Matthew 26:14-16/ Mark 14:41-46
4Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
43And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
44And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
45And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
46And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Judas Iscariot is a puzzle to me. But he was the one that put the crucifixion in motion. He was the one that must have been the most susceptible to Satan. Was it just a weak moment? Did he just want to make everyone happy? Obviously he did not understand how far the chief priests would take their part of these events. Judas knew that Christ knew what was at hand; how Judas was betraying him. The trigger of these events is what, money? A lot of times betrayal is for money or power. Someone has the upper hand, and someone else wants to be in charge.
Have you ever watched The Celebrity Apprentice? I don't normally watch it. I watched a few season's ago with Gene Simmons and Trace Adkins. I am watching this season of it now. This season has a few interestingly strange people on the show. They are all working for individual charities to raise money, but collectively as a group they must do projects. It is men versus women. The first challenge was won by the men. The second one was won by the women. After the challenge both teams meet with Donald Trump, his son, Don, Jr., and daughter, Ivanka. They learn who has won, what the pros and cons of each team were and then the winning team goes to celebrate and watch as the losing team loses a player.
In many board room scenes, Donald Trump tries hard to make the losers blame someone. Someone is "thrown under the bus", or the scapegoat. Sometimes it is the Project Manager. A lot of times it is just the least essential person of the team at that time. My take on Judas Iscariot is that he was totally essential to the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, but as a part of the disciples, you do not hear much from him. Was his heart really in to Christ's teachings? Did he buy into the whole gospel? Obviously not! If he had then maybe things would have worked out differently for him. But, I think that by the end of his life (just a few days later), he understood the depth of what he had started. He tried to take back his part in the game, but it was too late. The Sanhedrin didn't need him or the blood money. They accomplished what they set out to do.
Poor Judas! Really? Do you feel sorry for him? I do in a way, but only because he got caught up in the whole money/power thing. It's sad to think that any of us can and probably have done something to get ahead and hurt others. The thing about what Judas did was that if Christ hadn't been betrayed, then there would be no crucifixion, no empty grave, no salvation! Christ Arose. Christ Arose, Indeed!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Many Unanswered Questions
Matthew 26 : 6 - 13
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
This story never struck me until I was asked to sing a song about this called Alabaster Box. This story tells us that sometimes it's about an individual, not the masses. People get so involved in helping the environment, or the cause, that they forget the people.
I thought I would have a lot of time to say what I want to say about Easter/Resurrection week. But it has slipped through my fingers because of exhaustion, surgeries, and life. I see the greater good of everything, but do not make use of my time the way I should. Christ used this last week of his earthly life to spend it with friends. In this instance, he went to a dinner with his disciples and used the time to teach us a lesson. I am not sure the lesson actually got through to the disciples though. They may have understood later, but they thought Jesus was a strange bird at times. He talked about helping the poor, yet when he did something like this it may have been confusing to them.
I like this story because he tells them that he is going to die, but he did not make that the point of this story. He made the point of the story that this woman would be remembered for her part in the story. He loved her for doing this wonderful thing for him. But what caused her to actually do this? Why did this woman have such a strong desired to anoint Christ's body? Was that something that God put in her heart? Because surely, no one understood what he was really about to do. Was she scared that the leaders were really going to kill him? Was she privy to that information? I don't think we will ever know. What we do know is that sometimes the individual act is more important than total cause.
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
This story never struck me until I was asked to sing a song about this called Alabaster Box. This story tells us that sometimes it's about an individual, not the masses. People get so involved in helping the environment, or the cause, that they forget the people.
I thought I would have a lot of time to say what I want to say about Easter/Resurrection week. But it has slipped through my fingers because of exhaustion, surgeries, and life. I see the greater good of everything, but do not make use of my time the way I should. Christ used this last week of his earthly life to spend it with friends. In this instance, he went to a dinner with his disciples and used the time to teach us a lesson. I am not sure the lesson actually got through to the disciples though. They may have understood later, but they thought Jesus was a strange bird at times. He talked about helping the poor, yet when he did something like this it may have been confusing to them.
