grace – Page 7 – Jesus is for the Wounded

Enemy number one is the author of all that is evil, Satan himself. Fallen from the angelic realm, he roams the earth tempting and taunting everyone. Unless we claim the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will have no defense against his schemes nor against sin. With faith in Christ, we are free from the penalty of sin (which is death), receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our eternal life begins with the triune God. Whether I live or perish in this earthly life, I have eternal victory in Jesus Christ. Enemy number one is defeated.

I have a new enemy in my life and it is not Lyme Disease. Enemy number two, superseding all other hassles is mold. Mold is making me sicker and sicker every day. Turns out that the floods in our home when our water softener filter broke, twice, have introduced this dangerous neurotoxin into our master bedroom and bathroom. We got a good look at some of it tonight when my husband, Steve, shined a flashlight under the bathroom cabinet. Greenish blue spots splatter the wooden base that backs to the garage (and where the water softener is located). The next step is to pull up the carpet and examine the pad, drywall, and wooden base in the bedroom. Geez! No wonder the ERMI (household DNA test for mold) exceeded the scale values. We have a serious problem!

Sick building syndrome and mold exposure can mimic the symptoms of Lyme Disease or worsen them. Initially I wondered if the mold exposure complication I was suspecting was from working some years ago in a moldy old hospital Aurora, IL. Certainly I had chronic sinus infections back then, with the sick leave eventually complicating my job situation. This newer exposure leads me to wonder if this is why I have had such a rough time treating Lyme Disease? Is this why I am struggling even more since ingesting mold (microbial rennet) in Gruyere goat cheese this past week? Well with this discovery, we not only have a serious problem, we might have a solution!

Steve and I are implementing some survival strategies while we investigate the matter further. We wonder if our homeowners’ insurance will cover repairs and we wonder how to protect me and everyone in our household from further mold exposure? Can I stay here? Thankfully, I will see my Lyme Literate Doctor this week and this will be a center point of our discussion for sure. I’m feeling very sick these days. Thank you for hanging in there with me as we prayerfully proceed.

Since the Lord has given us victory over enemy number one, we know that He will grant us grace, mercy, and peace with “enemy number two.” And this night, I will be keeping my eyes fixed on Him. Oh Lord, grant me your gracious mercy, yes mercy please.

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!