Things That Can't Be Shaken

Things That Can't Be Shaken-I had absolutely no idea what to write in this
blog until one morning when I was reading a devotional by Charles Spurgeon
about things that cannot be shaken or lost. I often think that I am missing
out on so much in this life because there are so many things that I am not
able to do. However, when I thought about it, I realized that the key phrase
is "in this world". All those things, while enjoyable, are just temporary
and can and will be, shaken. What I do have, though, are things that will
last forever. In this blog, I will mention some things in my life that can't
be shaken. They are permanent and will last forever. The first three are
ones that Spurgeon mentioned in his devotional. Then I will add some on my
own.

The most important thing in my lifetime that can't be shaken is my salvation
or being born-again. Since my dramatic salvation so many years ago and
through all the trials and tribulations that I have had to face over the
long years, I have never doubted that wonderful salvation. Once or twice
since the cancer diagnosis the thought has come to that maybe none of it is
true. But I never entertain that thought because I know it is true. After so
many years and after all that I have been through, I am still in awe that
there really is  a God and, because of His salvation through Jesus, I have a
glorious future.

Another thing in my life that can't be shaken is the fact that I am God's
child. The moment that I received my salvation, I became a child of God. It
comforts me to know that, even when I need to be corrected, I am still very
much God's child. And, just like any human father, He is going to take care
of me. Think about it. Human children don't worry about their needs being
met. They just know that their daddy will take care of them. Also, they
don't dictate to their father how or when to meet their needs. As God's
children, perhaps we (I) could learn from human children.

The third thing that Spurgeon mentioned that can't be shaken is the love
that Jesus has for us (me). I admit that I can't fathom the depth of that
love. But I do understand that it is not something that I can earn, that it
is unconditional and that it goes on forever . Even when I have lost
everything, even life itself, I know that I will still have the love of Jesus.
At times, when my emotions are running wild, I complain, falsely, that
nobody loves me. But I never accuse Jesus of not loving me. I believe the
Bible and the Bible tells me differently. Usually, I end up thanking Jesus for
loving me throughout my "meltdown".

Something else that can't be taken away from me is Heaven. When I became
born-again, my future destiny changed from hell to Heaven. Granted, I don't
have a concrete knowledge of what Heaven will be like but I do know this. No
matter what "hell" that I go through in this life, it pales compared to the
glory that awaits me in Heaven. When I keep that in mind, it is much easier
to face what I have to face everyday.

My righteousness, or right standing with God, cannot be shaken. It was given to me at the time of my salvation. There are plenty of times when I don't feel, or act, righteous but, in God's eyes, that is what I am. Not because of how I feel or act but because of my faith in what Jesus did at the cross.

One last thing that I in have my life that can't be shaken, or lost, is the faithfulness of God. There are some faithful people in this world but they are just people. Sooner or later, they are probably going to let me down. Even if it is not on purpose. But God will never let me down. What He does may not be in the way and time I would like but I know that it will in the way and time that is best for me. God is faithful to me right now in what I am facing and He will still be faithful to me when I die and go to live with Him in Heaven.

I could probably think of other things in my life that can't be shaken but you get the jist. The jist is this. What other people have and can do that are not part of my life right now are just temporary and will eventually pass away. However, the things that are part of my life are permanent and will last forever.

Qualities I Need

Qualities I Need-This blog is the product of another sleepless night. As I
was lying there, my mind drifted unto some of the character qualities that I
need right now.

I need a sense of contentment. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I
felt anything but contented. More like panic mode! However, after I was told
that they were not going to treat the cancer, a sense of contentment settled
over me. God and God alone is going to determine the outcome of my life
and I was content to leave everything in His hands. Lately though, I feel
like my contentment has slipped a bit. Mostly, I think, because it seems
like it has been so long with no positive change in my circumstances. I want
that sense of contentment back but I also know that I can't work it up on my
own.

Right now, I am working on staying calm. Every little thing seems to
irritate, agitate or upset me. So, when something or somebody is starting
to bother me, I make a conscious effort to tell myself to stay calm. Often,
I start praying in tongues in my mind. Because I am not communicating, the
nurses  may think that I am grumpy. That may be true but it also
may be that I am praying in tongues so I don't become grumpy! Can't say it
works all the time but, I figure, some of the time is better than not at all.

