Excerpt p. 68
a skillful masseur
patrons of the arts
those who faithfully visit the chronically ill
being able to recall the experience when you need to
workouts concluded
successful outmaneuvering of the enemy
foresight
rock ptarmigan*
getting past the narrow ledge
bell caps
relationships in which you are known by name
clients who pay promptly
one-day dry cleaners
laptop computers
God's sustaining our loved ones until they come to know the Lord
sufficient yew tress
cherry cobbler
purple robes
the almost immediate greening of a desert after a rain.
* for those, like me, who have no idea what rock ptarmigan is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Ptarmigan
A lot of these I feel work in a more.. metaphorical sense. So.. work with me.
Laptops: Without a laptop.. where would I be. No idea! I just thank God for blessing me with a fantastic laptop so I can run with all of my information at a drop of a hat. I can go to a place and do my work THERE on a computer I'm used to. I can take notes by typing instead of writing and then trying to figure out what I wrote later.
Visitors and Purple Robes: So what do these two have in common? My family. My grandma is terminally ill. She has lung cancer and dementia. I praise God that there are some people in her life that continue to check in on her even when she doesn't know who she is. I also wish that more people would. My estranged sister has not seen her in a long time. My heart breaks for her, both hers actually. I am blessed with a mom who, despite the fact she gets on my nerves, loves me unconditionally. She loves my grandparents unconditionally. AND she owns a purple robe!! When I think of purple robes.. I think of my mom. Quite a few years back my dad and I found a amazing robe for my mom and she's had it ever since. Thank you to all of those people who care for their loved ones even if it's just a phone call. Thank you to all of those people who love big purple robes.
God refreshes our soul. Much like in a desert.. when God rains his love on us, we become green again. I know that when I've cried out to God and submitted to him, He has blessed me with peace and I become okay again. I am refreshed! I pray that everyone I love comes to know that God-refreshed feeling. It's better than anything you can experience on earth. Even those struggling with their relationship with God.. He will not leave you and He will welcome you back with open arms. He knows each of us from the moment on conception and knows our name. We are created with a purpose.
Jesus said that he would send a helper (comforter, intercessor). That helper is to guide us. the Holy Spirit gives us that "funny feeling" that we should or should NOT be doing something. I don't know if it's foresight or God just tapping us on our shoulders and saying "ummmmmmm you really shouldn't be doing that". God will not force us to do anything... we have free will. He may work with our choices and force us to change anyways. I'll explain that one another day perhaps. I know from my relationship with God that he will guide me and help me when I need it. All I have to do is say, "God.. I can't do this. you've got to handle this".. and wow. HE takes over!!! Submission is soo important. It's not that we have to give up everything in our life.. we have to tweek things. I am Christian, but I am FAR from boring. I am trying not to conform to this world, but I do try to work with it. If you truly have faith in God.. He will protect you and give you the strength to do the things you need to.
So, this was a different style tonight. I don't know why. It just was.
John 14:16
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever" ~ NIV
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever" ~ NKJV
(my favorite) "and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever" ~ Amplified
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