find yourself on.

Dependency is especially hard- as much of what we usually have done for ourselves, can be overwhelming.... days upon days can be filled with despairing as to whether or not we can ever get back to 'normal'...

I have been finding it eas-ier to approach the life challenges by keeping 'season' in my mindset.

The area in which I live has four seasons. I love the change of seasons- there is something to enjoy in each new season, and each new year of seasons. And before I know it- one has passed into another.

Lyme is for a season ... and even when it hangs on through many calendar seasons, in and of itself there are new seasons....and in each, a new lesson to learn about the LORD, about life, about the people around us...

This time of year reminds us to Wonder, as a child does, about this Great God of ours- who in Mystery has come to know us, to be our Saviour, and High Priest who interceedes on our behalf.

May through the challenges, pain, discouragement... Lyme may be bringing you this season...the Light of the World shine through it all and touch you heart/soul with His presence...bringin a new song, a new joy, a new wonder to you~

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Purpose

Today I found myself reading in 1Peter chapter 4, verses 1-11.

In verse 1-2, Peter emplores us 'Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, ...so as to live....but for the will of God."

Our purpose today: to live for the will of God.   Circumstances aside.

We get a further look at this in verses 7-11:

-be of sound judgement and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer

-be hospitable to one another without complaint

-employ the special gift God has given you; employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God

- in service, speak in Truth and under His authority

-serve by the strength God supplies

-SO THAT: in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Big purpose: to live for the will of God.

Big instructions: soundness, prayer, hospitable, service...

Big equipment: God has given each of us a special gift, according to His manifold grace

Big God: do these things according to the strength God supplies

Big outcome: that in all things Jesus Christ may be glorified

Big reason: because all glory and dominion belong to Jesus Christ, He is deserving

Amen.

Even when we are laid low with Lyme- we have a purpose for this time: to live out the will of God.

Dr. Tony Evans put it this way once:
"Faith is acting like God is telling the truth! ...
Acting like it is so,
even when it's not so,
in order that it might be so,
simply because God said so."

Even if your day is a 'horizontal' day- 'live for the will of God'

What does it look like for you today, to 'live for the will of God'?
What just came into your heart and mind- flesh aside, in your spirit?

In whatever of these things, in all things- He will give you the strength to do them, with purpose- unto His glory, His will, your good.

Blessings-

Post script- Yesterday was 12-12-2012... about 2pm my son and I realized that the world had 'ended' a couple hours ago. We'd been too engrossed in a Chemistry class (home education) to take notice. I guess we'll probably remember the whole thing Periodically then....   :)

One of my favorite Christmas songs- wonderful for the whole year- 'I Wonder as I Wander'
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die
For poor on'ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all
But high from God's heaven, a star's light did fall
And the promise of ages it then did recall.

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
A star in the sky or a bird on the wing
Or all of God's Angels in heaven to sing
He surely could have it, 'cause he was the King

I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die
For poor on'ry people like you and like I;
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

Some beautiful harp music- Christmas songs- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhZljYl1cOs&list=PLA0CA594B112402C2&index=2

Saturday, December 8, 2012

The Gift of Lyme

Yes, Gift.

Not asked for.

Not welcome.

But a gift.

I would not have considered it a gift had I not known The One who had allowed me to recieve it; this One is Turstworthy, and only gives Good Gifts.

The gifts may come wrapped in smelly packaging, dark surroundings, in hostile conditions, with hardly a notice beyond self or family...coming on the outside, much like the Most Precious Gift- Jesus.

It is a surprise package- not expected by most; unusual.

Lyme was not a welcome gift in and of itself- for it was only the wrapping; and once I began to tear away the wrapping and look more deeply- I have found a font of blessed gifts.

The most precious- the reality of knowing the Living God's presence...

and in that are the sacred aromas of- the One Who Never Leaves, the One Who Is Faithful, Peace, Hope, Refuge, Comfort...

and therein lies a rock- Sure Footing, Foundation...

glimmering nuggets of Truth, Wisdom, Discernment, Knowledge-

and glistening gems of Grace, Mercy, Lovingkindess, Patience...

even sustenance- the Bread of Life, the Word...

And, these only begin to describe the gifts wrapped in the stench of Lyme.

It is nothing compared to Our Dear Saviour- Jesus; allowing Himself- God of All Creation, to step into Flesh- to be born in a dark, dank, smelly manger cave, long ago....to trod this earth, to experience humanity, to understand anything we might experience...to take upon Himself the sin-of-the-world..to be a sacrifice for us- and to rise as conqueror of sin...

If He was willing to do all this for me- and He chooses to present me with gifts in wrappings of pain, fever, chills, aches, confusion, delirium, loneliness, misunderstanding, shortness of breath, fatigue, depression...

then He will also embed precious gifts within the wrapping for our good, for our growth...for His glory.

He is the One Who Sees, He is Trustworthy, He is the Redeemer---He is the Giver of Good Gifts--

May, today, you begin to unwrap the gifts He has for you hidden in the wrapping of Lyme. Ask Him to reveal them to you... Go ahead- take even a peek...and you will begin a marvelous new dimension to your healing.

Matthew 7:11
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Luke 11:13
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A Strange Advent

I was talking last week with a younger brother-in-the-Lord who was about to begin being treated for neuroLyme. At the end of his email, he stated "What a strange Advent this will be."

It reminded me of a 'strange Advent', for me it was last year. I was in the throes of treatment, very much incapacitated- trying to fill the dishwasher would send me into a flood, not of dishwater, but tears! The task of loading the dishwasher was so beyond me physically and mentally- I would begin crying....my teenage son then as gently as he could would say, "Mom, just go to bed..."

