Christmas Letter 2015

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

2015 was incredibly challenging and blessed!

In the spring, my siblings and I (along with many friends) helped my parents move to a senior apartment. We are so grateful that they moved when they did as current health challenges would have made it much more difficult for them to take care of a house now. They are settling in and enjoying serving God where He has planted them. Dad continues to do pulpit supply while Mom serves and encourages all those around her. As we enter this new season of life, we are so thankful for God’s promises and the amazing family God has given us!

The beginning of the year, my health continued to weaken and decline. Doctors searched and searched for a cause to no avail. Through this difficult time of struggling every day to simply work, walk, prevent falls, do daily tasks and live, God remained faithful and gracious and strong. God taught me so many lessons; one of which is that His strength is made perfect in weakness. I began to wonder how long I would be able to continue to work.

And then, God stepped into my pain in a completely unexpected way. As I went to a routine checkup, I begged Him for wisdom in how to handle the health decline. That day, the doctor spent a long time with me working to determine the cause and decided to try a treatment for another condition although tests were inconclusive. Within a week of beginning treatment, I walked 2 miles without crutches or my walker and without falling, work AND do daily life tasks and move. 

The new condition requires careful management and life-long treatment, but God answered my prayer exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ask or think. (For those who know me, I did learn that while it improved my strength level exponentially, it does not make me super-woman... Sigh... who knew that one person can't do everything. :) ) Learning to live again and maintain the condition has been overwhelming at times, but God is faithful through those challenges!

I continue to enjoy spending time with nieces and nephews, teaching piano, tutoring, and generally serving as God leads. It is incredible to have the time to do these things in addition to working. My heart’s desire is to use the new-found gift of strength for our precious Savior.

As I walked this journey, God brought people along who have and are walking it alongside me. What an amazing God we have. He provides for all our needs and draws us close to Himself! I saw first hand the abundant life that God can give - both in the good times and the bad! :) God is the Giver of Life!

In Christ,

Myrical Joy

John 10:10, “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Ambassadors in Suffering

Sometimes, suffering feels like chains no matter the type of suffering it is.  

I was reading The Battle Plan by Stephen and Alex Kendrick this week. One paragraph really hit me as it was talking about Paul's ministry and prayer from prison (Ephesians 6:19-20). The book said, "To be locked up hand and foot, yet be bold enough to consider yourself free and ready to engage in whatever God has in store... that's NOT how normal people think. Unless we're people of prayer." It made me think of how sometimes the fibromyalgia/chronic illnesses "lock us up," but we can be bold enough to be free and ready to engage in God's plan! :) 

Another great resource which truly shows how to glorify Him and see His purpose in our suffering is Fibromyalgia: God's Grace for Chronic Pain Sufferers. The very suffering we endure is used greatly of God.

God will help us be ambassadors in suffering for Him. We can glorify Him!

A Heart Smile! :)

Sometimes, verses just make my heart say, "Wow" and smile! smile emoticonZephaniah 3:17 is one of those verses, a verse I needed to be reminded of this morning! smile emoticon :
The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing." 
So many thoughts... 
He, the God and creator of the universe, is here. 
He is mighty to save, and He did,does,will. 
He rejoices over me (seriously, over me!?!?) with gladness.
He quiets me by His love (so important right now in the midst of long, challenging, exhausting days).
He quiets my heart!).
He exults over me (me?!) with loud singing. smile emoticon This one made me chuckle. When my heart overflows with joy and praise for HIM, my singing tends to ... ahem... get loud. To think that He exults over His creation in the same way...
I am loved! smile emoticon Selah! smile emoticon

Peanut Butter and God

This past week, I tried natural peanut butter again as I follow a new eating plan. I had forgotten how amazing natural peanut butter is without all the sugar and additives. It was pure peanut goodness. On this new eating plan, my body has begun to crave the good food as well as feel more satisfied. 

Then, I began to think about Psalm 34:8a, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!..." When we "taste" the Lord and His Word, the distractions around us also dim in comparison. We also begin to be satisfied spiritually as well as desire more of His Word.

Consider Psalm 119  and Psalm 19:7-11.
7 "The law of the Lord is perfect,[a] 
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules[b] of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward."

Even as my more healthy eating plan is helping me crave nutrition more as well as become stronger, seeking God and His Word is helping me crave Him more and grow closer to Him. 

Won't you join me and "taste and see that He is good"?

In His Hands

We tend to want to be in control of our lives. Sometimes, we believe that we are in control. My personality tends to lean toward wanting my life organized and orderly down to the smallest detail. My family graciously reminds me that this isn't always the way life is. 

