Lady In Waiting

“As your Lady-in-Waiting, I’m waiting!”

Lady Kluck   (Disney’s Robin Hood)

The other day, my Mom and I were commiserating (fancy word for complaining) with one another about our increased battles with various aches and pains.

We get very frustrated as we both have young, adventurous spirits which have been trapped in bodies that feel many decades older.

When you suffer from chronic pain and fatigue, the days can feel very long. After our combined pity party, my Mom commented that we are “waiting for our new selves”. She was referring to the completion of our redemption which will take place when Jesus Christ comes again.

The first part of our redemption takes place when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. At that time, our sinful self is redeemed by the blood of the crucified Jesus. That is Part 1 of our redemption – our spirit has been redeemed.

Rom 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;

Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone having been hanged on a tree”);

Part 2, or the completion of our eternal redemption, takes place when Jesus comes again.

Luk 21:27, 28 And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to happen, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near.

At that time, our “bodies” will also be redeemed.

Rom 8:23 And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the Spirit [Part 1], even we ourselves groan within ourselves, awaiting adoption, the redemption of our body. [Part 2]

The word “body” in the above scripture comes from a Greek word meaning “sound [free from flaw, defect, or decay] whole”.

When Jesus comes again, my body will be made free from flaw, defect or decay. No more pain. No more fatigue. Hallelujah!!

Until that time, my Mom and I will continue to “groan within ourselves” (and probably outside ourselves), being “ladies-in-waiting” for “the redemption of our body“.

While I am waiting, I will think about this verse:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us. 

Blessings

The Only One…

I thought that this was well written and true.

The Word

I was having a conversation with my mom about God, surprise, surprise 🙂 But she said something that just clicked in me and I couldn’t wait to write about it.

She said, “I’m so glad I have God to talk to.” The reply that just fell out of my mouth and birthed this blog was, “He is the only One you really can talk to.”

That began a whole conversation between us and a profound realization on my part.

God is the only One you really can tell everything to, I mean I can tell my mom, sister, and husband everything, but I will be careful how I word things, so that I don’t worry them about certain situations. With God, I can tell Him just what I feel, and just how I feel it.

Why? Because He already knows. He is right there in my head, knowing every thought before…

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There’s Something in My Eye

In November, I wrote a post entitled “Ma Ee” in which I described how I have had some issues with my eyesight in the past.

In the last two months, I have once again been dealing with problems with my right eye. It started one evening when I suddenly lost most of the vision in the center of my eye and what I could see around the perimeter was like looking through jagged shards of glass.

The hubby, thinking I may be having a stroke, whisked me off the the hospital. The doctor gave me a pill to lower my blood pressure (which is usually VERY low) and after a brief examination of my eye, he told me that he thought that I had a detached retina. FYI – The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the inside of the eye and sends visual messages through the optic nerve to the brain. When the retina detaches, it is lifted or pulled from its normal position. If not promptly treated, retinal detachment can cause permanent vision loss. So – not a good thing.

I was told that I would probably have to have emergency eye surgery first thing the following morning. My hubby had to take the day off work and we made the early morning  1 1/2 hour drive down to the city.

It turned out that I did not have a detached retina (thank God)! The specialist thought that what I had experienced was an ocular migraine which didn’t require any treatment.

Two days later, my eye was red, swollen and aching. It felt exactly like it did the last time I had iritis (inflammation of the iris). I popped into the optometrist’s office to see if I could be seen that day or the next. No – they were too busy. I was advised to go to the Emergency Department. I asked if Emerg doctors could prescribe eye drops and was told “Oh yes”.

So off I went to the hospital to go through the whole rigamarole again. The doctor wanted to give me an injection for a migraine. I refused as I knew that I wasn’t having a migraine. Then after an hour of crazy questions he finally told me that I probably had iritis (big surprise) BUT – (wait for it) HE COULDN’T PRESCRIBE THE STEROID DROPS I NEEDED TO TREAT THE PROBLEM! He advised me to try to see the specialist again the following day – although the receptionist thought that the specialist was gone for the long weekend.

