Jesus is for the Wounded

My Prayer Today

Published on December 14, 2012December 14, 2012 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

The rascally rabbit won and I lost. Big time. Two days have gone by and I’m just starting to move about the house. Guess rabbit is not good for my nerves or anything else. The weird diet needs to be adjusted! At least the dog likes it! Dogs can eat anything ya know . . .

My prayer today is for this nightmare to end. I asked my hubby Steve if he thought there was something I was to learn from this illness that I wasn’t getting? He said that maybe it’s like Job (of the Old Testament). Job lost everything except His wife and a few skeptical friends when the Lord allowed Him to be tested. God wanted to show Job’s faith to a conniving Satan and gave Satan free reign to destroy Job, but not kill him. Job endured: he did question God at one point then quickly humbled himself before God Almighty when God spoke to him.

Job had it much worse than I could ever imagine. Covered in boils, heartbroken from the loss of all of his children and possessions, and all at a time when he had been living a God-honoring life. My year-long illness, loss of my parents and brother, abusive childhood, heartache when my former spouse took so much, condo fire, and throwing up 12 times Tuesday night still did not compare to Job’s losses. And I doubt my faithfulness compares either. I am too quick to complain. I am too quick to want more. I am too impatient at times. And I just ain’t grateful enough.

The Lord has grown my faith, softened my heart over the years. He has blessed me, restored me beyond measure. I have so much for which to be thankful. So why do I want more? Why do I want it all and right now? I believe it’s because we are all hard-wired to want something that we cannot have in this life. We are created to seek that which can only be satisfied in the person of Jesus Christ, in loving Him and letting Him fill our thoughts and times of longing. While I do seek Him continuously, I must let more go at the foot of His cross AND LEAVE IT THERE! He is worthy of my praise. He is honored when I go to Him with my hurts and needs. He loves me and knows my heart, I know. I must trust Him even when I cannot see Him clearly. My faith must grow even more.

Writer Sarah Young understands this process well in her book, Jesus Calling.

Because the world is in an abnormal, fallen condition, people tend to think that chance governs the universe. Events may seem to occur randomly, with little or no meaning. People who view the world this way have overlooked one basic fact: the limitations of human understanding. What you know of the world you inhabit is only the tip of the iceberg. Submerged beneath the surface of the visible world are mysteries too vast for you to comprehend. If you could only see how close I am to you and how constantly I work on your behalf, you would never again doubt that I am wonderfully caring for you. This is why you must live by faith, not by sight; trusting in my mysterious, majestic Presence.

So I am in the middle of a Great Mystery, written by my Father and King. My prayer today will now change to learn to rest in His care until His truth, purposes, and blessings are revealed. Like an adventure of sorts. I wouldn’t stop reading a great book of fiction in the middle chapters when the antagonist is winning and the protagonist is lying shredded on the ground.

Yeah, it’s not that bad. Time to take a shower now.

Market Colors

Published on December 9, 2012December 9, 2012 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

To learn more about this ministry, click on the link below:

http://www.marketcolors.org/about/

Trinity Jewelry by Design is grateful to begin offering unique wooden bracelets from the artisans of Market Colors in December, 2012. You may purchase jewelry by clicking on the Etsy link on the front page of this blog and going to the “International Jewelry” link in the left hand column. The items will be a special collection offered exclusively for Trinity Jewelry by Design. Bloggers who make a purchase in December receive free shipping when using the promotional code, BLOGFRIEND, at checkout.

Thank you for your support of Market Colors and Trinity Jewelry by Design!

Threads of Hope

Published on December 9, 2012December 9, 2012 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

To learn more about this ministry, click on the link below:

http://www.threadsofhope.com.ph/about.htm

Trinity Jewelry by Design is grateful to begin offering colorful threaded friendship bracelets and necklaces from the artisans of Threads of Hope in December, 2012. You may purchase jewelry by clicking on the Etsy link on the front page of this blog and going to the “International Jewelry” link in the left hand column. Bloggers who make a purchase in December receive free shipping when using the promotional code, BLOGFRIEND, at checkout.

