Exercises Lyme Fighters Should Avoid

Well- the television is full of dieting and exercising commercials this time of year! 

For us fighting Lyme-  dieting consists of a short list of what we can eat!

We define 'exercise' differently than our healthy counterparts too!  No aerobics, strengthening exercises if we can, with doctor approval...sometimes all we can muster is a few fist pumps and a leg raise...

Today I received an email of exercises that are NOT beneficial to us, or to those who are healthy!  YEAH- exercises we are better off avoiding! 

15 EXERCISES WE'D BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT IN 2013...

~ Jumping on the bandwagon

~ Wading through paperwork

~ Running around in circles

~ Pushing your luck

~ Spinning your wheels

~ Adding fuel to the fire

~ Beating your head against the wall

~ Climbing the walls

~ Beating your own drum

~ Dragging your heels

~ Jumping to conclusions

~ Grasping at straws

~ Fishing for compliments

~ Throwing your weight around

~ Passing the buck

today'sTHOT============================

If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time.

These came through from 15 EXERCISES WE'D BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT IN 2013...

~ Jumping on the bandwagon

~ Wading through paperwork

~ Running around in circles

~ Pushing your luck

~ Spinning your wheels

~ Adding fuel to the fire

~ Beating your head against the wall

~ Climbing the walls

~ Beating your own drum

~ Dragging your heels

~ Jumping to conclusions

~ Grasping at straws

~ Fishing for compliments

~ Throwing your weight around

~ Passing the buck

today'sTHOT============================

If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time.
(These came through from:  http://www.mikeysfunnies.com/
You can sign up for free jokes to come daily to your email.)

Don't let fighting Lyme steal your humour.   Lord knows- humour is an essential part of healing~  

Perhaps you can think of some humorous things you've experienced through this battle with Lyme-  Jot them down, share them with others, share them with each other...share them with me~ 

We can either laugh or cry a lot of the time-  hopefully, we can laugh so hard we cry! 

Blessings-

Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones

Sweeping in the New Year

With Lyme brain, you may have read the title as 'SLEEPING in the New Year'!  :)

I was thinking today of a custom that each of my parents grew up with-  that was at Midnight, to welcome the New Year, one of their parents would open the front door, while the other parent swept through the house with a broom...clear through to the back door, where the other parent now was, ready with it opened....all to sweep out the old year, and sweep in the new~ 

We did not continue the tradition- but I thought it sounded like a fun idea; especially when picturing my grandparents in livelier days doing this sweeping dance of sorts.

If you are a Lyme Fighter- I can imagine it's been quite the year for you.   Perhaps you are looking forward to moving on into the New Year...  Or, perhaps there is still so much uncertainty and challenges ahead that you are not so sure...

Today I was listening to a podcast by Ben Stuart, through Breakaway Ministries.  The podcast I listened to was from late November 2012.  Titled, Keep yourself from Idols.

Seems an unlikely subject to bring up on this blog site- and it may not seem overtly an uplifting message- but I think it is timely and poignant for us.

We have so many things we are dealing with when it comes to Lyme!  We want so much to be well!  Or at least better!  

Our days can revolve around our symptoms and our protocols/treatments...and our bed!

Our identity seems to be only that of "Lyme'.

It may sound odd, but by circumstance- being well, and being someone with Lyme can actually insidiously become idols in our lives. 

In the Bible- Paul warns us to guard against idols...he knew, and warns us, that we must constantly be on the alert for things in our lives that take over that place which belongs wholly to the LORD.  

(1 John 5:18-21)

You'll agree that being so ill with Lyme can allow us to be dulled and lulled in many ways- that includes spiritually.  There are so many ways we can begin to hunger for things in our lives, above our hunger for Him. 

This is an important principle for us- whether in sickness or in health.   Fighting Lyme doesn't make us immune to idolatry. 

Tim Keller gives this definition of idolatry- "Anything in your life that is so central that you can't have a meaningful life if you lose it."  

But, you say- HEY!  I'm sicker than a dog...I'm in bed most of the day....I feel like I'm dying... I have lost many things- including money, friends, even family through this-  and you are cautioning me about idol worship!

Yes.

Friend, it is a warning I've needed, and continue to need in my battle of Lyme. 

In this battle it is all the more difficult to keep the LORD central- and yet, it is the most vital thing I must do for my  (optimal) well-being, and meaning (purpose). 

Keeping Him central- even in the midst of the assaults from Lyme, the debris and battle wounds, the loss, the uncertainty--- I must keep Him central; I must not put my hope, my trust, my identity, my searching in anything but Him-

or life would lose its purpose, its meaning, even the potential to have the sense of well-being, even in on those days spent in and out of consciousness. 

I would encourage you to consider Paul's loving urgency to us this New Year.  Doing so will bring new Breath, new Life to you this New Year.

Blessed New Year!

http://breakawayministries.org/Resources/talks/Keep-Yourself-from-Idols

1 John 5:18-21

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁸ We know that no one who is ^[a]born of God sins; but He who was ^[b]born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. ¹⁹ We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. ²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
²¹ Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Funnies

Tonight, I just thought I'd share this section from a site (http://lymehandbook.com/index/800-misc/810-you-have-to-laugh/) .   Which looks to have a lot of good information on issues related to Lyme. 

The part I want to share is the 'funnies' section!  We all have plenty of our own stories that we, and our families, have to laugh about, or cry about-  hopefully there is more to laugh about!  

Here are some funnies from the site:

The way I clean my house is with a sweeping glance.

