For he himself is our peace... Ephesians 2:14a NIV
There it was on the calendar almost taunting me. Really, I tried not to think about it but then there it would be bugging me an instant reminder. It's not that I dread going to the dentist. It doesn't bother me at all. That could be that I went a lot as a teenager; I had braces.
The last few years though haven't been much fun. Every time they try to do x-rays, I have a problem I gag. It's not that I mean too, it just sort of happens. So of course when I see the schedule appointment on the calendar my mind starts to think about the dreaded x-rays.
Sure I block it out because I don't want to be nervous and cause it which is not my fault. A few days before the appointment the thought comes again, but I quickly dismissed. The night before the thought crosses my mind again. This time though I talked to God about it. He after all got me through my eye doctor appointment a few months back by helping me with the air puff in the eye. Another thing I have trouble with.
I left it with God, and trust in Him to help me get through the x-rays. The day comes for my cleaning, I didn't really think about gagging and the x-rays. Then as I'm about to go in my wonderful husband says, "they're all ready for the lady who can't take x-rays. I prepared them for you." Gee, thanks.
Slowly I crept to the room with the chair. The dental hygienist says, "We're only going to do two today. I'll be quick."
"I'll be fine," I think. She gets it ready, when I discover it's the adult size x-rays not the kid size. Not good! Not good!
She puts the first one in and I managed to get it done. Sure the stuff was out of my mouth by the time she returned, but I was successful.
Side number two was a different story. The gagging began a lot sooner and she was not able to get it. "Alright we'll try again." She tried to rush me, but I was still gagging and felt as though it would begin again any second.
"I'll let you know when I'm ready."
That's when I noticed it. The dentist office has glass doors in each room, so we're able to look outside. As I gazed out the door, I saw a butterfly, a peaceful reminder that the Lord is with me. I gathered my courage, "I'm ready." Side two was a success, again the stuff was spit out before she reentered the room.
The Lord was with me and gave me peace. Now I don't have to do that again for six months.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Holy Ground
Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NIV
Last week I had the chance to get away from the world. Of course sickness tried to keep me away, but the Lord won. I began the journey weak and tired, but it's a journey worth going on.
During the summer there is a lot of craziness that goes on while on this holy ground. With the craziness though comes a longing and a calling from God. Some children start off frightened and unsure about the week ahead. Most of them are not only away from home, but away from family as well.
Loud Christian music plays while tweens and teens dance like crazy and shout out praises to God. Seeing God here is easy since all the distractions are left at home. The morning begins with a devotion, two times a day small groups meet to learn more about God together, there's praise time, worship, and the evening ends with devotions. Of course fun games and different activities are thrown in throughout the day.
By the end of the week no one really wants to go home even those who were unsure at first. After all spending time with God is relaxing. Somehow the stress of life at home seems to be lifted. Burdens are left at the altar. Some hear God calling them to a new path. Some are reminded of what God wants us to do for him.
Reality begins to hit the day before we have to return to the world. How can we keep this feeling of closeness to God? How can we answer the calling? By continually making time for the Lord our self. Taking time in the morning to seek God out, listening to Christian music, reading our Bible, ending the day seeking God out.
God promises to give us rest if we just come to him.
Last week I had the chance to get away from the world. Of course sickness tried to keep me away, but the Lord won. I began the journey weak and tired, but it's a journey worth going on.
During the summer there is a lot of craziness that goes on while on this holy ground. With the craziness though comes a longing and a calling from God. Some children start off frightened and unsure about the week ahead. Most of them are not only away from home, but away from family as well.
Loud Christian music plays while tweens and teens dance like crazy and shout out praises to God. Seeing God here is easy since all the distractions are left at home. The morning begins with a devotion, two times a day small groups meet to learn more about God together, there's praise time, worship, and the evening ends with devotions. Of course fun games and different activities are thrown in throughout the day.
By the end of the week no one really wants to go home even those who were unsure at first. After all spending time with God is relaxing. Somehow the stress of life at home seems to be lifted. Burdens are left at the altar. Some hear God calling them to a new path. Some are reminded of what God wants us to do for him.
Reality begins to hit the day before we have to return to the world. How can we keep this feeling of closeness to God? How can we answer the calling? By continually making time for the Lord our self. Taking time in the morning to seek God out, listening to Christian music, reading our Bible, ending the day seeking God out.
