Saturday (1/18/2014)

Update:

Tyler and Hannah’s wedding is today.  The rehearsal went well and now today is the day!  Pray for us all as I perform the ceremony and as they begin life together as man and wife.  My wife, Karen, is going with me.  My daughters, Kate and Ruth, are playing music during the wedding.    I have just a few changes in my wedding notes to make and then practice going over my lines and I am ready for the service.

This morning I got up and thought I should figure out which suit works best in a wheelchair before the rush of getting dressed and leaving for the church (Hannah’s home church in Sand Creek, WI).  My best suit is tailored for standing—not sitting; it’s too tight to sit long periods of time and too restricting in the arms.  My other suit is missing the pants!!??!  I looked through my closet and cannot find them.  So I thought, I’ll just wear my black dress pants and it will be close enough—no one will notice.  I can’t find those pants either!!  What is going on?  Is it because now I don’t have to worry if the washer/dryer eats one of my socks that they are now eating pants instead?  I cannot get up to my old bedroom upstairs to check that closet or go downstairs to root around in the laundry to find anything.  Karen is gone to work and not due back until it is time to leave.   Aargh!  {Note: Just got off the phone with Karen, she is able to come home a bit early, so hopefully we can find a pair of the missing pants and still make it to the church on time.}

I had a bolt on my wheelchair that was irritating my right leg.  I noticed that it actually broke the skin on my calf so I decided to fix it with Duck Tape (brand name).  Karen found a roll for me and I did a great job and made it look sharp.  Then I discovered that I had tape wrapped where the leg attachments go, so they wouldn’t attach to the chair.  So I had to rip the tape off.  I broke a fingernail trying to pick the tape loose (since the surgery, my nails are brittle and tend to crack and break easily).  Oww!  I finally got the bolts covered and the leg attachments on.  I don’t think it looks as nice, but it is functional and probably no one will ever notice, unless I mention it in an update or something.  J

Thought for the Day:

There are days when I just don’t think I have what it takes to get through the day.  Ever have a day like that?  Sometimes we can dig deep down inside of us and find enough strength to barely get by.  And sometimes we find that the well is dry and it just isn’t going to be enough. We may turn to our spouse or rely upon a friend; but eventually there will be a time when no one is around or available to help.  Where do we turn then? 

I am thankful that God offers Himself as our support.  I am especially thinking of those times when my need is more emotional or mental; but even in a physical crisis God can give me a peace to calm my soul; the courage to face the challenge; or the strength to carry on.  God will make a way for us.  The road might not be as smooth and easy as we may have wanted; but He will supply.

2 Corinthians 12:9   “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 9:8   “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;”

Philippians 4:19  “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Whenever you face a challenge that you think is beyond you, call on Him and He will answer.  As a parent of a small child, have you ever not responded to the cry for help from your child?   Our Heavenly Father is no different. 

The crises that come into our lives like a storm, that threatens to sink us, should cause us to call upon Him for rescue.   There may be some storms in our lives that we can weather on our own; but there is no shame when we reach that point where we have to turn to Him for help.   It is actually kind of sad how long many us of will wait before we turn to God for comfort and support.  Why do we hesitate?  Why do we wait?  The Lord Almighty is standing by waiting for us to call upon Him.

Jeremiah 29:12-14a   “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  'And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,' declares the LORD”