We are in my favorite time of the year. I love October, it is my favorite month. This week has been lovely but quite windy. The kind of wind that we find in Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day.
One of the big trees near my house was covered in beautiful autumnal color yesterday and when I awoke this morning, there were only a few branches left with leaves still clinging to them. It was that windy overnight...
Every year in that brief period of time when the world around me is full of magic... the Narnia kind of magic... I am reminded how quickly this beautiful season comes and goes. I try to cherish each day filled with the colors of Autumn but my human senses can only take so much at a time. However, I have tried to breath it all in.
Thank you for your well wishes last Sunday. It was a difficult week. Along with not feeling well, I was hit with the worst vertigo I have had in awhile on the morning where I had an important retinal specialist appointment that afternoon. I was able to reschedule for this week and the vertigo went away with the help of Benedryl and sleep. I was very thankful it lasted only one day.
If you deal with a chronic illness or have someone close to you that does, you are well aware of the ups and downs such illness brings. When I was first diagnosed with Type 1 (Juvenile) diabetes over twenty years ago, my day-to-day life wasn't changed all that much, except for a modified diet. Two decades later and just about everything has changed.
You will recognize the photo above if you have been around here very long. It is a photo I took many years ago at the Fall historical reenactment we love to attend. I went with Mr. & Mrs. Christopher and the kids last year, after making arrangements to drive our van and meet them where one can catch a bus to the reenactment. I enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and reenactments for a couple of hours before I had to leave.
This year, I had to decline attending at all. Walking very far has become more difficult, especially when there is no place to easily stop and sit for awhile. They took photos for me to enjoy vicariously.
The lessons I have learned from dealing with illness over the years have come in handy in the events that started early 2020. Enjoying the beauty of life becomes a decision when everyday living becomes more of a challenge. Let's just say that I now remind myself a lot to Carpe Diem.
Recently, I have noticed a few vloggers of preparedness videos reminding people that we all need to continue enjoying life whenever possible. I think almost everyone I listen to on YouTube have a Christian (or highly moral) perspective as they are the people who provide instruction and encouragement in the midst of doom and gloom. (I had to stop listening to those who seemed to provoke fear on purpose to keep followers.)
So, it doesn't surprise me that the same Holy Spirit that resides in each believer is teaching many of us the same message. This is your one life God has given you to live so enjoy each day as much as possible... regardless of the circumstances. Or, in Latin... Carpe Diem.
The enemy of our soul and his minions are doing everything to keep our mind thinking dark and fearful thoughts. The bringers of news have always "led with what bled" only now with the advent of 24/7 news channels and the Internet, it is more difficult to escape.
I make a real effort to spend only a small amount of time reading news from sources I trust and even then, the events going on in the world could bring one down if not keeping our eyes on Jesus and His Word.
I think one of the things that I find both sad and vexing is how much deception is in the world... and the church... today. Even though it was predicted that deception would happen, seeing it play out before my eyes is still surprising. When our newest Supreme Court justice was asked the definition of woman and she said she was not a doctor and could not answer that question, she was still put through as a judge on the nation's highest court.
Can you imagine if someone gave that answer just ten years ago? Now, most people don't see anything strange with that answer. I ask God every day for His discernment to show me what is true and what... is a very good deception.
None of this is taking God by surprise and what does He tell us over and over? Fear not for I am with you, even until the end of the Age. He could have placed each of us on this planet any time over thousands of years but He put us here now. This year. This month. This day!
So, obviously in the midst of all the craziness and yes, that which is fearful... He has a reason that each of us is here now. I have pondering about it a lot recently. I have often thought if we are still here, then it is for some major reason or event. The more pondering I do, the more I think that is not the case.
I am beginning to realize that He wants us here for a few reasons, the first is to pray for our families and friends. But He may want you here to be the person who is available to help someone in need who is on the verge of suicide. You may be here to bake cookies and offer a meal to the single mother who is now emotionally falling apart with the cost of food and housing.
He may place friends and family in your mind who need a written letter of encouragement or perhaps even the plan of salvation. It never ceases to surprise me that there are people who grew up in America who have never heard the Gospel, that Jesus came to pay the price for the sin of Eden and to legally win us back for our Father in Heaven.
We only have to accept His salvation by admitting we are sinners and that we believe He truly is the Son of God. He wants us to learn what is in the Bible and how to talk to Him (ie: pray) any time of the day. How sad that few churches preach salvation or have Bible studies these days. There may be people in Heaven someday because you were brave enough to share the Gospel with them!
No one who still has breath is here without a purpose. If you ask God what He would have you do to help others, He will tell you. I have learned that He does not care so much what I cannot do these days, He wants to use what I can do. Even while sitting at a desk or writing on the tablet in the recliner.
One of my heroes of the faith is Joni Erickson Tada and I saw an interview with her recently when she was asked how she gets through life as a paraplegic who feels constant pain (somehow that is not fair!). She said there are two ways she had made it through in all of these decades.
First, she takes one day at a time. She feels she can get through the next twenty-four hours and that is all God is asking. Second, the older she gets (she is now in her early 70s), the more she thinks of Heaven. It has become more real to her every day and she knows she is only passing through this life. It is Heaven that is her real home.