I need patience. I am in a situation where I have had no choice but to learn
to be patient. As any born-again Christian knows, after God makes a promise,
there is usually a waiting period. I suspect that God watches to see if we
are willing to wait with patience or become impatient when it doesn't happen
as soon as we want. Living in Long-term Care is also teaching me to be
patient. With 30  other people and minimal staff, somebody always has to
wait for something.

I need to have mega trust in God. I have always needed to trust in God
because no doctor is going to make me walk and talk again. Even more so
after being diagnosed with cancer 

that isn't being treated. Most days, I
pray and ask God to help me to trust Him the way I need to right now.

I need and have hope that I will be restored to perfect health. In this life
and not just when I go to Heaven. That hope has gotten me through a lot of
long, difficult years. I admit that, after the cancer diagnosis, my hope was
shaken a bit but I am ok now. Back to trusting that I will be restored to
perfect health in my lifetime here on earth. I just don't know the when or the
how.

I need courage. Intestinal fortitude. Guts. Whatever you want to call it.
The circumstances that I face everyday are not easy and the last thing I can
be is a wimp. If I was, I never would have lasted this long. From time to
time, though, my courage needs to be fortified. I do this primarily by
looking up and reading scriptures on courage.

Somewhat similar is I need strength. Definitely not physical strength as I
don't have much of that. But,thanks to the Holy Spirit, what I do have is
mental strength. I have to or I would have caved in long ago and,
especially, since I was diagnosed with cancer. I know that the Holy Spirit
is the source of any strength that I have. I maintain that strength by
fellowshipping with the Lord and constantly reading His promises in the
Bible.

I need determination. Determination not to give up no matter how bad it gets. Right now, I at thankful for my stubborn streak. It keeps me going when everything is screaming at me that it is too hard and to give up. Years ago, when repenting for my stubborn streak, the Lord told me that a stubborn streak is not necessarily wrong. It depends how it is used. Unfortunately, I don't always use it in a good way.

I need endurance. I have learned, the hard way, that this is no short-term deal. When I first got saved, I figured that, in a matter of days, I would be the same as before. HA! I now know that I am in a marathon, not a sprint. Like any marathon runner, I need endurance to reach the finish line.

I need the ability to encourage myself. I do value all the encouragement that I get from other people. However, I also know that there are plenty of times when I feel like I need some encouraging but there is nobody around. Times like this, I am tempted to e-mail somebody and gripe to that person. Usually, though, I don't have the energy to write out an e-mail so I do my best to encourage myself. I primarily do this by reading encouraging parts of the Bible. Once I get God's positive thoughts, I forget my own discouraging thoughts.

Finally, and maybe most importantly, I need to maintain a praising, thankful heart. I have found that it is impossible to be depressed and praising God at the same time. When I start to feel depressed, if I have the sense to start to praise God, I always feel better. Sometimes it is hard to think of things to be thankful for but I can always come up with something. At least, I can thankful that I am not going to hell! I certainly don't have a praising, thankful heart all the time but I do try to not let myself go without one for too long.

These are some of the character qualities that I need right now. However, I know that I can't work them up my my own. The Holy Spirit has to give them. That is why, most mornings, I pray that them Holy Spirit will help me get through the day. He always does-somehow! 

Things I value Right Now

Things I Value Right Now-I got the idea for this blog one sleepless night. I
was lying there and thinking about the things that I value, or are important
to me, right now. In the condition that I am in at the present moment. Of
course, what I value most is my relationship with God and all the spiritual
activities that accompany it. Like reading the Bible, going to church, etc.
However, during that seemingly endless night, my thoughts wandered to other
things that are important to me at the present.

By far, the most valuable thing in my life right now is my computer. Not
liking change, I had to be talked into getting a computer, but now I am lost
without it. Except when I am in bed or go out, I am almost always using my
computer. It is my Bible (lots of difficult versions); it is my devotionals
(I read 4-5 most days); I use it for any writing I do (e-mails, letters and
these blogs); if visitors are not comfortable with my speech board, we use
the computer to communicate (provided that I am not in bed); and it is also my
source of entertainment (either to watch tv or read a good book).

One thing that I very much value is a good night's sleep. It doesn't happen
as often as I would like but, when it does, I feel so much better and more
able to face another long day. I also value sleep because it is a good way
to forget all of my negative circumstances. At least for a little while.
Once in awhile, I wish I that I could go into a coma until all this is over
so I wouldn't feel everything. Most of the time, though, I am glad to be
alert with a sharp mind.

