Shhhh!

It will be a quiet week for me in blog land. This will most likely be my post for the week.

We have our grandson Zachary until Friday. He and Gam' Pa should be having a wonderful time while I am at work. <<SIGH>>

I spent most of the weekend cleaning, chopping, cooking getting food ready that I know Zachary likes and that will help the Hubs when the inevitably, "I'm hungry, Gam' Pa!' is uttered.

Speaking of work, we have our annual (shudder) compliance audit this week. Being a government entity, we are accountable to John Q. Public. This is an internal audit. There will be questions, stopping my normal duties to assist with auditor's requests for paperwork, etc. I feel confident my 'ducks' are in a row!

It will be a busy and full week both at home and at work. Your prayers are coveted.


Hebrews 4:13 (NIRV)

Nothing God created is hidden from him. His eyes see everything. He will hold us accountable for everything we do. 

Blessings,

Tamara

XOXO

Stones of Remembrance

Genesis 28:17-19 New American Standard Bible

17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” 18 So Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on its top. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel; however, previously the name of the city had been Luz.

In the old testament scriptures, stones were set out as a memorial for something important and as noted above, Jacob poured oil on the top of the stone.  He anointed it. 

Today, I too have anointed my stone of remembrance.  It has been two years since the heart attack and the same amount of time since I've had a cigarette.  All my recent lab work came back within good ranges. My cholesterol levels are within range and it has been one year since I've taken any 'heart' medications. I only take a low dose aspirin daily.  I'm sure I'll be seeing the cardiologist soon, I'm just waiting to see when they set it up. I'll probably need the dreaded stress test - so aptly named.

Now, before this begins to sound like 'happily ever after' I do confess to having bouts of really wanting to smoke a cigarette. But I don't, thank God. I simply think back to the quality time I spent with Jesus in the MedEvac helicopter and the first two weeks of going cold turkey. I don't want to have to do that again, ever!

The exercise has gone by the wayside and it shows. I need to begin a walking regime again. I did have an occasion where I was transported to the hospital from work - a bit of a fainting spell. Alright, two - I had two near episodes where I had to lay down on the floor before I fell down.  The verdict was dehydration and low protein levels. 

I was going great guns on trying to become vegetarian.  Too well, evidently.  So the carnivore in me has reemerged. But tempered. I'm also using a protein powder and making healthy smoothies with frozen berries, vanilla yogurt and a banana thinned out with orange juice!

On Wednesday of this week, my husband will be having a procedure to manually extract a 12 mm kidney stone. As I understand it, they will try to break it into a manageable size and then place a stent in his kidney. Eventually the stent will need to be removed.

We, the aging Baby Boomers are having health concerns! Thank God for medical insurance and the ability for me to take time off work to assist Dennis with his issues.

And so I pray:

Abba, Father ~thank You for Your provisions and for Your grace.  Thank You for allowing us the privelidge of living where we do and for the benefits provided through my employment. Be with us as we begin to experience health concerns and issues. In Jesus' name I pray ~AMEN!

because we're His,

Today's Devotional Scripture

Today's Verse

You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised.
~Hebrews 10:36 NCV

Thoughts on today's verse...

I have to tell you, I was taken aback by the reference to the bible type (NCV). I thought and thought and all I could come up with was "Nearly Correct Version?" So I had to look it up and it's the New Century Version!

Now for my thoughts... holding on... have you ever seen the picture of the kitten hanging from a tree branch and caption was "Hang in there!"? Sometimes that's what being a Christian is like. We extend ourselves and our faith by really "going out on a limb" and then just find that we're hanging there and we're not sure what we're supposed to do next. And that can be a difficult and uncomfortable position to find ourselves in. Especially when we look around and find the more seasoned Christians seem to know exactly what to do and how to do it. I know there have been so many times when I just wanted to retreat, to hide from view. I seemed "so less than" in my faith.

But this scripture is admonishing us to keep on holding on! If we persevere, we will find what it is the Lord is calling us to do, be it ministering to a women's group or cleaning the toilets at church (which by the way, I feel is a very admirable thing to do and very under appreciated!). If we do this, then we will receive that which He has promised.

My commentary read that this chapter in Hebrews is an exhortation to be constant and persevere, the example of Christ is set forth and the gracious design of God in all the sufferings believers have endured. All this does not in the least mean that any souls who sorrow for sin will be shut out from mercy, or that any will be refused the benefit of Christ's sacrifice, who are willing to accept these blessings. Him that cometh unto Christ, he will in no wise cast out. (Heb 10:32-39). Mercy, sweet mercy! And isn't that just what we need ?

My prayer...

Father God, Abba, give me strength to persevere and mercy when I need it most, which is more often than naught! And Lord, may I find exactly what it is You want for me to do. In Jesus' name I pray ~Amen!

Yours, because we're His,

Tamara