“Many a time they have afflicted me
from my youth;
Yet they have not prevailed against
me.
The plowers plowed on my back;
They made their furrows long.”
Psalm 129:2-3
The farmers here have begun making long furrows.
Lord, help us trust our deep afflicted places to you, that You may plant good in them. And here’s a simple poem . . .
It’s Sunday morning here in Alaska. We survived already this morning– DST, an earthquake, dog poop on the carpet, and snow, and it’s not even noon yet. (Can’t wait to see what the afternoon will bring.)
I had my appointment Friday, and my doctor was blown away. My Bell’s Palsy is diminished by about 70%. He was thunderstruck. And I believe God healed me!
There are some issues though. The BP is still affecting my eye, and the left side of my mouth. I have decided to continue the meds, and start to ease off of managing four blogs. The eyestrain isn’t going to help my affected eye.
I was able to open the service with a meditation from the Word last night at our main service. I managed to do this without a translator, or a sponge, so I survived.
Having so many praying for me, especially early this week during the acute stages was profound. Thanks for mobilizing and standing up for me in the Father’s presence. Thank you!
I really don’t know what I should say now. Yesterday, March 3, I woke up and made the frightening discovery that the entire left side of my face was paralyzed. Eye-mouth-lips-tongue. But being a true coffee drinker, I found I could only drink my morning joe with a straw, otherwise it just dribbled down my chin. And I couldn’t close my left eye.
I drove my son to his classes, and then decided on a whim that it might be wise to have my doc look at it. I was immediately escorted up to the hospital’s ER. The concern was is that I had a stroke; or in the midst of one. But the real diagnosis though is Bell’s Palsy.
Since I physically couldn’t close my left eye I experienced the horrible experience of not being able to blink. I must of made a ghastly sight with an eye that didn’t close, staring out like a cyclops. That was the worse of it. Even though the pain was minimal, the eye was affected the worst, and since I couldn’t close it on its own was very irritated. It would only close by physical pulling down the eyelid.
I suppose the worst part of it was going in for an MRI. Because of my past brain tumor that has become the biggest issue here. I could tell the tech was aware of something. And that they discovered something. The radiologist deferred any diagnosis until the past MRI from Anchorage could be consulted.
So now I sit here writing with just one working eye, and a prayer. I don’t want surgery again. And yet, at the same time, I want them to carve this thing out. I’m 52 years old, married with two great kids. In ministry that I love doing. But I am fully in God’s hands.
The Bell’s Palsy if that is all its is, has a healing rate of 3-6 months. And that’s fine– if it is just that. But if it is another brain tumor, than my symptoms will only spread. I will know on Friday, later this week. I will let you know.
If wish to help me, please take my name before the Father. Having this awareness, I can follow Him much more gracefully. We can be excited (and hopeful) for a healing, but I’ve learned it takes just as much faith to follow Him through things like this. Oh, BTW, if you run into me on the wooly streets of Homer Alaska, I’ll let you buy me a Vanilla latte. But I will need a straw, lol.
&
“I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain.”
If you have to go to war, you may find yourselves facing an enemy army that is bigger than yours and that has horses and chariots. But don’t be afraid! The LORD your God rescued you from Egypt, and he will help you fight.
Deut. 20:1
Provision is being made for this inevitability. As a promise it’s kind like one of those, “Break Glass in Case of Emergency” for the nation of Israel. It will happen, so this is what you need to do. There can be no Promised Land without combat. If we move with God there will be conflict for all who advance.
Provision is also being made for fighting superior numbers. Not only will you be outnumbered but you will be outgunned. Essentially, they were facing chariots, the modern tank of ancient battles. But, even in the light of this, “don’t be afraid!” This fear will immobilize you. Fear is also highly contagious, and spreads through ranks of men.
It is hard to see an ancient battle through the eyes of a warrior. It must have been a frightening experience to pass through. The mud, sweat, the noise and the thirst are all working on you, and additionally it’s one of those “kill or be killed” scenarios. If you don’t kill the man fighting you, he will kill you. And he will.
In our verse we read of an another critical point. “The Lord rescued you…” This is a reminder what has happened in Israel’s past. Israel, led by Moses, crossed miraculously the Red Sea. They were also chased by chariots, and had few weapons and no trained army. Present day Israel was called to remember that deliverance, and to trust God to do it again.
“The Lord rescued…and the Lord will help you fight”. We need to remember the past, and then look to the future. It is also quite helpful to seeing God as presently involved in our lives. As Christians, our experiences mirror the covenant people of Israel. We are to draw on these lessons and drive back our enemies. To confidently remember all the times He met us, and to stand and meet the foe.
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.”
Broken Believers 