Health

The day before I found myself facing major surgery in the hospital was a really good day.  I finished this painting, paid all my bills, did a 5 mile aerobic walk with hand weights, walked my dogs and various other things around the house.  After watching some TV I started to get a little stomach pain.  The pain kept getting worse and I was up all night.  We went to the doctor in the morning and he sent me to the emergency room.  I thought the doctors there would give me some stomach medicine and then send me on my way.  That did not happen.  Gall stones caused my liver enzymes to go up and I have to stay.  I first saw the Lord's hand on me as I asked to use the ladies room.  While I was walking down the hallway I saw my surgeon walking towards me.  He asked me what I was doing here and I said I had some severe stomach pains.  From then on he took over. He is a wonderful doctor so I was happy about that.  I was put into a shared room. The woman who was my roommate was a born again Christian, and years ago our children had been in kindergarten together.  It was nice that I was sharing a room with someone I already knew. God's comforting hand there again. She got to go home pretty quickly.  On Sunday night I was then moved to a private room on the next floor.  I had to have an endoscopy and then I had to have surgery to have my gall bladder removed.  The private room had a beautiful view.  So many people were praying for me and  with each step of this journey each prayer was answered.  Even when I was alone in the hospital our Father in heaven was always there with me.  He always provided the doctors with wisdom and helped me get through all this.  A hospital chaplin came in before my surgery and read  from the Bible. 

"Is anyone of you in trouble? He should pray.  Is anyone happy?  Let him sing songs of praise.  Is any one of you sick?  He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well, the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:13-16

"A thousand my fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.  If you make the Most High your dwelling- even the LORD, who is my refuge-then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you in in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.  "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."  Psalm 91:7-16

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Sapphire, Diamonds and a New Creation

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:4-9 NIV

I enjoyed watching the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.  Now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.  I thought Catherine, her dress and jewels were all beautiful.  Prince William looked really handsome too.  I loved all those hats!  Everyone is talking about Catherine's engagement ring with the beautiful sapphire and diamonds. I thought it was very sweet of Prince William to give his mother's ring to his beloved Catherine.  This got me thinking about when you first find a diamond in the ground it is rough and dirty and sometimes cloudy.  You have to polish it and have an expert diamond cutter cut it into a beautiful gem.  Before we accept Christ's gift of salvation we are like a diamond in the rough.  After we are saved and Christ comes to live in our hearts we are a new creation. As we mature in our faith the diamond is polished and cut into a beautiful gem--until it sparkles.  The sparkle is Christ and we are His. He will never leave or forsake us. 

Let's pray:  Thank You Father God for Your free gift of salvation.  We praise Your name and we thank You for all the blessings You have given to us.  I pray that Your hand of protection will be upon us. Please Father, keep us safe and healthy. Thank You for always being there for us.  I say these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

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