Survival Mode

We wear them proudly.....SURVIVAL BRACELETS, crafted by a young entrepreneur, Pabel, one of our creative grandsons.  They are made from paracord, a rope used in parachutes.  They hold a minimum weight of 550lbs and are about 7' feet long.  A very neccessary tool to have if you are an adventurous type and are hiking in the woods and find yourself in a scary situation, such as maybe...... hanging off a cliff!

 It could save your life.

Lord, help me, it's a cliff I have come to on my walk in the wilderness...would You throw me a line? Only a rope from You will do. Although I appreciate the strength of my new survival bracelet, given to me by my loved one, it cannot help me in my scary situation.  I need a lifeline that only my God can give.

Shine your light so I can see you
Pull me up I need to be near you
Hold me I need to feel love
Can you overcome this heart that's overcome?
(David Crowder Band)

 

One of my father's favorite scriptures come to mind;

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
         Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
         My God, in Him I will trust.”
        
 "Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler 

and from the perilous pestilence.
 

He shall cover you with His feathers,
         And under His wings you shall take refuge;
         His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
 

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
         Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
         Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday." 

 

 

And why is that?

" Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,
         Even the Most High, your dwelling place"

Yes, I am in survival mode. I hold all that is dear to me close, very close.

 And I hold on to the lifeline thrown to me by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He has overcome!

It's a Love Feast

"And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink" Genesis 26:30

A gathering of family was what was required to satisfy my hungry soul for strength and solace.  We packed up and headed down to be with loved ones to celebrate our birthdays.  What better way than to have a love feast?  

Cooking Italian....it's what we've done since the kids were little. 

Tracy's very favorite birthday request....her Dad's Lasagna!

 ..and of course, crunchy bruschetta

Gabby bringing out her Caprese salad made with love

everyone wants to get in on the preparations...those are heirloom cherry tomatoes by the way...delicious!

There is something about the breaking of bread, 

the coming together as a family

and eating a meal lovingly prepared, that evokes the fondest of memories 

new and old. 

 It's a time of thanksgiving for our many blessings, not just for the provision of great food and drink...but for each other. 

 Eating together as a family is a lifeline for me. It is spiritual nourishment. I am connected with my loved ones keeping a wholeness and a balance in my life which seems to be unraveling. 

Hold fast to the ones you love and treasure them greatly. 

Break bread together often, keeping your family table front and center, 

and thank God for all that you have and for all whom you love. 

"...if two lie down together, they will keep warm..." Ecclesiastes 4:11

It is in the early morning hours that I can look upon my Joe in his sleep

and reflect once again on the goodness of our God.

 Although He is my rock and my fortress,

I am vastly aware of what He has given me in the way of a husband. 

 Joe has been my dedicated warrior and my formidable protector.

God has taken him through a rough time of an awareness

of just Who is in control.

It’s not an easy lesson for my strong husband,

who wants to make it all better for me.

A gentle hand on my body and a soft noise awoke me

in the middle of the night.

It was dark and I could barely make out the figure of this man

kneeling by my bedside

with his head buried in my sheets and his hand placed gently on my body.

 I quietly lifted him up in prayer as I felt the fervent pressure of his hand

and the soft anguish in his whispered prayer.

Our marriage has grown even stronger in this trial.  God has joined us together

 and though it took years to understand it, and rejoice in it…we have finally come to realize

 how strong we are as a single unit because of Him.

We are a cord of three strands, united in Christ and not easily broken.

Joe is standing faithfully beside me in this, he is keeping me warm and supporting me through it all,

 even in the wee hours of the night he is ever watchful.

Father, you amaze me by the countless ways you’ve made me aware of Your love for me…through the touch of my husband, the love of our children and grandchildren, the prayers and words of encouragement from numerous people and from Your Word.

 I stand amazed.

".....your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit..." 1Cor 6:19

When one goes through a serious disease, family and friends flock around you like a warm, soft cocoon..protecting and soothing their loved one.  It is in this attention that I gratefully find myself.  They are my ministers of peace and serenity and provision. 

Two of my sweet sisters sent a care package to me teeming with healthy goodies to help build up my immune system before the poison invasion. Also enclosed was a CD with a collection of wonderful spiritual songs to bring me into His presence in worship.

I have a juicer, books on eating healthy (raw vegetables and fruit, some organic grains and the like), books concerning alternative methods of healing and books on healing prayer

My cup overflows with the outpouring of love!

Everyone who knows me, knows a cheeseburger with everything on it , a large helping of french fries, a diet coke and just about anything chocolate is what I liked to eat! 

All my life I've devoted myself to eating rich, fatty foods and jumping from diet to diet. I've tried them all in my quest to satisfy my flesh.

That may be or may not be why I've contracted this cancer,

but one thing I do know.....

it got my attention!

It's time to be satisfied at the table of the Lord and not the trough of overindulgence.  My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God took great care in the design of  His old testament temple. Immense wealth was placed in its construction.  How much more valuable is my body to Him?

I am fearfully and wonderfully made...it's about time

I took better care of my body which houses

 my Lord Jesus Christ.

Whether it be healthy food, exercise, plenty of rest or entertainment,

I will surrender my body to the Lord and glorify Him in my life.