Life on the Cutting Edge

Hi friends,

Lately I've found myself somewhat caught between a rock and a hard place. I'll share a wee portion of my present life with you, my blog readers, in this post. A few years ago I had my appendix removed. The doctors had thought it necessary to do the surgery as I was having severe pain in that region of my right side. After the surgery I was told that my appendix was not that bad after all. According to the surgeons they had taken it out any way as they had already done the cut. As you can imagine I was not amused but there was hardly anything to be said as the surgery had already been performed.

I was sent home on antibiotics and painkillers. Within few days however I began to experience pain and had to be admitted in a hospital near to my home. The doctors there said that I had been released too early from the other hospital and that I should not have started eating when I did. My condition improved and I was allowed to return to my home once more. Well, as far as I could see, I was none the worse for the experience except for the fact that the side of my tummy which was cut seemed to be unusually high. That's what I thought!!!

Less than a year passed and I had to be readmitted to the hospital. What was the problem? According to the doctors I had healed with adhesion that clung to my intestines and I now had intestinal obstruction. This has been one of my most horrifying experiences. Swallowing down an NG tube is a nightmare for me and having the catheter inserted is no fun either. Until I had this experience I really did not know how blessed I was to be able to perform such simple bodily functions as passing wind and defecating. I really did not dwell on the fact that the digestion of food is a great blessing. I accepted these functions as a normal part of my life and didn't even think of thanking God for making them possible. Big mistake!

Well, in the ensuing years, I continued having this problem. Each time it occurs I am unable to perform these bodily functions and since nothing can go down to be passed out, everything starts coming up and out and I have to be rushed to the hospital to have the tubes inserted all over again. Recently I have been told that I have also developed incisional hernia- which according to the doctors is contributing to the obstruction. Now I'm being told that the only way to solve these problems is to put my trust in surgeons again and return to the cutting table so that they can repair what has gone wrong. Need I say that I have lost interest in surgery?

Here I am on the cutting edge. This past week I realized that once more I seemed to be in danger of going back to the experience of swallowing the NG tube. I was having difficulty in 'passing my stool' and by Tuesday I realized that I was unable to 'pass wind' either. In spite of my plight though, I had a deep settled peace. I began talking to Jehovah Rapha, truly He is my Healer. I told Him about my health issues even though I know He knew about them from the foundations of the earth. I didn't ask Him for physical healing but I asked that He would do whatever He thought was best for me. Of course, I asked Him to prepare me for eternity- spiritual healing- that's what I crave and need so urgently.

I decided to call my mother who was at that time visiting my sister. I asked her to get me a bottle of prune juice on her way home. She was so concerned on hearing of my plight that she left immediately, bought the prune juice and hastened home. I took one long draught and wonders of wonders I was actually startled by the loud passage of wind from below. Later on I was relieved of my stool. The pains went and I was free again.

As I worshipped today (I'm a Seventh Day Adventist), I was in a deep attitude of gratitude. My God cares. I know that I'm just a pilgrim passing through this world of sorrow and woe. I know too that I'm not worthy of the least of God's blessings. But isn't it just like our Father to give us undeserved gifts? Yes, I'm on the cutting edge my friends, but I'm allowing myself to fall in the hands of my loving Father. Each day that I awake I will glory in His divine compassionate love. On the cutting edge, I thank Him for all the gifts that seem so insignificant, even my finger and toenails. How would I manage without them?

Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me bless His Holy Name.

Is There Love At Home?

We live in a society where crime, violence, lawlessness, hatred and all the baser passions abound. The image of God is rapidly being effaced from human beings as satanic agencies contend for the mastery. It is no wonder then that life in general and human life seems to have very little value at this time in earth's history. Love is rarely expressed and it is now easier to 'like' an individual than to love him or her. It is left to those who are Christians to transmit the light of love to a dark and cold world. But to give love we must first have it. So... Is there love at home?

When love is in the home the following will be inevitable:

1. There will be prayer in the home. It has been said that the family who prays together stays together. Why, do you think this is so? God is love. Ultimately, it is God who give us the capacity to love. As we behold Him in prayer and study of His word we become like Him in His love. We are then able to love our family members and as a family we will be able to extend God's love to others, near and far.

2. Sharing will be natural as lives are shared daily.

3. There will be something visual to keep love going- something to remind you of the one you love.

4. Things will be done just because of you/ just for you.

5. Love will change as it keeps renewing itself. It must grow because love is never passive. Love is active and dynamic.

6. Life's disturbances or issues will be resolved. Love knows how to deal with these issues. Friends will not be seen as enemies.

7. There will be a high standard of forgiveness at home.

8. There will be acceptance, apologies will be offered freely, there will be full forgiveness and restoration of the relationship will be complete

9. When things are going badly we will want to work them out- sort of like ironing out the crinkles.

10. When there is love at home, home will be a place with an open door when the whole world lets us down.

If there is love at home, let us freely share it with the world. Today, let the world know you care in some small way. Let love's light glow in your corner of the globe.

I love you all.