I like this story because he tells them that he is going to die, but he did not make that the point of this story. He made the point of the story that this woman would be remembered for her part in the story. He loved her for doing this wonderful thing for him. But what caused her to actually do this? Why did this woman have such a strong desired to anoint Christ's body? Was that something that God put in her heart? Because surely, no one understood what he was really about to do. Was she scared that the leaders were really going to kill him? Was she privy to that information? I don't think we will ever know. What we do know is that sometimes the individual act is more important than total cause.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Our Longest Day, Part Deux
At 5:25pm, they wheeled her back for a simple two and a half hour surgery. I text several people letting them know that they have taken back and surgery will be over soon. Mike's sister told me to go eat, mostly because it will take a lot of time from the waiting, but I also went because I was told by a good friend that I need to keep my strength up too. I knew this would be true because I am a terrible nurse. I can not help but get weak when people tell me of their injuries or surgeries in great detail. Not a good thing for me. I was worried about how I strong I would be for Allie.
A nurse showed us the way to the waiting room. When we got there, the receptionist there said, "I have been waiting for you for a long time. You must be the Fox family."
I asked her if we were last and she said that we were. She told me that her shift ended at 7pm and that when the surgery was over someone would come out to talk to us. I told her we were going down to eat and she asked for my cell number. They don't give you beepers there. It is logical, because almost everyone has a cell number. So, Michael left and Mom, Dad, Mike, Timm and me went down to the cafeteria for supper. I ate and was anxious to get back up to that waiting room. There were several tvs on and one by one, families were called back to recovery and into the little rooms for consultations with doctors. Soon it was just us and another family. Soon it was just us. Soon, the receptionist left and told us that when it was our turn to go back, just go through these doors and follow the fish on the floor. She also told us that if the phone rang, to answer it. It would probably be for us anyway.
At eight, it was 2.5 hours. I commented on that, and Timm told me to call back there. I said I would wait a few more minutes. By this time, Timm and Mom were watching NCIS, Dad was doing a puzzle book, and Mike was watching me. I was pacing. I had been standing most of the day and couldn't still. At 8:15, I finally couldn't take it and called back. Someone answered and I asked about Allie and what was going on. The person told me she would find out and call me back. When she did, she said that the doctor was just taking out the gall bladder and would come talk to us after he closed up. That satisfied me for a few. I was texting a few people and that helped too.
At 8:45, a nurse came out and said that the doctor was on his way to see us. She showed us to a little room. There was three chairs and all of us packed in. The doctor came in carrying a specimen cup. He shook everyone's hand and he sat in one of the three chairs. As told us that Allie did really good and that he wanted us to see this. This, was her gall bladder and the stones. He held the cup up and all you saw was white pebbles in pink water. They covered the bottom and pushed against the sides. He unscrewed the top and picked up tweezers and pulled out the gall bladder. He said "This is highly unusual for a child to have so many stones." The gall bladder looked like a squished tomato and stones were still coming out of it. Doctor picked around the stones and picked up several that were pea sized, as big as the end of Mike's pinky. No wonder Allie was in pain a lot of time. Timm asked if he could keep her gall bladder and the doctor looked at him and said, "No." The doctor also told us that because it was so infected and full, he had to make an extra incision. So instead of the regular four small cuts, she has a fifth one.
He said that everything was fine and that he would come see her in the morning. We all thanked him and he took his leave of us. We went back out to the waiting room and I was in tears. I just felt bad that she had to go through all that and that it was that bad for her and I was so tired. But I also knew that she would feel better and would be strong. Dad, Mike and I all made necessary calls. All were glad it was over. Mom and Dad took charge of Timm. Mike and I waited for a nurse to let us go back to see Allie.
Allie was awake in recovery, but kept her eyes closed. She talked to us a bit and when I started to tell her about her gall bladder, she told me that she didn't want to hear about it. She just wanted to sleep. The nurses with her said she was doing great and they showed us her incisions. I readied myself to look, but it wasn't so bad. The nurses did what they needed and got her ready to go to her room. It was a long walk to her room. We kept pace with the young lady who wheeled her bed, and helped when we could. But we made it.
