I listen to KLove, a Christian Radio Station as a rule, and their Logo includes: KLove, Positive, Encouraging KLove. As I was leading some groups the thought came to me:
What if we don’t have each other, our KLove, our iPods, our Bibles, our Bible Studies or the YouVersion App?
How would we stay positive and encouraged?
I have been pondering this with my groups, and have contemplated several scenarios. I thought about Paul in prison, beaten up, chained, probably rats crawling across his legs. How could he possibly be singing hymns at midnight? Of course the situation would keep me from sleeping as well. But, how was he able to focus on the hope he had in Jesus and actually be singing praises to God?
I have no concrete answers, and our world has certainly given us reason to be discouraged and negative. I did come to the conclusion that any encouragement would need a mightier source than my own brain, and asked God to show me ways that I could stay encouraged when all around me was discouraging.
The first thing I realized was that if my husband was a Christian, I mean the kind of Christian that I am, full-bore, petal-to-the-metal, beaming, no-turning-back-now Christian, I would not be the woman I am today. Because it has not been the best choice I ever made in my husband’s eyes, I have had to be very strong in my beliefs and sure of what I hope for.
“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” Hebrews 11:1 Amplified Bible . YUP.
I often tell the story of how when I first became a Christian, all I would say when my husband would comment about anything, was “Oh?” I still continue to say “Oh?” a lot. It’s as if the Lord has taken my thoughts and words away. I have no comment, not even a thought of a comment. That got me through the first 5 years of unhappiness that Al was feeling while I was beaming. Since then, “Oh?” has taught me to really listen for what was behind any comment I hear. Christianity saved my life, and “Oh?” has been one of my assets.
A couple of weeks ago on my walk, I was listening to the song King of My Heart. As I sang along (more like lip-sync). These are the lyrics:
“Let the King of my heart
Be the Mountain where I run
The Fountain I drink from
Oh, He is my Song
Let the King of my heart
Be the Shadow Where I Hide
The Ransom For My Life
Oh, He is my Song
Let the King of my heart
Be the Wind Inside My Sails
The Anchor In The Waves
Oh, He is my Song
Let the King of my heart
Be the Fire Inside My Veins
The Echo Of My Days
Oh, He is my Song”
As I lip synced the song, I realized that it was true of me. The Lord is the Mountain that I run to. He is the Fountain that fills the deepest need in me. He is the Ransom that saved my life, and He is the Shadow where I hide when I am not liking what is going on. He is the One who keeps me going, like wind in a sail, and, when things are going crazy, He is my Anchor. Most of all, He is the Fire in my veins, and I want Him to be the Echo of my days. He is my Go-To, the only One who can keep me positive and encouraged!
Last week on Monday, when I woke up, I couldn’t walk. My vision was double and I wasn’t thinking clearly. Not sure if this was an MS thing or just fatigue. I’m better now, so I think it was an MS Fatigue thing. May people would be very discouraged, but sadly, I am used to this. I just cancelled everything on my calendar. Gratefully, people know and understand this brand of what I call ‘flakiness”. I am grateful for their compassion and understanding. At least right now people don’t get mad at me of which I am aware. If they keep it secret, that’s okay with me. I have people who are still mad at me and hurt that I stopped work 6 years ago. I had lovely naps. Sad that I didn’t have Isis to take a nap with me.
I have had so many wonderful experiences over the last few months, spending time with friends and family, volunteering at Kensington Place, taking the Stephen Ministry Training, and enjoying bible study with a wonderful group of women, especially my co-leader, Julie Parker. I just realized that I don’t have a photo of us together. Hmmm… must work on that!
Kensington Place has taken me on as their Spiritual Care Volunteer. It has been challenging as well as delightful. So many amazing, jaw-dropping things have happened, it would take many blogs to cover these events. Today, however, was an amazing experience, and it was while I was waiting for a mammogram.
Ok, not my favorite time. As I waited in the waiting room, a woman on the opposite side of the dimly-lit tiny room started humming a beautiful song. It sounded like a Jesus song to me. I said I love your beautiful song. And she replied, you have a beautiful face. Surprised, I said, only Jesus. She said, Amen sister! I told her I would love to have her join me at Kensington Place, they would love how she sang. I then was called into the department for my mammogram, and when I came out, the woman was gone. I thought, hmm, I should have given her my card. Oh, well, too late now.
The mammogram, as well as the 4 block walk from the parking to the hospital had exhausted me, so I thought, before I go back to the car, maybe I should get a cup of coffee in the cafeteria. I walked all over the basement of Kaiser, finding no cafeteria, no coffee place, nothing. So I went back up in the elevator thinking of what I could do. I considered the coffee place down the first hill of my walk back to the car, but no, that was too much. Then, this ran through my head, why don’t I look in the gift shop? It’s always fun. I went in, and to my surprise, the same woman was in the gift shop! I said hi and she said, do you have a card? I was amazed as I handed her my card. She said she was part of a group of pastor’s wives and widows who are looking for opportunities to be of service where they could sing. My eyes wide open, I asked for her phone number and she said, don’t be surprised if I call you! Now that's what I would call a GOD THING!!