This year, God has been teaching me flexibility and spontaneity. These lessons first came through the weakness, fatigue, and pain that overtook my life and schedule through the chronic illness. Planning was impossible as fatigue crashes could happen at any time and last for long periods of time.  Oh, how hard these lessons were. Yet, I began to give my days to God each morning and watched as He structured my day. He was teaching me priority with very limited resources. These lessons were precious.

Consider these verses.

Proverbs 16:9 "The heart of man plans his way,   but the Lord establishes his steps." (ESV)

Isaiah 55:8-9 "8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. "

Psalm 31:15a "My times are in your hand;..."

God, in His sovereignty and for His glory, allowed me to have my health back with a new treatment. It was His doing, not mine. He was in control. He is in control. He continues to teach me to leave my life in His hands. (He does a much better job of it than I ever could!")

My new condition has also been used of God to teach me that my life is in His hands. My health continues to improve daily. Yet, this condition means that my body will not handle acute illness or severe injury without quick medical intervention. It reminds me daily that my life is truly in God's hands. What a wonderful reminder!

His hand is a good place to be. He loves me.

Jeremiah 31:3 "3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

John 3:16 "16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

As I daily see that my times are in the hands of the one who loves me, I see that I also want to use it for his glory, to get to know Him and His Word, to love Him, and to serve Him. When He takes me home, I will see Him face to face. 

Philippians 1:21-23, "21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." 

1 Corinthians 13:12 "12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."

I submit to His will for my life. He is a wonderful Savior even when I don't understand all His ways! He loves me and holds me in His hands. That is sufficient!

New Every Morning!

In the first days of treatment, the difference in energy level was amazing. Each morning, I woke up and doubted the energy would still be there. Mentally, I prepared myself for another bout of fatigue, weakness, and pain. The strength was a pleasant surprise.

It made me think of the verses in Lamentations 3:22-24. My Lord is faithful every day and His mercy is new every morning!

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]

    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”

Gardening

I love to garden. There is just something about getting your hands in the soil, nurturing the plants, and watching them grow. It makes me feel closer to my Master Gardner. I don't always have a green thumb, but I love making the effort.

Spending time gardening this weekend made me once again think about our Master Gardener. He is described in John 15.

• My garden and lawn had been neglected for a long time due to my illness as my family and I kept up with basic needs. It is going to take more than a weekend or two to get it back to what it should be. It made me realize how sometimes I neglect my walk with God and just slide by with only what seems necessary. It takes spending quite a bit of time with the Master Gardner to get my life garden back in order!
• God sometimes has to prune my life in order to bring more fruit just as I had to prune bushes to allow them to bring more fruit. Sometimes this pruning hurts, but it is necessary to let His fruit show through and grow in our lives. 
• As we pulled weeds which were overtaking the garden, I mentioned to my young helper that although the weeds seemed pretty at first, they quickly were crowding out the good plants. Sin does the same thing. Weedkiller was needed to help completely eradicate the weeds. I could not get rid of all of them myself. Sin cannot be eradicated without Christ's blood and resurrection power. This blogpost has an interesting analogy of weeds and sin.
• Each plant in the garden and yard needed different types of gardening assistance. Some plants needed a bit more breathing room and had to be thinned out. Some had little life left in them and needed to be completely cut back. Some needed to have the weeds removed. Others needed to be pruned back to allow them to bear fruit. They are all at different stages, have different colors, different types of leaves, and different needs.
  Isn't that the same with us? We often wonder why God is doing something different in someone else's life or question the preferences (not doctrine or sin issues which do need to be addressed) in a brother or sister's life. It reminded me of my nieces and nephews. I hear "It's not fair." frequently. Couldn't the plants cry the same "Not fair" statement? I was convicted that sometimes I may cry "UNFAIR" to God not remembering that He knows best or question why He is the Master Gardener and knows what is best.

My garden brought me face to face with the garden of my life. How is your garden growing? Have you spent time with the Master Gardner recently?

Why Me?

Dear Father,

Why me?

The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind, Father. The question "Why me?" comes to mind often as well as "Why now?" and "What for?"

Why me?

I never dreampt you would do this, Father! You gave me years of pain, weakness, and extreme fatigue. You showed me so much about Yourself. You showed me that You used weakness to show grace and strength. You taught me that my relationship with You is more important than anything that I can do. You showed me the answer to "Why me?" and showed me that it was not about me, but about You.

Why me?

