What is Praise to God? part 2

Broken

It has been very difficult for me to understand why God allows suffering in this world. Just when I think I get a handle on it...I realize that for all of my analyzing...somethings about God remain a mystery.

I do know that God allows things to come in our lives to strengthen and to mold our character. With this I realization (chuckle) I know that God has been trying to smooth out the rough edges in me for some time now. However, God is not to blame for everything we go through in our lives. To which, let me add...that sometimes we have been our own worst enemies.

Yet there are distinct moments of brokenness. Where we stand and see the shattered pieces of our lives or the lives of others scattered all around and we question IF there can ever be anything good that comes of it. Can there truly be beauty from brokenness?

In the past eleven years I have been on a physical journey. It has not been a pleasant one...and in no way have I suffered in the capacity of some of you out there. My body has been wracked with pain and swelling due to disease and to top that off, I just happened to have already been overweight for years; trying one diet after another...and because of decreasing mobility and steroids...I regained all that I ever lost and then some...not to mention the struggle with painful flare-ups on my face...impossible to hide.

But God has shown me that sometime he allows us to become broken.

There was a man named Samuel Logan Brengle who was over the Salvation Army many years ago. One time he faced a lengthy hospital stay due to someone who threw bricks: hitting him in the head. It was during such a time that he wrote some of his greatest works...and God spoke to him, right there within the realm of his brokenness and said..."Samuel, no bricks...no books!"

Reflecting on my life...I know that if I had not been broken...there would not have been the compassion that I have for those who are struggling in so many areas with pain.
There would not have been times ministering to the abused, praying with broken parents, holding broken children, loving broken people or writing about brokenness.

The Bible says,

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thes. 5:18 No bricks, no books? No brokenness.......No Blogs!

Unexpected Illness

April brought a journey to the hospital for my husband that would set us on an unexpected course. What we thought was extreme tiredness caused by diabetes was the need for quadruple bypass or as the Dr. said..."he will not live long".

It has been a very difficult experience, however we are very thankful that God has brought him through successfully!

Thanks for being patient with my blogging. I wil try to catch up soon.

God Bless!
Rose

Gethsemane

Gethsemane="olive press"

The Garden of Gethsemane was the "olive press of Christ.
It is said that harvesters beat the tree until the olives fall to the ground and then after they are gathered they are taken to an olive press and placed in a circular basin with a heavy round stone on top and are ground around and around until a reddish-hued liquid flows out.

Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemane faces such a press. It was here that he asked his father several times to "let this cup pass" from him. It is also hear that during his agonizing prayer, he sweat as if great drops of blood.

After the process of pressing the olives until all the liquid flows out; the harvesters then take the remaining paste of the olives and place it on burlap mats. This is called a smear. Smear in Hebrew - means Messiah.

Anything left is then made into soap for cleansing.

From now on I will never look at pure olive oil in the same way as I have so many times. I will have a greater appreciation for the process of the pressing out.

Christ was pressed out. His blood was poured out for our salvation and he as our Messiah will come again and receive us unto himself.

Do you feel as if you are in Gethsemane? Being pressed more that what you seem able to bear?
Remember, Gethsemane's agony became Calvary's victory! Sometimes we may need to stay in prayer all night long in order to behold the victory in our lives.

Memories Fade

Recently, my mother has been experiencing moments of forgetfulness. Last week she commented about a certain meal that I have made for her several times through the years. She said, "Oh, honey...I never knew you made that before!"

I tried to tell her that I had made it for her just last week, but it didn't do any good. She could not remember. All she remembered is that she used to make the same thing when she was younger, but that she didn't know that I made it too.

Later that week, she left the cold water running for awhile before I found that it was on.

I have since then found out that Mom is starting to show some very early signs of dementia. She is 81 years old and her doctor says that she has earned the right to be a "little" forgetful.

It pains me when she experiences these moments as it is a clear sign that she is not as young as she used to be and that health conditions have been a contributing factor.

Many are going through great difficulties and there are some who wish their loved ones could just remember their name or that they are their son or daughter, etc.

Everyday is a blessing! Everyday I have Mom is a precious gift. I will cherish everyone and hold her closely even if her memory fades.

Merry Christmas-NEVER!!!

My experience with Christmas has been difficult. It is sad that such darkness can be experienced in the Season meant for LIGHT. Christmas was never meant to be this way. It was the SEASON of LOVE. The love of God to man.

It has been replaced by stress and heartache, coveting, envy, and greed. Oh, the greediness that is easily seen as many push and shove others in their attempt to get the biggest, brightest, and best gifts.

For many; kindness has gone. Hope, too. And if you look around you will see that there are many faces in which there is deep pain.

__________ won't be coming home this year. __________ will not be sitting at their place at the table anymore. __________ is missing from the arms of a young mother. _____________ grandparent has gone to be with the Lord. __________ is out on the battlefield wishing there was peace. ___________ lays across her bed weeping for her lost love...

Death, rejection, abandonment, poverty, suicide, hatred, greed, lust, selfishness, disease, distress, discouragement, unemployment, lost health insurance, insecurity....and on and on and on the list goes.

For many it is the campaign to remove Jesus Christ from history completely. Christ is the very reason we even have this holiday to celebrate!

Jesus is the hope for every situation a person could ever face. Therefore, if evil men and women are successfull in removing Christ from Christmas it will most assuredly result in a...Merry Christmas-NEVER!

Monday Blues

I don't want to wake, so I pull the covers over my head and close my eyes tighter to the morning sun. NO! Every nerve within cries out for more rest. My aching body just wants to lay there for a few more...

Weekend over? Where did it go?

Monday... hmmph!

I toss, I turn, I think and think and think...

Grrrrrrrrrr!!!

It would be grand if we could just say...

I don't do Monday's!