a bumpy ride with a stable partner

Well, it has been a while since I've been here. Didn't realize it had been so long. 

Quite the title don't you think? On March 12 my mom had a stroke and fell down 13 steps, head first face down. Quite the wake up call from my dad that morning. When EMS arrived, they suspected a stroke. When we got to the ER, this was confirmed and appropriate actions we taking place. As awful as it was for my dad to find my mom at the bottom of the stairs thinking she had died, it was a blessing because we called 911 right away and she was able to receive the "stroke reversing" medication in time (TPA - needs to be given within four hours of last "normal"). The effects of the stroke were reversing within 30 mins of her getting the medication.

This journey has definitely been bumpy for all of us and a bit frustrating for my mom. But from that very day this all happened we had a partner, a Partner that never left her side and sustained us all through a horrific experience. That night or the next morning, can't remember, the Lord popped a verse and three chapters of scripture into my head. I had learned many years ago to always grab a Bible or write the verses down because I know God is trying to tell me something. Well, that morning the "something" He was trying to tell me has brought hope and encouragement to all of us since we read it and as we continue to read it and remind each other of it. The verse was

Isaiah 40:20

"so that people may see and know,

may consider and understand,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

I felt sure God was trying to tell us all that my mom’s recovery would be so amazing that people who learned of her stroke would only see God. So far that has definitely been true. All of the medical personnel involved with my mom’s care are amazed at how quickly she is progressing given the location of her stroke and the deficits she has faced and continues to face.

Along with this verse, I was led to read Psalms 91-93. There is too much in those chapters to quote everything but needless to say we found much comfort in them. I hope I don’t forget how my mom laid in her ICU bed, closed her eyes and soaked in the words as my Bible app read those passages to her. The voice was deep and the words soothing as we both listened to the comforting balm of God’s holy words as we held each other’s hands.

God does not always choose to rescue us from disaster or heartache, but He promises to be there for us and with always. He promises to be our ever present help in time of need. We must not become so overwhelmed by the circumstances that we are going through that we do not hear or listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit, as He tries to bring comfort, hope and direction in our time of need.

WHOOSH! into the wilderness with you!

I would love to have a conversation with someone about the verses I’m going to share. My mind has been spinning in a good way since reading it this morning. I have this app for my phone from YouVersion named the Bible. It is one of my favorite apps – I have many apps. What I love about this app is

•  It has the Bible if you want to look something up
• It has reading plans
• It has the ability to read the verse or chapter to you,  perfect for driving
• Verse of the day
•  Bookmarks
•  Notes
•  A notification prompt so you don’t forget to read your Bible

It’s probably not attractive to advertise on your blog but this app has helped my family and friends remain in the Word daily and to also begin an important habit of being in God’s Word. There is no better or more helpful habit than to be in the Word of God and to learn about our Lord Jesus Christ and His love for each of us. Commercial over J

My reading today comes from the reading plan – Devotions for Lent from the Holy Bible. I began today reading in Mark 1. One of the things I love about reading the Bible – God’s living Word – is I can read a passage I have read before and have something from it strike me as something profound and new. What struck me this morning in my reading was Mark 1:11-13:

“And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’  The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.  And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.”

Here Jesus, in an act of obedience and example to the people He came to rescue, gets baptized by John the Baptist. God the Father publically pronounces His blessing and love for Jesus and

 WHOOSHH!

The Spirit drives Him out to the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by Satan, himself. Not exactly the response many of us would expect after such an act of obedience and blessing from the Father himself. After this intense time of temptation, Jesus was ministered to by the angels and His ministry began.

We have no idea what plans Christ has for us. But we do know that His Word promises His presence (Hebrews 13:5), His help (Psalm 46:1), His strength (Philippians 4:13), and His love (Psalm 103:17). I can’t get the  verse from Jeremiah out of my head, I hesitated to use it because it is often misused but I do believe there is comfort here -  Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When your life turns in a direction you were not expecting, a direction that is bringing hardship and /or heartache, do not fear. Christ is with you. He has promised to finish the work He has started in you (Philippians 1:6) and we can NOT know how He will bring about that completion. Hang onto His Word and love. He will not fail you! He may confuse you (Isaiah 55:8-9) but remain faithful and true to the One who remains faithful and true to you.