I can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow! If she calls or doesn’t that’s okay, because if I am ever a bit weary in my walk, I know who I can run to, and how I can stay positive, encouraged and stretch out who I am to continue to love! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
What if we don’t have each other, our KLove, our iPods, our Bibles, our Bible Studies or the YouVersion App?
How would we stay positive and encouraged?
I have been pondering this with my groups, and have contemplated several scenarios. I thought about Paul in prison, beaten up, chained, probably rats crawling across his legs. How could he possibly be singing hymns at midnight? Of course the situation would keep me from sleeping as well. But, how was he able to focus on the hope he had in Jesus and actually be singing praises to God?
I have no concrete answers, and our world has certainly given us reason to be discouraged and negative. I did come to the conclusion that any encouragement would need a mightier source than my own brain, and asked God to show me ways that I could stay encouraged when all around me was discouraging.
The first thing I realized was that if my husband was a Christian, I mean the kind of Christian that I am, full-bore, petal-to-the-metal, beaming, no-turning-back-now Christian, I would not be the woman I am today. Because it has not been the best choice I ever made in my husband’s eyes, I have had to be very strong in my beliefs and sure of what I hope for.
“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].” Hebrews 11:1 Amplified Bible . YUP.
I often tell the story of how when I first became a Christian, all I would say when my husband would comment about anything, was “Oh?” I still continue to say “Oh?” a lot. It’s as if the Lord has taken my thoughts and words away. I have no comment, not even a thought of a comment. That got me through the first 5 years of unhappiness that Al was feeling while I was beaming. Since then, “Oh?” has taught me to really listen for what was behind any comment I hear. Christianity saved my life, and “Oh?” has been one of my assets.
A couple of weeks ago on my walk, I was listening to the song King of My Heart. As I sang along (more like lip-sync). These are the lyrics:
“Let the King of my heart
Be the Mountain where I run
The Fountain I drink from
Oh, He is my Song
Let the King of my heart
Be the Shadow Where I Hide
The Ransom For My Life
Oh, He is my Song
Let the King of my heart
Be the Wind Inside My Sails
The Anchor In The Waves
Oh, He is my Song
Let the King of my heart
Be the Fire Inside My Veins
The Echo Of My Days
Oh, He is my Song”
As I lip synced the song, I realized that it was true of me. The Lord is the Mountain that I run to. He is the Fountain that fills the deepest need in me. He is the Ransom that saved my life, and He is the Shadow where I hide when I am not liking what is going on. He is the One who keeps me going, like wind in a sail, and, when things are going crazy, He is my Anchor. Most of all, He is the Fire in my veins, and I want Him to be the Echo of my days. He is my Go-To, the only One who can keep me positive and encouraged!
Last week on Monday, when I woke up, I couldn’t walk. My vision was double and I wasn’t thinking clearly. Not sure if this was an MS thing or just fatigue. I’m better now, so I think it was an MS Fatigue thing. May people would be very discouraged, but sadly, I am used to this. I just cancelled everything on my calendar. Gratefully, people know and understand this brand of what I call ‘flakiness”. I am grateful for their compassion and understanding. At least right now people don’t get mad at me of which I am aware. If they keep it secret, that’s okay with me. I have people who are still mad at me and hurt that I stopped work 6 years ago. I had lovely naps. Sad that I didn’t have Isis to take a nap with me.
I have had so many wonderful experiences over the last few months, spending time with friends and family, volunteering at Kensington Place, taking the Stephen Ministry Training, and enjoying bible study with a wonderful group of women, especially my co-leader, Julie Parker. I just realized that I don’t have a photo of us together. Hmmm… must work on that!
Kensington Place has taken me on as their Spiritual Care Volunteer. It has been challenging as well as delightful. So many amazing, jaw-dropping things have happened, it would take many blogs to cover these events. Today, however, was an amazing experience, and it was while I was waiting for a mammogram.
Ok, not my favorite time. As I waited in the waiting room, a woman on the opposite side of the dimly-lit tiny room started humming a beautiful song. It sounded like a Jesus song to me. I said I love your beautiful song. And she replied, you have a beautiful face. Surprised, I said, only Jesus. She said, Amen sister! I told her I would love to have her join me at Kensington Place, they would love how she sang. I then was called into the department for my mammogram, and when I came out, the woman was gone. I thought, hmm, I should have given her my card. Oh, well, too late now.
The mammogram, as well as the 4 block walk from the parking to the hospital had exhausted me, so I thought, before I go back to the car, maybe I should get a cup of coffee in the cafeteria. I walked all over the basement of Kaiser, finding no cafeteria, no coffee place, nothing. So I went back up in the elevator thinking of what I could do. I considered the coffee place down the first hill of my walk back to the car, but no, that was too much. Then, this ran through my head, why don’t I look in the gift shop? It’s always fun. I went in, and to my surprise, the same woman was in the gift shop! I said hi and she said, do you have a card? I was amazed as I handed her my card. She said she was part of a group of pastor’s wives and widows who are looking for opportunities to be of service where they could sing. My eyes wide open, I asked for her phone number and she said, don’t be surprised if I call you! Now that's what I would call a GOD THING!!
I can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow! If she calls or doesn’t that’s okay, because if I am ever a bit weary in my walk, I know who I can run to, and how I can stay positive, encouraged and stretch out who I am to continue to love! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!