God – Page 9 – Jesus is for the Wounded

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!

Faith in Jesus is Critical

Published on October 19, 2012October 19, 2012 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

Yeah so it’s the message I put on the metal template of my new jewelry. Of course. It’s not just a trend for me. Faith in Jesus is critical to my survival these days!

I think I slept 2 hours, twice last night, awakened by demonic influences, seizure attacks, and a massive headache. Somewhere in the middle of these 2 episodes of sleep, I pushed myself out of bed to eat, drink, and read . . . my husband’s Popular Mechanics magazine, of course! Reading about the most innovative inventions of the past year is sport for a re-budding entrepreneur like me. I love creativity in virtually all of its forms. We all have creativity in us, I believe placed here by the Lord of all creation, the master Creator. And somewhere in the middle of reading about these inventions I developed a theory about my seizure attacks (formerly known on this blog as “seizure-like tics.”)

:J
Here goes: if I have seizure attacks when falling asleep and perhaps in a unique stage of the sleep cycle then can the attacks be caused by disease in the sleep center of the brain? I have pulsing sensations behind my eyes at times, perhaps near the hypothalamus which is part of the brain’s sleep center. If this dysfunction is localized I wonder if it is possible to use my Rife, Beam Ray machine to target the frequencies of these particular tissues? Cautiously I may even consider medications or supplements (although I have already tried several of each!). My brain MRI was normal so there’s no structural issue. Hmmmmm. Looking forward to my next appointment with my Lyme Literate Doctor; we have so much to discuss!

The Lord gave me and you the ability to create. The Lord gave me and you the ability to use our minds to solve problems, reason, remember, learn, and experience emotions. These are called executive functioning skills. We are unique from all animals and plants in this regard and with these gifts comes stewardship. I will only ask the question for myself: am I using what I have, where I am, with what abilities I’ve got? Better said is as follows:

1 Peter 4:10-11

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁰As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

So I create. I try to figure this Lyme stuff out. I also wait on Him for answers, inspiration, healing, grace, mercy, everything. In the middle of the night, when I can do nothing because of the wretchedness of Lyme Disease, I simply say the name, “Jesus.” In the end, faith in Jesus is critical.

:J
Thank you Lord for increasing my faith. Thank you Lord for meeting me in the middle of the night last night. Thank you for the comfort and faith I can feel in the arms of my Steve. I humbly submit to your will and purpose. And if something good comes from this wretchedness, may You alone receive the glory. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Sunday afternoons can be the hardest

Published on October 8, 2012October 8, 2012 by Jesus is for the Wounded3 Comments

After my former spouse left me, I experienced what most would now call a “Extreme Life Makeover!” Moving my residence 5 times, losing my home, the work injuries, the condo fire, feeling destitute, deaths in the family, oh my!, I could go on. I won’t because every single trial was ordained by God to bring me to His throne of grace, to rely totally on Him, and to understand Him as my Heavenly Husband, Lord, and King. The restoration that followed would blow your socks off if you knew me in 2003 and in 2012. Many thought I would turn away from the Lord during those dark days. Er, no, I became humbled, dependent on a worthy Savior. He sustained then restored me and for that I am grateful.

I am grateful that He has chosen to bless me in this season of my life. Wow. I thought I was going to write about how difficult Sunday afternoons were as a “separated” then “single” woman in her late forties, back then. I thought I was going to vent the trouble I had this Sunday afternoon when I found myself very alone. Er, no, guess not.

Isn’t blogging great? You can talk yourself out of all kinds of things. Barking with a purpose.

Take care all. With love, Julie

An Attitude of Gratitude

Published on September 27, 2012September 28, 2012 by Jesus is for the WoundedLeave a comment

Count it all joy, the Bible tells us, when trials come our way. They serve to refine us, challenge us, and bring us closer to the Giver of all good things . . .
And sometimes it all works out well.

After almost 2 months of headaches most days, the pattern has finally changed for the better. The Lord used the skillful hands of my Family Practice Physician/Chiropractor/LLMD to gently relax then manipulate my neck. This brings me to a freedom of movement that the seizure-like attacks have taken away increasingly over the past 6 months. I don’t know how long it will last and it doesn’t matter in this moment. We only have this moment to live in so I’m doing much better in this moment!

And some other good things have happened:

I was able to attend both the Sunday and Wednesday night worship services this past week. Praise the Lord! So what if I had to sit in the back or downstairs a bit due to my sensitivity to loud music. (They really rock out at Harvest Fellowship!) I was there and was able to be at my husband’s side to learn about our Jesus and His Word. Sweetness.

Gratefully, I have now sold 21 pieces of jewelry in my first 2 1/2 months in business! Trinity Jewelry by Design has touched the lives of folks across the country through many venues the Lord has provided. Wow! I have been invited to set up a display in a new gift shop venue in a touristy area of a local town, just in time for the holidays. Cool beans. My goal, Lord willing, is to also try hosting a table at one craft show this year featuring our entire product line. Oh how I love craft shows and events! There are even some rumblings of sharing the items of others related to my business style and theme online. Much prayer needed, much hope provided. :J

While some Lyme symptoms are quite troublesome, I have had a couple of 1/2 days this past month with very low level symptoms. This has enabled me to be out and about, away from the house or out in the yard enjoying life a little. Oh Lord, to be normal! I am encouraged that things will be better someday. It’s a long journey and as my doctor said today, we now have a path to follow. How many people can say that when faced with chronic illness? Thank you Jesus!

Today I was humbled in submitting my continuing education and volunteer hours for the Master Gardener Program at our local Cooperative Extension Office. The Lord has given me the strength, despite my illness, to gather enough hours to advance to the rank of Master Gardener in January! Will await final approval and the annual banquet recognition to use the title. For this I must commend my husband for encouraging me to start with the class last year even when it meant cutting my part time work hours, not knowing the wild ride that would follow with illness into the next year. Thank you for your encouragement Steve!

Also my thought processes have improved some and this blog has definitely helped. Thank the Lord for the internet! Good things are out there! I feel less isolated now for sure. Learning to blog built confidence that I would need to set up and online jewelry shop and all the linkages to make it go. Nothing is wasted in God’s economy, I tell ya! And today I found out that my Uncle David and Aunt Lori (my deceased father’s siblings) want to come and visit soon. I am delighted! Extended family contact has been limited to Facebook for me; now that all my grandparents, parents, and youngest brother are deceased the family relationships have changed. I do miss the love and care of my family and the myriad of dynamics that goes with it. Even in dysfunctional families, love can prevail over time. I felt it today when Uncle Dave called. Thank you! I love you! I look forward to our visit.

And what if none of this would have happened? Well, the Lord’s fingerprints are sprinkled about here and there when I bother to look for them. Foremost, I appreciate the love of my dearest Steve which is steadfast, unchanging. And a sweet kiss or two on the ankle from my Elle pup are cute from under the kitchen table this afternoon too. Then there was this bird on the bluebird house that caught my eye in our backyard. Oh how I do hope the bluebirds stop by one last time before the cold weather comes!

I really could go on! An “attitude of gratitude.” How am I doing? I am grateful for so much today. How about you?