I called the optometrist’s office the following day, explained the issue and asked if I could please be seen on the following Tuesday after the long weekend. The receptionist told me that I shouldn’t wait that long and that I could be seen that very afternoon. (Remember – I had been told the previous day that there was NO WAY I could be seen before Tuesday – thus the futile Emergency visit).

So I was finally checked, diagnosed with iritis and prescribed not just one, but three separate medications. The receptionist told me that she was faxing the prescriptions to my pharmacy in a few minutes. I slowly walked around the town and to the pharmacy only to be told that they had not received any faxed prescription.

I called the pharmacy again that evening but they still had not received any fax. By then, the optometrist’s office was closed for the long weekend!

I was unable to get the medication until Tuesday and even then when I went in to pick them up I was told that one of them was no longer being made! I would have to wait until they could reach the optometrist for an alternative. AARGH!

The inflammation in my eye took quite a while to dissipate and while it has finally gone, I have been left with an eye whose vision is like looking through fog filled with millions of tiny particles of soot. This is accompanied by larger black spots on the periphery of my vision – I feel like I have a small swarm of fruit flies constantly buzzing back and forth. And just to make things interesting, there is a long, squiggly, wire-like, black “worm” floater right in the center of my vision.

Yesterday marked the fourth visit to the eye specialist and the news I received made me feel like having a bit of a pity party. Apparently, not only do I have scar tissue on my cornea (from previous infections) which has given me an atypical astigmatism (why can’t I be “typical” for once??), I also have a cataract forming on the lens (thus the fogginess) along with the floating “worm” and “fruit flies”!

We discussed the possibility of having cataract surgery but the specialist felt that due to the high incidence of inflammation in that eye, surgery may actually cause a severe flare up. And as for those annoying floaters – apparently they are permanent!

So to recap – 2 Emergency visits, 4 eye specialist visits, and 2 optometrist visits and I have scar tissue, a damaged iris, a cataract, and floaters. I don’t think that there is any more room in my eye for anything else!

But sometimes, I think that I may have something way more serious than fog and floaters in my eye; something that does not blind my actual vision but which may blind my spiritual one.

The Bible describes it as a “beam”.

Mat 7:3 And why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye? 

I know that I can be guilty of judging and criticizing others. I may be doing that at the risk of being hypocritical.

Oh, but isn’t it so much easier to notice the flaws in others than it is to see our own?

The Bible tells us that we must first look at ourselves and remove the offending/offensive parts from ourselves before we look to pointing out how to fix other people’s faults.

Mat 7:5 Hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the splinter out of your brother’s eye.

While I pray for the vision to be restored in my right eye, more so I pray that God will help me see the times where there is a “beam” stuck in my spiritual eye.

As for you my readers – “Here’s mud in your eye”. 🙂

Joh 9:6 And when He had spoken these things, He spat on the ground and made clay from the spittle. And He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.

Joh 9:11 He answered and said, A man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, Go to the pool of Siloam and wash. And going and washing, I received sight.

Blessings

 

 

Seasons

Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens:

Yesterday was the first “official” day of Spring. I had wanted to publish this post yesterday but got knocked off track by a couple of life challenges.

Spring is my favourite season. Although the Winter here is fairly mild, it comes with high winds and day after day of damp, grey weather – ugh! I am so happy when the Spring sun starts to shine and daylight hours get longer.

Other than the sound of the frequently ROARING wind coming off Lake Huron (which really rattles my metal chimney as well as my nerves!), it is very silent here in the Winter so I love it when the birds feel inspired to start singing their Spring love songs. It makes me feel “all a twitter”.  🙂

We don’t always get a lot of snow, so instead of bright, sparkling white, the predominant Winter colours are various shades of grey and brown – VERY uninspiring. When Spring comes, colour begins returning to the land. The tips of the bushes and trees become frosted with swelling leaf buds in shades of green, yellow, pink, red, and even some fuzz. The dull brown earth is pierced with shafts of green as buried bulbs send forth their first leaves. Male birds strut their stuff all decked out in their finest mating plumage.

As Creation shakes off its dull Winter slumber, Spring is filled with colour, activity and life.

