Sacred Gatherings

We sat in the surgery waiting room in a small circle of 3 then 4.  Brought together for no other reason than the woman in the operating room.  She was daughter, friend, and girlfriend to those of us present.  We talked, stared off into space, checked our phones, read magazines and books.  Time went by painfully slow as we waited and watched the digital board flash green, blue, pink.....in surgery, finishing surgery, in recovery.   Joel and I prayed quietly inside and I took comfort in knowing others had God's ear, including 150 Knee Team members.  I silently wondered where the other two present found their comfort. 

I looked around the large waiting area and noticed to our left a room with glass windows and open doors where at least 20 people crowded together in chairs and on the floor.  They were there when we came in and they were there when we left.  As I studied the faces of young and old I wondered about the person who drew such a crowd. A nurse approached the door and said, "Oh you are all here just for him?!"  A male....that much I knew.  We left with our good news before they received any, I prayed all went well for them too.

The room full of people reminded me of when my older sister, Jo, had a mild stroke.  By the time my husband Joel and I drove the two hours to the hospital that Sunday, her room was filled with people.  Three generations gathered around this 80 year old woman sharing love and laying hands as we prayed over her and waited for the doctors reports.  Stroke is a word we don't like to hear, but the word "mild" softens the blow.  Her amazing recovery testifies to God's healing power in the laying on of hands and strong genetic code that pulses through her body.

I reflected back even farther to another time, when after 6 hours of driving we arrived at a hospital room with loved ones gathered around a bed where upon my mother lay in a coma.  It was near her time to go home with Jesus, and we stood around her in unity while she struggled with what held her earthbound.  Joel leaned in close and told her it was okay to go to the light...go to the light Ann....and then she did.  We gathered three days forward united by family ties, grieving with hope and celebrating a life fully lived.

 Many events bring us together ~ birthdays, weddings, funerals, holidays.  But there is something more that is present in those hospital rooms while waiting...for surgery to end, for doctor's reports to come, for death's last breath and a forever life to begin.  Watching the digital surgical boards, laying hands on a loved one, saying goodbye or celebrating a hello~~there is that something more. For me the waiting holds a sacred quality.  A form of quiet, sometimes unsettled worship knowing the one for whom we gather is not held in our hands but His. 

Joining with Ann Voskamp today over at A Holy Experience.  Counting gifts in the moments of our lives

God Weaves The Patterns

On Christmas Eve day Joel brought the mail in and handed me a package from the state of Georgia.  I looked at him and asked, "Did you order me a gift?"  He shook his head no.  I did not know anyone in Georgia, so with interest I opened the envelope.  Inside was this beautiful matted writing of Matthew 11:28.

There is was again.....the verse that God has been sharing with me for over 3 months now!  I had just read a devotional that morning by Rick Warren that spoke about how God wants us to come home to Him this Christmas.... A place where we will find peace.  And then he quoted the first part of Matthew 11:28.  Now just a few hours later I opened a gift that arrived in God's perfect timing and read what has become a powerful message sent from God countless times for me.

This friend who sent me this beautiful creation of art?  I have never met her in person, but God brought us together.  About 2 years ago we belonged to a nation wide conference call prayer group who prayed for over 500 people who suffered with Lyme.  Kim was struggling with the same illnesses I was.  During a 40 day type of fast/prayer time that we participated in, God revealed to me something for Kim, so I emailed her and told her what I thought were words of knowledge from God.  She replied, and our friendship began.  Then I found her blog by "accident" and she started reading mine too. We connected on Facebook, and continue to pray for each other today. 

Kim is young, and I will be age 65 in March.  She just married, and Joel and I have been married over 44 years.  They live and work in the hustle and bustle of New York.  We live in the state of Iowa with its cornfields and farms.  She has cats and we have a dog.  :)  We are an unusual match I expect, except for what draws us together outweighs all the other differences.  We both desire to serve our Lord, live in obedience to Him, pray for others believing God hears and answers our prayers,  and also believe that He has a plan for our lives that includes healing. 

