Thursday, January 26, 2012

Like a Deer

As I awake this morning, I'm moving extra slowly.
Cautious steps and careful moves. I don't want to go back to being bedridden, as I was yesterday. It was more like "couch" ridden, since not even the bed provided enough support and comfort for the pain that I was experiencing.

For anyone who's experience sciatica pain, I don't need to explain much. This nerve seems to go unnoticed until something happens (a certain movement, for example). Then it seems that the nerve has been awaken, and you are introduced to the sciatica. It goes from being unnoticed to very pervasive. The pain stopped me dead in my tracks the other day. I couldn't walk, and nothing I did brought relief.

It's been a week now, and I've done "meds", chiropractor, natural herbs, etc. And yet, the pain has persisted. As I lay on the couch and experienced persistent pain, I sympathized with those who live in pain on a daily basis. I specifically thought of my mother, who's osteoarthritis has stripped her of her mobility. All I could do was cry. I thought about the pain I was feeling, and then pictured my every day with this pain..... Needless to say, it was an unbearable thought. And yet, I know that many live that way.

However, in the midst of it, I was reminded of a verse in the Bible that speaks of God's strength enabling us to have the feet of deer.
Habakkuk 3:19
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.


-Deer Anatomy - Legs/Feet
Deer are ungulates, or hoofed mammals. Their legs are well suited for running, whether chasing during the rut or evading danger. Deer also possess a great leaping ability. They bound swiftly across a dense forest or prairie, often jumping 8 feet into the air. The strong muscles of a deer's hind legs provide most of the power for running and jumping. The front legs are ideal for pivoting, allowing a deer to make sharp turns.

With those facts stated, how can I even begin to feel like a deer today? Only with the strength of the Lord, will I be able to move swiftly and go on to higher grounds. It can be applied to my physical state.
And if so, I'd be springing with joy today.

But it can also be applied to our spiritual and emotional state. Oh, that I could have complete confidence in God's strength, that I may leap like a deer. That I may not be found weak and immobile and unable to reach the heights and places that God has in store for my life. Oh that I may be like the deer, swift and powerful, enough to avoid the entanglements of discouragement or trouble that life brings my way sometimes. Oh that my legs may lift me, when needed and allow me to turn quickly away from the dangerous plots of life.

And so having the strength and abilities of a deer would be grand.
Yet, ultimately, God is the source of this strength. The strength found in God can enable me. His strength will sustain me. His strength will heal me.

Monday, January 23, 2012

When you Give your Wife a Waffle Maker :)

Okay so I am most grateful for the waffel maker that I received from my darling husband last Christmas. It is perfect. However, as I wanted to write about it depicting gratitude, I couldn't help but get sidetracked into this, my version of all of the "If you give a Mouse a Cookie" kinds of books. And here it is!

When you give your wife a waffle maker,
She'll be quick to put it to use.

She'll fill a bowl with flour,
and eggs, and milk, and oil too.

She'll mix and mix until all lumps are gone,
and she's ready to taste the batter.

When she tries the batter,
she's reminded of all of those wonderful breakfast places she's ever been to
Like the IHOP and Cracker Barrel

So she puts the batter away,
and calls for a family meeting...

And decides to be democratic,
"Who'd like to go out for breakfast today?!"
She charges with a contagious, upbeat, and most influential tone in her voice.

"ME!" they all respond.
And so it is... majority rules----
"Wake up daddy! Let's move!"

As he makes his way to the car, and starts the ignition with a bit of confusion on his face,
he leans over to give her a morning kiss.

The warm morning kiss reminds her that she left the waffle maker on,
So she jumps out the car, runs back inside, and turns it off.

And away they go!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

To Live to Die

As the song was being sung the other day, and I mouthed the words, for the 1,000th time, I had to pause and ponder on the words.... "you lived to die".

And I pictured Jesus as a child, a young man, and finally a man always being fully aware of his purpose for living. Being alive, living a daily life, all the while knowing that his sole purpose for being here on earth was to die.

While so many of us struggle with determining what our purpose in life is. At times, it seems impossible to determine which decisions to make and what roles to fill. And yet, for Jesus it was clear from the day he arrived on earth in a barn house. He was born on a wooden box, and he would die on a wooden cross.

I can't even imagine it. In a sense, it is an awesome thing to know one's purpose. On the other hand, to know that everything in your life is leading up to the one moment of fulfilling your purpose through death... that is beyond words of explanation. And why would anyone do that? How could he do it? What a selfless state of being!

And yet, of course, we're speaking about the son of God. Therefore, the experience must have been unique and superlative. In my human eyes, I can only see a man who's whole life served a purpose for me.
Receiving nothing in return, but the satisfaction of knowing that God's will was done.
That the world would have a savior, and that many will gain salvation and eternal life.

And the story is not complete without the resurrection. You see his purpose was to die for humanity's curse. But had he remained in the grave, we would have reason now to wonder if this was truly the son of God. But the fact that he rose from the dead leaving an empty grave and ascending into heaven before a crowd of witnesses, that is where the true joy of receiving salvation is complete.

That is when I know that I can accept that gift of life that Jesus suffered for. Because I will be able to spend eternity with my savior. I will be able to give back all of the glory that He deserves for saving me. And I will finally be able to say "thank you" to my savior face to face.


Warning: This video may seem a bit gruesome to some, although it is but a reenactment of the real thing.
http://youtu.be/eckskOzB1-Y