I have a door mat in which I can change the central decorative section to reflect the Seasons, Holidays, or personal whims. To celebrate the arrival of Spring, I literally put out the Welcome mat.

Good bye Winter 

Hello Spring! 

I wish that getting through seasons in life was as easy as a change of date on the calendar or switching decorative mats!

The past two Winters have been challenging ones for me. I live outside of town and I don’t have a car during the day so that I can get out and about. I live in a tiny “community” made up of seasonal cottages, retired elderly people, and a few working folks, so there is not a lot of opportunity for socialization.

I am a “people person” and a “do-er” so I find it very difficult to sit at home by myself day after day and find something worthwhile to do. I am used to participating in a wide variety of community service and church ministry. I often feel like I am not contributing anything to this big, wide world – or even to my small section of it.

I have tried to deal with this issue by thinking about it as just a “season” in my life. I try to accept that in this season I am maintaining and decorating our wee hoosie, looking after the hubby (he needs it! lol), being available to talk on the phone when my son calls with yet another one of his life crisis, emailing my Mom so she doesn’t feel so lonely, encouraging friends through various social media, and writing this blog.

I am looking forward to the upcoming change of season when my hubby retires at the end of this summer. We have already made the first big step in our “Freedom 55” plan with the purchase of a used 5th wheel trailer, which, until we can afford to buy a truck to haul it around with next year, will become a “bunkhouse” for company this year.

Our dream is to travel across this beautiful country of Canada visiting as many National Parks as we can reach. Until then, we will do some redecorating in the trailer and gaze at it wistfully as it sits in our driveway – a beacon of hope for the near future.

Another great thing to look forward to in the upcoming “Freedom 55” season is that I will have access to the car whenever I want! Hallelujah!

I pray that God will bless you in whatever season of life you may be.

Blessings

This Post is Raw

This was written by a lovely young woman who follows my blog. She also rights one of her own called Beauty Beyond Bones where, among other things, she shares her battle with an eating disorder and of her faith in Jesus that helps her to overcome. I reblog her post to honour her.

BeautyBeyondBones

I had been putting off writing this post for about a month and a half.

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Feb 26-March 4

I had been dreading writing this post because, obviously BBB is an eating disorder recovery blog, so I feel kinda…obligated…to address the topic, but honestly, I’m kinda luke warm on the whole “awareness” thing.

It just seems a little…glorifying if you ask me. And I have a problem with that. Don’t throw around photos of healthy-yet-slightly-thin girls in stock photos pretending to be sad, or even worse, smiling and holding a piece of pizza, and gloat that you’re raising “awareness” or fighting the stigma. The theme: “It’s time to talk about it…” that’s borderline insulting.

Why don’t you ask the mother whose daughter died of heart failure due to anorexia, or my mother when I was 78 pounds and she was checking on…

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Oh Happy Day (?)

According to the trending news feed on my Facebook page, today is supposed to be “International Day of Happiness”.

Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness as a way to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world.

It is somewhat ironic for me that it falls on a day when I am NOT feeling happy.

My hubby is home sick – AGAIN. He has used up all his sick days and he is now quickly running out of vacation days. I am stressed because our finances are really being stretched at this point. The situation will become worse if my hubby runs out of vacation days and has to start losing paid days. The stress is making me anxious and the anxiety is making me grumpy and definitely UNhappy!

Now I am feeling self-condemnation because, as a Christian, am I not supposed to be “happy” at all times – despite my circumstances?

So I have decided to do a bit of research on the concept of “happiness”.

The online Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives the following simple definitions of “happy” and “happiness”:

: feeling pleasure and enjoyment because of your life, situation, etc.

: a state of well-being and contentment

Well, according to the dictionary, I may have some right to my current state of unhappiness as my “situation” is stressful which is not enabling me to live in a state of “well-being and contentment”.

But is that an accurate “truth”? The fact is that my current situation is stressful, but the whole truth is that, according to the Word of God, because I am a child of God, I should still be living in peace and contentment, regardless of circumstances.

Pro 16:20 … and whoever trusts in Jehovah, happy is he. 