I just love how God weaves the patterns of our lives together for His purpose.   And every time I look over to my right and see this special creation of art sitting on the end table,  I give thanks for K. and the blessings she brings into my life.  I give thanks that God loves us so much He is in every detail of every day we have here on earth.  He is in the gift sent from a far away friend.  I am blessed.

A Room Full of Gifts

Yesterday I wrote a short post on the most wonderful gift anyone has ever been given~ the gift of salvation that came to us in the form of a tiny baby...Jesus...our King of Kings as a blogger friend described him....and Lord of Lords!  A gift of love~

"For God so loved the world He gave His one and only Son,

that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

While reading inspirational posts this morning the subject of gifts came up again and I could not help but reflect on the many many blessings God gives to us each and every single day of our lives.

I think that is the first gift I am grateful for today, that each morning I open my eyes to the light of another day.   Having had Lyme Disease for so many years, and cancer nearly two years ago, I am so thankful to still be here to make the most of every day.  Of course, we don't have to have a disease to feel grateful as we greet the day ahead. 

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 18:24

Another gift I often take for granted is the gift of a warm and cozy home with lots of windows and good neighbors.  We never go hungry, we travel in a nice van, and we always have enough...  thank you Jehovah Jireh for your abundant provisions.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

During the Christmas season family and friends are at the top of our list, aren't they!  Their love, support, encouragement, and did I say love.....are a blessing we are so grateful for.

"Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family],

precedence and showing honor to one another."

Romans 12: 10

Some gifts come in ugly wrappings, but what they hold inside and what they teach us are things we are grateful for.  Trials, storms, unwanted circumstances may be hard to receive, but sometimes they do bring the most precious gifts of all.  Trust....Hope.....Faith....Patience....Love....Forgiveness...

"All things work together for good to those who love the Lord."

Romans 8:28

And then there are those gifts we do not even know about.  Gifts from our Lord just waiting to be received and unwrapped. I once heard a story about a man who when up to Heaven where St. Peter greeted him and  showed him around.  They came to one room and when Peter opened the door it was filled to the brim with beautifully wrapped gifts.  The man asked, "Whose gifts are these?" to which St Peter replied, "Oh, these are gifts that God had waiting for you, that you never asked for!" 

"Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find,

knock and the door will be opened."

Matthew 7:7

Gifts~ fun to give and fun to receive. They come in all different sizes, shapes, and wrappings and they bring us joy, excitement and sometimes even sorrow.  Enjoy these treasures, and be sure to unwrap all the gifts God has for you!


Please stop over and visit Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays to read more inspirational posts or link up your own.

Double What?

Do you remember the little TV ditty, "Double your pleasure...double your fun....With Doublemint, Doublemint, Doublemint gum!" And of course there are other times the word double comes to mind...like for "double up" when bunking two people together....or "double meaning" when a statement has more than one meaning~ often with one being hidden. When our dog goes outside we tell him to go "double duty"...no explanation necessary for that one! I have heard it said when someone is getting an ice cream cone...or even a drink..."Make mine a double." There is also that age old saying to describe someone as "double trouble."

There are plenty of times the word double comes to mind, but lately it has been coming up regarding the "double portions" you read about in the Bible. I will tell right from the start that I have trouble with this concept. And yet it is Biblical. I think what makes me uncomfortable is the prosperity Gospel that is so popular right now. God is going to give you~~favor..prosperity..abundance....promotions.... and more~ IF you are obedient to God. That seems to put a lot of pressure on us, God's children. It also does not give me a clear picture of a loving and fair God. I have much to learn concerning this topic...much to learn. And if this past week tells me anything, God has plenty He wants to teach me.

This past week the idea of double portions has surfaced in our devotional book, scriptures, an email, and on TV. As I have said before, when I am bombarded from several sources on a certain topic, or verse, etc. I pay attention. These 3 scripture verses came to my attention this week.

~~

Zechariah 9:12 "Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have hope. This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you."

