Some blogger I am! I start a blog and then only post twice! I could give you my list of reasons, but the truth of the matter is that my life pulls me in many directions and I get tired. When fatigue hits my system, I tend to shut down, which also includes shutting down the creative process. Anyone else relate? I thought so.
Still though, I don't want to give in to the fatigue. Somewhere from my upbringing, giving in feels like failure and there is always that nagging thought that I need to continue to move forward. I strive to balance the busy-ness of life with getting adequate rest, good, nourishing food and replenishing my spiritual needs, but I often find that in the end, one of those things gets short-changed.
Of course, part of the problem is that I try to accomplish my many tasks from my own strength. I was reminded of this recently when I had been sick and fighting a cold. It was one of the worst colds I had experienced in a long time and I was miserable. As usual, I hit the medicine cabinet, trying this remedy or that, but not experiencing much relief. I checked out some online medical advice and tried some home remedies, but after 5 days of misery, I still couldn't breathe very easily. As I was reading in my bible that day, I came across James 5:13-15. "Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord, The prayer of faith will save the sick person and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." I realized I had tried everything else, except for the Lord. He is, after all, the Great Healer and Physician. I then told God that I was sorry for blowing it again and not giving him my first thoughts, but rather my last thoughts. I prayed for healing and believed he could heal me if he wanted to. The next morning I woke up and found that I could breathe normally. I seemed to be healed, but I was waiting for the sniffle or headache or stuffy nose to return later in the day. It never did. I was surprised, but I don't know why. I did ask for healing. Why should I be surprised when God healed me of my cold? Pastor Tom King's words came to my mind, "Do you believe what you say you believe?" Another lesson for Carrie-kind to learn. If God is my refuge and strength, then I must believe what I say I believe.
Now for those of you rolling your eyes and biting your tongues from saying, "oh bother", let me reassure you that I'm not advocating the "if you have enough faith you can be healed" way of thinking. I am advocating though, that God has ultimate control. He could have chosen to not heal me for his own purposes, but in this case, he chose to heal me. If he had not healed me, it would not make him any less God or any less powerful. It would also not negate my own faith.
From my own strength, I failed. When I leaned upon my Lord, his strength was made great in my weakness.
"...for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor. 12:13
Hope to "see" you very soon! :-)
Still though, I don't want to give in to the fatigue. Somewhere from my upbringing, giving in feels like failure and there is always that nagging thought that I need to continue to move forward. I strive to balance the busy-ness of life with getting adequate rest, good, nourishing food and replenishing my spiritual needs, but I often find that in the end, one of those things gets short-changed.
Of course, part of the problem is that I try to accomplish my many tasks from my own strength. I was reminded of this recently when I had been sick and fighting a cold. It was one of the worst colds I had experienced in a long time and I was miserable. As usual, I hit the medicine cabinet, trying this remedy or that, but not experiencing much relief. I checked out some online medical advice and tried some home remedies, but after 5 days of misery, I still couldn't breathe very easily. As I was reading in my bible that day, I came across James 5:13-15. "Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord, The prayer of faith will save the sick person and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." I realized I had tried everything else, except for the Lord. He is, after all, the Great Healer and Physician. I then told God that I was sorry for blowing it again and not giving him my first thoughts, but rather my last thoughts. I prayed for healing and believed he could heal me if he wanted to. The next morning I woke up and found that I could breathe normally. I seemed to be healed, but I was waiting for the sniffle or headache or stuffy nose to return later in the day. It never did. I was surprised, but I don't know why. I did ask for healing. Why should I be surprised when God healed me of my cold? Pastor Tom King's words came to my mind, "Do you believe what you say you believe?" Another lesson for Carrie-kind to learn. If God is my refuge and strength, then I must believe what I say I believe.
Now for those of you rolling your eyes and biting your tongues from saying, "oh bother", let me reassure you that I'm not advocating the "if you have enough faith you can be healed" way of thinking. I am advocating though, that God has ultimate control. He could have chosen to not heal me for his own purposes, but in this case, he chose to heal me. If he had not healed me, it would not make him any less God or any less powerful. It would also not negate my own faith.
From my own strength, I failed. When I leaned upon my Lord, his strength was made great in my weakness.
"...for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor. 12:13
Hope to "see" you very soon! :-)
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