It is interesting to note that the 1828 edition of Webster’s Dictionary includes the following statement as part of the definition of “happy”:

The pleasurable sensations derived from the gratification of sensual appetites render a person temporarily happy; but he only can be esteemed really and permanently happy, who enjoys peace of mind in the favor of God. 

Notice that the first part of the above statement says that happiness derived from gratifying “sensual appetites” (not meaning just sex but anything that pleases all of our five physical senses) only gives temporary happiness. True and permanent happiness comes from knowing God as a faithful, trustworthy, loving, merciful, gracious, compassionate, understanding and forgiving Heavenly Father.

I am a very emotional person and for me, happiness is an emotion based on circumstance rather than on a conscious state of being based on faith. I definitely need to work on that!

Having said that, I do believe that there are times when it is okay to be unhappy. Even the Bible says so!

Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heavens: …
Ecc 3:4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

But I am going to try to work harder at feeling, if not “happy” in certain circumstances, then at least feeling more peaceful knowing that God is in control.

And I am going to review my previous post If You’re Happy and You Know It .

Wishing you much happiness on this International Day of Happiness. 🙂

Earworm

An earworm, sometimes known as a brainworm, sticky music, or stuck song syndrome, is a catchy piece of music that continually repeats through a person’s mind after it is no longer playing. (Wikipedia)

I am sure that we have all experienced the above phenomenon at one time or another. There are times when I have an earworm singing and I don’t even know how it got into my head in the first place! Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I already have one singing away! (The early bird gets the worm??)

Aside from the annoying songs and commercial jingle earworms, I can also suffer from negative thought earworms. Joyce Meyers would call it “stinkin’ thinkin”! Fear and anxiety earworms are my most common ones followed by insecurity and poor-self-image earworms.

These earworms chant a changing chorus of “you’re sick again”, “you’re still in pain”, “you’re too tired”, “you don’t have enough money to pay the bills”, “your loved ones are in trouble – again”, “you’re overweight”, “you’re not doing enough for God”, “you’re not believing enough” etc., etc., etc.!

Blessedly, there is treatment for those negative earworms! I simply apply a good dosing of the truth of God’s Word. By filling my head, and my heart with what God has to say about any of those situations, I can drown out those negative earworms. I choose to change the channel and tune into the good things that God has to say about me and think upon all the good things that He has given me.

Php 4:8 Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things. 

Php 4:7 And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

See – no more negative earworms!

Blessings

The Song That Never Ends  

This is the song that never end
Yes, it goes on and on my friend
Some people started singing it not knowing what it was
And they’ll continue singing it forever just because
This is the song that never ends…

(Norman Martin)

TEE-HEE!

(Earworm image from Room217.ca)

Heaven?

From one of my favourite bloggers.

Mitch Teemley

Many say:

Those who do this

And steer clear of that

Clearly have God

Tucked under their hat

And those who’ve insured

Themselves against fire

By naming the cross

And defaming desire

Know that their names

Must appear on His list

And if He complains

They’ll firmly insist

“You’re mistaken, I’ve done

Everything that You said

I drank all Your wine

And ate all Your bread…

—

“So why don’t I feel

Like abiding here now?

You aren’t what I’ve loved

Where’s my sacred cow?

When I look all around

I don’t see a trace

Of the heaven I’ve built

No, not in this place”

⊗

But the One says:

There are those who have burned

In their hearts to heal others

And ached at the loss

Of sisters and brothers

Acquitting the worst

And illuming their night

And despite their own failings

Refusing the flight

That beckons with death

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The “F” Word

I wonder if I raised a few eyebrows with today’s title?

No, I am not going to write about the “F” word that probably springs to mind first (especially when stubbing one’s toe). I am going to write about another “bad” four letter word that begins with “F”,  and that is “Fear”.

While I intensely dislike hearing the foul “F” word, I hate feeling the “F” word of “Fear”.

(I am not referring to the “fear of the Lord” which is the  holy awe and reverence that we should have for God.)

It seems like fear has ruled, controlled, affected my life, and made me feel powerless ever since I was a very young child.

The marital unhappiness of my parents and my mother’s subsequent depression left me fearful of what would happen to my family and to my Mom.

