Thankful Thursday Thinking

We take so much technology for granted in 2010. Blackberries, iPods, cell phones, Facebook, Skype...the list goes on and on. I think about all those people who are lonely and unable to connect with their loved ones and I feel so very blessed that I can. But how do I do that from my living room? Being home most of the time due to Lyme and chemical sensitivities/allergies, my interactions take place a lot on the phone or now Skype. The other day I was able to visit with my sister in South Dakota and "see" her again, and about once a month we are "skyping" with our oldest and her family. We see them only once or twice a year, so this is great. Our neighbors have been able to watch their first grandbaby grow week by week with Skype. What a blessing!

Recently I joined a conference call prayer group consisting of several people with Lyme disease who gather by phone twice a month to pray. I love this opportunity to pray as a group once again.

The online homes of bloggers have given me the blessing of many new friends, a ton of information, and the joy of expanding my world.

Isn't it all just amazing?! Today I am giving thanks for all the technology that has opened my world to online blogger friends, prayer groups, and "seeing" our loved ones with Skype. It is all a good thing!

Wednesday Wonders of Nature

"Jesus said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him"

John 7: 37b, 38

Living water

the Holy Spirit....

Empowering our bodies

blessing our souls

Gifts

freely given

freely accepted

Eternal life

The Holy Spirit

Thank you

Jesus

Memorial Box Monday: "The Lost is Found"

Memorial Box Monday was started by Linny over at A Place Called Simplicity. We share stories of God's faithfulness to remind us how good and loving our Heavenly Father is. When times get tough, we can always go look in our memorial boxes to be reminded that God loves and blesses His children.

My Memorial Box Monday this week is about something that just occurred a couple of days ago. I have been gathering pictures to turn into photo albums for our children and started with our oldest daughter's album. I needed to gather together 40 years of photos and it took me more than a year. Recently when sorting through our daughter's pile of pictures, I realized all her baby and toddler pictures were missing. I looked through all the tubs of photo books and loose pictures, but could not find them. After searching my memory and every place I could think of to find them, they did not turn up. My energy is limited and Saturday I sat down with a plunk on the sofa and said to God..."Okay God, I know you have more important things to do, but this is really important to me, so if you could just tell me where they are, I would really appreciate it!" Immediately the thought came into my head...."They are behind the large blue chair in the office." Joel went up to the office, moved the big blue chair and there they were! In two smaller photo boxes I found every single picture I was looking for...and more! I had sorted them a year ago and tucked them away for "safe keeping". I just love it when God takes the time to help out the feeble minded!! Praise God for the pictures ~ the book will be done by the time they arrive this weekend!

I will add a picture of the album to my Memorial Box as a reminder of God's faithfulness in the big things and in the small!

For other Memorial Box Monday stories visit Linny at http://www.aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/ or link up your own!

Hope In The Lord

It has been a rough week for me due to the herbal antibiotics I am taking causing a lot of die off of Lyme bacteria. This die off leaves behind toxins that greatly increase symptoms. After an emotional meltdown last Monday, I turned to my Bible for support. My Bible fell open midway, to Isaiah 40 and this underlined verse ~#31~caught my attention.

"Those who hope in the Lord

will soar on wings like eagles

they will run and not grow weary

they will walk and not faint."

~

I found a great deal of comfort in repeating this verse out loud throughout the morning. Later while reading a devotional these verses popped up, and when I went online to read a few blogs, I came across one from Spiritual Sundays that started with this same verse. The title of the post was "Don't Quit". Isn't God wonderful! You see, I was ready to quit the treatment due to the horrible all over neuropathy/nerve pain from die off. Reading this post and the scripture above gave me courage to keep going. I found hope that the suffering would eventually end and I would not feel weary.

~

Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation that brings us to our knees and we wonder if we have the strength to keep going. We don't. Not by ourselves. But God does have what we need, and His strength is available for us at our asking. When we trust God and put our hope in Him, we WILL soar on wings like eagles. What a great promise He has given us!!

~

If anyone has a loved one with Chronic or Late Stage Lyme Disease, you are invited to read my other blog, Renee's Reflections, where I share my journey with this disease.

~

*Please join Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays to read inspirational posts or link up your own. http://www.bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

Thankful Thursday Thinking

Rest, restore, renew. Today I have read three different posts by three different bloggers who have written about resting, restoring, and the need for renewal.

One person with Lyme Disease spoke on the need to rest her way to healing. "Fighting" Lyme disease is a full time job and requires strength people with Lyme seldom have. Maybe we need to let God do the fighting for us and rest in His loving arms which our doctors, practitioners, medications, supplements, etc. do the fighting for us.

Another spoke about feeling fragile and used the analogy of a hummingbird~ sharing that even the busy hummingbird needing time to rest. She felt fragile and in need of restoration. Being aware of and respecting our body's needs is the first step to restoring balance in our lives.

A third blogger shared a post entitled Rest. She spoke of the rest our physical bodies need, along with our minds and souls. It drew my attention as I am needing extra rest right now to give my body the energy it needs to heal, and I have been resisting that. Another "r" word!

Today God is clearly speaking to me about resting. Getting three different posts and devotionals on the subject is a good indication that I need to sit up and listen. Or rather lay down and listen.

Thank you Lord for loving me so much, you desire for me the very best~ and provide for me just the information I need to hear...not once, not twice, but three times. I am heading for my sofa, Lord. Thank you that I have the privilege to do so. I am resting my way to healing.

Wednesday Wonders of Nature

Thought I would share a few more pictures of flowers blooming in our part of the world. There is so much beauty to admire this time of the year here in Iowa. It brought to mind the first verse of a song.....

"Praise and thanksgiving

Father we offer

For all things living

you have made good."