Happy Birthday to my Dad!

Today, I remember my Dad.  As he would’ve turned 85 years old!

Time really heals all wounds.  But I am finding that there will still be times when it hurts really bad because I miss him so much! It hasn’t been a year so it’s still fresh but God’s abundant grace and mercy have been truly my anchor.  Jesus Christ is my rock and my redeemer.  And continues to give me peace and comfort because He is in control.

“In whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?” Job 12.10

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it abundantly.”  John 10.10

I continue to look to Christ as I miss my Dad.  And know He has made everything beautiful in its time.

How In the World Did I Survive?

I had no idea God would use my chronic condition to help me see how He can work in the biggest storms in my life. I had the hardest time trying to explain to people what I was feeling as my Fibro symptoms grew each year and kept attacking my body 24/7. It grew chronic and happened everyday. I really just wanted to die.

When someone has Fibro and related conditions, it’s not just musculoskeletal. It is neuromuscular, musculoskeletal and systemic symptoms. It is a dysfunction of the nervous system. And it attacks the body at the cellular level. Your body just gets pounded by huge turbulent waves one after another. It doesn’t stop.

And when it stops, you don’t know how long of a break you have. Then it starts all over again. And gets stronger in frequency and intensity. You begin to lose your identity. As it takes over your life. How in the world did I survive?

Psalm 69.1-3 “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.”

But Christ doesn’t fail! As He, even in the middle of a great tempest, can be at peace as He was asleep in the middle of it as mentioned in Matthew 8. He didn’t take away my chronic pain sooner as I wanted Him to…but He did give me peace, comfort and grace to go through it.

Today, I feel like I just left the battlefield where I am no longer in the front lines getting shot at and stepping on mine fields everyday. But I am now on a ship with my comrades injured, bruised but healing. I am not out of the woods. But thankful my nervous system has quieted down A LOT! And I will continue to wait for God to do His work in me. Because I have learned to trust in Him as He continues to prove Himself to be real, faithful and true. He is full of mercy and grace. As at the end of the day, it is all about Christ who lives in me.

When Fears Are Stilled And Striving Cease

Today the true story behind Easter is because He died on the cross so that we might live!

I didn’t fully understand this until I became a Christian. Even then it took years for me to fully comprehend WHY He would go to the cross and die for all who would believe in Him. We have turned our backs on Him. I have MANY times did not believe in Him yet He showed me unconditional love by calling me to Himself!

I cannot help but be drawn to His irresistible grace! In Christ alone, my hope is found.