When I was very young, I suffered a few severe respiratory infections. The doctor made house calls at that time, and she would come on a regular basis to give me injections. I absolutely HATED those needles and I can remember one time where they had to chase me around the table before they could grab me. I remember another time I was so filled with fear that I had to vomit into a potty. I developed a real fear of needles after that and immunization time at school was pure torture for me. The smell of rubbing alcohol can still make my stomach clench. (But I became a nurse – figure that one out! LOL)

When I was around 11 years old, I was attacked by a young man when my youngest sister and I were playing in the bush behind our house. While he only managed to carry me off a few feet before I got away, the experience was absolutely terrifying and left me filled with fear about men and literally scared of my shadow.

I would be filled with fear if I was late for school. I experienced fear when I had to walk into the cafeteria by myself.

I was afraid of disappointing  and/or angering my parents, my relatives, my teachers, my boyfriends, my boss, my co-workers, my husband, my pastor, and my church. And I was very afraid of not pleasing God.

I have been afraid that I laugh too loud; that I say stupid things and appear a fool; that I am not smart enough; not pretty enough; not thin enough.

Financial constraints have been a very large aspect of my life so there have been many times when I have been filled with fear about how to pay bills or how to purchase necessary items.

The stress caused by all of this fear since the time I was very small has had very detrimental affects on me. I have developed chronic physical health issues, cancer, and mental health issues such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder, panic attacks, and depression.

So you can see why I hate the “F” word of “Fear”.

Fear paralyzes. Fear controls. Fear inhibits. Fear can lead to despair which can lead to taking desperate measures. Fear stunts growth – mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Fear can destroy. Fear sucks!!

The apostle Paul tells us that fear does not come from God.

2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

So where does fear come from?

The first mention of the emotion of fear in the Bible was after Adam and Eve had disobeyed God by eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I am naked, and I hid myself.

I find it interesting to note that fear was unknown before there was knowledge of evil. Evil brings fear. When Adam and Eve had committed evil, and knew that they had committed evil, they were filled with fear. Adam had lost the covering of glory that God had given to him. Adam saw himself as he was -naked, helpless, shameful, disobedient – and this filled him with fear.

Disobeying God is sin. Fear is a consequence of sin. The world has been filled with both sin and fear ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

Did you know that in the King James Bible, the word “fear” is mentioned 400 times and “afraid” is used 193 times? That’s a whole lot of “fear factor” happening!

But there is hope! There is a way to overcome fear and that way is through faith in Jesus Christ because he is the Son of God.

Rom 8:15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father!

When we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are freed from the fear of death.

Heb 2:14,15 Since then the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise partook of the same; that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death (that is, the Devil), and deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

No matter what the circumstances or situation, we don’t need to fear when we have Jesus in our lives.

While walking on storm tossed waters, Jesus told the disciples that they did not need to be afraid because of who he was.

Mat 14:27 But instantly Jesus spoke to them, and said, “There is no danger; it is I; do not be afraid.” (WNT)

With Jesus by our side, we don’t need to fear what others think about us or what they may say or do to us.

Heb 13:6 so that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.” 

God loves us. Jesus loves us. When we begin to understand the great love that they have for us, we can begin to let go of the fear, knowing and trusting that we are safe in their love.

1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He who fears has not been perfected in love.

Mar 5:36 … Jesus said … Do not be afraid, only believe.

Blessings

 

 

 

Profanity 101

I really like what Mitch had to sat here.

Mitch Teemley

(Rate R for language)

No, I’m not going to teach you how to cuss. My guess is you already know how. When I was in my early 20s, I was proud of my liberal use of profanity. It was what set me apart from the uptight older generation (i.e. my parents). They needed to “get over it.” Words were just words.

Or were they?

For good or for bad, profanity has reached a new level of cultural acceptance. The movie Midnight Cowboy received an X-rating when it was released a few decades ago. Not because of graphic sex or violence, but because it used the f-word. Once. Today the film regularly plays on daytime television—with no restrictions.

What is profanity. And why does it matter? Broadly, it can be broken into two categories:

1. Cursing (cussing, swearing), in the traditional sense, is to invoke a curse on another, usually in the name…

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