If I’m smiling all the time it’s because I can’t comprehend a word you’re saying.

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE LYME WHEN:

People call at 7 pm. And ask, “Did I wake you?”

1. You can’t remember how to turn the shower off.
2. You get winded playing chess.
3. You look forward to a dull evening.
4. When all the pharmacists and lab workers in town know you on a first name basis.

• As a Lymie was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife’s voice urgently warning him, “Herman, I just heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on I-15. Please be careful.”"H---, ” said Herman, “It’s not just one car. It’s hundreds of them!”

:)  I especially like the second one about smiling.   Lots of times the person is speaking and all I can make out is something similar to a Charlie Brown cartoon when an adult is speaking!  "Wauh-wauh-whauh-whauh-whauh!"  And even if I did hear it- remembering what was said is a whole nother matter! 

Let me know what your best Lyme-funny moments have been~

May the LORD's presence bring you joy!

Grace and Peace

Today I was reading in 2Peter 1, I to pause at verse 2!

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord." 

A commentator noted that 'grace and peace are always mentioned in this order'. 

When we first know the grace of God, that saving grace- saved not according to any merit on our part, but purely by His grace as we place our faith in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross...

then we can know true peace. 

These, grace and peace, are multiplied unto us---  how?  Lord knows when we are battling Lyme, we surely need grace and peace multiplied! 

Grace and peace are 'multiplied through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord'.

Do you know Him? 

Are you getting to know Him?  The more you know Him, the more you will experience His grace and peace.

As you lay there battling Lyme- these days are not 'wasted', and need not be lonely...  As a Believer, the LORD is always with you... the Wonderful Counselor, Teacher-- He is with you now; eager to illumine more of His presence, His being to you.

Prayer is you first avenue in which to hear from Him, and for you to share with Him.  There is nothing hid from Him- and He delights in your coming to Him with your thoughts, concerns, dreams, needs....and even more delightful is to hear His still, quiet Word whispered to the depths of your soul...

He speaks to us through His Word.  On days that reading is beyond us- try an audio version of Scripture to listen to.  (www.Biblegateway.com  has audio versions to click on - I think available in the NASB)

If you are like me- you may be at that point of a lot of drifting in and out or wakefulness and sleep...with a lot of fogginess...  Nonetheless- keep it playing.  This is no ordinary book!  These are the inspired words of God-

The LORD will direct them to your ears, mind, heart, soul- your being.  

Get to know Him more and more deeply-

and may His Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

Blessings-

Prayer for my friends in the battle~

Blessings to each of you- 

This may be a difficult Christmas for you. 

Things you wanted to do- had to be left undone.

People you wanted to see- unseen.

Things you'd wanted to do with special people in your life- not done, or so limited.

What you could do- was different than what you wanted to do...

But, Christmas came anyway.

Jesus came into this broken world-  to redeem us from the brokenness.


'LORD- thank You for the Perfect Gift of you Son Jesus.  Even though this Christmas is outwardly not what we'd expected- let not circumstances stain the essence of what there is to celebrate: Your willingness to come to us in humility, grace, mercy...love...

How great is Your love toward us.

This Christmas- I ask You to bless each of my Lyme-battle-buddies with a special touch from You...Tuck something of Your Mystery into this day that will gladden their hearts with knowing Your presence and love....something that they will have in their being long after the wrappings and gifts of this world have faded away... 

Let it be the see of joy that only comes through You; You are Hope, and with that knowledge, joy grows.

In Jesus' precious and holy name~  amen.'

Merry Christmas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f7jhk-IjDo   For Unto Us~ 

God in a Manger- excerpt

God in a manger-  Advent week four, day two-

God Becomes Human~  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God becomes human, really human.

 While we endeavor to grow out of our humanity, to leave our human nature behind us, God because human, and we must recognize that God wants us also to become human- really human. 

Whereas we distinguish between the godly and the godless, the good and the evil, the noble and the common, God loves real human beings without distinction…God takes the side of real human beings and the real world against all their accusers…But it’s not enough to say that God takes care of human beings.

  This sentence rests on something infinitely deeper and more impenetrable, namely, that in the conception and birth of Jesus Christ, God took on humanity in bodily fashion.

  God raised his love for human beings above every reproach of falsehood and doubt and uncertainty by himself entering into the life of human beings a s as human being, by bodily taking upon himself and bearing the nature, essence, guilt, and suffering s of human beings. 

Out of love for human being, God becomes a human being.  He does not seek out the most perfect human being in order to unite with that person.   Rather, he takes on human nature as it is. 

 

This is about the birth of a child, not of the astonishing work of a strong man, not of the bold discovery of a wise man, not of the pious work of a saint.  It really is beyond all our understanding:  the birth of a child shall bring about the great change, shall bring to all mankind salvation and deliverance (“The Government upon the Shoulders of a Child” Christmas 1940)

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.  What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”  John 1:1-5

 

Merry Christmas~

(We are weak, but He is strong!- Yes, Jesus loves us!)

Songs for today-

Heard these songs this morning -  thought I'd share:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1bXG4WIesA   Never Alone, Matt Redman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM14VZVu0og  You Never Let Go, Matt Redman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmaBhMOXXHg  Steady My Heart, Kari Jobe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbSMfL5LuSo  You are for Me, Kari Jobe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzejd6r9DwE   Healer, Kari Jobe

My heart is for you to be encouraged today.

He is near. 
You are not alone.
You have value and purpose.

May Our LORD give you a new song for your heart to sing today~ 

Blessings-