Dilemma or Delight?

This week we came to the end of Beth Moore's book, "Beloving God" and although this idea wasn't directly mentioned in it, this question emerged in my mind.

Before I state the question, here's the the background. I have suffered with headaches even as a small child. From studies I've read about headaches, those early headaches probably were due to food allergies. As the years progressed, the headaches continued, following no pattern, but no doubt at times due to hormonal upsets, lack of a proper rest, neck injuries (I slipped on an icy sidewalk one winter and gave myself a whiplash), etc. (Believe it or not, no hangovers.)

Now, my question is this: I know and believe that it is scriptural to praise/thank God in all things (not "for") but in  all things, and I would take that to include times when my head and neck would just as soon have been removed to my heavenly home (along with the rest of me).

I don't think I have been bitter against God because my head hurt but only until I have come out on the other side of my headache, do I remember that I didn't manage to praise Him, anyway. Hence my question--why can't I remember to praise Him at such times? I'm certainly not able to do much else worthwhile when a migraine hits.

The Lord very graciously answered my question  the next day as I read a weekly e-mail newsletter from a missionary in Kenya. She had come down with a case of flu complicated by a sinus infection. Then her husband caught the bug and as they were commiserating over their dilemma, God brought to their memory a scripture passage they had read before the flu hit: 2 Chronicles, chapter 20.

The middle of verse 6 says "in Your hand is there not power and might." At the end of verse 12 says "our eyes are upon You" and the end of verse 17 we read,"Don't be dismayed, for the Lord is with you."

The whole key to being able to praise God in all things, is to keep our focus on Him, not the dismal circumstances/dilemma of the moment, be they dealing with a flu bug, sinus infection, or a migraine. And, of course, our satanic enemy is delighted when all we can see is the dilemma we find ourselves in. rather than keeping our eyes on God, Who is ever with us, and Who wins the "battle" every time.

The story in 2 Chronicles is about one of those impossible battles where humanly speaking, the Israelites didn't have a chance. But God's powerful action on Israel's behalf is just as real and active today for us.

I can't promise myself from this point on that I'll be able to do more than moan when a headache hits, but I really do think at some point, I'll remember this scripture and direct my eyes toward the Great Physician instead of focusing on my pain and discomfort. That means the dilemma can become a delight. Sounds good to me!

April Showers Paid Off

I don't remember seeing any of my flowers blooming as early as they have this spring. Mind you, I'm not complaining. The minute I spy a bloom, I usually clip it and bring it inside. I'm not very generous with passersby in that respect. Plus the fact that one never knows when a vagrant snowstorm might hit.

Actually, the first surprise was the early arrival of the daffodils along with a different colored crocus than I had ever seen before. Don't think I planted it--in fact, I always anticipate what colorful surprises emerge in my flower gardens--and the Creator never fails to delight me.

My next surprise was lilacs in my backyard by the middle of May. Usually, it's June when they appear, if at all. I planted tulips with abandon at some point a year or so ago. The yield was not abundant this year but colorful. The red ones didn't get recorded for posterity but the white one is included with the lilacs. 

Yesterday Dean asked me if I'd noticed the iris blooming. I had not, but they were doing a beautiful job it in spite of my inattention. On top of that, when I went to the mailbox today, I noticed the spirea bush blooming. Just a note of nostalgia on that one. We used to have a large spirea bush at the farmhouse in Missouri where I grew u[. I can remember breaking off the slender limbs ( probably not the right term) and making them into a "bride's" tiara. 

Now it's time to be thinking of planting vegetables (actually, I'm tardy for some seeds--what else is new?) During my weekly trip to the grocery store today the first thing I noticed upon entering the store was  a lovely, green display of tomato plants. I chose one already bearing a baby tomato about the size of a cherry. There are four blossoms also residing on the plant, so those tomatoes will only cost me $.50/fruit. What a deal!  However, I'll pamper those expensive little tomatoes inside until at least the middle of June. Despite our warm weather, I don't trust Mother Nature's track record in NE Nevada.