Verne

Learning to Lean

Today, my thoughts are with Raine@Simply Getting By. Her father is battling with a malignant tumor at a time when she is pregnant. She needs our prayers for strength to deal with this family crisis. I guess it is one of those illnesses that sort of unnerves us... makes us realize how fragile we really are. Please help me pray for Raine and her family.

These are truly the days of our lives. We awaken to face:

1. Bad News
2. Pain
3. Anxiety
4. Fear
5. Weakness
6. Heavy Burdens
7. Hopelessness

Then when we think we are crushed beyond measure Jehovah Jireh provides for us so much more. He gives us:

1. Good News and takes our Bad News
2. Relief and takes our pain
3. Confidence and takes our anxiety
4. Boldness and takes our fear
5. Strength and takes our weakness
6. Light Hearts and takes our heavy burdens
7. Bright Hope for the future and takes our hopelessness.

But have we learned to lean? Or do we prefer to stand on our own two feet? Daily it is my desire to lean. I want to stop and smell the sweet fragrance of the roses. I want to lean on Him who alone is strong. For Raine and those of us who are troubled about many things, let us learn to lean on El Roi- The God Who Sees us in our several situations and will undoubtedly meet us where we are. Indeed He is able to give us so much more if we only lean on Him in childlike confidence.


Love you all.

Verne

Kreativ Blogger Award

I thank Ann again for nominating me for this award. I really appreciate it. I'm trying to get this perfect but - if I don't - forgive me. I guess this is where I should name seven things about myself that folks may not know. I need to put on my thinking cap here. Let's see if I can identify seven...

Here goes:

1. I have a sweet tooth although I try to keep it under control. I love pastries, cakes, and baked goodies in general. I day dream about double scoop ice cream sundaes with butterscotch topping and fruit cocktails. Mmmm... (Guess I shouldn't have disclosed that one).
2. Rats are my nemesis. I fear them dead or alive. (I get up on tables, stools, beds, just about anything to avoid them. Then, I scream my head off).
3. I enjoy visiting scenic places in Jamaica and having fun with friends but I'm not too enthused about taking a flight in an aeroplane. Have never felt the pull to visit another country. Don't know if I ever will. LOL.
4. I prefer to avoid soup and porridge. (Am I happy to be an adult! No more spankings to ensure that I eat these foods).
5. Enjoying good music is one of my passions but I am no singer. Strange!
6. My favourite colour is red and my favourite number is seven.
7. I enjoy preaching. I'm thinking of becoming an evangelist some time in the future, if it is God's will.

These are the seven bloggers who I will nominate for the award, although there are so many others who have inspired me and are deserving of this award:

1. Nicole @Pure Perseverance
2. Becca @Time Well Spent
3. Mimi @Frump's Findings
4. Julie @wife.mom.nurse
5. Life Adapted
6. Yolanda @Mocha Moments
7. Raine@Simply Getting By

Well! I guess this is it. If I have not done everything right forgive me because I'm still in the learning process.

Love you all.

Verne

Thank You

I notice that Ann @His Grace To Me has nominated me for an award. I don't know whether to be thrilled or sad so I'll just be thrilled since that's the easier option. You see I'm quite lost. I do not know where to go to collect the award so that I can put it on my blog. I am not really versed in these things. I'd really love to have the award on my blog so any help will be welcome.

Ann, I want you to know that I really appreciate your kind gesture in nominating me. I'm very happy that you have been blessed by the thoughts I share from time to time. God is truly awesome. It seems to me that He really wants me to continue with my blogging. Each time I feel like giving up on it something or someone like Ann happens to get me back on track.

In recent times I've been thinking that maybe, just maybe, my posts weren't really touching lives in the way I intended. You see my blogging is really intended to minister of God's grace to others. At the same time, I want to share a little bit of me with my blog friends. Sometimes I really wonder whether or not I'm striking the right balance. I actually contemplated giving it up to just concentrate on my ministry in my community.

Today, I thank God for using Ann to encourage me to continue when I would have given up. Who is like unto God? His hand truly covers it all. Well, I'll see if my little sister (Ruth) can assist me in getting the award on my blog.

May God bless you abundantly.

Love you all

Verne

It's another day of golden sunshine. Let's see if I can share this with you today:

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving

Do not begin to blame

Even when the time is hard and

Fierce winds are bound to blow

God is forever able

Hold on to what you know

Imagine life without His love

Joy would cease to be

Keep thanking Him for all the blessings

Love imparts to thee

Move out of 'Camp Complaining'

No weapon that is known

On earth can wield the power

Praise can do alone

Quit looking at the future

Redeem the time at hand

Start every day with worship

To thank is a command

Until we see Him coming

Victorious in the sky

We'll run the race with gratitude

X-alting God Most High

Yes, there'll be good times and yes there'll be bad. but

Zion waits in glory... where none are ever sad.

"I am too blessed to be stressed.The shortest distance

between a problem and a solution is the distance between your

knees and the floor.

The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything."

As I said it came in my email. It's titled, 'The Holy Alphabet'. Need I say more? May your day be a Spirit-filled one. Love you all.