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Isaiah 61: 7 "Instead of shame, you will receive a double portion and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance, and will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs."

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Job 42:10 "The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."

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A couple of sermons and devotionals have opened my eyes to the blessings God has for us, and it brought to mind a story I read once. A man went to heaven and St. Peter showed him a room filled with beautifully wrapped gifts. When the man asked Peter who all the gifts were for, St. Peter said, "Well, they were for you when you were on earth, but you never opened any of them!"

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Double portions: Hmmmm I have so much to learn and so little time! I am excited to see where God leads on this topic.

~~

I am linking this up with Ginger and Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays. www.bloggerspirit.blogspot.com

All Things Work Together For Good #2: Giving vs Receiving = Humbleness

Having written the post about our past year and sharing with readers the financial gifts we have recieved...well, at first it made me uncomfortable.
It is hard for Joel and I to be on the receiving end of gifts of money when we are in need. We have always found great joy in helping others. We have also always taken care of ourselves and been able to do so whether making $500 a month in 1978 as an intern pastor with 4 kids, or making the good salary Joel has now. I used to take on jobs wherever we lived...from day care provider, church janitor, clerk in a hardware store, interpreter for the deaf...theraputic foster care provider. What was needed to help out...until I got to sick to work. We have always paid back any loans with interest and we have prided ourselves on being able to help others. We planned on digging our heels in and doing the same with our financial burdens this past year ~ which all came about due to my health and the risk we took to move on to a new congregation. This time around, we were the receivers...and I think we maybe need to go back to that word...
p r i d e. Pride kept us from wanting to accept the gifts that were offered. Even though some of our situation was not in our control and even though Joel elt God guided him to take a new calling....our thinking, like even some of our family's, was ~ you made the choices now you live with the consequences....
These gifts have taught us about receiving and made us more sensitive to how others feel when we offer them gifts of financial help. It has also humbled us. Much of the past year and a half has humbled us ~ and maybe that is God's purpose here. To use our circumstances to humble us and to teach us. My oldest son said something profound to me over Thanksgiving. He said, "When I used to give to others I would feel so happy and then also feel selfish for how happy it felt to give! (it does feel GREAT to give) Then I realized that the reason I feel good inside when I give is because it pleases my Heavenly Father."
So simple and yet so profound. So, the reason I share our story is because I feel like in an unusual way, our accepting of these gifts also pleased our Heavenly Father. It pleased our Heavenly Father to have others want to give, and for us to put aside our pride and accept these gifts. I feel like our story needs to be shared so others can find encouragement and understanding on the issue of giving vs receiving. I have learned that God's plans for us usually involve making us better people. It has touched me deeply to receive so many blessings from God. I hope my story touches you in some way too.
I am sure that would also please my heavenly Father.

All Things Work Together For Good

As I was preparing this year's Christmas newsletter, I re-read last year's. It brought to the surface my memories of all the challenges we had experienced from 2007 through early 2008 Truthfully, I was struck with a sense of amazement that we survived it all and I gave thanks that so many things had changed and worked together for good. Romans 8:28 came to mind: "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord."


In Feb. of 2007 we had to postpone a move to our new home in a new town where my husband had accepted a call to a new congregation. Even though we had spent time and money fixing tghe house to accomodate my needs, the house had a chemical smell from new flooring and also from something else we could not identify.


All things: Joel's new church is close enough he can commute and in the coming weeks we discovered a subtle gas leak in the furnace of the new house. It would have caused my health to spiral and what else for both of us?


In March 2008 I developed polyneuropathy overnight. It was very difficult to deal with and caused me a lot of stress. Other things were going on within my body, too, and in a short time I lost 30 lbs. and had a constant thirst, chills, and other unusual symptoms. I started to have anxiety attacks from trying to cope with the constant nerve ending pain, and it was difficult for me to be home alone.


