Be Still....Know...And Remember

"Be still and know that I am God"

Psalm 46:10

 In today's world, it is often difficult to find time to be still. Truth be told, we are not always comfortable with stillness, and yet God's word encourages us to do so.  I believe that God created us with the need for our spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental health to take the time to be still.

I am not talking about the yearly vacation we take, or even plunking down in front of the TV at the end of a long day.  I am talking about daily sitting in silence, listening for the voice of God, reflecting on God and our life, and truly resting. 

When worry or busyness fill our minds, it would do us good to take a moment to be still, and know.  Know that God is God.  Know that He is with us.  Know that he delights in talking with us.  Know Him.

When you come to that place of peaceful stillness, remember.  Remember what God has done for you in the past.  Remember how He has taken care of you.  How He has the best plans for your life...Loves you deeply.  Remember how he was there when things looked dark...or darn right scary.  Remember how he walked you through a storm....remember how he carried you when you no longer could walk.  Remember His faithfulness.

Be still......Know......Remember......

Thoughtful And Thankful Thursday

It is a beautiful day here today with Sunshine and a high of 66 forecast. A nice day for Iowa. I am so thankful for the rain we had yesterday as it soaked the neighbor's chemicals he had sprayed on his grass right into the ground making it possible for me to open windows once again after several days of confinement. I am thankful for our new doctor who is using homeopathy to help our immune systems heal. So thankful for little Georgia getting through her first day of hospital testing. ( Prayers for her and photo below).  Giving thanks today that my stomach and small intestine biopsies came back benign...Thank you Jesus.  Giving thanks today for the prayer/fasting time I am having with 39 other people who are living with Lyme Disease. A time to grow closer to God and petition for healing for so many.

Prayer Requests:

~ Three year old Georgia is having an EEG and EKG with two days of testing to figure out why she keeps having heart episodes.  She had open heart surgery a year or more ago too.  Please pray for healing for this sweet child who loves life so very much and for her mom Shannon, dad Doug, and siblings Ravenna and Parker.

~ Continued prayers for John and his health issues and for Mildred his wife.

~ Continued prayers for Dominique who is having severe light sensitivity and increased symptoms due to severe ME/CFS.

~ Prayers for a friend who's cancer has returned

~ Prayers for a friend who is having heart problems

~ Prayers for our grandson Evan's ears to completely heal from years of ear infections

~ Prayers for all those who lost loved ones and/or their homes in the tornadoes across our country

~ Prayers for me as I am having major pain, fatigue, stomach issues, and weakness from Bartonella bacteria die off.

~Prayers for discernment on when to travel to look for a house to buy for retirement

~ Joe needs a kidney transplant

~ Ron has colon cancer stage 4

Lord Jesus, we lift up to you your children, your faithful servants. We ask that you reach out and touch each one of them and bring healing into their lives. You are a God of miracles, a God of healing, our Jehovah Jehri ~ our provider, our Jehovah Rapha~ Lord of healing. We ask that you move mountains on behalf of them and grant them healing, wholeness and peace.

In Jesus name. Amen

God, You Are Amazing!

I just was over visiting Linny at A Place Called Simplicity where she has posted the answer to a prayer request that many readers had been praying and fasting for.

 A family was trying to bring home a little boy from Russia who had down syndrome, believing they were his forever family.  The judge has denied them adoption siting the "fact" that this child was unadoptable and needed to be kept in an institution.  Linny rallied a prayer and fast time for this little guy, not the first we have all prayed for.  The Supreme Court just overruled the judge and this sweet boy will be coming home to his forever family.  Our mighty and amazing God intervened and the laws of Russia crumbled!

God, You are amazing!  We bow before you with deep thanksgiving and praise.  We are humbled by how your hand moves to bring loving families to the orphans....we are humbled by the power and love you bestow in response to those who pray. 

Let us never forget the power that lies in prayer.  Let us never forget the importance of prayer.  Let us never forget how much God delights in our petitions and desires us to come to Him. 

God, You are amazing!

"No Piggy"

Once when our daughter was upset about something, her daughter, Abbi, who was a young child at the time said, "Don't worry, mommy, no piggy!"  Of course she meant "no biggy" but what she heard as a toddler was "no piggy".   My daughter could not help but laugh at this, and her worries soon disappeared I am sure.

God gives us phrases to respond with when worry comes for a visit too.  They are found in His Holy Book, and we are blessed to have a number of translations to use to find just the right words to help dissolve our worries with a smile, or kick them right out the door!  It may not be a child's "no piggy" but it holds as much faith, love, and compassion.

