Friday April 17, 2009
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2.
It would be difficult to state a sense of security in stronger terms! This was the experience of the psalm writer but also the experience of countless men and women who have trusted God through the centuries. This not only for times of peace, but particularly during the most vulnerable times of life, the voice of faith finds its ultimate safety in God, whether in life or death.
For Ann and myself, the last weeks have been trying and we are not out of the woods yet, but believe healing is a matter of time. In fact, Ann’s foot is only an inconvenience now, and the last bandages will be removed Monday. For myself, there are days of discomfort still, although the greatest discomfort, that wretched catheter is due for removal Monday. When it comes to personal security, under current conditions the body’s natural functions do come to mind!
But this weekend will be an adventure. It is my first foray since surgery for any distance from home as we attend a writer’s conference in Calgary, about 200 km north. In addition, we have one proof copy of our new book Happy Together: Daily Insights for Families from Scripture. It will be an opportunity to commence some promotion on the conference book table and gauge interest. It will be about 3-4 weeks before we actually have printed copies in our hot little hands. Let us know if you would like more information about the book.
So for a number of reasons, our security continues to be in our Heavenly Father for this weekend and the weeks that follow.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tuesday April 14, 2009
Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. Proverbs 23:23.
Today is the day Ann had her bandages removed from her foot. For the last few days thay haven’t really been holding her back anyway, except she hasn’t been able to drive. That provides me with some of the exercise routine needed to heal together with the resting I’m supposed to do. However, Ann has taken off with the car this afternoon to run some errands. I’d say she was practically back to normal.
Just as well, my surgery is going to take a little longer. Yesterday was an expected down day following invitations to supper over the week end, and overdoing it somewhat. It is surprising that some discomfort can affect the way we think; it was a discouraging day also. One side effect of this surgery is the rattling of all the nerves around the abdomen. They are responding as they heal with an insistent demand that they be recognised by a recurrent itchy sensation. Otherwise, today has been a better day although progress is slow but normal.
Our text suggests getting discipline is a good thing. I am certainly finding out the hard way to discipline myself for healing, when there is so much else I want to be doing. But even this time aside is not without its usefulness. If nothing else, it teaches patience and these things will pass if I am prepared to wait. A nurse friend of ours reckons that healing from surgery takes six weeks. This is one truth I’m not really interested in buying, but I guess it’s not one I can dispense with either!
Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. Proverbs 23:23.
Today is the day Ann had her bandages removed from her foot. For the last few days thay haven’t really been holding her back anyway, except she hasn’t been able to drive. That provides me with some of the exercise routine needed to heal together with the resting I’m supposed to do. However, Ann has taken off with the car this afternoon to run some errands. I’d say she was practically back to normal.
Just as well, my surgery is going to take a little longer. Yesterday was an expected down day following invitations to supper over the week end, and overdoing it somewhat. It is surprising that some discomfort can affect the way we think; it was a discouraging day also. One side effect of this surgery is the rattling of all the nerves around the abdomen. They are responding as they heal with an insistent demand that they be recognised by a recurrent itchy sensation. Otherwise, today has been a better day although progress is slow but normal.
Our text suggests getting discipline is a good thing. I am certainly finding out the hard way to discipline myself for healing, when there is so much else I want to be doing. But even this time aside is not without its usefulness. If nothing else, it teaches patience and these things will pass if I am prepared to wait. A nurse friend of ours reckons that healing from surgery takes six weeks. This is one truth I’m not really interested in buying, but I guess it’s not one I can dispense with either!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter Sunday April 12, 2009
We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51.
As we found on Good Friday, the Bible League diary tends to ignore the events of the church calendar, in today’s case Easter Sunday—perhaps vying with Christmas day as the most important event. The text I selected today is one that some comic placed on a church nursery door! But its real truth is supported by Jesus’ own resurrection—as he conquered death, so we who believe are also guaranteed victory over death. And as the flower is different from the seed which produces it, so our new bodies will be greatly enhanced in beauty and function. Read the whole chapter, it is an exciting portrait of our future.
I recall my father comparing the caterpillar and the butterfly. Although not a scriptural comparison, it is never-the-less a remarkable symbol of resurrection. Caterpillars, though some are attractive and some not so, are all earthbound, living a mundane and perilous existence close to the ground. But they all, after sleeping in a cocoon, awake to a glorious body, free to fly the heavens and spread their gorgeous new plumage.
Those of us with infirmities—mine I trust is temporary—long for the day of resurrection when our new makeover will free us from the setbacks of life. The greater the adversity of life, the greater the longing for that resurrection day when our frail bodies will be translated into a new and glorious life. While we celebrate the release from judgment by the death of Jesus on Good Friday, his resurrection on Easter Sunday is the guarantee, not only of our freedom from sin, but also our own resurrection to new life
We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51.
As we found on Good Friday, the Bible League diary tends to ignore the events of the church calendar, in today’s case Easter Sunday—perhaps vying with Christmas day as the most important event. The text I selected today is one that some comic placed on a church nursery door! But its real truth is supported by Jesus’ own resurrection—as he conquered death, so we who believe are also guaranteed victory over death. And as the flower is different from the seed which produces it, so our new bodies will be greatly enhanced in beauty and function. Read the whole chapter, it is an exciting portrait of our future.
I recall my father comparing the caterpillar and the butterfly. Although not a scriptural comparison, it is never-the-less a remarkable symbol of resurrection. Caterpillars, though some are attractive and some not so, are all earthbound, living a mundane and perilous existence close to the ground. But they all, after sleeping in a cocoon, awake to a glorious body, free to fly the heavens and spread their gorgeous new plumage.
Those of us with infirmities—mine I trust is temporary—long for the day of resurrection when our new makeover will free us from the setbacks of life. The greater the adversity of life, the greater the longing for that resurrection day when our frail bodies will be translated into a new and glorious life. While we celebrate the release from judgment by the death of Jesus on Good Friday, his resurrection on Easter Sunday is the guarantee, not only of our freedom from sin, but also our own resurrection to new life
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