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!
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.”
