It's been another good day here.I've had energy.Joy.All the things needed to have a good day.It was not so just a few months back.Undiagnosed sleep apnea left me dragging through the day.Exhausted.Not rested.Lacking in joy.Weary.Through the grace of God I was tested for and received a diagnosis of OSA(obstructive sleep apnea).I now sleep at night with a bi-pap mask on my face and extra oxygen too.It's not as scary or horrifying as it sounds.It has given me a new lease on life.I saw my sleep doctor today.I have good news.I am now down to only one sleep event per hour.A sleep event is where someone actually stops breathing briefly.At it's high I was up to 69 events per hour.No wonder I was sleepy all day.My body was weary.I was not getting quality rest.But I am now.Thank you Jesus.My daily life and the bi-pap's computer smart card are showing the results.My body was not the only thing to suffer during this time.My spirit was suffering too.I was too tired to get up early and spend time in God's word.Not so now(what a gift).I have recently been using some online bible studies at Anne Graham Lotz's website(www.annegrahamlotz.com) .She is Billy Graham's daughter and these studies are great.Very conducive to journaling if,like me,you love to write.I am currently doing her study entitled"An Open Letter to the Weary."It is excellent and I highly recommend all of these studies.If you're weary today,weary in spirit,take heart,and be encouraged by the following scripture.They are from the study I mentioned earlier.
It's another beautiful summer day here.We awoke to crystalline,blue skies,sunshine and a wonderful north wind.We ran some errands early.As Steve and I chatted we both discovered we had desired to clean our carpets this week with the steam cleaner.For whatever reason we had only just now shared our mutual desire.Smile.We drove back home slowly through town,savoring the sun's warmth and the cool wind.Simply delicious.Definitely divine!The wonderful smells emanating from local Mexican restaurants tickled our noses with their tantalizing scents.We arrived home and began the task of vacuuming our rugs in preparation for the real task of steam cleaning them.As I helped with the vacuuming I was amazingly pain free in my right knee.I had recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in it.I was actually loving the vacuuming.I know that sounds strange.Who,in their right mind,loves housework?Big grin.As I vacuumed I realized that,this too,was a gift from God.Though many would not see it this way,I do.And here's why.My husband and I have endured many afflictions in our bodies over the last 5 years.Things that God allowed.Things that laid us low on every level.Physically.Financially.Emotionally and spiritually.There were days that we just muddled through.Sometimes we did not even feel well enough or pain-free enough to do the simplest of tasks.Then there is the emotional and mental aspect of chronic pain or illness that wears you down.Depression is common when faced with life altering illnesses and pain(s).All of this combined can definitely affect one's spiritual life.Where is God?Why did He allow this?Does He still love me?Will I ever be pain free?My husband and I have faced all of this.Whether shared or unexpressed,we've both felt it.And the end result has been immense gratitude for the little things.Like a sunny day.A cooling north wind in the summer.Or even feeling good enough to clean one's carpets!All gifts from God,however simple.What simple gifts has He bestowed upon you today?
A couple of months back,on May 10,I posted about my friend Sharon in New Jersey.She had been diagnosed with colon cancer.I requested prayer for her.I received word yesterday from her husband Terry that Sharon went to be with Jesus on July 17th.Interestingly enough I had sensed she had passed on before I even got word from her husband.I never met Sharon in person.We were internet friends.We originally met through an infertility support group.We began to discover we had more in common than simply our names and childless status.We both had MIL's named Evelyn.We loved cooking and flowers.We both loved old movies.And Jesus.I cried some when I received word of her passing.Though I know she passed quickly,quietly and without pain,into the loving arms of our savior,I will still miss her presence.We used to e-mail almost daily at times.And if I,who never met her in person,can feel this so deeply,what must those who really knew her be feeling?So please keep her husband and family and friends in prayer as they deal with this passing of such a treasured wife,sister,and friend.Thank you.
Last week,we who live in this part of Oregon,were baking under cloudless skies and triple digit temperatures.This week,angry looking clouds,much like the ones pictured above,have blessed us with their cooling rains.And breezes,normally reserved for our coastline,have graced us with their presence as well.It has been interesting to me how these same clouds and rain,that are often grumbled about in winter,after weeks and weeks of their presence,can now be such a welcomed thing.Summer's rain,gently,softly falling to earth from pale,leaden skies.
Soaking into parched,sun-baked,hardened ground.Barren ground.Void of life.Void of growth.
A welcomed respite from the searing,blazing sun and heat.
Our hearts and minds,Jesus,like that hardened earth,needing a gentle rain from You.
A gentle grace-rain.To soften us,refresh us,prepare us for new life and new growth.
Thank You Jesus for the rain that waters the earth and Your grace rain that waters our lives.
