So....

       At this moment I am seriously doubting I had heat exhaustion last Sunday.  I've been running a low grade fever since Thursday evening, it ran between 99 to 101.7 most of yesterday, and today hit a high of 102.1.  I feel really fatigued, weak and still struggling to breath.  That means tomorrow I hit up a clinic again to try and find out what's going on.  At this time it is difficult to even read, which is leaving me feeling desperate for the Word.  And I don't mean to brag or anything, but I usually jog 5 km- 6 days a week, walk with my neighbour 3 days, and ride my bike as much as possible.  So it is with great consternation that I get breathless walking 15 feet or up 5 stairs.

 

       Anyway, I don't know how long this typing will last, but we'll see.  You'd think I'd get whiny or blame God for not healing me when I want it, but I guess I've finally learned better.  Instead I thank God for reminding me how precious breath is, for the energy I usually have and a feeling of general wellness, plus it's good to be reminded how difficult it is to be in His presence when you feel so yucky so I have more compassion for others.

 

       I thank God that I can still eat, walk to the bathroom on my own, and get up to raid the ice cream!  I am thankful for a husband who understands, kids who help and a comfortable enough place to sleep.  So maybe I'm not hearing God so well at the moment, and I would definitely like to be 100% better, but God is still God and He is on the throne of my heart whether or not I can bow my knee, and worship with my voice or I do just what I am able.

 

      Be still, and know that I am God! I will be praised among the nations, I will be praised in the earth. 
      Ps. 46:10

 

       One thing is sure.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8).  I know He remains with me through this, His grace is sufficient (2Cor. 12:9), and His mercy never fails (Lm. 3:22,23) for it is new every morning.  Our God is an awesome God, and how I feel DOES NOT change that.  Just so you remember- my writing may be spotty until I am better.  Have a wonderful Father's Day tomorrow, and God bless you with His presence.

 

 

      Jehovah is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; of whom
      shall I be afraid?  Ps.27:1
      Do not fear; for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will make you strong; yes, I will
      help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.  Is. 41:10

An Eye Set on a Treat

       By the time he caught my eye, he was mid window of the information booth, precariously leaning on a cane and walking slowly, so slowly that it took about two minutes to pass corner to corner of the small booth and get back in our sight.  By then, my cousin had run out after him to make sure he was okay.

       He didn’t want any assistance so she came back in the booth, and out of concern we both watched as he wobbled towards the strawberries and ice cream booth in case he got into trouble.  After getting his treat, he sat down, ate it, then left the same way he came in.  All that work and effort on his part for one bowl of yummy strawberries and cream!

       If I put myself in his position, in a body difficult to move, would I have gone to that same trouble?  Not for strawberries and ice cream (or perhaps the tradition of it) but I guess I do put forth effort even when struggling if I consider it important enough: like when my children were sick, scared, hungry, or needing help.  There were times when I assisted family and friends when they need it even when I was hurting.  Of course I try to spend time with my Father when I am hurting, but that’s a necessity.

       I remind myself frequently that this body isn’t so important because it is dying day by day anyway and will not last forever (Ps. 146:4).  I’m okay with that because I prefer a new healthy body anyway (1Cor. 15:51-55).  Besides, the Lord gave me an incredible dream once to encourage me regarding what I would look like in heaven (here) and I am very much looking forward to that day- without pain, sickness, disease, and a body that keeps giving out and falling apart like an old, misused car (Rev. 21:4-22:5).

       That’s what I want.  Like that man at the festival who went to extraordinary lengths for his treat, my treat is the hope before me of an eternity with Jesus (Jh. 14:1-3) and a new Heaven and Earth without the curse, sorrow, decay and death of today.  So that is what I will set my long term goal as, what I will give effort and strive for, even (hopefully) when my body is screaming in agony and I don’t think I can go another step.  With God’s help, I can make it through all the darkness of this age and end up where He wants me to be...

                        with Him!

He wants you there too!

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 1Cor. 15:51-53 ESV

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Php. 3:20,21 ESV

But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our 

Lord Jesus Christ.

