Whether We Live Or Die

Romans 14:4-9; Philippians 1:21-25 KJV; Whether we live or die we live to the Lord. Live life in the Lord!

Flowers Fade And So Shall We

Psalm 103:15-18; Death to this world is inevitable; but, so is eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Fear Is Not Loving Or Healing

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. (Mal 4:2 KJV)

There are a whole lot of people suffering from illnesses in the world today; many besides those who have contracted the Corona Virus. As the world panics over this virus, I cannot help but wonder why we do not have cures for some of them. Why no cure for cancer, yet? It has been around for a long time. Why no cure for the influenza that comes and goes or the more permanent diseases like multiple sclerosis or cystic fibrosis or the many other diseases that afflict the human race? It is a sad thing that so many suffer. All of our scientists and specialists have not been able to figure out how to cure these diseases. What is left for us to do; but, to depend on the Lord our God to see us through?

The faithful trust him to see us through our illnesses until the day he brings us home. There is suffering in this world. But the children of God know that the Son of God has risen and we shall go forth growing in faith and trust that in him all things are for the good of those who love him.

While Jesus walked the earth he instructed his followers to have no fear. Listen to him! Fear will stop a person in their tracks. It will destroy the love that we ought to have for one another and for God. It will destroy our concerns for those in greater need than ourselves. 

With the panic over the Corona Virus, I cannot help but wonder about the people who live paycheck to paycheck to put food on their families' tables. The grocery store shelves were empty in so many stores yesterday due to people stockpiling and hoarding. When payday comes and those who can only afford to purchase food when their check comes and there is no food in the grocery stores to purchase what happens to them? How many have thought of the homeless and hungry when they overfill their carts? Love of God and for our neighbors seems to have gone out the window....!!! Will greed and self-preservation send our neighbors home hungry?

There is nothing to fear for in the end the God whom we love and who loves us has come and is here with us even now. 

My daily morning prayers always include this prayer of affirmation against all fears. Either we believe it or we don't. As for me, I prefer to believe it and trust in the Lord.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

(Psalm 23)

Fear does not bring love. It brings devastation. Trust the Lord and be His helping hand. Feed his sheep even if it is in such a little thing like not emptying the shelves in the grocery story so that your neighbors can also purchase sustenance for their families. Consider your neighbors and do all that you can to help them, for in them your Lord abides. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Trials; Patience; It's All For The Good

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

                                              (James 2-4 KJV)

I am thinking God may be thinking that he needs to work patience in me or maybe it my husband he's working patience in. It has been a week (month - many months) full of trials and I am barely able to keep up with my day to day routines like doing the dishes! It's not because I'm depressed. It's just that there doesn't seem to be enough time to get things done. Among other things, with age, we tend to slow down a bit.

Monday was full of appointments for my granddaughter and my husband. Tuesday, I had a lumpectomy and was told not to do anything for at least a week - no repetitive motions with my right arm (no vacuuming) - no lifting anything over ten pounds. I can walk and rest. Wednesday, the surgeon called to let me know that there were no cancer cells. So any worries over that are over.

Wednesday evening about 9:30 my husband informed me that his blood pressure was sky high and had been experiencing severe chest pain for a couple of hours. He insisted I drive him to the ER rather than call an ambulance. He can be stubborn about things like that. So, I sat in the ER with him until about 1:30 am Thursday when they admitted him for observation. He had a stress test that didn't turn out so good on Thursday so they scheduled a heart catheterization for Friday. The prognosis was that he needs a triple by-pass and would be transferred to Advent Health in Daytona Beach within a few hours for surgery. There were no beds available in Daytona Beach. My guess is that it might be due to "Bike Week." During "Bike Week" there can be quite a few emergencies. So, today we will wait as patiently as we can for a bed so he can get his heart fixed.

There's been a lot going on and it's hard to keep up. I don't feel like I'm running out of patience because to tell you the truth I am too tired to feel tired and a few things out of the normal have been and are being taken care of. There are positives that have come out of this week. 

We purchased a repossessed home a couple of months ago. This repossession  needed a lot of repairs which have not all been completed yet. A lot has been done; but, there are still many smaller projects to get done. On Thursday, my granddaughter and her boyfriend painted a good size section of our fence that we hadn't had time to get to. Yesterday, my son's girlfriend and her two children finished painting it. That is one more project that we no longer have to think about! 

It was a relief (especially to my husband) to find out for sure that I do not have cancer. 

At least one of my husband's health problems is being taken care of. He has been suffering with health issues for quite awhile. It may take a while for him to recover from this; but, I am convinced that he will recover and have in the end a fuller life. I am grateful for his cardiologist at Advent Health who insisted on tests and more tests to get to the bottom of why he would have chest pains. All those tests require a bit of patience waiting for results.

As I sat in my husband's room yesterday waiting for the transfer that didn't happen, I realized that even in that there was a blessing. I have been working on cleaning out the pond in our yard and sitting with him was keeping me from the  temptation to pick up the rake which I should not be touching right now!

Trials come and with trials patience. But, in the end God works all things for the good of those who love him. (Rom 8:28) Trust the Lord in times of trial. Trust that he is working things out for you.

So, this may be more than you care to know about; but, the bottom line is that no matter what happens trust the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever!.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Gather Together Often

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Heb 10:24-25

Even as St. Paul admonished the Hebrews, we are admonished not to neglect coming together as a community of saints. We have a very busy Lenten season fast approaching. The season will present many extra opportunities to gather together in worship and in fellowship. Today, the crafting ladies from Christ Lutheran are having a "Fat Sunday" lunch following worship. I am not sure what all they have planned; but, I am looking forward to the opportunity to be able to spend time with brothers and sisters in Christ.

On Tuesday, Ngaio Carlisle, an author and two-time cancer survivor is the speaker at "Cancer Knows No Boundaries" Workshop at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.  Another opportunity to be with others and to support one another.

And.. then comes... Ash Wednesday! Beginning with Ash Wednesday and then every Wednesday throughout Lent we will meet together to worship at 5 p.m.. We will be using the Small Catechism and "what does this mean" as the format for our liturgies. After every service (except Ash Wednesday) worship will be followed by a soup supper. And, of course, we will not neglect to gather for worship at the two Senior Living Apartment Complexes each Wednesday. It is good to meet together to provoke one another to love and good deeds.

As Ash Wednesday approaches, we prepare for our journey to the cross which will culminate at an empty tomb. Who will make this journey with us? Who will gather with us to remember and thank God for all that he has done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord?

May God plant in the hearts of all who would bear the name of Christ the desire to gather more often to worship Him and glorify His Holy Name.  

God's Peace - Pr. J