It can't hurt me if its dead!

"As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." (John 9:4)

Yesterday was a very difficult day for me. When Rheumatoid Arthritis (“RA”) flares us it does not care what day of the week it is. It’s not concerned that you had plans. The pain comes from all angles and makes no apologies for the agony it causes.

Disruptions of life!

Whether we are dealing with a physical trial or other changes that challenge our daily lives, we all have a choice to make.

So, yesterday my husband had to take day off from work. He literally was my crutch to get up, sit down, lay down and rise again. It seemed that every 25 minutes I had to move my body to relieve it from pain. This was our ordeal for 24 hours that began at 3 AM. He cooked and literally fed me. Let’s just say it was a day of heartache.

I am what some would call a “type A personality”. I can’t sit still. I have to-do list everywhere. 

I'm not sure I understand the words “I can’t”.

After a day like yesterday, family and friends advise me to relax and recoup and regain my strength. I agree, except….you got it… I CAN’T SIT STILL for long.

“As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4)

I believe rest is a gift from the Lord and I’ll quickly resort to that to be refreshed. But as I get restored I am ready and willing to continue to do the work that the Lord has from me. If that means laundry for my family, there I am. If it means sharing life with a friend, use me Lord. If his church needs my attendance, you got it...on the road I go.  Idle hands are good for nothing.

We must be ready. God will infuse strength when we are weak. 

I get my strength through reading his Word and singing songs of praise! Yeah!!!

Today I begin the administration of a new medication; a new road to travel! It’s been months since this journey began.  This pain has to go!

I visited with a friend today. A spider was crawling down from the ceiling. As I called her attention to it, I was also reminded that she does not like spiders. So I said, “I know you are afraid of spiders.”  Before I could finish the sentence, she replied, “ It can’t hurt me if its dead.” Wack! WOW.

Why tell you this little excerpt from today? If this disease if beating me up. If it brings grief and pain to my life. If fear tries to creep in, I must do something.

Truly trying this medication (like all medications) has risks.

I won’t let RA instill fear in me. Something must be done. After much thought and council, the new road began today.

RA can't hurt me if it’s dead. The RA effects must be stopped; it can't continue to  ruin this body that God gave me.  I can't just sit and do nothing! 

No matter what may come, I am his. I belong to the Lord who saved me. The Bible says, he is a healer, to the Healer I will call!   All wisdom comes from the Lord.

“As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4)

Use me Lord. When I am weak, you are strong! (2 Corinthians 12:10b)

God bless you!~Liz

Eclipse

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)

Did you see it? 

Everyone is talking about it.

The lesser light obscuring the greater light; a Solar eclipse.

The best part of all the images I’ve seen is the glowing light! The fact that once the moon stands in front of the sun it creates a beautiful glow; the sun itself still shining around the moon.

Absolutely beautiful!

When Jesus walked the earth we read in the Book of John,

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1)

It’s a brief explanation of Christ, the Light coming into world that was in darkness. The world full of darkness could not overcome the Light!

Stand in front and cause those that Christ died for to stumble. Make them turn from their Creator.

Try to make them forget their purpose and blind them so that they cannot see.

Now let the Son of God step into time and the revelation that unfolds Salvation begins. The words of the prophets of old unfolding.

"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" (Isaiah 53:1)

Ask Nicodemus, Israel’s teacher. “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked.” ( John 3:4)

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1 10-13)

Yes born again of the Spirit of God.

Eclipse the heart and blind the eyes. Dull the ears and be cloaked in darkness. That’s what happened when the Fall of Man occurred. Satan not content with his own demise, incited God’s creation to disobey.

Let the Son become the canopy of our sinful lives and new life emerges. The blood that was shed was spent for us; to give us new life!

Did you see it?

Everyone is talking about it.

Darkness could not overcome the Light!

"Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:15)

My life was purchased by the shed blood of The Lamb of God!

Absolutely beautiful!

I am redeemed. Do you see the glow!

God bless you!~Liz

Yield the fruit of the season!

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

Believe it or not but if you live in the Northeast change is coming.

Seasons are a beautiful experience!

Today I decided to remove what was left of my cucumber vines. The season was very fruitful. The abundance was shared with my neighbors and friends. As I cut away all the dead leaves I noticed there was one vine that had attached itself to my window shutter. I could see even as an end is about to come that this vine continued to produce flowers—flowers that with the right conditions would turn into fruit.

But, I realized that no matter how much this vine wants to continue in its efforts to produce cucumbers, the season will bring it to a halt.

It reminded me of life’s cycles. One day I am 16 years old and life did not have any cares that concerned me. My body underwent a physical attack and my season came crashing down. The doctor said, “you have Rheumatoid Arthritis”. The simplicities of yesterday now were a challenge.

Women have babies that leave their bodies changed; no longer able to slip into those skinny jeans. Sorry for the reminder. Seasons change!

Imagine trying to fit into those jeans because you were willing to torture your body and insisted on conforming it to the size 2 we used to be. Well try if you must, but it will not work apart from a broken seam.

Life is a book of seasons with chapters that have beginnings and an end. Let’s enjoy them!

The Samaritan women when confronted with the choice of receiving living water did not say I prefer to stay thirsty. No, seasons change and she reached out to the Water that quenched her soul! This new season produced life for those who heard her testimony. (John 4)

There is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3).

Psalm 1:3 reads, “which yields it fruit in season”.

Enjoy the process. Be ready when the chapter closes and a new one begins.

The cucumber vine continues to produce flowers that will not mature. The sun will change as Fall begins and Summer comes to an end. We must recognize the shift in our lives and embrace it.

So let’s not try with relentless efforts to squeeze into the old jeans. There is a sale at the department store. Get a new pair and let the new chapter in our life begin to bloom with new adventures!

Yield the fruit of the season!

My story book has an "Afterwards Page" that reads, “this life was designed to bring glory to her Maker”. Love, Jesus.

God bless you!~Liz