The blessing today is...

[Mike Vande]

...a realization, or maybe a set of them.

This morning I woke up and did my usual things to get ready for the day. One of these things is taking the medications I need in order to get through the day without blowing a blood pressure gasket, having my blood sugar and/or cholesterol rise to damaging levels, skying out in constant daydreaming, or falling into morose depression.

As some of you might recall, one of my main worries about losing the job at Sprint was being able to afford my meds. Well, it's over a month later, and I am still taking them.

I ate my breakfast with the realzation that the I have a roof over my head head and food to eat. The former is especially good right now, with snow on the ground and low temperatures. The latter is good anytime.

My cats meowed me their morning greeting (which is also a complaint about not having their treat for the morning yet). They purred their appreciation and did their back-and-forth promenade when I stroked their fur, then ignored me completely when I put their treat in their food bowls. They are good company.

I took a fall last week on the ice while trying to pry my frozen-shut car door open. I was pretty shook up, and I was stiff and sore like I haven't been for a long time, but I didn't break anything, or even get a bruise.

I am about to go out and start my car to drive to work, a car that my sister and brother-in-law gave me a few months back.

The car's battery died yesterday, and I needed a jump to get to church, but I was able to call a brother from the worship team, and he came over and got me going.

At church, I got to hug my pastor, which I do not do enough. He is such a great guy. He has given me time out of his busy schedule, shared things out of his life to encourage me, and always tried to help me when he could. I am truly blessed to have him as my pastor.

I got to hug a few other folks too, and I felt better for having done it. I wasn't always this way, but I have become hesitant about that sort of thing these days. I think, though, that I may end up being a "huggy" kind of guy again. Folks will probably start to see me coming and go, "uh oh..."

After playing for worship (always a blessing), I was able to talk and confide in a choice brother about the "terrible" week I'd had, and some difficulties I face, and he didn't try to "fix" me, or turn the conversation to the problems he'd had. He listened, and I was reminded what a blessing the Body of Christ is to be a part of.

After church, I went and got a new battery, which I am waiting to see if I really need. If so, I'll install it, if not, I'm taking it back. But despite my reduced circumstances, no one had to buy it for me, I had the money to buy it, and have the option to keep it or take it back.

Thinking it over this morning, I realize that I have been living though some of my worst fears; loss of employment and medical insurance, reduced income, physical health problems, emotional health concerns, loneliness, car problems, even physical injury. The fear of these things, and others, kept me in thrall for a lot of years. What I was able to realize today was that though all of them, I have more than I need, and nothing bad was as bad as it could have been. God has protected and provided for me.

There is always more on the horizon; each day has trouble sufficient unto itself, many are the trials of a righteous man, those seeking to live righteous in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, etc, a lot of scripture bears out the fact that life on a planet ruined by sin is hard. I am still aware of all that.

A pessimist looks at the future through worried eyes, wondering what fresh hell awaits him this day. An optimist hopes for better times. A Christian tries to remember that God is looking out for him. Those who know me will agree that I'm no optimist, but I am finding reason to think that up there ahead, someplace over the horizon, I may learn how to rest in the faith God has given me, maybe even find what Paul was talking about when he said he'd learned to be content in all circumstances. Remembering it all now, I find myself forced to bow my head and thank God for all He has done, and all He will do.

[one love]

...a realization, or maybe a set of them.

This morning I woke up and did my usual things to get ready for the day. One of these things is taking the medications I need in order to get through the day without blowing a blood pressure gasket, having my blood sugar and/or cholesterol rise to damaging levels, skying out in constant daydreaming, or falling into morose depression.

As some of you might recall, one of my main worries about losing the job at Sprint was being able to afford my meds. Well, it's over a month later, and I am still taking them.

I ate my breakfast with the realzation that the I have a roof over my head head and food to eat. The former is especially good right now, with snow on the ground and low temperatures. The latter is good anytime.

My cats meowed me their morning greeting (which is also a complaint about not having their treat for the morning yet). They purred their appreciation and did their back-and-forth promenade when I stroked their fur, then ignored me completely when I put their treat in their food bowls. They are good company.

I took a fall last week on the ice while trying to pry my frozen-shut car door open. I was pretty shook up, and I was stiff and sore like I haven't been for a long time, but I didn't break anything, or even get a bruise.

I am about to go out and start my car to drive to work, a car that my sister and brother-in-law gave me a few months back.

The car's battery died yesterday, and I needed a jump to get to church, but I was able to call a brother from the worship team, and he came over and got me going.

At church, I got to hug my pastor, which I do not do enough. He is such a great guy. He has given me time out of his busy schedule, shared things out of his life to encourage me, and always tried to help me when he could. I am truly blessed to have him as my pastor.

I got to hug a few other folks too, and I felt better for having done it. I wasn't always this way, but I have become hesitant about that sort of thing these days. I think, though, that I may end up being a "huggy" kind of guy again. Folks will probably start to see me coming and go, "uh oh..."

After playing for worship (always a blessing), I was able to talk and confide in a choice brother about the "terrible" week I'd had, and some difficulties I face, and he didn't try to "fix" me, or turn the conversation to the problems he'd had. He listened, and I was reminded what a blessing the Body of Christ is to be a part of.

After church, I went and got a new battery, which I am waiting to see if I really need. If so, I'll install it, if not, I'm taking it back. But despite my reduced circumstances, no one had to buy it for me, I had the money to buy it, and have the option to keep it or take it back.

Thinking it over this morning, I realize that I have been living though some of my worst fears; loss of employment and medical insurance, reduced income, physical health problems, emotional health concerns, loneliness, car problems, even physical injury. The fear of these things, and others, kept me in thrall for a lot of years. What I was able to realize today was that though all of them, I have more than I need, and nothing bad was as bad as it could have been. God has protected and provided for me.

There is always more on the horizon; each day has trouble sufficient unto itself, many are the trials of a righteous man, those seeking to live righteous in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, etc, a lot of scripture bears out the fact that life on a planet ruined by sin is hard. I am still aware of all that.

A pessimist looks at the future through worried eyes, wondering what fresh hell awaits him this day. An optimist hopes for better times. A Christian tries to remember that God is looking out for him. Those who know me will agree that I'm no optimist, but I am finding reason to think that up there ahead, someplace over the horizon, I may learn how to rest in the faith God has given me, maybe even find what Paul was talking about when he said he'd learned to be content in all circumstances. Remembering it all now, I find myself forced to bow my head and thank God for all He has done, and all He will do.

Brother I will be praying for you. I know what it is like to suffer physical pain everyday and Im sorry for all you are going through. You have the right perspective. Remeber God made provisions for each of us before he ever created this world. That is the awesome thing about him being omniscient he is all knowing. He will bless you, I will be praying. If there is anything I can do please do not hesitate to ask.
May God Bless you Friend