The house was decorate, cookies baked....by my family. It wasn't the same, it wasn't as much... But I will say that that Advent season produced in my an acuity like I'd never before experienced as to where I was placing my Expectant Hope at Christmas.   I was amazed.

There was less and less in which I could participate- not the shopping, the baking, the cooking, decorating, the gift shopping, wrapping, visiting, caroling, services at church.....at best I might get to observe, usually from the couch, or a propped position...

It grieved me so not to be taking part in all the things that 'made it Christmas' to me- all the family traditions, personal traditions....Yes, all for Jesus-- so I'd thought.

But Lyme was giving me a greater gift that Christmas. Lyme was stripping away pretense after pretense that I'd built around Christmas... Over and over I'd catch myself mumbling- 'but I'd hoped for....but I'd hoped to...'- usually with a pitiful tear, a grieving heart....

...then the gift that Lyme brought began to shine through all the losses- and became my greatest gain-- Indeed, Christmas was about Jesus, His coming--- not only that, but the celebration that He Came!  It was in Him, and Him alone that I was to place my hope! For the first time in my life as a Believer, the greatest reality of His presence during this time of year became clear...

Yes, I've watched many a Hallmark movie about the 'real meaning of Christmas'- which is usually 'love'- but for me, this experience- was something deeper.

Yes, Love had Come Down--- In fact the reality of His presence was ever becoming more dear and real....but now I was beginning to grasp the reality of   Him BEING that in whom I could confidently place all my expectations, my hopes....

In fact: He IS all Hope and the Only One In Whom We Can Place our Expectations. He is Peace, He is Joy, He is Hope....

Last year for me was indeed one of those 'Strange Advents'- but it turned out to be one of the richest and dearest, as the LORD met with me and showed me He is Everything, and worthy of expectation and hope!

What are you waiting for this Advent season?

What are you hoping for this Christmastime?

May you find Our King, Our Saviour, born into lowly estate- laid in a cave/barn manger...

the One Came to Dwell Amoung us- to know our humanity- and yet still be fully God...

This One who knew no sin- yet endured on our behalf- to understand what you are going through--

and in obedience, with joy set before Him, one day died on that cross to bear our sin, and make a way for us unto salvation through our trust in what He did for us----

What Child Is this? What kind of King?

May this Advent time find you with great expectations- rightly placed in Our Lord- Jesus. No matter what life circumstance you may be in....you will then experience a very merry Christmas-

(For a short time you can get a free download of "God Is In The Manger", by Dietrich Bonhoeffer- Advent Notes he wrote during his own Strange Advent . http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=20a00fb2dedc6a697ed98e3f8&id=d6eb605ac0 )

Blessings-

Monday, December 3, 2012

Vicissitude

Perhaps you already know what vicissitude means- but I just learned in at Sunday School yesterday! It means - 'to change or variation occurring in the course of something; interchange or alternation, as of states or things.; successive, alternating, or changing phases or conditions, ups and downs; regular change or succession of one state of thing to another; change mutation, mutability'

I don't know about you- but I think the word has many applications to Lyme and those dealing with Lyme!

With Lyme, the symptoms are vicissitudinal;
the route in finding helpful health practicioners is vicissitudinal;
our protocols have a certain amount of vicissitude;
during treatment, there is a lot of vicissitude;
we have to keep ahead of the buggers because they are by nature vicissitudinal;
which causes us to have a very vicissitudinality life!

THANKFULLY- our LORD is NOT vicissitudinal!   He is Unchanging;
He is the same yesterday, today and in the coming days;
He was, and is, and is to come;
He never fails;
He never leaves;
He is the author (beginning) and the perfector (finisher) of our faith!

Our lesson yesterday was taken from another sermon by Dr. Tony Evans (Comforting the Afflicted- Discovering the Strength of Faith)   The main verses were in Hebrews 12:1-3 and Hebrew 10:23-25 (NASB

Brothers and Sisters, when we are battling Lyme- we are weighed- down (can I get an 'amen'?)

Scripture reminds us that we have a Saviour- one who is acquainted with suffering and grief- who dwelt in the flesh amoung us- who endured hostility, pain, isolation, shame, the weight of the sin of the world, dying on a cross.... He endured this because He was fixed on the joy set before Him-

knowing He was to then sit at the right hand of the throne of God-- having done this 'so that you will not grow weary and lose heart'!

In our suffering- we must fix our eyes on Jesus: study how, in His humanity- He lived on earth by faith, how He related to His Father, and how He was set/fixed on the joy set before Him.

We should not fix our eyes on: our self, wrong things, things that are wrong with ourselves... these things will be ironed out of our souls the more we fix our eyes on Jesus.

We must be careful not to encumbrance ourselves with these things; extra baggage will slow us down, limit us.... (even things that are not necessarily 'sinful' can slow us down from our maximum spiritual growth potential).

What is slowing you down today?

Is it pain, isolation, frustration/anger, dissapointment, being misunderstood, unbelief, weariness....

Dear One- let us fix our eyes on, and see- this One Who Is the Author and Perfector of our Faith... He is UNCHANGING, there is NO vicissitude in Him.

Peter fixed his eyes on Jesus and boldly stepped out onto the stormy sea-water...even when he took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink- Jesus stretched out His hand to Him and lifted him up...Jesus did not condemn him in his unbelief as much as to infer that there was so much more Peter missed out on because he overwhelmed himself with his circumstance instead of Jesus' presence.