God knows just what we need.  Words have power and God's words have the ultimate power to break down our fears, remove our worries and bring laughter and joy to our days.

Matthew 6 tells us in The Message, " Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

My favorite verses come from Isaiah 41 in the Message.  It seems God reads my mind~~imagine that!  "Don't panic.  I am with you.  There is no need to fear for I'm your God.  I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady and keep a firm grip on you."

Even though our granddaughter is no longer a toddler and her days of saying "No piggy" are long gone, I still whisper them to myself at times to remind me to lighten up, and to the keep the faith of a small child.  So, if today a worry comes to sit on your shoulder, pick up God's word to read and store in your heart, and try whispering  to yourself, "No piggy!"  I guarantee you will smile~

Stop over and visit Charlotte and Ginger at  Spiritual Sundays to read inspirational posts or link up your own.

Delight In The Day

"Don't take a single day for granted. 

Take delight in each light-filled hour!"

Ecc. 11:8

The Message

Isn't this a great verse to start our day with~ I like to begin my days by saying a favorite verse..."This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.."  This verse in Ecc. that I read recently on a notecard,  goes right along with that. 

So often we get caught up in the busyness of life, no matter our age or abilities.  We often take our tomorrows for granted..or wish for tomorrow, losing what is offered to us today.  Certainly, there is a precious gift offered to us each day~ and as this verse implies, we can really find something to be delighted about every single hour.  We need only look around us to be inspired.

I can see my neighbor out trimming his lilac bushes while his sweet grandson plays at his feet.  I miss my own grandchildren so much, and am delighted to watch this little toddler move about, 

We have a bird feeder and hanging basket of flowers right outside our window to enjoy throughout the day.  So far I have seen finches, sparrows, cardinals, a morning dove and an Oriole eating there.  The squirrels have given us more than a few laughs, too, as they try to eat from the feeder. 

 I can look over and see our 11 yr old miniature schnauzer sleeping on the loveseat.  He brings me companionship every day.

The phone connects me to all those I love and care about around the country! 

 To my left is a pile of books I am reading and re-reading. Do we realize how many people do not own one single book?  I am so thankful to have a friend whom I call my "book fairy" who sends me book cards as special gifts. She has no idea the joy her gifts bring to me. 

 I can watch TV, turn on the radio, or put in a CD all at my fingertips.

Hearing the doctor tell me "everything looks normal" gives me more reason to delight in all the days I have been given.   

 My husband is on disability due to Lyme disease so he is home quite a bit of the time.  I love having him home and even though I do not desire for him to be sick, I truly delight in his company. 

My laptop connects me to the world and my blog to all of you.  I delight in knowing you and writing until my heart is content. 

 I could go on and on and on.....

Yes, each day is a gift from God.  Don't take a single one for granted.  DELIGHT in each light-filled hour!

Be Close My Child

This past Wednesday I went in to the local surgical center for an endoscopy.  Everything went like clockwork...and at this point things look normal.  The precautionary biopsies will come back in a couple of weeks.  My reactions were minimal and recovery has gone well for someone with several chronic illnesses.  Thank you so much for your prayers!

My husband and I felt I was in capable hands ~ well skilled technicians doing their job.  They do these type of procedures all day long and see so many different people moving in and out..they do not get attached to any of the patients.  I saw the Dr. for 3 minutes before the procedure, and he talked to my husband for a whole 15 seconds afterwards to let him know things were normal.  This man never once looked into my eyes or Joel's.  Just did his job and did it well which is what you want....but.....yet....the detachment we both felt was unsettling to say the least.  He had my life in his hands, and he never saw me as the person I am.

I found myself comparing this experience to my relationship with God.  Wouldn't it be awful if our connection to God was distant....detached?  He is, after all the God of the Universe.  Powerful, all knowing, above us in all things.  He holds our lives in His capable hands, but He desires more from us than just a distant connection.  He desires a true personal relationship. One on one.  He knows the very number of hairs we have on our head.  He formed us in our mother's womb.  We are important to Him.  He loves us....He delights in us!  He wants us to "Be close, my child."