The chronic illnesses are long and teach longsuffering and joy. The days of pushing through the pain and fatigue were overwhelming. Yet, You showed me that You are my Rock! You taught me to manage and ration my strength to serve where I could even when things looked bleak and too much! You showed me that in the illness was a way to glorify You when I couldn't with a whole body. You were teaching me to trust You no matter what.

Why me? Because it isn't about me, but about You! Oh, what a wondrous gift You gave me in these lessons.

Then, after my heart cried out to You for strength and wisdom, You answered in a completely unexpected way as a previously undiagnosed condition was found and treated giving me back near perfect health within two weeks. Again, my heart cried "Why me!"

Father, I know that so many of my friends are still hurting and in chronic illness. Why did you choose to heal me yet again? What do you have for me? Why now? Lord, as my body is transforming into health before my very eyes, Your name is being praised. You are being glorified. You are granting strength as it has been a whirlwind of learning that I don't have to ration every ounce of strength, but can depend on You. To be honest, Father, I was a bit embarrassed at all the attention the healing was causing until I realized that I had become a walking billboard for You and Your grace. You are showing me again that it is not about me, but about You!

Why me?

Father, I need You now more than ever as I learn to manage an illness that is managed with medication, but can be serious and life-threatening if not managed properly or in emergency situations. I need You to help me trust You with that illness and to realize that You are in charge of all my days. More than that, I need You to help me know how to live to glorify You every day. I need You to keep me from using this newfound strength for my selfishness instead of Your glory. I need You to show me "Why now?" and "What for?". Guide me, O Great Jehovah! :) Please, in good and bad, keep my eyes on You!

Why me? My life is Yours to do with as You wish whether that means health or illness. You paid the ultimate price for me.

The following song sums it up, Father.
"The Wonderful Cross" ~ By: Chris Tomlin

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless Your name

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

Father, You love me enough to want a relationship, to have paid the penalty for my sin. I did not deserve this, but I thank You for Your precious gifts of salvation, suffering, and strength.

I love You, Father, Spirit, Son!
Your unworthy daughter,
Myrical Joy

Snapshots

At my work, we sometimes take "snapshots" of the data from which we can learn a great deal. This post is simply a snapshot of recent days.

Snapshot 1 - Legacy
This spring, I had the great opportunity to assist my parents in a move to a senior apartment. As you can imagine, it was not an easy move as we sifted through a lifetime of memories and accumulated possessions. As Mom and Dad lovingly gave away what they knew we could use or would be most meaningful to each of us, I thought of their legacy. The legacy was not in these things, but in the faith and character which has been handed down from them. 

On Memorial Day, my oldest brother and I took over the cemetery flowers. We both came away in awe at the legacy of faith that God has given. A brief search into our ancestry showed that that legacy of faith went back to the Plymouth plantation and back to Geoffrey Chaucer... yes... Geoffrey Chaucer! :) My siblings and I were in awe and thought of Hebrews 12:1-2 and the great crowd of witnesses! We were inspired to continue to carry the torch of faith!

Snapshot 2 - Contentment
Through all the changes and duties, my health continued to be difficult. Those others with chronic illnesses know the challenge of pushing knowing that it will cost a couple days of recovery for each time pushed, the smile you put on trying to hide the pain, weakness, and fatigue, and that even small service means giving your all which is sometimes not enough for people. 

In this, God taught me to be content not only in the limitations and pain, but in peoples' misunderstandings.

Snapshot 3 - Longsuffering
The fatigue, weakness, and pain became insidious. I begged God for help to glorify Him. I begged God for relief and for strength to push through another day, to make food, to clean, to know priorities in helping others. And yet, it seemed He was silent. It was at those times that I knew I simply had to trust His Word and His love for me. He was teaching me the longsuffering from the fruit of the Spirit.

Snapshot 4 - New Creature
This past week, my doctor started a treatment on me as a trial basis to see if it would resolve the worsening symptoms. With in 24 hours I had my life back so to speak! I am still in the trial period to see if this will work longterm. It is in God's hands.

As I go through the day, I find myself responding as if I still have the profound weakness, falling, fatigue instead of returning strength. It reminded me of God's declaration that we are a new creature and that God says, "... such were some of you, but..." It hit me that sometimes in my life I am living as if God hasn't restored my relationship with Him through Jesus, as if I am not a new creature. Ouch!

Snapshot 5 - If we win we praise Him, and if we lose we praise Him." ~Facing the Giants
I am enjoying day two of renewed energy even after pushing myself yesterday. I praise God for this strength! Yet, I have no guarantee of strength tomorrow. My heart cry is that if He takes away the strength tomorrow, I still praise Him! As Job said, "...The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Life is full of snapshots. What collage do the snapshots of your life make?