God promises to give us rest if we just come to him.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Rain, Rain Go Away
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me. Psalm 23:4 NIV
Before we left on our voyage I was unable to check the weather in the area we were staying, so I was quite surprised when I heard. "Just came in today so I can check out our site because the weather will only get worse as the week goes on."
No problem I thought, I'll just watch the weather and then take it up with the Lord. Which I proceeded to do. There was a strong chance of rain all day for over half of our vacation. God will take care of us.
The second night there we noticed water on the floor. Not a good thing. A little creek inside the camper, paper towels and figuring out where it came from was a big help. We realized the window behind the kitchen sink was dripping and the water filled up the slide out. Of course the water needed to come out somewhere this is why we had the creek.
The next morning thought a tarp would take care of the problem, so my husband put one over the window and half of the slide out. This seemed to help the creek stop or at least become just a puddle. Paper towels were constantly changed as the rain decided to stay.
Thankful that we discovered the leak because this was happening when the camper was in storage as well, we pressed on. The Lord let the rain come at night most of the time instead of during the day, allowing us to do the things we planned. Even though we got soaked to the bone while riding horses.
The worst happened the day before we were to leave. The skies just opened up and now a waterfall fell inside as well as the creek. Tears filled my eyes, it isn't suppose to rain inside. One of my cabinets filled with a half inch of water. Not fun. The tarp was removed and the slide out put in. Eventually the water fall and creek dried up the rain though outside lingered on. The water damage inside the camper is evident. I was so ready for sunshine again.
Three hours after our voyage home began we saw it, the bright shiny thing in the sky. It was so nice to see the sun after not seeing it for days. My husband even insisted we picnic in the sun, not the nice shady picnic tables. No, the one right in the sun.
Sadly as I looked back on our vacation I wondered why did this happen? Why did it have to rain so much? Why did it need to leak inside? I wondered why God had this as his plan for us? Was He even there?
As we unpacked the camper a surprise was found. Something shiny caught my eye as I emptied my closet, what in the world was that? My cross necklace! Seriously, I lost it over a year ago and don't remember losing it in the camper.
God sending me His love. "See I am with you always even when it seems dark, I got this." God shared with me. He will lead me in the way I need to go even if that means I have to deal with a mess. God took care of us.
Before we left on our voyage I was unable to check the weather in the area we were staying, so I was quite surprised when I heard. "Just came in today so I can check out our site because the weather will only get worse as the week goes on."
No problem I thought, I'll just watch the weather and then take it up with the Lord. Which I proceeded to do. There was a strong chance of rain all day for over half of our vacation. God will take care of us.
The second night there we noticed water on the floor. Not a good thing. A little creek inside the camper, paper towels and figuring out where it came from was a big help. We realized the window behind the kitchen sink was dripping and the water filled up the slide out. Of course the water needed to come out somewhere this is why we had the creek.
The next morning thought a tarp would take care of the problem, so my husband put one over the window and half of the slide out. This seemed to help the creek stop or at least become just a puddle. Paper towels were constantly changed as the rain decided to stay.
Thankful that we discovered the leak because this was happening when the camper was in storage as well, we pressed on. The Lord let the rain come at night most of the time instead of during the day, allowing us to do the things we planned. Even though we got soaked to the bone while riding horses.
The worst happened the day before we were to leave. The skies just opened up and now a waterfall fell inside as well as the creek. Tears filled my eyes, it isn't suppose to rain inside. One of my cabinets filled with a half inch of water. Not fun. The tarp was removed and the slide out put in. Eventually the water fall and creek dried up the rain though outside lingered on. The water damage inside the camper is evident. I was so ready for sunshine again.
Three hours after our voyage home began we saw it, the bright shiny thing in the sky. It was so nice to see the sun after not seeing it for days. My husband even insisted we picnic in the sun, not the nice shady picnic tables. No, the one right in the sun.
Sadly as I looked back on our vacation I wondered why did this happen? Why did it have to rain so much? Why did it need to leak inside? I wondered why God had this as his plan for us? Was He even there?
As we unpacked the camper a surprise was found. Something shiny caught my eye as I emptied my closet, what in the world was that? My cross necklace! Seriously, I lost it over a year ago and don't remember losing it in the camper.
God sending me His love. "See I am with you always even when it seems dark, I got this." God shared with me. He will lead me in the way I need to go even if that means I have to deal with a mess. God took care of us.
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