Just in Time for Christmas......

Thank you, God, for a Christmas gift to behold.  Well, Jesus is the obvious gift.  He IS the reason for the season.  But I wanted to share with you about another gift I received yesterday.  I saw the doctor and he said I could speak again.  (cartwheel!  cartwheel!) My voice is not back to 100% yet, but my vocal cords are healed enough to talk again.  With restrictions, of course, but I can say I LOVE YOU to my family OUT LOUD -- without typing it or signing it.  For a while longer, no yelling or whispering, and I think singing is in that category too as it puts strain on the vocal cords. I miss singing the Christmas carols and songs, but I've been singing them in my heart. I can speak in just a normal speaking voice, and that is such a gift to me.  I am so grateful to be able to celebrate Christmas and be able to talk. 

The doctor says I have chronic sinusits and he believes it is caused by allergies and perhaps irritated by a touch of mild asthma.  He wants to find out what is causing the inflammation so we can treat it.  I still have a bit of a cough from sinus issues hanging on, but the infection is all gone.  This may be the case until we find out what is causing the irritation. So more allergy tests are called for -- those will be in February, along with some breathing and lung function testing.  Ultimate complete healing would be my first choice, of course, but if something is in my environment that is causing me to be sick -- then we need to know.  So, I'm praying that the tests will reveal clearly and distinctly what it is I'm allergic to, so we can deal with it.

I come to my point.  Struggling through these issues the last several years hasn't always been easy.  But God has been with me the entire way.  And I am very healthy otherwise.  I am so much healthier than so many others in the world.  I am better than I deserve.   This morning after my prayer time, I was looking for what God wanted to show me today in His Word.  2 Corinthians 4: 16-18 jumped out at me.   "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not 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."

WOW!  God is so awesome and I have learned much through this experience, indeed.  My friends know I love people and love to visit.  But I'd like to think I'm a good listener too.  I might point out though, forced silence gives one more time to contemplate.  It helps you to hear more clearly -- not only things said, but unsaid as well.  Your observation skills are tuned in more clearly.  I'm not sure if that makes sense or not, but it does to me.  (Smile.)  Silence is golden they say.  I definitely think there's truth to that.

Lesson?  Take time to be still and know that He is God.  You will be blessed!

Merry Christmas, my friends, and may the joy of Jesus fill your heart as you celebrate His birth. 
Susan

A Teachable Moment......to me, from God.

First of all, I apologize for my absence from blogging.  I've missed you all.  Life got a hold of me and then I've been sick, really, for the last three weeks or so.  I've not been able to speak for the last two weeks. I strained my vocal cords from coughing so much with a sinus infection.  It looks like I'll be silenced until I see the doctor next week.  I hope I can speak by Christmas.  This happened a couple of years ago and I was forced to be silent for three months.  In retrospect, this hasn't been so bad.  It's just the whole timing deal being so close to Christmas and so much to do.  Prayers on quick healing would be most appreciated. But back to what I really wanted to blog about.....

I think it's so cool how God teaches us things in the most interesting ways.  I love those "ah ha" moments.  I was having a lovely instant messaging conversation with a dear friend the other day.  It's the only way I can really talk these days.  LOL  Anyway, we were discussing how God asks us to do things sometimes and how we don't always feel prepared or equipped to do what He asks -- even though we know we're supposed to be doing it.  My friend said, "Look what God asked of Moses and all he got was a stick.  He had to beg for Aaron." She's so funny. I had to chuckle, silently of course. My response?  "But what amazing things that stick could do!" And all because of the power of God behind Moses and that stick.

Moses felt he wasn't an eloquent speaker and that he wasn't able to do what God was asking of him.  Wasn't Moses essentially doubting that God would equip him when he asked God to send Aaron to help him? Yet God granted his request.

It made me think about my own life and how I often doubt my capabilities in doing what the Lord asks of me. Of course, I'm not capable.  None of us are -- by ourselves.  But with God, all thing are possible through Christ Jesus, right?  Can I get an Amen?

I hope I'm getting better at trusting.  I think I am.  But that's not to say that I don't really mess up sometimes and have these conversations with God asking if He's sure He wants me to be the one to do a particular task.  When I think about it afterwards, I say to myself, "Are you serious, Susie?  This is God we're talking about here. If anyone would know, it'd be God.  I mean, He IS the absolute truth. Oh me of little faith."

Why DO we doubt His ways sometimes?  He loves us more than we can fathom. So much so, He sent the ultimate sacrifice -- His one and only Son. I wonder if He doesn't sometimes shake his head when He has to get out the pruning shears again for the same lesson with me.  Patience comes to mind.  But He's teaching and showing me, and I'm grateful He never tires. Something that is so obvious, yet, I still struggle with it --if you keep praying for patience, God will give you the opportunity to work on it.  Sigh! 

I am trusting that all will be as it should in God's perfect timing.  I am praying and trusting for continued healing and that things will be back to normal soon.  I can hear my husband's teasing words echoing in my head right now.  "Babe, you've never been normal."  What can I say?  True enough.  But I am fearfully and wonderfully made and God has a plan for me.  A special plan.  So, I'm going to do my best to continue  trusting, believing, and doing my best to serve my Lord and know that God's plan and timing are always perfect.  Even when I don't always understand it......and ahem... have trouble waiting on it.

Blessings, dear blogger friends.  It's good to be back. 
Susan