All Things: These new symptoms sent me to my doctor who told me she could no longer help me....her words and those of a friend who had been diagnosed with chronic lyme after having CFS for 20 yrs., brought me to the conclusion that I needed to see a lyme doctor. As the neuropathy continued to cause me emotional and physical distress and I researched Lyme, I talked with my friend's doctor in NY and he gave me the name of a CFS and Lyme specialist only 3 hrs away. After an extensive and expensive 4 hr. initial appt. I was diagnosed with chronic Lyme and 3 co-infections. The CFS and MCS are a result of the Lyme.


In April 2008 we moved to the new house in the new town...but the house still had a hidden chemical smell that made me sick along with a varnish smell. After spending a month in a 9x10 room (with a special foil covering the floor), in the van, or outside, we knew had to return to our former home. This was extremely difficult for us.


All Things: Our other home had not sold ( it sold at first and that fell through) so we could return to a safe place for me. Many people helped us get a small trailer full of necessary things back to our home. It was very helpful for me emotionally to no longer be confined to a small room.


In June of 2008 we were in a terrible accident. A fully loaded pick-up pulling a trailer and with a snow plow hook on the front hit our van from behind going 55mph. We were trying to avoid hitting a family of skunks on the highway and were slowing down. He was following too close. The van was moved far ahead and the front of the pickup was so embedded in our back of the van it took the jaws of life to get us apart. Responders were there within 5 minutes and we rode together in the ambulance to the local hospital.


All Things: We were NOT injured except for Joel having a stiff neck and back that needed chiropractic treatment for several months. My doctor had just put me on a muscle relaxer which the dr. said kept me from having a huge flare of my pain and muscle problems. A member of our new congregation borrowed us a car for the 6 weeks we needed one. 1 year later the insurance company of the other driver offered us a settlement. We did not ask for a settlement and would not have sued, but they did not trust this and wanted to give us a settlement. THIS paid for us to put siding and windows on our house that we had purchased 3 yrs ago but had to wait to have it put on. Our house is much heathier and warmer now.

In July of 2008 I started treatment for Lyme. The initial die off was intense and I had alot of die off in my brain causing me to have crying jags, mood swings, a return of the anxiety attacks, and alot of brain fog and confusion, besides the high pain levels and heart symptoms.

All things: Joel was able to take 10 days vacation and stay with me as the doctor recommended. My doctor is so great ~ she talked to me quite often and could reassure me that this was "normal". Joel was my security and kept me going when I wanted to quit.

In August of 2008 we realized we could not move back to the new house and put it on the market.

All things: Our children came and helped Joel move most of our things back~ we had been "camping" for 2 months in the house :)

The end of August of 2008 Joel, who has recurrent corneal erosion, had both eyes tear at the same time causing exreme pain, and blurry vision. The top layer of the eyeball actually rips off with this illness. He ended up having to travel to Mpls. MN to have emergency surgery on his one eye that would not heal.

All Things: His dear friend, a fellow pastor, came and got him at 3am and took him to MN for the surgery and brought him home. I had the strength to help him as he went through the days before surgery and after. Strength that came from a power greater than my beat up body! The eye he had surgery on is the BEST it has been in years.

In January of 2008 I had several mammograms and then a breast biopsy.

All things: First of all everyone at the outpatient clinic was so nice when I had the biopsy and accomodated me with my chemical sensitivies. Everything was benign!

From the strange way I had to lay on the table for the biopsy, my back went out and then a few weeks later when I was bending over something went out and for 3 weeks I had to use a walker to get around the house while in alot of pain.

All things: We finally called a chiropractor to come to the house and he was able to help my back immensely. He also helped me with detoxing my body from the antibiotics and bringing my body back into balance. He lives close by, so he still comes to my house when I need him to.

All things: Along with all these blessings we have also experienced amazing financial blessings that have helped us get through a couple of challenging years. These gifts have humbled us, bringing us to ur knees with thanksgiving many times.



Romans 8:28 has carried us through many challenges in our lives. The 14 mo. I wrote about were some of the most difficult, but also carried the most blessings. God is faithful. He is always with us. He keeps his promises. All things do work out for good......