Written by Sharon L Goemaere
Photo courtesy of www.freestockphotos.com
It is such a beautiful morning here that I thought I would share some quotes about summertime with you.Enjoy!
Yesterday was a glorious day.I cannot recall when I have enjoyed an Independence Day with as much joy as I did yesterday.My day began early as is my habit.I knew it was going to be hot later on so I did much of my work up early.I was blessed by a late morning call from one of my sisters down in California.I don't get to see all my sisters down in CA often so phone calls are always a real treat for me.We chatted for almost an hour until her husband's rumbling stomach told her it was time to go feed him.Smile.I made lunch for my husband myself and then we took a nap as the heat of the day continued to climb higher.We awoke and left for our town's annual Fourth of July Parade.We met our daughter and granddaughter there.The sun was beating down from clear blue skies.An occasional breeze brought much needed relief to our 90 degree plus temperatures.My husband Steve,bless his heart,volunteered to go buy shaved ice for us all at a nearby stand.While they were in line I sat in the back end of our van enjoying the pre-parade preparations being made.Though many people had arrived very early to get the best seats I saw many were still arriving.Husband and granddaughter arrived with shaved ice in hand.I had chosen grape.As a child I loved grape snowcones with a passion.Turns out there was about 100 flavors of shaved ice. But I was just happy for something frozen.Our granddaughter Hope chose lemon.Brave girl she is at 6.Smile.My husband shared that while he and Hope stood in line she began to rub his arm.She then loudly announced to all within ear shot"Bapa,your arms are hairy,you need to shave them!"Laughter ensued from one end of the line to the other.I just love kids.they can take a miserable situation(standing in 90 degree plus heat in a long line) and turn it around so very quickly.Soon we all settled in to watch the hour long parade.It was incredible.Loads of floats from local businesses.Fire trucks galore.Classic cars.Military vehicles.And thankfully children armed with squirt guns(to douse roasting people with) and loads of candy to toss at waiting children.Our granddaughter really scored in the candy department.Big grin.All too soon it was over.We stopped at a couple of stores for supplies then slowly made our way home where we grilled burgers.Cheeseburgers.And they were much better than any a fast food restaurant could produce.At some point daughter and granddaughter left to go the local high school for contnuing festivities.I took an extra shower.What a blessing that was as we have no AC.Later I settled in to watch a little tv with my husband.It was too hot to cuddle so we each positioned ourselves by a fan and watched some tv.A little before 10 we made our way outside with some chairs.The cooling night air was like a sweet caress on our warm skin.A myriad of stars began to blanket the sky above.And then the fireworks began.And they were incredible.Purples.Oranges.Greens.An amazing array of colors and sizes.And the night air scented with the smells that only summer seems to produce.The smell of cooling plants.And fresh barkdust.And fresh hay and mint in nearby farmer's fields.We watched with the awe and wonder of children though we are middle aged.And we visited briefly with the Mexican neighbors to our left.We all enjoyed the color and the sounds of the night.And then when it was all over we all went to our respective apartments.And some of us slept.And we thanked God for giving us such a glorious day.
I've been thinking alot about the past lately.I'm not really sure why.Maybe it's a middle age thing.Maybe not.Maybe it's me trying to make sense of some of the things that have gone on in my past.Maybe not.Or maybe,just maybe,it is God trying to show me that the past is just that,the past.And maybe He's trying to gently remind me that we can spend too much time in the past.Trying to figure things out.Trying to re connect with a part of us that, though gone,may still,in some ways affect us today.My former pastor,from my youth,used to say this about the past(and life in general"yesterday is a cancelled check,tomorrow is a promissory note,today is ready cash spend it wisely."I cannot fix my past,either things done to me or by me.It is past.Things that happened then are not to be focused on now.Unless it is to help me make better choices now.To propel me forward.Sadly enough,my focus on the past lately served little purpose that I can see.If anything it robbed me of a sense of a better tomorrow.Will Rogers said"Don't let yesterday use up too much of today."That's exactly what I had been doing.I had been letting thoughts of the past rob me of too much of today.It was,in a sense,sucking the life right out of my spirit.It was crushing my creativity.I'm thankful to Jesus for revealing that to me.I want to continue to move forward.To pursue His destiny and calling for my life.But too much time spent mentally in the past was ruining that.Making it null and void like a proverbial cancelled check.And all the while the Lord was whispering"Forget the former things;do not dwell on the past.See,I am doing a new thing!Now it springs up;do you not perceive it?I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."(Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV).So,Lord willing(and He is :-))I am going to make peace with my past completely and continue to move forward in what He is doing.I do not want to live my life like a cancelled check.How about you?