I think we can all benefit from the wisdom she has gained. Because she has never given up in self pity (well, if you saw the film or read the book Joni then you know she dealt with it in the beginning), handicapped people throughout the world have been given medical care and wheelchairs through her ministry.
God does not waste any trial and often it is from our greatest trials that He is able to use us even now. Maranatha!
Mentioned in this Blog Post
Joni by Joni Erickson Tada. Info... here.
Her more recent autobiography is... here.
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10 comments:
Really enjoyed this one. I believe the small things are really the only things that matter. If we can't appreciate God's beautiful autumn leaves, or the small opportunity to serve, if we only look for the big moments or want to be seen as a "hero" in our ministry - we've missed some important lessons in life and religion.
I was not raised in the Church. I was once agnostic at best, perhaps even atheist in the material sense, not out of any strong conviction, but merely by default. I was lying in bed one night, idly wondering: Was this all there is, life and then oblivion? I didn't expect an answer to my thoughts, but I certainly received one. YHWH told me - "I am and My Word is True." So you are absolutely correct; I had never heard the gospel before then, and I can hardly be the only one. But the problem goes far beyond that, how many people including some Christians have ever heard the true gospel?
Jesus is indeed the Messiah (1 John 2:22) and the Word of God come in the flesh (John 1:1-5, John 1:14, 1 John 4:2-3). Christians know that He is Christ and that He is God, but how many truly understand that He is the Word? The Ten Commandments are more directly translated as the Ten Words, for it is the Hebrew word 'dabar' meaning 'word' that is translated as 'commandments'. How is it then that so many who claim to love the Living Word have such negative feelings toward the Written Word? Yes, of course, only Jesus, the Living Word, can save us. Yes, of course, Jesus, the Living Word, is far greater than the Written Word. For if a picture is worth a thousand words, then how many words is a man worth? How many more words is the Son of Man worth? And yet, the Living Word and the Written Word are still one and the same - the perfect role model and the perfect instruction book. I wish more Christians loved them both.
May YHWH bless you and your house,
- montanagoose
Thanks for this thoughtful post, Joni is an amazing woman and religious thinker. Yes, we are all called to be spirit lifters for others and Jesus wants us to go into the world and make disciples. I am going to be a Christian mentor for a new believer starting Wednesday and of course now I realize I am not sure how to do that, but I did say yes to her. Prayers appreciated.
I like the prepper vloggers who reminded listeners that we need to continue enjoying life as much as possible these days! So True, Especially these days! My daughter asked me to join her and my 5 yr old grandson on a leaf hunt this afternoon. I was tired but went anyway and was so glad I did! I didn’t want to miss out on the precious time spent with them on a fall afternoon. Earlier in the week she asked my hubs and I to join the family on an outing to a beachfront park. We had other things we needed to do, but laid it all aside to spend the day with them and didn’t regret it! It’s special outings like these that make memories that will last for years! And who knows how much longer we’ll be able to do these kinds of things!
Our pastor talked about how we are are here “for such a time as this” today, too! It seems to be a reoccurring theme lately!
I remember when Joni’s first book came out! Her story is so Incredible! How can she be in her 70’s now?! (Where has the time gone??)
So much to ponder! (I think I’m rambling, here!)
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this post, I needed to read this as I am too disabled and spend a lot of time worrying about the future. Your words have helped me to realize it is best to get the most of of the current day and the future will sort itself out in it's own way and with Gods help it will be OK.. Thank you I am enjoying reading your blog :)
What a great post. I’ve been pondering this idea of tuning out the negative and just enjoying my life. I, too, follow some preparedness channels on YouTube and some of them have really gone off the rails here lately. I noticed myself feeling fearful and like I’d never have enough of anything to be ready for whatever comes. I’ve backed away from those channels and podcasts and started listening to uplifting people and music. Same for news. And I do feel better. It’s such a time waster and no man can predict what’s to come. I’ve been doing the Experiencing God Bible study and am focusing on my purpose for being here is to do God’s will, whatever that may be. Sorry for the ramble. I just really enjoyed your post today. It resonated with me so much.
I love this post, Brenda! We must continue to do what we can can do! We must enjoy today, and live it to the fullest we can, not comparing ourselves to others.
As a reader for many years of your blog, this one was especially poignant. I, too, listen to very little news. I truly believe the stage is being set for future events; and as bad as things look, we can trust God to be working all things according to His will. After 50+ years in ministry with my husband, we have seen more and more 'falling away' and strange teachings among those who call themselves 'believers' yet Christ's own words were true when He said "When I come, will I find faith on the earth?" It's becoming rarer and rarer. May we walk faithful and be a light to those around us!
Blessings to you and your family. The human frailties keep our eyes on Him.
I forgot to read your post until today (Tuesday), but God knew this morning would be when I needed some of these reminders. Thank you for your wise and encouraging words.
Good morning 🙂 a new reader here! would you mind sharing some of the more uplifting vloggers to whom you subscribe? I've abandoned some of the channels that, to my eyes, are fear mongering, for whatever reason...my nerves can't take it 🙂
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