Birthday Celebration: Making Memories

Hard to believe that our “baby boy” is embarking on his fourth decade of life as of April 19. We were not able to travel to Indy this year for his birthday, so flew him to Salt Lake City and picked him up there so he could drive us to Colorado Springs to see Aunt Ruthie, Dean’s sister.

This was the first extended road trip in “The Cadillac” and the front seat passengers found the ride quite cushy. The back seat passengers, namely Linus and me, found it to be a bit crowded due to initially poor packing but also cushy. I did get my exercise during the trip as climbing out of the back seat of a two-door vehicle requires somewhat of a contortionist’s act.

On the way to Colorado Springs, we stopped in Leadville to see friends we last visited in Pima, AZ. Talk about a change in altitude! It was great to see the Brummers again and get acquainted with Eliza.

We had a wonderful time with Ruthie and Terry in Colorado Springs plus Jeff flew in for Brian’s birthday so we had a mini-reunion. Thanks to Ruthie we got to visit Magic Town at the Michael Garman Museum. What a marvel. Also got to drive around Garden of the Gods which was gorgeous despite the storm that was threatening.

Brian chose Boston Crème Cake instead of his traditional angel food cake as his birthday cake of choice. Jeff artistically placed the candles to read 39 which, unfortunately is not readable. 

Below we have Brian and Ruthie playing guitar duets. Makes me think of the jam session back in Bairoil, WY days with Dad Diehl on guitar, Belinda, on piano, Ruthie on trumpet or guitar and Gwyn on coffee can (her drum). Good memories.


Terry had a great scrapbook  of pictures of two  of her dogs. Brian decided to "sing" the scrapbook using her picture captions for lyrics and making up his own music along the way. He said he had sung a Dr Seuss book for friends in Indy so this wasn't too much of a stretch for his creativity. Shades of Gwyn! She used to make up her own lyrics when she forgot the words to a song she was singing.



All these wonderful memories make me think of the chapter we're reading called "Beliving God was Faithful in Your Past. When I think of how far back in time God has been faithful in my life, it's really awesome. (Of course, I have to take into account my advanced age)

The first chapter of Joshua tells of how God heaped up the waters of the Jordan River at flood stage so the children of Israel could cross. He commanded that 12 men be chosen to each pick up a large stone from the middle of the riverbed and carry it on beyond the bank to serve as a memorial for what God had done. Then whenever the descendants of the People asked, “Why is that pile of stones there?” an answer could be given of how God faithfully made a way for His people.

I think that would be a good practice to do—except my memorial won’t be a pile of stones—maybe more like a Letter to My Boys.

Salad Bowl Philosophy Part 2

Victorious Christian living. A great concept and I believe in it—but I don’t understand it very well so it’s residing in my “spiritual salad bowl.” In my last post I mentioned Beth Moore’s book, “Believing God.” I started reading her book and realized it contained such good “meaty” concepts that I needed to share it with Dean. So as we have time to sit down together in the morning—which hasn’t been easy recently since we have been such gad-abouts—I read him a chapter.  

In Chapter 1, Beth asks the question:  “Is your belief system working?” This could be a very uncomfortable process if I’m being honest. I have to ask myself, am I succeeding in this Christian life or am I just getting by? Do I see any evidence of God’s power in my life? 

She writes, “Faith is the only thing that will close the gap between our theology and our reality,” and further explains that faith or belief isn’t just something we have but something we do. She uses her Greek instructor’s explanation of the word, “believe” (see Ephesians 1:9) as a present active participle verb. If the explanation stopped there, I would be clueless, but her teacher went on to explain, “Think of using the word, ‘continually’ preceding your verb.” In other words, the scripture means “continually believing God.”

Now this is the awesome point I’m heading for. In Ephesians 1:18-20, Paul is praying for the Ephesians (and us) that we might know “his [God’s] incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his [God’s] mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead.”

And guess what! The word, believe, in this spot is a present active participle verb. That kind of power is beyond anything I can try to describe and God wants me to continually believe He can do what He says He can do and be Who He says He is. That type of  present participle faith/belief can certainly clear away my disconnect between being a victorious Christian and just getting by. That concept is no longer in the salad bowl. Now all I have to d--is do it.