What do people need?As believers in Jesus Christ the obvious answer would be Jesus Christ Himself.And that is so very true.But people also need a sense of purpose.A sense of destiny.They need a reason to get up in the morning.Something to hope for.To look forward to.This is the stuff that was going through my mind a couple of days ago as I puttered around the apartment.I had a case of cabin fever but high gas prices have kept us home alot.And I do mean ALOT.God has placed my husband and I in a hard place,a rocky place.A barren place at least by American standards.Living on husband's SSI(due to his heart health issues&mild stroke)does not allow for much,if anything, beyond the necessities of life.And we are grateful daily that we have that!So,even though it was not a necessity(or was it?)we went for a drive.In the country.Which,living where we do,will put you there in about 5-10 minutes any direction.That in itself is a blessing.I eagerly anticipated what we might see and I was not disappointed.Plants and trees were in bloom and full leaf.The day,though cloudy, was somewhat bright.As we drove through the countryside I began to pray to the Father.I asked Him for grace.For strength.I had needed these things in abundance.I asked Him to forgive the unbelief that had stealthily crept into my heart.Lies from the enemy that said our God-given dreams would never come to pass.Whispers of discouragement from his little imps whose only job is to do his evil bidding.Essentially a major assault on my spirit.We continued our drive through the verdant countryside.Past babbling brooks and freshly plowed farmland.I continued to pray and discovered that what I most needed beyond the remedy to the cabin faver was to reconnect with my Savior.My Jesus.The One who loves me most.And the only One able to meet all my needs no matter what they are.What is your need today?Jesus can meet them all.
I just want to wish each of you,whether military or not,a blessed and happy Memorial Day!But I especially want to wish those who serve our country in any capacity and their families a most blessed Memorial Day.I do not come from a military family but I truly do appreciate those who fight for our freedoms here and abroad.Whether on the front lines or behind a desk somewhere I appreciate you and I salute you.Thank you.And I thank each of your families too for surrendering their hold on you.For allowing or even encouraging you,whether male or female to wage war for our freedoms and so that others around the world may one day enjoy the same freedoms we so often take for granted.Thank you.May God bless each of you this day and beyond and may God continue to bless America.
A new week has begun.7 more days.Full of the unknown at this point.As I read my Bible this morning it felt dry to me.Like a dry,barren desert.Void of water.Void of life.As I prayed for friends and family needing healing I prayed that healing would come so that they may better reflect His glory;better serve Him.God spoke"My glory is best reflected in those who still serve Me,love Me in spite of their affliction.Wow!Sometimes He is glorified better through obviously flawed people?He is better praised through the less than beautiful vessels(world's standards of beauty anyhow)?Yes!This makes me think of pottery that is unglazed.Pottery that is not quite symmetrical.Imperfect physically.But somehow still beautiful.Still able to be used.Still reflecting His glory.And still able to carry the treasure that is His presence within these earthen vessels.What a blessing that is.What hope that offers all of us really.That He can still use us in spite of our flaws,imperfections and failures as humans.Glory to His name!
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us."II Corinthians 4:7(NIV)
Photo courtesy of www.freestockphotos.com
When I awoke this morning I knew it was going to be a beautiful day!This picture reflects almost perfectly the kind of sky I saw as dawn slowly crept into town on silent cat paws.Just a few miles from here are lakes and mountains that very much resemble this.As I write this it is many hours later.And still lovely out.Sunny.Warm.Breezy.The kind of weather I have been eagerly anticipating for awhile now.This spring has been very gray.Damp.It gets like that in Oregon.But eventually the leaden skies give way to sunshine and blue.We hung a windchime from our apartment building today.It is a mosaic of glass pieces that form a bluebird in flight.I found it ages ago at a garage sale.It is lovely.I cannot wait for the sun to slowly wind it's way around the building to cast it's lovely glow on my chimes.It's beauty will be complete then.We have also planted some flowers in pots by our front door.Lavender pansies in one and mixed Dianthus in another.They are simply lovely.I jst love spring.We also hung bird feeders yesterday.Two of them.From a shepherd's hook.I asked my Heavenly Father to bring some birds to the feeders.He graciously answered my request.I was beckoned to my living room this morning by my husband Steve."Birds"he quietly said.I peered out the window to see house finches and sparrows eagerly eating the seed we had provided.They were so lovely I just kept saying"thank you Jesus."That is until our cat Shadow ran into the living room on lightning quick legs and scared them off by jumping into the window!They know there is provision here now and I think they'll be back.As I type this a neighbor is out mowing their lawn.It may be his first mowing since last summer.The scent of freshly mowed grass is intoxicating.Yep,it's a gorgeous day.God is good!
Lord,High and Holy,meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord,in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;
Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.
~from The Valley of Vision:A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions~
Blessings,Sharon