(1Cor.15:57)

Beautiful Words

       Sometimes I enjoy reading the Song of Solomon.  There are so many beliefs about the meaning of the book, but in my opinion, many things in the Bible have more than one meaning.  {Example: Dan. 11:31 is about a prince who would pollute the temple.  While this speaks of the Antichrist (2Th. 2:4; Mt. 24:15) it was also fulfilled historically around 167 BC by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (meaning god manifest) after he violated the temple with an idol god and sacrificed pigs there.}

       For certain it speaks about love between Solomon and a woman.  Some say it also speaks of God’s love for the Jews, God’s love for the church, God’s love for all believers, or God’s love for His bride.  Personally, I believe it could be read with them all in mind.  I want to share this Bible passage written to the bride (as in all believers Jewish or Gentile) in TLB version for its beauty:

Mt. Hermon

Song of Solomon 4:8-15

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride.  We will look down from the summit of the mountain, from the top of Mount Hermon, where the lions have their dens, and the panthers prowl.  You have ravished my heart, my lovely one, my bride; I am overcome by one glance of your eyes, by a single bead of your necklace.

How sweet is your love, my darling, my bride.  How much better it is than mere wine.  The perfume of your love is more fragrant than all the richest spices.  Your lips, my dear, are made of honey.  Yes, honey and cream are under your tongue, and the scent of your garments is like the scent of the mountains and cedars of Lebanon.

       My darling bride is like a private garden, a spring that no one else can have, a fountain of my own.

       You are like a lovely orchard bearing precious fruit, with the rarest of perfumes; nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, and perfume from every other incense tree, as well as myrrh and aloes, and every other lovely spice.  You are a garden fountain, a well of living water, refreshing as the streams from the Lebanon mountains.

Refreshing waters from Mt. Hermon

Heat Exhaustion

       Four days volunteering in a festival outside- under a tent, and a wonderful (facetiously said) thing happened… heat exhaustion.  Yes, I was drinking what I usually do, but I guess that just wasn’t enough.  Anyway, three hours before closing on Sunday, it felt like I was hit by a bus and I was done for anything but sitting and talking.  Not good because I should have been making balloons to give out.

 

       Breathing was difficult most of the day due to humidity.  At 3 pm all the body parts that often hurt started hurting at once.  Everything I did caused aching.  Fatigue set in, I felt slightly nauseous and my body temperature rose.  I fought to stay on the job not realizing until after I left at 6 pm that I was running a 102.5 temperature.  As I walked out to my car I realized my head was pounding and my heart felt like it was going too fast.  Sure enough, checking my temperature and resting pulse verified my feelings.

 

       When I got home I ate, drank, took an ibuprofen and slept for an hour.  It was kind of difficult given how fast my heart was going- about 120/ min. after lying down for a while!  Though I considered the hospital, I was sure much would be better after my rest.  I was wrong.  After more food, drink and checks I realized not much had changed- my pulse came down 15/ min. That was when I found a Tylenol to lower the fever.

 

       Went to sleep around 10 pm.  The fever had lessened some but it was 2 am before it was down to 100.  By 6 am when I woke up, my temperature was 96- a bit low, but I was happy to see my resting pulse went down to 70.  After getting morning kid stuff done, I snoozed a couple more hours and was good for the day with only a lingering stiff neck.  (What an excuse for not posting, hey!!!)

 

       So I could write about stiff necked people, about how we should take care of these temples, using common sense, or many other good topics, but I'd rather write about how God helped me through it.  He kept my mental state calm, my body alive, and more importantly, spoke by the Spirit into me things that made me smile and even laugh.  Though I can't remember any of it now, I know it felt like I had a friend with me who was trying to cheer me up when I was in a tough spot.

 

Wow, what a God we serve!!!

 

       He created us for a fabulous life with Him and even though we messed it up, He made a plan to set it straight again.  He loves us so much He sent His Son to die for our sins so we could be together again; and even though we cannot stop sinning, He chooses to dwell in us.  And in the long, difficult times He loves on us and gives us what we need to get through the night, the loneliness or other troubles.

 

Wow, what an awesome God we serve!!!

 

 

When you pass through the waters, I'll be with you; and through the rivers, they won't sweep over you. when you walk through fire you won't be scorched, and the flame won't set you ablaze. "I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Redeemer...  Is. 43:2,3
Even when I walk through a valley of deep darkness, I will not be afraid because you are with me. Your rod and your staff—they comfort me. Ps. 23:4