Thank you for your support of Threads of Hope and Trinity Jewelry by Design!

Thank You!

Published on December 9, 2012December 11, 2012 by Jesus is for the Wounded1 Comment

Thank you for being out there for me in cyberland my dear blog friend. You help me get through some of the subtler parts of recovering from Lyme Disease. It’s the journaling that makes a difference. And maybe knowing that some of you are praying for me too.

It’s different than a prayer chain at my church or my husband’s humble update about me at the end of our Wednesday night service. You read this in the free time of your busy, distracted, already filled lives. You can hit delete, open a new window, or simply ignore me in a flash if that is your desire. No one will probably know if you read this or don’t. I hope I never take that for granted!

By the way, earlier today I did make it through my second craft show. Praise the Lord! You would crack up if you saw me walking with my husband through our local discount warehouse store, Sam’s Club, afterwards: a little crooked, leaning on the cart, then finally letting the cart that my husband was pushing through the parking lot, pull me back to the car! I was pooped! Five hours later, the four hour nap was behind me. I’m doing much better now, thankfully.

So just for you is a special coupon if you are also fans of Trinity Jewelry by Design: free shipping! Just use coupon code: BLOGFRIEND at checkout. This week I hope to add bracelets and necklaces from Threads of Hope. Their friendship bracelets and jewelry create work for impoverished families in the Philippines under the ministry of Alex and Chris Kuhlow. And later next week, the wooden bracelets from women in Nairobi, Kenya and Market Colors will complete our main product lines for this year. Check the References section of this blog for more info. on these great organizations. Call it making a difference: meaningfulness conveyed through jewelry. Cool beans.

I am humbled what the Lord has allowed me to accomplish this year. Blogging and jewelry are welcome distractions from illness. Thank you for being a part of my life. May the Lord bless you!

Lyin’ in the Morning Sun

Published on December 7, 2012December 7, 2012 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzrXc68gNjQ

I had the chance to “sit by the dock of the bay” or river/reservoir/lake/ocean many times this past year and was unable to take it.

I had the chance to work part time as an occupational therapist in home care and have been unable to do it since March.

I had the chance to garden and fell short of the project “To Do” list.

I had the chance to live as others do and was not selected to live as they do.

Like the song says, “I can’t do what ten people tell me to do. So I guess I’ll remain the sa-me.”

What have I been able to do? Learn how much Jesus loves me just as I am. Feel His love directly through the love of my life, Steve. Give back here and there out of my weakness alone. Take time to pray. Learn to breathe more deeply. Meet people I never knew before. Witness the Lord’s majesty and grace in ways I’d never experienced before. Let go, let God beyond what I ever learned in 12-step circles. Seek and find the face of Jesus. Do it sick. Apply the talents He has given me in new ventures as a Master Gardener Intern and Principal Designer/Owner. Live in humility and gratitude (and continue to grow in both). Meet you, gentle reader.

Now that I’m up off of the couch, I think I can take the dog out and get ready for the day. Golly gee, my tummy hurts and I don’t know why. And here come the sweats and oh do I feel sick. Wonder if I’ll make it to my second craft show this Saturday? If I do, it’s gonna take a miracle for sure! Alas, I am reminded:

⁶So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Zech 4

Yes, by His Spirit alone. Unlike the words of Otis Redding who sang, “sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting ti-me,” I know that nothing is wasted in God’s economy. As a believer in Jesus Christ, my eternal life has already begun. This time is not measured by tasks or the stuff of this life on earth. This time, today, is measured by grace. I’m layin’ in the morning sun on the couch, typing at the computer with the sun at my back through the window, and breathing in deeply, the subtle richness of knowing that I can do all things through Him that strengthens me (Phil 4:13). So glad I got that straight today. Elle! Let’s gooooooooooooooooo!