Somewhere along the way I advanced my days, so I have gone
backwards and corrected the numbers on my posts. I imagine this proves that my
mental health has been askew, and since I already knew this as a surety, it is
why I had to go away this week to regain my physical and mental health and
stamina.
My health has been on a downward spiral for some time in
direct parallel to my mental instability. I simply need real time away. Not just
taking off days and staying home to “rest:” I needed an escape to encourage
myself to “act.”
We each have a call of God on our lives. Some people prefer
to sit idly and while away their years, content to sit on the sidelines of life
and watch others as they busily achieve goals, set higher goals, and as they
accomplish said goals. For them the pace is steady, focus sure, hands to the
plow, not looking to the right or to the left. Yet, time can still be wasted on
what is most important – spending time in worship, praise, and prayer for the
direction our path directs. For many God is not a priority, because they do not
need Him, or so they think. Life is good, there are high dollar jobs and high
dollar belongings. For other who are the opposite side of the spectrum, perhaps
there is joblessness, hopelessness, and despair, but reaching out to God is
still not in their line of considerations for the time being.
I am one of the fortunate ones who understand how critical
God is to my life. I have been privileged to know Him since I was a young
child, as I have testified before. This doesn’t mean I have not had my
struggles or downright failures, but regardless of those times, He’s still here, and although others have
abandoned me, He never. I am His and He is mine. Because of this love
relationship I have with my Father I want to live my life according to His Word
and leading. In this regard there is no other choice - He is first. Always.
I keep a journal, so when I am away, without internet
service, I can pick up my journal and write my thoughts daily, or hourly,
momentarily, as the inspiration or questions arise. These are my “God” journals
written to Him as I pray and wrestle with stumbling blocks along the way. I
developed this habit a long time ago, and it has served me and others well.
This way if the “white” in my meninges widens others will know that my brain
used to be on track. The previous statement is in reference to my doctor’s comment to
me a few years ago after an MRI that I had a “white place” in my brain. My
response, which is my typical one was, “So?????” To which she had no response. But it
may cause many to respond, “Ah, now I understand!” Said all in good fun,
naturally!
I think my idea of setting personal daily goals for myself
is a good idea. I have a calendar for my
daily schedule of visits and meetings/trainings to attend, so why not one to
keep me on track with things I need or want to accomplish daily. For instance,
next week when I return to work I already have a full calendar of visits. I
know I need to squeeze in some time to take at least two of my required
trainings before June 25th, I believe. so I want to do this as quickly
as possible to relieve further stress. Monday I want to look over my schedule
and determine if I over-extended myself for the week, and if so, change the
times and dates, keeping the time sensitive ones as priorities. In case
management everything is time sensitive. So it should be with our relationship
with Jesus
I am so tired of age being the focal point of life
decisions. Why is it that a person who has achieved a certain age believes they
do not have anything to offer? What if…Abraham felt that way when God told him
as a very old man he would be the Father of nations, when he did not have the
first child yet! Added to that proclamation there was Sarah, also advanced in
age and beyond child bearing; she would be the mother of the son of promise. Abraham questioned and Sarah laughed.
Admittedly, wouldn’t you? As the months go by and nothing happens Sarah decides
to “help” God with His promise, and we all know how that worked out.
Nonetheless, Sarah did conceive after blundering, and Abraham became a father
to Isaac and the nation of Israel.
There are many other examples in scripture where God used
impossible odds to transform a nation. So if we as Christians today affirm that
the Word of God is infallible do we doubt that He can and will move in our
situations? I will be 65 in August, and God gave me a vision several years ago
in my young adulthood that still has not come to fruition. Shall I doubt what
He said or what I clearly have seen several times as visions what He desires to
accomplish through me, the weakest of vessels? I have not, and I never shall.
He told me, and I believe Him.
In reading the book of Nehemiah, as he leads the returning
exiles in rebuilding the city walls, I am reminded that there will always be
scoffers sent to discourage the work of the Lord. So what is the answer? Simply
put, it is the same one that resounds over and over, “Stand still and see the
glory of the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 20:15 – 17) To those He calls, He equips. He doesn’t send you out defenseless
against the enemy, especially those we face daily such as examinations in school
or college, employers who demand more and more using a performance evaluation
as the edge, or the wrinkled face that stares back at you on a day you’re
feeling particularly beaten down and under a heavy load of care. To God nothing
is impossible, so if God is for you, who can be against you? He even gives us
clothes to wear – “Put on your garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness.” Or, “clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” We are “clothed in Christ.”
God has also supplied us with weapons of warfare we can
daily use:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put
on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s
schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on
the full armor of God, so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to
stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm
then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of
righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes
from the gospel of peace. In addition to
all of this, pick up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions
with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always
keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)
The word isn’t a weak man’s crutch, rather it is a weak
man’s promise from God! So stand strong in the Lord, and in His power. Never
allow the enemy, who comes in many guises, to steal your joy or put a halt to the
dreams God has given you. I stand with you! We stand ready and armed for war!
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