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Shingles... again... the second time in two months, sixth or seventh time in six years. I must admit that I would not choose this. In fact, for years before my first bout, I was fearful of the shingles. I mean... the pain that people described sounded unbearable. Yet, God can prevail even in shingles. :)

I was reminded to continue to be zealous with the ability and strength God has given during this time. Listen to Romans 12: 9-13.

"9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[g] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality."

For my friends in chronic illnesses, please be encouraged. God can use you. :)Even while weak with our chronic illnesses, these things are all possible in God's grace. :) What a blessing!

Today, I joined a new church to which God had led me. It was hard to request membership but have to tell them that I was not able to be active except in prayer at this time. Prayer is important, but I know there are physical needs as well. :) I was humbled to realize that even in my current weakness, God can use me in His Church. :) I was brought to tears by the love of this new church as several people even offered to help and do whatever is needed. WOW! 

It is incredible what God teaches us in progressive sanctification through the weakness. It is humbling and amazing to see that God does use weak vessels. :)

My shingles (and chronic illnesses) have taught me much. May my focus remain on Him! :) May I be patient in tribulation! :) Here is my post from when I first had shingles. It was good to go back and review the lessons learned. I hope they are an encouragement to you as well! :) 

Shingles - Building my Faith

June 14, 2009 in Bible Lessons, Encouragement | No comments

The past few weeks, God has given me the privilege of having the dreaded shingles. It has not been an easy road. Admittedly, I have faltered, but God has been teaching me much and has been there to purge, comfort, strengthen. Perhaps you are facing insurmountable mountains today…maybe even shingles. Here are some of the things God taught me – in no particular order.

Numbers 15:38-41 “38Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: 39And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. 41I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” I wanted to seek after my own heart, my own eyes. I wanted good health and a freedom from pain. Yet, I was reminded to do God’s commandments - no whining and complaining. Then, I was reminded that God is my God. He is mighty to save, strong to deliver. Without the trials, how would I know His strength?

Ephesians 2:1-4 ” 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Before I trusted Jesus Christ as my Saviour, I followed the wrong things - fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind. Now, however, God in His rich mercy has saved and changed me. How can I continue in my sin?

Proverbs 16:3 “3Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” To be honest, I really struggled with my thoughts. I was discouraged, singing the blues, having a royal pity party and wallowing in self-pity. God was right there whispering in my ear…Philippians 2:5 andPhilippians 4:8. But, I didn’t feel like rejoicing or having the mind of Christ or thinking on the right things. Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Proverbs 16:3. Rejoice in Him anyway. Act like you know you should. Commit your ways to God. He will then establish your thoughts. And, He did. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

1 Kings 8:61 “61Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.” My heart attitude needed an adjustment!

Deuteronomy 4:29 “29But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” The reason I wasn’t having spiritual victory was that I wasn’t seeking God through this!

Matthew 16:8-12 ” 8Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 11How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” This Scripture leaped off the page at me. Right now, I’m struggling with daily needs - even basic ones. There is no strength to make meals, clean, sometimes even to eat. Yet, God has promised to supply all my needs. This Scripture shows the disciples getting confused by what Christ is saying about leaven - forgetting that God had just fed the five thousand and then the four thousand. The disciples are worried about physical needs. Christ is concerned and warning them about spiritual needs. Oh, that I would leave the physical needs to Him and simply focus on spiritual things!

Jeremiah 12:5 “5If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” Recently, I had been praying that God would help me grow, that I would see His power in my life, and that I would learn to trust Him more. Then, here comes this little trial and I fell flat. God brought this verse to mind. If I can’t be victorious with the footmen, how can I contend with the horses?

Judges 8:4 “4And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.” Yes, I am weak right now physically and am fighting a spiritual battle. Yet, by God’s grace and strength, I am faint, yet pursuing.

God used His Word to challenge, convict, and comfort my heart. His lessons through this have challenged me to continue struggling and studying in His Word. It will not return void, but will come back to help at just the right time! Thank you, God, for your precious Word!

Currently, I’m still in the middle of the shingles. I know that God has more lessons for me. God is bringing me to the place of being thankful for this trial, of trusting Him completely through it. I cannot do this on my own, but God will give strength! He is still faithful to deliver and mighty to save!

Celebrating 40 Years

This year marks 40 years since my life changed.