One thing that means a lot to me is anything that distracts me from my own
thoughts. It seems like I am always in a battle to keep my thoughts in the
right place. Even more so now that I am determined not to give in to the
symptoms of cancer. One thing that always distracts me from my own thoughts
is  getting visitors. Sometimes it is just to chat. Listening to what is
going on in their lives helps take my mind off of my not-so-nice
circumstances. Other people just read to me. A good book works wonder in
helping me to forget things for awhile. My favorite visitors are my
"adopted" grandkids. Watching them play or having them climb all over me is
an easy way for me to forget my troubles. At least until they leave!

Another really good distraction from my thoughts is anytime that I have an
opportunity to chat with the nurses. They are really busy all the time and
my speech board is time-consuming so it doesn't happen all the time. Plus, I
admit, there are times I don't feel like talking. But, when it does happen
and whether we are joking around or having a serious discussion, it takes my
mind off of everything for the time being.

Going out always takes my mind off of me and my situation. Whether it is as
simple as a walk or a specific destination, it gives me a different
perspective. Different places and people to see. And, when I go out,I can't
go alone so there are people to talk to. To be honest, I seldom even think about
my circumstances when I am out and distracted by other things.

My times of "entertainment" also help to divert my attention. When I am
watching a good sporting event on tv, I get so engrossed that I forget
everything else for awhile. It is the same when I read. I have always been
an avid reader and could easily lose myself in a good book. Nothing has changed. Except now I do my reading on my computer instead of in a book. I just have to be sure that the "entertainment" times don't interfere with my "spiritual" times.

The final thing that gives me respite from my thoughts is simply by going to sleep. That is why I value sleep so much. While I am sleeping,  I don't have to listen to my thoughts racing round and round.

There! That is some things that are important to me in my day-to-day life. Nothing, though, is as important to me as God and time I spend with Him. 

What Cancer Has Taught Me

What I Have Learned From The Cancer-When I was diagnosed with breast cancer
last March, I was overwhelmed but not totally surprised as they had found a
lump. But I couldn't understand why, after I have already suffered so much,
God would allow a deadly diseases like cancer to enter my life. However,
after a little more than a year of living with cancer that has never been,
or never will be, treated, I have learned a few things.

I have really learned that, just because I have symptoms, doesn't mean that
I actually have the disease. When Jesus died on the cross, He also took our
diseases. Which includes cancer or any other affliction that has, or is
trying to, come on me. Right now, I am in a battle not to give in to cancer
symptoms. But they are just symptoms and will eventually go away if I don't
slack off.

I have learned to have a deeper trust in God. I have always had a fairly
deep trust in God. I have had to because, since the stroke and following
complication, no human doctor can anything to help me. Only Dr. Jesus.
However, since I was diagnosed with cancer, and since they decided not to
treat the cancer, my trust in God has become even stronger. It has to be.
This is a matter of life or death, not just of walking and talking. Most
days, I pray and ask God to help me to trust Him the way I need to right
now.

Somewhat related, I have learned to have a more intimate relationship with
God. My relationship with the Lord has always been quite intimate. Being
alone so much of time, I have learned to have conversations (in my mind)
with the Lord as if I were chit-chatting with a human friend. Being
diagnosed with cancer only has made our relationship even closer. At first,
out of sheer desperation, I was driven to seek God and His promises. I am
somewhat calmer now but I am still spending even more time with God and His
promises in the Bible than before.

I have learned to take one day. Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I was
always focused on the future and when my miracle will take place. Now,
though, I just take one day, sometimes only a few hours, at at a time. I try
not to think about the future, even the next day. It usually just leads to
fretting about things that are out of my control, if not downright
depression. Instead, before going sleep, each night, I thank God for getting
me through another day with cancer symptoms that weren't too bad.

Finally, I have learned to have an eternal perspective on everything. Prior
to the cancer, I was primarily focused on receiving my healing in this life
and, even though I knew eternity will be wonderful, I never thought about it
too often. However, the cancer diagnosis kind of pulled me up short. The
word cancer brings the thought of death to the mind. And especially when
they decided not to treat the cancer. I never doubted that I would be healed
in this life but, now, I understand more clearly that God is in control of
my life and, whatever happens will be in my best interest. For me, it is now
pretty much "whatever God". Another way I now have an eternal perspective
is, when something upsets me, I often ask myself, "How important is this in
the light of eternity?". Admittedly, I sometimes wonder why I have to suffer
so much but, when I have an eternal perspective, it doesn't really matter.

Living with cancer has not been a whole lot of fun. But I have  to admit
that I have learned some things that I may not have learned otherwise.