Lord, let me never take your relationship with me for granted.  Thank you God for loving me, caring for me, wanting me close.  Thank you God for delighting in me.  The reassurance I feel realizing this cannot be measured.  May we all hunger for this type of relationship, and never distance ourselves from such a loving Father.  In Jesus name.....Amen

Please stop over and visit Charlotte and Ginger to read other inspirational posts or link up your own.    http://www.bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/    

Thankful Thoughts

My post I wrote for Thursday disappeared amidst the blogger glitches that were going on, so I am just going to give a praise report here ~ giving thanks that the endoscopy on Wed. went well, and the scan looked normal.  They took precautionary biopsies in my stomach and small bowel which will take two weeks for a report.  I did not react to the meds except for my usual headaches, brain fog, and increase in pain. Yahoo for that!

Many thanks for your prayers and support.  I appreciate it so very much...

Precious Pansies

Happy Mother's Day

 It is Mother's Day weekend and as is my usual request, I asked Joel for pansies.  They have special meaning for me and remind me of my mother, who died 9 years ago at the age of 92.  Every year since her funeral I have planted pansies in memory of her.  This year we found this beautiful combination ~ love the purple and yellow velvety petals!

Charlotte and Ginger mentioned sharing ways our mothers nurtured us spiritually.  First of all I must share that I had more than one person "mothering" me as I grew up.  My two older sisters each took turns parenting me along with my mom when she was able.  My oldest sister, who raised me for 9 yrs. as part of her family, provided me with the spiritual teachings I needed to become a follower of Christ.  Sunday services and Sunday School, choir, family devotions and prayer time, and helping others are just some of the ways I remember being nurtured as a child.  Thanks to my older sister, I was active in church and went to a Bible college.  When she and her friend met my husband Joel at the college, she told me she had met the man I was "going to marry".  I was not thrilled when she pointed him out and told her so.  She and her friend said, "We will pray about it" and 2 yrs later Joel and I were married.  Joel is the very best answer to prayer I have ever received.  I have been blessed throughout the 43 years of marriage to this special man.

There have been other women in my life who have nurtured my faith ~~ some I have called friends and others I have been inspired by when reading about them.  And some I have called daughter.  As a mother of seven I pray I have nurtured my own children's faith.....I know I have learned much from my own girls who are mothers, and with how they live their lives as women of God. 

On this Mother's Day, may you remember with fondness your own mothers, sisters, and friends who have helped to nurture your faith.  May we all pause to give thanks for those special women that God has blessed us with, while at the same time asking God to keep us open to being a spiritual mentor for others.

Speaking of prayer, would you pray for me as I go in this Wed., May 11th for an endoscopy?  I do believe in the power of prayer!

Stop over and visit Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays.  http://www.bloggerspirit.com/

Thankful and Thoughtful Thursday

I have not posted for  awhile as I struggle with health issues and the emotional turmoil connected to them. Easter was a busy time for Joel and he is also dealing with the physical "aftermath" of this.  God is faithful and seeing us through.   During all this, we have also started looking for a home to buy in Joel's hometown where we plan to retire.  God is leading us back to the very place we started our married life together 43 yrs ago! 

Yesterday I fasted from TV and spent time praying. Last night I was part of a conference call prayer group where we pray for over 500 with Lyme disease and other challenges.  God hears our prayers and delights in them! 

 On this National Day of Prayer it is fitting to give thanks and pray for our country.  Thank you Lord for the privilege to live in a free country where we can vote, worship, and live such good lives.  We are blessed beyond measure.  We also lift our country up in prayer.  We ask that you bless our leader and his family.  Bless all those in office and serving our country in the Armed Forces.  May they always walk with you Lord.

 Giving thanks that we can rely on your promise to not turn a deaf ear to our prayers.  This day I ask, Lord, for you to bless and heal the following people:

Joel ~ having bad symptoms from Lyme bacteria die off.
Renee~ thanking God my stomach is a bit better.  Prayers for endoscopy next Wed. morning.  NO reactions to the meds used, no cancer found and healing of the stomach completely.
Linny and family~ Praising God for her prayer and fasting days and open heart of deep faith
H. ~ prayer of praise she is staying sober and working now
Sisters Georgia and Ravenna ~ health issues continue but have seen some improvements at times.
Ron ~ colon cancer
John (and Mildred) and his health issues
Dominique, Laurel, and Gail ~ severe relapses from ME/CFS
Joe~ in need of a kidney transplant

Lord Jesus, we lift up to you your children, your faithful servants. We ask that you reach out and touch each one of them and bring healing into their lives. You are a God of miracles, a God of healing, our Jehovah Jehri ~ our provider, our Jehovah Raphe~ Lord of healing.   We ask that you move mountains on behalf of them and grant them wholeness and peace.
In Jesus name. Amen