GOING TO BATTLE

Paul describes to us in Ephesians 6 the armor of God. He takes us through each piece of armor that we have at our disposal as believers in Christ. These pieces of armor are strong and powerful making us ready for any attack of the enemy. You get pumped reading this and even studying it as you learn more about the Roman army which he gets his example from. God’s army is powerful and mighty! Let’s go!

But wait. That is not what he instructs us to do. After he has so greatly described this armor, he tells us to STAND FIRM. We aren’t going into battle in the way we are thinking or have watched in movies. We STAND FIRM and then in verse 18

“…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…” (emphasis mine)

We are to put on our armor, stand firm holding the ground God gave us and we are to pray. He tells us earlier in verse 12 that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

We go to battle with our spiritual armor, fighting a spiritual battle

• ARE YOU READY'!
• STAND FIRM
• PRAY
• KEEP ALERT
• PERSEVERE
• PRAY

Pray without ceasing

As I’ve been reading and going about my day, the verse 1 Thessalonians 5:17 keeps popping into my mind :

 “pray without ceasing.”

Also I have been following the YouVersion phone app using the prayer plan and in that reading I read through the verses that encourage us to come to the Lord over and over again with our requests and remembering that if a father will give his son a loaf of bread when he asks how much more will our heavenly Father give us.

Remember these things as you pray over our requests. Do not get discouraged when you pray the same thing over and over again for the same person. Jesus honors persistence. His timing is not our timing. What is timely and quick for Him may not be quick for us. Ours prayers are precious to Him, even when He hears them over and over again.

Know to whom you pray

When we come boldly and confidently to the Throne Room with our requests, know to whom we pray. We know we are welcome. We know through the invitation and blood of Christ we are allowed there. We know that Jesus loves us and those we pray for. He promises to never leave us nor abandon us. He is all powerful, all knowing and there is no where we can go where He is not already there (Psalm 139); so when we pray confidently, remember who He is.  Do not pray, “Lord, be with him/her,” “Lord love him/her.” Come with thanksgiving,  praying that those you pray for will know Him and see Him; recognize Him and what He is trying to do for each of them.

                “Lord Jesus, thank you for never abandoning us. Thank you, for being with this person. Help this person to see You, to feel Your presence and know and believe that You are there with them always. Thank You for Your enduring love, help this person to receive Your love and know it is from You.”

Don’t pray that Jesus would be who He already is – He is unchanging. Pray that those who you are praying for will see Him, know Him and believe Him.

“Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before”

The trekkie in me couldn’t resist this line. Now I don’t know Klingon nor do I dress up as Star Trek characters but I love all the Star Trek movies and most of the TV shows. I couldn’t resist J

I know that when thinking of the Throne Room of the Most High God and Jesus Christ the King, other men and women have come to both in prayer, so the “no man has gone before,” isn’t accurate. However, it is an inspiring line. Boldly go to the Lord in prayer, enter His Throne Room and make your requests known to Him. We can boldly and confidently come before the Throne in prayer because we know that we have been invited.

Our pastor recently explained to us that Jesus is so passionate about being in a relationship with us, that He has turned over heaven and earth to make a way for us; much like a child, with the help of parents, will turn over the entire house, car and relatives' houses to find a prized blanket. We are important to Jesus. He has invited us to the Throne Room to be in relationship with Him and to talk to Him; so come boldly. Do not come cowering, afraid and shaking, unable to look Him in the eyes. You have been invited. Jesus has died on the cross and shed His blood so that you and I may be clean and able to enter into the presence of the Most High God. He has made a way. Come!

Some may come with timidity, with a slow pace and bowed head. The Bible says Jesus is the lifter of my head (Psalm 3:3). We come with reverence, humility and/or timidity, heads bowed. Jesus meets us and lifts our chins to look us right in the eye. What do we see in His eyes? We see kindness, love and joy. We have come. We have accepted His invitation not just for salvation and forgiveness from sin but also for relationship. Jesus has offered salvation but also relationship. He loves us and He wants to spend time with us. In His eyes we find “welcome, I am so glad you have come.”

Come boldly to the place where you have been invited by the Father and the Son.