Well if you wonder why I haven't blogged in a while let's just say I have had other more important items to attend to as I am sure many of you could relate. Last week a sweet friend named Sue, suddenly became gravely ill to the point we weren't sure if she was going to celebrate Easter with us here on earth or with her Savior in heaven! A simple bladder infection that went undetected then infected a kidney which in turn released toxins into her blood stream, then dropped her blood pressure to a very dangerous level. The hospital staff not paying closer attention to her complaints of having a hard time breathing left her struggling and in cardiac failure! Praise God an "on call" doctor sounded the alarm and my poor friend heard the doctor outside her door, barking orders and saying, "I've got a patient crashing here!" The next day I managed to sneak in a quick visit and other than the stress of the hospital atmosphere my friend was on the mend. On Saturday she finally went home, and yesterday, Easter Sunday, I gave her a call and we talked for a while about the experience. Besides saying the whole thing " was surreal" my dear, sweet friend, said, "do you realize just two days ago I almost died?" Yes! I knew she had been gravely ill and how quickly it had all come to be. We had met her and her husband for dinner only four days before then suddenly it looked like our time together was going to end! Many prayers were then offered by those in our Sunday School Class who also know and love Sue. Now she is home from the hospital and taking it easy for next 10 days or so, and looks like there will be no long lasting side effects! Alleluia!
This is the second Easter in a row that I have had a friend arrive home from the hospital after nearly being called home to heaven. Praise our loving Father who hears the pleas and prayers of his children and grants loved ones more days on this earth with those who selfishly love them and want them to remain with us! We have such a generous heavenly Father who even gave up his only begotten son, so that we would know the love and the glory of being in God's presence. I am blessed beyond belief when I realize how kind my loving Father is to me. Twice in a year He has spared me the grief of losing someone, a dear friend, I love. My sweet friend Sue, is in my life for a while longer, praise God and MY SWEET FRIEND IN HEAVEN, El Shaddai is in my life for always! Thank you LORD! I love you all dear readers, but most especially I love my generous, loving, Heavenly, Father!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
I Love Worship Music
One of my most favorite blessings I think the LORD has given us is music. What a way to see how much He loves us and what a way for us to express our love for Him! Ever since I can remember I have loved singing, at the top of my lungs sometimes. Nothing gets me cranked up better in the morning than to put on my worship music and sing. (My husband bought me an iPod with the speaker system dock which I have placed in the kitchen). As I prepare my breakfast and before I read my bible and fellowship with the LORD I gotta' put my music on. Then it's just Him and me. Really quite lovely.
In December, I watched a special about Ruth Bell Graham and ordered the DVD on her life. It's sort of a documentary with clips of her in conversation with interviewers, her husband, and her children and friends. I have come to admire this woman greatly and my plan is to end up as wonderful a servant as she was, although I have a long, long way to go. (Well at least, it's something to aim for.) In any event, on the DVD is Fernando Ortega singing, Give Me Jesus, apparently a favorite of Ruth's and now one of mine. I bought the CD of Ortega's with that song and play it every morning on my iPod. But that particular song is at the end of the CD and there are 10 other great songs preceding it. The very first song is the one I hear initially every day now and I think it is a great way to start your day so I am attaching it for your to hear. It's titled, This Good Day, and makes me just want to get up, dance, and PRAISE God! Enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK6D31c7oL8
Another aside: Fernando Ortega often tours with Ruth's daughter, Anne Graham Lott.
In December, I watched a special about Ruth Bell Graham and ordered the DVD on her life. It's sort of a documentary with clips of her in conversation with interviewers, her husband, and her children and friends. I have come to admire this woman greatly and my plan is to end up as wonderful a servant as she was, although I have a long, long way to go. (Well at least, it's something to aim for.) In any event, on the DVD is Fernando Ortega singing, Give Me Jesus, apparently a favorite of Ruth's and now one of mine. I bought the CD of Ortega's with that song and play it every morning on my iPod. But that particular song is at the end of the CD and there are 10 other great songs preceding it. The very first song is the one I hear initially every day now and I think it is a great way to start your day so I am attaching it for your to hear. It's titled, This Good Day, and makes me just want to get up, dance, and PRAISE God! Enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK6D31c7oL8
Another aside: Fernando Ortega often tours with Ruth's daughter, Anne Graham Lott.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Danger! Check Your Marriage!
Well today I received a dismal email from a friend who has informed me her marriage is dissolving and they are filing for divorce. Now here's the thing: this couple has been married longer than we have ...probably close to 40 years! We are dearly grieved and in shock because you would think that after surviving all the major hurdles of learning each others triggers, raising a family, financial strains, work schedules etc. that this time in their lives would be easier and more restful. Not so! The enemy obviously has been hard at work as they seem unable to forgive, forget and practice self-control...holding their tongues and guarding their thoughts.
I just researched some interesting data at this web site
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm and unfortunately Christian marriages may actually be more vulnerable to divorce that other groups. Now I am sure there are other sites and studies that would dispute this finding, but the reason for this particular blog (other than to vent my frustration and sadness) is simply to point out that no matter how long you have been married, how old you are, how well you know scripture or the LORD, how wealthy, how anything, protecting your marriage is done with due diligence. Stay vigilante and make sure you and your spouse are on the same page the majority of the time. Talk openly, clear the air, don't let issues simmer and grow. I know for us, that what my spouse and I have learned most of all is true forgiveness, and true self-control of our actions and tongue is something that must be practiced on a daily, sometimes minute by minute basis.
Easy? Hardly! Doable? Only with the grace of God and His Holy Power!
So as a loving friend, or relative to you my reader, please do me a favor today...talk with your spouse. Take your marriage's pulse, blood pressure, and temperature. Never take it for granted! Please. I am heartbroken for this couple that I love and I can't imagine what their adult children are feeling. We are praying for them, have offered our assistance, and we know that the LORD can do all things, so we can always hope for changed hearts. Thanks for reading this. Now, this minute, remember all the wonderful things about your spouse that made you decide to marry him and immediately go tell your spouse how much you love and appreciate him!
I just researched some interesting data at this web site
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_dira.htm and unfortunately Christian marriages may actually be more vulnerable to divorce that other groups. Now I am sure there are other sites and studies that would dispute this finding, but the reason for this particular blog (other than to vent my frustration and sadness) is simply to point out that no matter how long you have been married, how old you are, how well you know scripture or the LORD, how wealthy, how anything, protecting your marriage is done with due diligence. Stay vigilante and make sure you and your spouse are on the same page the majority of the time. Talk openly, clear the air, don't let issues simmer and grow. I know for us, that what my spouse and I have learned most of all is true forgiveness, and true self-control of our actions and tongue is something that must be practiced on a daily, sometimes minute by minute basis.
Easy? Hardly! Doable? Only with the grace of God and His Holy Power!
So as a loving friend, or relative to you my reader, please do me a favor today...talk with your spouse. Take your marriage's pulse, blood pressure, and temperature. Never take it for granted! Please. I am heartbroken for this couple that I love and I can't imagine what their adult children are feeling. We are praying for them, have offered our assistance, and we know that the LORD can do all things, so we can always hope for changed hearts. Thanks for reading this. Now, this minute, remember all the wonderful things about your spouse that made you decide to marry him and immediately go tell your spouse how much you love and appreciate him!
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