Monday, September 28, 2009

Suffering People

Well today I begin my journey with Dr. Ebert and who will be operating on my sinuses, October 7th. I have put my trust in him...mostly in God who will direct his hands! I will have my right maxillary sinus cleaned out and one of the passageways enlarged.

When I went for my pre-op, I was stunned by the number of people waiting to be seen by a doctor who specializes in ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat). There was a lady with a growth on her chin, a man with some kind of apparatus on his nose, little children and teenagers with different ailments, all crammed into the waiting room. Some even had to stand and wait.

It reminds me that life happens and as much as we may pray and ask the Lord to heal us, He may have other plans in mind. My good friend Donna went with me and she, as I knew she would, befriended a lady sitting with her son. The lady is from the Bronx, where Donna and I are going next month to speak at the Fordham Manor Reformed Church. They had invited me to perform the Woman at the Well drama, and Donna so graciously accepted my invitation to join me. She will be "setting the stage" for my entrance and following up with a Scripture reading.
The lady gave Donna hints on what we should and shouldn't do while in New York. God is so good to give us some practical tips on travel.

While at UNC Hospital, Donna and I were able to pray for all the hurting people. My surgery seems so minor to what others are suffering through. God be with them!

Monday, September 21, 2009

What does Mikveh, Washing of the Disciples Feet and Christian Baptism have in common?

As I study about the Jewish marriage, I understand more about my relationship with Jesus and His bride, the church. There are so many interesting facts ...Here is a sample of what we are studying today from "Attending the Bride of Christ...preparing for His return" by Martha Lawley.

Prior to their betrothel ceremony, the Jewish bride and groom separately prepared themselves to enter into covenant relationship. This preparation included the ritual of water immersion known as the mikveh. Ritual immersion represented spiritual cleansing. When Jesus washed the disciples feet at the Last Supper he was symbolically preparing the bride for covenant relationship. Christian baptism represents spiritual cleansing. Isn't that so cool?

At the betrothal ceremony the bridegroom gives the bride a gold ring to wear...on her finger or in her nose! That ring set her apart exclusively for her groom. They shared a cup of wine, symbolizing the blessing of their new covenant relationship. This betrothal covenant was not a promise to marry; instead, it was the initiation of the marriage relationship. Continuing to live apart, the bride and the bridegroom each prepared for the fulfillment of the marriage covenant.

This is a very interesting and enlightening study and I highly suggest you get a copy from Lifeway Bookstores and join us on Sunday nights or study alone. Martha has a unique way of bringing the Old Testament, New Testament and life application together in a single setting.

As I think of Christ as my husband, I am reminded of my earthly husband and Ephesians 5:25-33...

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

My Interpretation:

I am washed by the blood of the Lamb! Jesus sought me and bought me and now I am part of His Bride. Also, Jesus washes me through His WORD...that is, when I take time to read His WORDS!! And my earthly husband shares with me what the Lord has revealed to him when he reads the Bible. Cleanse me Lord!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Attending the Bride of Christ by Martha Lawley

Sunday night we started the study, "Attending the Bride of Christ" Preparing for His return. It was like sitting around the dinning room table with your friends talking about wedding preparations and what role we will play. Are we the friend of the bridegroom, the bride, or the bridal attendant...or are we all three? That's what we are going to learn about this week. It is a wonderful study and since this is the second time I am doing it, I am learning even more.

Have you ever thought of your relationship with the Bridegroom, Jesus? You, if you are a believer, are part of His church which is His Bride. So we have a relationship with Him individually and yet we are His bride collectively. He has gone to prepare a place for us and will some day come back for us. That is when the Father says the room is ready and the bride is ready. The symbolism between the Jewish marriage and wedding feast to Jesus and His bride is exciting and opens the eyes of your heart.

Check out Martha Lawley's website, http://www.attendingthebride.com . We are doing the study at church but you can do it on your own; I did the first time. Familiar verses will take on new meaning. Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Fantasy Football and the difference between boys and girls

There are times when my seventeen year old son gets on my nerves. Like when he doesn't clean his room and it smells like a gym room, or when I have asked him for the tenth time to take out the trash. But then I have to remind myself that he is a good kid...a good man. Right now as I write this blog, he and 5 of his friends are sitting in my TV room putting together their Fantasy Football draft picks.

I am sitting in the dining room and even though I am not listening...honestly....I can hear their chatter. They are so NOT like girls when we get together. They don't mind calling each other names and disagreeing with each others picks. Girls on the other hand, have a hard time making choices because they don't want to hurt each others feelings. I love having them here and I love hearing them laugh. I know they must have said something I wasn't supposed to hear because they got real quiet and then giggled. I didn't hear what they said and I made sure I didn't react so as not to embarrass them. Boys!

I just received a cute email from my sister...about the differences between men and women. Read it and enjoy! I love my man, but we are like most of what is written below!

NICKNAMES
If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah.
If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-eyes.
EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS
A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel .
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.
ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.
DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Sinus Problems- UGH!

WOW! Time sure has flown by! Celebrating my 57th birthday was such a treat. mY hubby and I woke up laughing at how old I am. I just can't seem to believe I am 57. Especially while I am on Prednisone and my whole body is in fast gear. I will soon be returning to normal...whatever that is...and hopefully my sinus infection will be gone.

Today I had to go to the dentist and have a tooth reparied. No decay; it just fell apart. Of course, then the dental assistant had to tell me how to brush my teeth...like i haven't been. Why do they do that? I had no cavities and my gums looked good other than one little spot. It always irritates me when they treat me like a child. Plus I read when you go through menopause it can affect your gum tissue and there might be some receeding.

One more week and I will off Levaquinn and we will see how it worked. I was able to go to YouTube for a look at a procedure I might have to have. So, take a look, especially if you have sinus problems. It's kinda gross but so informative. It didn't dowlnaod but if you go to Youtube you can watch different ones.