If The Government Says It's Not Healthy, Why Don't 'They' Come Remove It?
Friday, July 22, 2005
Giving Voice To The Thoughts Of My Heart!
The laundry, utilities, and central bathroom share a wall in our home. They also share the dubious distinction of having been remodeled this past week. Now that it's over I have but one thing to say, "who's idea was this?" Between the two of us I think we've got about 60 hours into the project. I'm really thankful it finished today! The temps outside climbed, managing to peak around the "uncomfortably warm" stage by 3 this afternoon. The air conditioner puked. It took five fans running constantly to keep the indoors at about 82 for most of the day. Whoosh! This is the time that it really feels good to be out in the open air rolling down the highway, unfortunately I was painting in a space just a little smaller than a double up at the pen. There is an upside, though, the paint really dries fast when it's this hot! I suppose no matter what is happening in life there is always something positive to focus on if we have a mind to. This leads me to a thought: When we start counting our blessings, do we start with the really big ones, and work our way down? Or do we start with the little bitty ones and work our way up? I guess from my perspective of prioritization I'd have to say I start with the big things. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then come the relationships, and finally the stuff that fills the space of my days. Barna wrote 20 years ago("The Frog In The Kettle")that the most precious commodity in the world would be time. He was, and is, exactly right! None of us really minds working hard, but we want our time to be spent well no matter what we are doing. I think of Ken tonight(stepfather to five of my children)who passed away Tuesday due to a heart attack he suffered on Sunday, at the age of 45 he had hardly begun to live. Our friend Gary who passed away in the spring at the age of 43(his heart just quit beating)is another one who comes to mind, along with about a dozen others this year in their early fifties. First I pray for the individuals, that they had received Christ as Savior. Second I pray for all those who were looking forward to spending a good chunk of life with them. Finally I pray for those who may learn something from these others I have mentioned here, to prevent this from happening to them. Life is a journey, not a destination, and the whole point of having a life, in my opinion, is to be given the opportunity to accomplish good things for others for a long time. Today Cheryl and I are celebrating once again, an anniversary. This makes eight years(but then, who's counting?)we have been blessed to share one another's love and each other's lives. I pray we have another 30 or more in us to share together. God only knows what can be accomplished through faith. My prayer tonight is that there were many things in your life today that truly brought about it being, "A Good One!" Sometimes we just deserve a great day! Other times I am so thankful that I don't get what I truly deserve, for I know in my heart I am deserving of very little if it doesn't bring glory To God. As always; In Christ's Love, Preacher.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Taking Time For A "Simple" Joy Life Offers!
The circumstances of the past few days in regard to the massive heart attack my children's stepfather experienced have come to their conclusion. I received word from my wife, Cheryl(she drove directly to the church after work to our prayer gathering), that Ken had been taken off the life support and passed away shortly thereafter. Another Ken was in prayer with us last night along with pastor Gavin. The news was not a shock, and we had placed everything in God's hands the night he was taken to the hospital, so this is how things were supposed to be. More details of the "life situation" are written up beginning with my Sunday blog. I continue in prayer for all of those whose lives this has touched so greviously. Following Wednesday evening's prayer time, Cheryl and I went home, her on four wheels and me on two. I suggested we both mount up and chase the sun for awhile. We tried to catch as much of the sunset as we were able. It was a really good one! We missed some of the spectacular moments by about 15 minutes, but that wasn't the sole purpose of our going riding together. The ride gave us time to reflect in our own solitude on the tragic, untimely death of another person we had shared this life with who wasn't quite 50 years of age. We rode, feeling one another's bodies pressed closely together atop the massive Ultra Classic Harley. We shared the rumble of the road, stopping several times to "shoot" the sunset. We didn't talk much(except for that moment on the interstate when we were a half mile from the road construction and I was up past 85 with the idea in mind of passing everything ahead of us before we got to the 45 zone, that's when the voice of reason sounded in my ear)! My thought is that we were both occupied with similar directions in our remembering. The bottom line for both of us when we got back home was one of acceptance of God's will in our lives and a strengthening of resolve to speed the healing process in our family as much as possible. There are times when we all need to "get away" for awhile and put all the situations into perspective. It is good that we have each other to share those moments with, and a blessing to know that is God present in this life, and the next, down every road we roll. We find our strength in Him, and we find the comfort for all of our heartaches in Him. He who created us also provides us with a Savior. It is in knowing the Savior that we find the strength and joy every day to "carry on." My physician has advised me to come in for a "stress" test. I've avoided that for a year and a half. So far, so good!! Life has enough stress without going to the lengths of finding yet another cause to be worried about things beyond our innate ability to comprehend with real, "faith inspired" understanding. In Christ's Love, Preacher.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