The healing was beginning.
Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;
save me and I will be saved,
for you are the one I praise.
A nurse showed us the way to the waiting room. When we got there, the receptionist there said, "I have been waiting for you for a long time. You must be the Fox family."
I asked her if we were last and she said that we were. She told me that her shift ended at 7pm and that when the surgery was over someone would come out to talk to us. I told her we were going down to eat and she asked for my cell number. They don't give you beepers there. It is logical, because almost everyone has a cell number. So, Michael left and Mom, Dad, Mike, Timm and me went down to the cafeteria for supper. I ate and was anxious to get back up to that waiting room. There were several tvs on and one by one, families were called back to recovery and into the little rooms for consultations with doctors. Soon it was just us and another family. Soon it was just us. Soon, the receptionist left and told us that when it was our turn to go back, just go through these doors and follow the fish on the floor. She also told us that if the phone rang, to answer it. It would probably be for us anyway.
At eight, it was 2.5 hours. I commented on that, and Timm told me to call back there. I said I would wait a few more minutes. By this time, Timm and Mom were watching NCIS, Dad was doing a puzzle book, and Mike was watching me. I was pacing. I had been standing most of the day and couldn't still. At 8:15, I finally couldn't take it and called back. Someone answered and I asked about Allie and what was going on. The person told me she would find out and call me back. When she did, she said that the doctor was just taking out the gall bladder and would come talk to us after he closed up. That satisfied me for a few. I was texting a few people and that helped too.
At 8:45, a nurse came out and said that the doctor was on his way to see us. She showed us to a little room. There was three chairs and all of us packed in. The doctor came in carrying a specimen cup. He shook everyone's hand and he sat in one of the three chairs. As told us that Allie did really good and that he wanted us to see this. This, was her gall bladder and the stones. He held the cup up and all you saw was white pebbles in pink water. They covered the bottom and pushed against the sides. He unscrewed the top and picked up tweezers and pulled out the gall bladder. He said "This is highly unusual for a child to have so many stones." The gall bladder looked like a squished tomato and stones were still coming out of it. Doctor picked around the stones and picked up several that were pea sized, as big as the end of Mike's pinky. No wonder Allie was in pain a lot of time. Timm asked if he could keep her gall bladder and the doctor looked at him and said, "No." The doctor also told us that because it was so infected and full, he had to make an extra incision. So instead of the regular four small cuts, she has a fifth one.
He said that everything was fine and that he would come see her in the morning. We all thanked him and he took his leave of us. We went back out to the waiting room and I was in tears. I just felt bad that she had to go through all that and that it was that bad for her and I was so tired. But I also knew that she would feel better and would be strong. Dad, Mike and I all made necessary calls. All were glad it was over. Mom and Dad took charge of Timm. Mike and I waited for a nurse to let us go back to see Allie.
Allie was awake in recovery, but kept her eyes closed. She talked to us a bit and when I started to tell her about her gall bladder, she told me that she didn't want to hear about it. She just wanted to sleep. The nurses with her said she was doing great and they showed us her incisions. I readied myself to look, but it wasn't so bad. The nurses did what they needed and got her ready to go to her room. It was a long walk to her room. We kept pace with the young lady who wheeled her bed, and helped when we could. But we made it.
The healing was beginning.
Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;
save me and I will be saved,
for you are the one I praise.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Our Longest Day
This is a series. It wasn't going to be, but it is longer than I expected and a lot of things I want to say.
Well, that was very eventful. We went to the hospital Tuesday around 12:15 pm for Allie's 2 pm surgery. We were standing there registering her and a Nurse Jayne came up and said, "This is my patient." She took the chart and said, "No it isn't. My patient's name is Matthew." She thought it was Timm that was the patient. Nurse Jayne decided to take Allie on as a patient anyway. We checked in the pre-surgery area and got Allie settled. By then, our associate minister, Michael Dawson, was there. They weighed her, measured her, talked to her and then she put on the "fashionable" gown the hospital gives the kids to wear.
