Day 177 Surrounded

 

6/26/2025 

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is

perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for

us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things

which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal,

but the things which are not seen are eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

 

When I woke up this morning, I felt like a drenched kitten the humidity was high, and it was so muggy. I was up and down all night trying to get comfortable, as I do not have air conditioning in the old house, only a ceiling fan, that I inadvertently turned off when I turned the lights off.  I had back pain, leg pain, foot pain, and I was frazzled beyond description. 

 

The cup of coffee did not help, but a cool shower helped, until I stepped out of the shower into the sauna. In my moment of desperation my son and I went to Lowe's to check out air conditioners. I developed a headache from the shock of an air conditioned car and the building, plus I couldn't make up my mind whether I wanted a portable a/c or a window unit. Frustrated over my inability to decide, I decided to return home and pull out the extra fan. It was badly in need of cleaning, but I used it nonetheless. It did help, as did the shifting weather and the rain, slight as it was, but it did help cool things off a bit. When I first moved back home, the topic of installing an air conditioner was discussed, but Daniel had his window unit, plus the cool downstairs retreat, and I was resolute in my determination to relive my childhood without the modern conveniences of today. I can't believe how soft I've become in my older age. Heat never bothered me before, but now things are different. I was ready to move back to the hills of New Mexico!! 

Thursday evenings I have my Harvest study group, but the impending storm and loss of my internet canceled that gig. Still, I was able to tune phone in to two different meetings last night, and I caught up on the IFA prayer call needs. So, all was not lost, but again, my routine changed abruptly. Still, I did accomplish something, and it was a peaceful night, or so I thought. I made the mistake of going outside to check up on Alex, and every mosquito in town must have been given notice that I was home and available for attack. Alcohol has become my best friend, and I'm not supposed to be using that toxic chemical on my body. I am speaking of the rubbing alcohol, just in case someone new is reading this blog. I also found an ant on my bed, and I definitely do not want to fend off ant attacks in my own bed!! 

 

When you're miserable for whatever reason, it's easy to become discouraged, but this is the time I think back over my life, and I wonder. When I'm out in the wilds...near shopping centers and people, I always manage to make a friend. Checking out at Lowe's I met a lady employee who said she was turning 75 in August, and she was still working. I told her I'd be 75 in August, and I needed a job, so I could shop at Lowe's. We laughed, but she ended up hugging me, because we felt like kindred spirits as we shared our desire to beat the popular idea that once you're over 70 you may as well dig a hole and jump in!! Well, that's a myth! I now have a friend in the community, sort of! We bonded, we talked, we laughed, we hugged...! That's friendship!

I assure you that there is a serious note to my blog for today, as the day was rather a busy one. I just had to take a small break for sanity's sake! The weather certainly got the best of me, but I did manage my morning calls. Discussion of terrorists, uranium stockpiles, detonators and secret rendezvous and other secret stuff can be profitable, but the answer to all situations is left in the hands of God. When considering the power of an enemy, feeling surrounded on all sides, with no way of escape, it does us well to consider examples of God's faithfulness in such dire times. In 2 Kings 6:16-17 the Syrian enemy had made war with Israel, and the city was surrounded so the servant of Elisha the prophet became very distraught over the situation. Elisha told his servant, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Elisha prayed, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and "behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." In this time of war and uncertainly we must keep our eyes on the Captain of the Army of Heaven, knowing that there are indeed more with us than those with the enemy. 

In the evening, I decided to watch a movie set in an another time, but there was war, and the enemy seemed invincible. But, not so, when good is greater than evil. This reassures me in a happenstance way, that women are stronger in certain ways. It's our inner courage, our lioness quality, the way we approach danger or threat of danger. We are after all soldiers of the King, so enemies of any sort, can easily be overthrown when our eyes are fixed on Jesus. We need only open our eyes and look around us!