A Day to Remember.

I day of remembrance, Memorial Day. I am grateful to all who have given lives...some paying the ultimate price...to ensure my freedom. Please enjoy this tribute. Summer arrived early in Arizona so we are going to escape for a bit. We are off for a couple of weeks, flying coast to coast, to see kids and grandgirlies. Don't forget that God is good...all the time.

A Charge

So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance. 1 Chronicles 28:8 (NLT)

It's birthday weekend. Actually, I'm in favor of birthday month, but I'm not going to complain. My kids have the double trouble of both Mother's Day and my birthday within a week of each other. That could be a big disadvantage but they do a good job of making sure Mom feels loved and appreciated. As the calendar turns over and year 62 hits, I think back on other birthdays. My mom was great at making my day special with small family celebrations rather than many big parties. Even now, my daughter calls to make sure I have all my meals covered with something fun to do…because we always did that. I endorse family traditions for the stability they add from one generation to another. Having recently read the Old Testament stories from Abraham to David, I noticed that family traits were often passed from one generation to another, even when the patriarch might have preferred to skip a particular one; deception comes to mind when I remember the stories of Jacob and his sons. As a mother and grandmother, I ponder over what I want to pass down to those I love. No one is perfect and even giving it our best shot leaves us vulnerable to failure, at times. However, David's command to his son, Solomon, sums up the best advice–obey all the commands of the Lord your God. Does that sound overwhelming? Maybe, but it is the bottom line and to accomplish it means that we need to be in God's word…reading, meditating, praying, listening, and obeying. Even when the children of Israel blew it, which they often did, God never gave up on them and led them to the Promised Land. This year, my prayer is that my family will stay close to the One who promises blessing and hope for the future...to the third and fourth generation.

The Healer

I, the LORD, am your healer. Exodus 15:26 (NASB)

It was kind of a good news/bad news kind of day. The good news is that the "lesion" is a benign, common, cartilage cyst in the bone. The bad news is that I have the spine of a 76-year-old woman in the body of a 62-year-old with the accompanying deterioration and pain. I am not surprised since my dad suffers from the same kind of thing. Thankfully, God gives us just enough light for the next step because I have no idea what is down the road. A friend sent me an email yesterday that encouraged me that God is my true healer. She shared with me what she learned about our Healer from a recent class: "The Hebrew phrase translated "the LORD who heals" is Yahweh Rophe and reveals God's ability to restore, to heal, and to cure, not only in the physical sense but also in the moral and spiritual sense. The Hebrew root verb rapha ("to heal") occurs approximately 70 times in the Old Testament." "Trusting God does not mean telling God anything. Trusting means relying on God's names and then waiting patiently to see what He will accomplish. Remember, TRUST means Total Reliance Under Stress and Trial. Can God heal? Yes. Will He heal? Yes, He is Yahweh Rophe. The Lord is the Great Physician. But how and when will He heal? We cannot presume to know. Watch and wait to see how He heals. And trust your Yahweh Rophe." Catherine Martin The definition of trust popped out at me. Stress really shows our true colors and I want mine to always reflect the rainbow colors of His love and promise. I know that God is good all the time.

In the Shadows

I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 63:6-8 (NLT)

The phone rang last week and my world tilted. As I listened to the nurse give me a report on some recent x-rays, all I could hear was the word "lesion" that was found in my right hip. She had no explanation, of course, and suggested that I set up an appointment with my doctor. My mind started racing and immediately latched on to the worst-case scenario. Why do we do that? Mark gently reminded me not to worry but I decided I would rather have my own private pity party first. I mentally struggled with all the "what if's" and fretted most of the evening. As bedtime approached, the fear that sleep would be elusive compounded my anxiety. I am very good at going over and over things in my head when I hit the pillow. But that night, when darkness settled in and threatened to undo me, I started to pray. I know that God is not surprised by any of this yet He lets me whine and moan without condemnation. I prayed for Him to post sentries at the corners of our home and cover us with His protection. Then I returned to the words of the 23rd Psalm—words that have often comforted me in the last months:

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

I thought about the rod and staff. Why were they mentioned and what were they used for? As I pondered, I realized the rod was used defensively to protect the sheep from robbers or wild animals. The staff, on the other hand, was used to hook the foot of a stray before it tumbled into trouble. The quiet assurance that my Shepherd is there to catch me either way blurred the sharp edges of my worry and I fell asleep. I was safe in the shadow of His wings. I still have that doctor's appointment this week but I cling to Him for the outcome. No matter what, I am secure in His hands.