My Aunt Marie and Uncle Bob came for a while (Thank you!) and sat with us, as well as my parents. We went through all the paperwork and questions that was required and then it was 1:30 pm. Michael prayed with us. Then it was 2:10. When I realized that, I went out the nurses station and asked what the hold up was. The nurse was really nice and told me she would call the OR and come talk to us.
The surgery before Allie's was not going very well and the Dr. G could not put a time limit on it. The nurse said that only when they pressed him about a time did he even attempt to put a time limit on it. He said maybe another hour. She told me that if another hour passed, then call her. She asked if we wanted someone from their Life Child department to come and get a movie for Allie to watch. That was nice. They do not have many movies for older children to watch, but she chose a mindless one she had seen several times, and she began to watch. Mom, Michael and I sat and talked.
At 3:45, the nurse came in and told us that the OR called and the doctor was still working on the patient before us and could not leave them. Of course, we understood, how could you ask the surgeon to just leave the middle of what they are doing? We didn't know the problems of the family or child before us, all we could do was pray for them. By then, Allie had not had anything to eat or drink since 9:59 that morning. She complained of a headache. I went and told a nurse. She said she would see about getting something to help. Several nurses came in and talked to us and told us that she may be getting dehydrated and asked Allie if they could start an IV. Allie told them she didn't care what they did, but to stop the headache! I stood at the top of the gurney as they stuck her in the hand and got that started. She was so brave about it and hardly said "Ouch!" Those nurses kept talking to her about shopping, vacations, and dogs. Allie was pretty grumpy, but once the fluids started, she started back to her old self.
By this time, Michael went out to the waiting room to talk to Mike, Timm and my Dad. (Marie and Bob had left.) I had not eaten since before 11 and I sent Timm and my Dad down to get me a Diet Coke and some cookies or something. Allie was okay, but I wasn't leaving until they took her to the OR. Timm came back with the food and I went out to the waiting room to snack and try and get Michael to leave. He wouldn't because he would rather sit there and fight traffic. Good call, I think. LOL So we talked in the waiting room and Mike and Mom were back with Allie, as was Timm. Then Timm came running out and said the anethesiologist was there to talk to her. YAY! I go running back and meet Dr. Kibblebeck. He tells Allie that they are cleaning up the room and that they will be putting meds into her IV and she will go to sleep and not remember anything. He had her try out her jokes for Dr. G on him and he likes them. Then he shakes our hands and leaves. that was between 4:30 and 5:00.
So a few minutes later, the nurse comes in and says they are getting close to taking her. I am happy by then because this has turned into a long, long day. Waiting is not a strong suit of ours. We all were basically forced to stay in an area and wait for Allie's turn. We wait in traffic, for test results, for other people. But why doesn't it bother me to wait for Christ's return?
I hope it is because there is so much work to be done, but I am afraid it is because of the distractions of the world too. Allie and Timm use to watch a cartoon called "Jimmy Neutron". This friend of Jimmy's sings this song, "Waiting and sitting. Sitting and waiting." that is totally what we were doing on Tuesday. Not fun, but we knew what we were doing and why. Do we know what we are doing here for Christ? I hope you do, but if you don't, I pray you find out soon.
Hebrews 9:28 "...so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."
Don't tarry, Lord Jesus!
Well, that was very eventful. We went to the hospital Tuesday around 12:15 pm for Allie's 2 pm surgery. We were standing there registering her and a Nurse Jayne came up and said, "This is my patient." She took the chart and said, "No it isn't. My patient's name is Matthew." She thought it was Timm that was the patient. Nurse Jayne decided to take Allie on as a patient anyway. We checked in the pre-surgery area and got Allie settled. By then, our associate minister, Michael Dawson, was there. They weighed her, measured her, talked to her and then she put on the "fashionable" gown the hospital gives the kids to wear.
