Stuck in my head...

Do you remember hearing a song at a theme park, music from a commercial, or song on the radio and having it stuck in your head...it seems like forever?  Sometimes it may not even be one you enjoy.  That said, I have had a song we sang in church a few weeks ago playing over and over in my mind.  It's one I really like.  One of the lines in the chorus is "You are his treasure and he finds pleasure in you." 

Zephaniah 3:17 says,
"The LORD your God is with you,
   the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
   in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
   but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Now those are the kinds of words and music I want to have in my mind and heart for a long time.

"You've Gotta Have Heart"

Health update:  After some blood work, the doctor said my body was deficient in zinc and magnesium.  The supplements he prescribed are already making a difference in my overall health in just a few days. 

This week I have been so grateful for what seems like a second chance to walk and the energy, strength, and balance to do chores.  One night I did have a contest with Larry.  I was rinsing the dishes from dinner and he was making a pot of coffee.  I hadn't emptied the dishwasher yet so I challenged Larry to see if he could empty the dishwasher before  the coffee finished perking.  He would have willingly unloaded the dishwasher if I would have asked, but this way he could at least laugh and shake his head while doing it.

It has been amazing how the heart has been part of my Tuesday Bible Study lesson and homework as well as my Quiet Time.  God has a way of doing that.  When God looks at me, he doesn't concentrate on the signs of MS or other imperfections, he looks at my heart to determine my health.  That's one health checkup I always want to be able to pass.   

Deuteronomy 4:29
^"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul."

Deuteronomy 10:12-13
^"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?"

I Samuel 16:7
"But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Matthew 12:6-8 The Message
"There is far more at stake here than religion. If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'—you wouldn't be nitpicking like this. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he's in charge."

Expectant Living

Last Sunday was an exciting day at Tallowood...a new schedule with one Sunday School hour and two worship services.  The anticipation of the day, full adult choir, some new Bible Study rooms, and a wonderful time of worship, reminded me of the importance of expecting something to happen every week at church.  Knowing that God meets us there should be enough to encourage me to look forward to being with fellow believers, no matter what day of the week or time we gather, and expect God to act.

This week I have expected the exercise routine and diet to continue to make a difference in my health and mobility.  In my homework and preparation for the Tuesday Bible Study on David, I want God to show me something new each day and expectantly look forward to it.  He has been faithful.


I have also noticed this week that when I expect something, I tend to pay more attention to the details and happenings so that I don't miss out when it occurs.  

And because of what Jesus promised in Matthew 28:19-20, I can expect him to be with me all the time.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

One Day at a Time

I am in the process of learning the importance of living one day at a time.  It seems that when I look at the calendar and see all that is lined up for the week, with exercising, appointments, and events, I can be overwhelmed and tired before I even begin.  God is teaching me to live, appreciate, enjoy, and celebrate life 24 hours at a time.  Even though I am preparing for the future, today is the day God has given me to live.

In my Bible reading this week, I read the Sermon on the Mount.  In Matthew 6:33-34, Jesus said:
     "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."   
What wise words to live by in 2011.  (I was going to say...2011 and beyond, but I'll take it one year at a time.)

The Family Circus comic is one of my favorites.  A few years ago, there was one that said:
          Yesterday is the past.
          Tomorrow is the future.
          Today is a gift.
          That's why it's called the present.

May your week be full of gifts.

Exercise daily...walk with God.

^{Lamentations 3:22-23}
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.

Happy New Year!  Whether it's a new year, decade or millennium, I love the thought of new beginnings.  And I especially cherish the assurance that because of God's love and mercy and Jesus' sacrifice, I can have a fresh start every day (and sometimes more than once a day when needed).

This year, I want my commitment to spiritual health to be as real as my hope for continued physical health.  My desire is that my prayers, reading and applying scripture, and spending time with God will make a difference for His Kingdom.

Hope you'll join me in having a healthy new year, both spiritually and physically!

Christmas Light

Matthew 4:16
the people living in darkness
   have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
   a light has dawned.”

Christmas is full of light from candles, trees, decorations, and houses, but the greatest light is God's gift of Jesus, the Light of the World.  I love the candlelight service on Christmas Eve, especially at the end when the lights go down and one candle is lit.  There is no longer complete darkness.  Then one by one, light is increased as the light of one candle is passed to another and another until all are lit. 

At the service last night, the person in front of me was having difficulty keeping her candle lit, due to the overactive vent blowing down on the flame.  The lady was persistent in relighting the wick each time it would go out.  When she finally protected it with her hand, the candle stayed lit.  It reminded me of the importantance of making sure I am diligent about my life continually shining God's light to honor and glorify Him.

And the exciting part is that the gift of God's light, Jesus, can be given and shared all year long.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Hope Renewed

Over and over this week, I have thought about the gift of hope.  We continue to be hopeful about changes that are occurring since the stem cell procedure.  Each week my strength seems to be increasing.  I am able to add a little more weight to the machines at the gym or increase the repetitions of the exercises.  For years now, when the temperature is cold or I hold cold objects in the winter, my fingers lose circulation and are very white on the ends.  I usually have to run warm water over them for several minutes before the color and blood supply return.  There have been three instances the past two weeks where I know that would have happened, but it did not.  I am even full of hope that chores and other "Not Necessarily on my Top 10 List of Things I Want to Do" will soon be added to my day.  It's amazing what joy that brings when it is something I have not been able to do for a while.  This week, I was able to keep my balance and hang pants on hangers and not have to wait for Larry to do that.  Once again, little things bring about much hope.

With the coming of Christmas this week, I am reminded of God's incredible gift of hope to our world, Jesus.  Oh, that I would learn to live expecting every day to be a celebration of Christmas and Easter.  One of the scriptures I read this morning, out of The Message translation, is what Jesus told Paul to do to share His gift of hope with the world.  I know He's offering the invitation to all of us as well.

Acts 26:17-18

 "'I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I'm sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.'

 I have also been reminded of additional scriptures that God has used to bless me and teach me about hope.


Psalm 33:18

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
   on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

Psalm 42:5b

Put your hope in God,
   for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God.

Psalm 62:5

 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
   my hope comes from him.

Psalm 146:5

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the LORD their God.

Psalm 147:11

The LORD delights in those who fear him,
   who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Titus 2:13

while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

May your Christmas and New Year be overflowing with God's gift of hope, Jesus.