First, it has been 40 years since I had my first stroke. I know, I know, it is a bit difficult to be that long when I am only "29" years old, but it really has been 40 years since my life changed! My parents were told to be thankful for every day I lived. 40 years later, God still has me on this old earth. :)

More importantly, it was the year that my relationship with God was restored through my acceptance of Christ's gift of salvation. My relationship with Him changes my life not just here, but for eternity.

How has my life changed?

The stroke changes are obvious. I became "disabled" or, more accurately, "Him-abled." My life became more difficult in many ways. I have to work a bit harder than some at simple things like walking and playing piano and dressing and ... you get the picture. But in another sense, it became easier as each day I see my need of Him. I also am grateful for all that I am able to do. He has a plan for my life. His plan for others sometimes seems so much more difficult than His story for mine.

My relationship with Him gave me abundant life. No matter what comes, I have life abundant... joy in Him... peace... comfort. He speaks to me through His Word and longs to commune with me in prayer. I am His child. He loves me. He uses my weaknesses to display His strength and grants grace sufficient. Amazing.

40 years...40 years. So much has happened. So much has changed. Yet, one thing remains the same: God's faithfulness! Great is His faithfulness. His mercies are new every morning. :)

Seasons

Saturday, it was absolutely gorgeous outside... sunny, in the 70's, completely blue sky. As my cousin's son said, "You just don't get these kind of days very often!"

As I enjoyed it on the deck, my thoughts went from the changing seasons of the weather to changing seasons of life. For months, I have been "benched" from active service as my body struggled to regain strength. These seasons are not easy for me as I have a people-pleaser, serve, problem solving personality. Slowly, God is bringing me to a place of enjoying this time and learning to encourage others from this view while learning to simply "be" with God.

My contemplation led me to think about why God would have so many of us with chronic illnesses in this place. Yes, there is the purpose of being prayer warriors for Him. I do not diminish that purpose. Yet, my mind went back to the garden of Eden. In the beginning, they simply enjoyed fellowship with God. They weren't frantically running around serving Him. They walked with Him through what the day brought. He enjoyed a relationship with them enough that when it was broken He sent His Son to take our punishment in order to enjoy the relationship again. I was in awe again at His love for us, for me!

The word "fellowship" appears throughout His Word and seems to be a rich study. I am astounded that the God of the Universe longs for fellowship with me! Could He have brought me to this season specifically to teach me the importance of fellowship with Him and to thus change my focus as I draw close to Him? What an amazing thing!

Many of you may also be confined to your "sick bed." How would our perspective change if we saw our sick beds, our chronic illnesses as our Garden of Eden for this season?

100 mb or 2 gb of Grace?

The customer service rep was "You only use an average of 100 mb of data on your 2 gb plan! I wish my family did that!" I smiled at the success of staying within my data limit.

It hit me later. How many times am I satisfied with 100 mb of God's grace when I don't just have 2 gb, but the unlimited plan. (Not misusing grace by choosing to sin, but His grace that is immeasurable for my sin and my needs. John 1:14-17 Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 1:4-6; James 4:6-8; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Not using even close to the full data also made me realize how often I forget the power of His resurrection in my everyday life.

Then, there is Ephesians 3:14-21. He is able  exceedingly abundantly above all I could ever ask or think - unlimited data!

While staying under the limit is great for phone plans, it is not so great with grace!

Traffic Signals

On the way to work a few weeks ago, I had all green lights. (Of course, that was on a day that I was running early for work. :) ) Having all green lights meant a very easy commute.

It struck me that in life I long to have all green lights. Comfort. Convenience. Ease. Efficiency. I want smooth sailing. Yet, the last few months have been more yellow and red lights of pain, difficulty and rest.

Looking back, I see that these yellow and red lights are needful. Just as the traffic signals are for the benefit of all in the city, so are the "traffic" lights in my life. God uses them to shape me and allow me to show His love to others.

The following verse came to my mind: Matthew 9:37-38; Philippians 1:12-14; 1 Peter 1:7; and 2 Corinthians 1:3-6.

And so, I am still learning to patiently accept traffic signals - both in traffic and life! :)

Jesus looks cute on you.

This morning, a cashier asked me about my had which has the "Jesus Saves" logo on it. (My brother works at the mission.) When I explained the logo to her, she said, "That looks cute on you." 

My heart began to ponder what she said. Am I "wearing" Jesus in my life in my actions, reactions, love of others, and speech? Am I His ambassador? Am I allowing Him to shine through me? 

It gave me pause to think about how I can wear Jesus each day. Philippians 2 is a great start. The greatest privilege we have is to live Christ. May they see Him and not me! :)