Update:
What a lovely weekend! I enjoyed
it so much. I’ve always like springtime
but this year it is especially precious to me.
After nearly losing my life on Thanksgiving Day 2013, each new day and
each new experience has been a gift to me that I truly appreciate. (PHOTO:
Taking my first walk after amputation—December 2013). Being able to get up, get
around, get out and enjoy each day is just such a blessing. There are some days that I’ve enjoyed more
than others; however even my “bad” days are pretty sweet when I compare them to
the alternative!
I enjoyed having my daughter, Ruth, and her husband, Cody, home from
Chicago for the weekend. Saturday was
spent with the family one way or another.
Jon helped me get the Touring model (2 seat) ATV out of storage and
ready to sell—that got finalized on Sunday afternoon. I am still amazed at the circumstances of
finding the buyer. That was a cool
reminder to me of God at work behind the scenes to make things happen. I had just decided that I should sell the ATV
when I spent a few minutes chatting with a friend who made a chance comment
about looking for a very specific ATV; and it was an EXACT description of my
ATV! No ads. No phone calls. No selling.
Just sold. Wow!
We had a lovely family dinner on Saturday night where we got to spend
time enjoying one another’s company. The
Memorial Day service on Monday was beautiful.
Best weather we’ve had in years.
And for the first time anyone can remember, a train came through during
the middle of the parade. Half of the
parade made it across before the train came.
The remaining half had a few minutes waiting for the train to go through
before crossing the tracks and finishing the route. We were just glad that it wasn’t one of those
trains that stops and blocks the crossing and then slowly backs up. “To those who courageously gave their
lives…and those who bravely fight today…Thank you!”
The only difficulty that I faced this weekend was a side effect of a
very positive thing. With my current
diet (ahem…lifestyle change) I’m losing weight.
Yeah! That also means that my
residual limb has shrunk and my prosthesis doesn’t fit correctly. On Saturday afternoon, I started getting
terrible pain when I walked. Getting off
the leg stopped the pain. Sunday morning
about halfway through church the pain returned.
On Monday I put my prosthetic leg on for the memorial service (only
walked about 30 steps) and then came home and got in the wheelchair for the
rest of the day. On Tuesday, I’ll try to
get an appointment to get my prosthesis adjusted so I can walk again. I am certain that since my leg shrunk, I am
sinking lower into the prosthesis and it is not supporting my weight
correctly. It was a bit of a bummer not
being able to get out and walk this weekend; but it is what it is. Each day an adventure!
On Monday, my wife and I spent the day together. After the memorial service, we went in to see
a movie and then brought some food home to enjoy. It was a pleasant, restful day made better by
being together.
Thought for the Day:
Earlier last week, I got a quick start on my Sunday message and then as
Sunday drew near I got “writer’s block.”
I spent hours staring at the computer and could not for the life of me
get more than a word or two added to my message. After spending three very unproductive hours
early on Saturday morning, I decided to give it up to God and just go have fun
with the family. I HATE going into
Sunday unprepared and not having every word planned out; but this was one of
those weeks where it would not come. So
I was left to pray that God would rescue me and He would all work out. It was the proverbial “Hail Mary” pass.
I had decided to begin a sermon series on the book of James. So Sunday’s text was James 1:1-4.
James 1:2-4 Consider
it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you
know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance
must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.
This definitely is a topic that I and a number of other people in my church
have some first-hand experience in after this past year. My illness and amputation; my friend losing
the use of his legs and learning to live with extreme pain; one woman who spent
over 90 days in the hospital or in a nursing home; another woman who in a quick
series of events spent about 60 days hospitalized, along with multiple people
who experienced the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, injury or illness,
etc.
Here are a few excerpts from the message that ended up turning out very
well (Thank You, Jesus!).
“Whenever you face trials” that’s not “if”; it’s “when.” We should expect trials and difficulties; not
be shocked or surprised at their appearance.
They come at unexpected times but we know they are coming.
“Any trial can
constitute a test of our faith, namely, a temptation to cease trusting and
obeying God.” [Thomas Constable].
"Testing"
implies demonstrating the true quality of something when it undergoes a trial. Just as refining fires bring out the true
quality of gold; so our trials help reveal our true character.
“Our values
determine our evaluations. If we value
comfort more than character, then trials will upset us. If we value the material and physical more
than the spiritual, we will not be able to ‘count it all joy.’ If we live only for the present and forget
the future, then trials will make us bitter, not better.” [Warren Wiersbe].
Trials are designed to stimulate growth and develop
our faith. If we understand that God’s
purpose in allowing trials to touch our lives is for us to grow and mature in
our faith, then they are easier to accept and even appreciate what they are
accomplishing.
When you join the football team, it isn’t just about
Friday night lights, dating cheerleaders, wearing a uniform and earning a
letter so you can wear a cool jacket.
There are practices. Lots of
sweat and energy is expended night after night as the coach drills the team. Imagine the attitude of the players if they
don’t understand what the practice is supposed to accomplish. They are going to have bad attitudes, grumble
and complain. But if they understand
what the benefits are (better players—better team), they enter into the
practices with a better attitude and put more of their heart and soul into
them. There might be moans and groans as
coach introduces the next exercise or tells them to run another lap, but if you
remember it will make you a better ball player--you dig deep and put a little
more effort into it. So it is with the
trials we face. It is not about God
punishing us for wrongdoings. He is
trying to bring out the best in us.
Refine our skills. Toughen us up
for the game of life.
Trials then
enable us to progress in our Christian faith, strengthening it, refining it,
developing it, allowing us to stand up under further trials more capably. This progression is our maturing in the
faith. Consequently we should not try to
escape from trials but submit to the maturing process with patient endurance
and joy.
That is why I am
taking each day one step at a time. I’m
trying not to let anything get me down, since ultimately no matter what life
dishes out—God can use it to make me a better, stronger person. I’m not asking for trouble and I wouldn’t
recommend that you pray for difficulties to come your way (life will bring
enough of them your direction anyway); but when they come, understand what they
can accomplish in your life and “count it all joy.”
Romans 5:3-4 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our
sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope.”
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