My Aunt Marie and Uncle Bob came for a while (Thank you!) and sat with us, as well as my parents. We went through all the paperwork and questions that was required and then it was 1:30 pm. Michael prayed with us. Then it was 2:10. When I realized that, I went out the nurses station and asked what the hold up was. The nurse was really nice and told me she would call the OR and come talk to us.
The surgery before Allie's was not going very well and the Dr. G could not put a time limit on it. The nurse said that only when they pressed him about a time did he even attempt to put a time limit on it. He said maybe another hour. She told me that if another hour passed, then call her. She asked if we wanted someone from their Life Child department to come and get a movie for Allie to watch. That was nice. They do not have many movies for older children to watch, but she chose a mindless one she had seen several times, and she began to watch. Mom, Michael and I sat and talked.
At 3:45, the nurse came in and told us that the OR called and the doctor was still working on the patient before us and could not leave them. Of course, we understood, how could you ask the surgeon to just leave the middle of what they are doing? We didn't know the problems of the family or child before us, all we could do was pray for them. By then, Allie had not had anything to eat or drink since 9:59 that morning. She complained of a headache. I went and told a nurse. She said she would see about getting something to help. Several nurses came in and talked to us and told us that she may be getting dehydrated and asked Allie if they could start an IV. Allie told them she didn't care what they did, but to stop the headache! I stood at the top of the gurney as they stuck her in the hand and got that started. She was so brave about it and hardly said "Ouch!" Those nurses kept talking to her about shopping, vacations, and dogs. Allie was pretty grumpy, but once the fluids started, she started back to her old self.
By this time, Michael went out to the waiting room to talk to Mike, Timm and my Dad. (Marie and Bob had left.) I had not eaten since before 11 and I sent Timm and my Dad down to get me a Diet Coke and some cookies or something. Allie was okay, but I wasn't leaving until they took her to the OR. Timm came back with the food and I went out to the waiting room to snack and try and get Michael to leave. He wouldn't because he would rather sit there and fight traffic. Good call, I think. LOL So we talked in the waiting room and Mike and Mom were back with Allie, as was Timm. Then Timm came running out and said the anethesiologist was there to talk to her. YAY! I go running back and meet Dr. Kibblebeck. He tells Allie that they are cleaning up the room and that they will be putting meds into her IV and she will go to sleep and not remember anything. He had her try out her jokes for Dr. G on him and he likes them. Then he shakes our hands and leaves. that was between 4:30 and 5:00.
So a few minutes later, the nurse comes in and says they are getting close to taking her. I am happy by then because this has turned into a long, long day. Waiting is not a strong suit of ours. We all were basically forced to stay in an area and wait for Allie's turn. We wait in traffic, for test results, for other people. But why doesn't it bother me to wait for Christ's return?
I hope it is because there is so much work to be done, but I am afraid it is because of the distractions of the world too. Allie and Timm use to watch a cartoon called "Jimmy Neutron". This friend of Jimmy's sings this song, "Waiting and sitting. Sitting and waiting." that is totally what we were doing on Tuesday. Not fun, but we knew what we were doing and why. Do we know what we are doing here for Christ? I hope you do, but if you don't, I pray you find out soon.
Hebrews 9:28 "...so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."
Don't tarry, Lord Jesus!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Stormy Calmness
Today we are in the eye of the storm. Many instances in the Bible, a story has a storm in it. Jonah was running away from his calling and God had a storm come up on the ship. Jonah knew that the storm was for him. He convinced the sailors to throw him overboard and all was calm. Jesus was asleep in the boat and his followers became frightened because of a storm. They woke Jesus up and he calmed the storm. Paul was on a ship that a storm blew in on and the men on that boat became shipwrecked.
Right now, I am calm. The house is quiet, except for the washer and tv. The sky looks gray and the cement is wet. It is a good day to hide under the covers and sleep. But that will not be happening. There is a few errands to run, packing to do and keeping Allie happy (that is a full time job today, I think).
Last night, Allie and I were talking about when and what she was allowed to eat. She asked, "When is the last time I can eat food?"
