Saturday (5/16/2015)

Update:

I am making progress in recovering from Thursday’s surgery.  I don’t have much strength and can’t really accomplish anything; but my pain is diminishing.  I over did it just rolling around in my wheelchair getting food out of the refrigerator and heating in the microwave for my breakfast.  Really?  I’ll just get myself settled in to my recliner and pop some pain meds and chillax the rest of the day. 

I am thankful that I slept really well last night and (without going into the gory details) I really am doing much better. 

With the stent emplaced that runs from my right kidney to my bladder, I’ve been warned that it will be really easy to “overdo it.”  That stent will remain in until they surgically repair my kidney sometime in June.  During that surgery, they’ll put a similar stent back in the same place to act as a “cast” until my kidney and ureter heal about 4-6 weeks later.  So I am looking at two months of down time at least.  Maybe I can get active again later in July or August. 

Meanwhile I still have the sciatic pain from my bulging disks and other nerve pain that doesn’t allow me to get a good fit with my prosthesis.  I have a feeling that I won’t really make any progress in those areas until this kidney issue is settled.  So realistically it will probably be fall or early winter before I make progress on my original complaint that I had last November.   My issues have issues!  LOL!

On a positive note, all of these issues that continue to pop up have verified that I made the right decision to “retire due to medical reasons.”   My church has prepared a retirement celebration for me after worship tomorrow (5/17). I think I will be feeling well enough to attend my own celebration! I was kind of doubtful for a while.  I’ve had the honor to pastor there for the last 18 years (I’ve been a pastor for 25 years). It will be a bittersweet day.  I know it is best for the church and best for me; but it is hard to say goodbye.  This will close the book on that chapter of my life.  I don’t know how the next chapter will read yet but I’m looking forward to finding out.  Life is a great adventure!

Thought for the Day:

Here’s a prayer from an on-line daily devotional (Prime Time With God) that I get:

“Dear Father in Heaven, Thank YOU that for every hurt, every fear, every worry, every need, there is a remedy--through the power of the Resurrection, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the care of the Almighty, everything is going to be all right. As long as you are in control of my life, everything is going to be all right. I cling to the Savior’s invitation to ‘come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28-30). I praise you Father, for loving me so much that you sent your only begotten son, full of grace and truth, to take my sins upon him that I might be made righteous in your sight. Thank you for the tremendous sacrifice, for your love and mercy, for life eternal, for being all that really matters--for being my Remedy. I love you. In the name of Jesus, amen.”  (from primetimewithgod.org for 5/16/2015)

I really like the line, “As long as you are in control of my life, everything is going to be all right.”  That speaks peace to my heart and reminded me to trust Him for everything.  Right now my burden could easily overwhelm me.  But God promises to shoulder the load and do the heavy lifting when I am yoked with Him.  Whew!  I needed to be reminded about that!

In my devotional reading of the bible, I just finished Exodus 14—The Crossing of the Red Sea.  After the Tenth Plague, Pharaoh agreed to let the people of Israel go to worship God in the desert.  Instead of directing the people in a straight bee-line out of there, God had the people wander around looking lost.  This was all a part of God’s plan to incite Pharaoh one last time.  Of course the people of Israel didn’t know this.  They just knew they were trapped against the sea and Pharaoh’s army was bearing down on them.  So they cried out in fear…

Exodus 14:11-14   “They said to Moses, ‘Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!’ Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’”

All the circumstances pointed to the fact that the people of Israel would soon be slaughtered (or at the very least be returned to captivity as slaves).  They had been crying to God for 430 years to rescue them from bondage.  When Moses appeared, he only made matters worse with the Egyptians.  For a short period, it looked like Pharaoh had let them go; but now it looks very, VERY bad for Israel.  Understandably they were not happy with the way things were turning out. “Why didn’t you just leave us alone!”

Moses told them to refocus.  “Quit looking at the Egyptians and instead look at God.  He’s going to fight for you today.  Just stand back and watch!” 

God is all powerful.  God is watching over us. God has this all planned out.  God has got everything under control.  These are words that we need to be reminded of every time we face a crisis as well.

“Thank you, God, for all that you are accomplishing in my life.  Even when things don’t appear to be going well, enable me to forget my circumstances and remember You and Your promises.  Thanks for watching over me and caring for me through every crisis, delay, and disaster that I face.  Amen!”