I replied, "Six A.M. Some people told me they would wake up just to eat."
She looked at me and said, "Forget that!"
That's what I thought. She is allowed to have clear liquids and jello until ten A.M. She is fine with that. Until she smells real food. Then all bets are off.
But God will be here with us all day. He will call out to us, "PEACE!" I hope that whether we hear Him or not, his calming effect will seep into our minds, hearts, and nerves. When I get so nervous I can't remember my own address and phone number, I always remember Psalm 23.
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me lie down in the green pastures,
He leadeth me beside the still waters,
He restoreth my soul.
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of death,
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
You prepareth a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The highlighted section is what I always remember. I love that God leads me beside quiet waters. I use to love going into my grandparents woods and down to the creek. I didn't do it very often, but there were these huge trees and it was quiet and shadowy and the creek was hardly a little trickle of water. But it made me feel calm.
Right now, I am calm. The house is quiet, except for the washer and tv. The sky looks gray and the cement is wet. It is a good day to hide under the covers and sleep. But that will not be happening. There is a few errands to run, packing to do and keeping Allie happy (that is a full time job today, I think).
Last night, Allie and I were talking about when and what she was allowed to eat. She asked, "When is the last time I can eat food?"
I replied, "Six A.M. Some people told me they would wake up just to eat."
She looked at me and said, "Forget that!"
That's what I thought. She is allowed to have clear liquids and jello until ten A.M. She is fine with that. Until she smells real food. Then all bets are off.
But God will be here with us all day. He will call out to us, "PEACE!" I hope that whether we hear Him or not, his calming effect will seep into our minds, hearts, and nerves. When I get so nervous I can't remember my own address and phone number, I always remember Psalm 23.
The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me lie down in the green pastures,
He leadeth me beside the still waters,
He restoreth my soul.
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of death,
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
You prepareth a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The highlighted section is what I always remember. I love that God leads me beside quiet waters. I use to love going into my grandparents woods and down to the creek. I didn't do it very often, but there were these huge trees and it was quiet and shadowy and the creek was hardly a little trickle of water. But it made me feel calm.
Monday, March 22, 2010
I Hate Worry Lines!
I woke up from a restless night sleep, not wanting to really get up, but knowing that this day had to start. I got up, and did all the things I do in the quiet of the morning. My morning was going along fine until "WHAM!" my stomach started bothering me. Not a big deal, I took the magic medicine the doctor prescribed me knowing soon that I would feel better. But that isn't the case. I have to admit, that without me realizing it, worry is taking over me. I really haven't tried to let it seep in.
I know that Allie will be fine. I know that the surgeon, his staff and everyone else that will take care of her will do an excellent job. But this is my daughter. She is going through something that I have not had to go through. They are taking a piece of her out of her. I know that you can live with out it. I know that this surgery is one of the easiest ones to recover from. But I am still apprehensive. Even though I didn't realize it when I woke up this morning, my body is in worry mode. I am not even sure what I am worried about? Am I worried that something will go wrong? Am I worried about Allie's reaction to anything and everything in the hospital? Am I worried about her in general? Yes is the answer to all those questions.
John 14:1 says ""Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me."
I keep hearing the second verse to "His Eye Is On The Sparrow".
Verse 2:
"Let not your heart be troubled,"
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth
But one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
I just hope that I can let the nagging feeling leave me and the peace and assurance that God gives us cover me like a warm quilt. I want to show my daughter that I am not worried. She told me yesterday that she wants everyone to quit making a big deal over her. She doesn't want anyone to worry. Well, I am sorry, but that will never happen as long as I am breathing. I will pray for her every day and whether she likes it or not, I will do what I can for her. I guess though, I should not let her see me like this. She is so ready for all of this to go away. Me too! So pray for our peace of mind.
I hate worrying. I try not to do it often, but sometimes there is just too much for me to bear. So I lay it at the cross and ask Christ to take it. He knows that we are worried and He knows that Allie will be okay. I just need to trust Him more.
I know that Allie will be fine. I know that the surgeon, his staff and everyone else that will take care of her will do an excellent job. But this is my daughter. She is going through something that I have not had to go through. They are taking a piece of her out of her. I know that you can live with out it. I know that this surgery is one of the easiest ones to recover from. But I am still apprehensive. Even though I didn't realize it when I woke up this morning, my body is in worry mode. I am not even sure what I am worried about? Am I worried that something will go wrong? Am I worried about Allie's reaction to anything and everything in the hospital? Am I worried about her in general? Yes is the answer to all those questions.
John 14:1 says ""Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me."
I keep hearing the second verse to "His Eye Is On The Sparrow".
Verse 2:
"Let not your heart be troubled,"
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth
But one step I may see:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
I just hope that I can let the nagging feeling leave me and the peace and assurance that God gives us cover me like a warm quilt. I want to show my daughter that I am not worried. She told me yesterday that she wants everyone to quit making a big deal over her. She doesn't want anyone to worry. Well, I am sorry, but that will never happen as long as I am breathing. I will pray for her every day and whether she likes it or not, I will do what I can for her. I guess though, I should not let her see me like this. She is so ready for all of this to go away. Me too! So pray for our peace of mind.
I hate worrying. I try not to do it often, but sometimes there is just too much for me to bear. So I lay it at the cross and ask Christ to take it. He knows that we are worried and He knows that Allie will be okay. I just need to trust Him more.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
You are Peculiar
The luck 'o the Irish to ya! I have just a smidgen of Irish in me from my paternal grandmother and a lot of blarney in me from my maternal and paternal grandfathers. I couldn't go with out wishing you a Happy St. Patrick's Day. For those of you who can, wear your green, tell someone to kiss you because you are Irish, and have some corned beef and hash.
Celebrating our heritage is a good thing. Knowing where you have come from is imporrtant. You need to know what you ancestors went through, the good and bad, to learn from. You may make the same mistakes, you may not. In the movie, Forrest Gump, there is a part where we go through this history of Lt. Dan. His ancestors died in every major war that the U.S.A. had fought in. He was furious when Forrest saved him from death during the movie because he thought his destiny and duty was to die the same way. I always thought that was interesting. Kinda like the if everyone else jumps off a bridge, would you do it too?
God gives us a way out to not be like our ancestors or the world. I feel more than "the luck 'o the Irish" when I think of God giving not only his chosen people of the Old Testament, the Israelites/Jews salvation, but when he opened it up to the Gentiles. Thank goodness for that, or most of us wouldn't even be considered. Acts 10:45 says, "The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles."
God showed Peter in Acts that his love and saving grace is for all men, not just a race. So we should celebrate our Christianity not only on Easter and Christmas, or even every Sunday, but every day. We sometimes sing a praise song that says "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;" - 1 Peter 2:9. I love that we are called peculiar people. I take on offense to that. I am peculiar, set apart, and strange. I call it unique!
Celebrating our heritage is a good thing. Knowing where you have come from is imporrtant. You need to know what you ancestors went through, the good and bad, to learn from. You may make the same mistakes, you may not. In the movie, Forrest Gump, there is a part where we go through this history of Lt. Dan. His ancestors died in every major war that the U.S.A. had fought in. He was furious when Forrest saved him from death during the movie because he thought his destiny and duty was to die the same way. I always thought that was interesting. Kinda like the if everyone else jumps off a bridge, would you do it too?
God gives us a way out to not be like our ancestors or the world. I feel more than "the luck 'o the Irish" when I think of God giving not only his chosen people of the Old Testament, the Israelites/Jews salvation, but when he opened it up to the Gentiles. Thank goodness for that, or most of us wouldn't even be considered. Acts 10:45 says, "The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles."
God showed Peter in Acts that his love and saving grace is for all men, not just a race. So we should celebrate our Christianity not only on Easter and Christmas, or even every Sunday, but every day. We sometimes sing a praise song that says "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;" - 1 Peter 2:9. I love that we are called peculiar people. I take on offense to that. I am peculiar, set apart, and strange. I call it unique!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)