Friday Foto Friends-Only Believe

 I've got more things to share with you from the past few days.  I thought I'd opened all my special gifts from our ladies' Christmas party the other day, but then I remembered that I'd forgotten to open one special little package.

It came in this little 2" x 3" plastic package that was kind of hard to open, so I had put it aside and planned to open it when I got home. I had no clue what was inside, and it was a gift that each lady received by reaching into a bag and pulling out one of these little packages at random.  More about this in a few minutes...

Well, yesterday, as many of you knew and were praying for me, thank you very much indeed, I had my six week post-op check up with the neurosurgeon who did my cervical spinal fusion. My biggest concern has been that my right arm continues to hurt and has not gotten any better since the surgery. It had been diagnosed with "cervical radiculopathy", which was caused by nerve impingement due to the ruptured disc in my neck, which was surgically repaired and should have released any impinged nerves.

So, upon examination yesterday, the two neurosurgeons who had done my surgery carefully examined my arm and x-rays, and said that they did not feel that this continued pain was due to any further nerve impingement, but that I most likely have a frozen shoulder, and they are referring me to an Orthopedic Surgeon and also to Physical Therapy.

That is not the news I was hoping to hear. I was hoping they'd say that my arm was still just healing and that it would be better in time with some therapy and not to worry, etc., etc., etc.  The possibility that it might require further surgery was not an option that I was willing to consider.

To say that I was disappointed would be a great understatement.

I left there feeling a bit overwhelmed and somewhat depressed, which for me is an unusual state. But this pain has been wearing me down for quite a while, since way before the surgery, and I certainly thought that by now it would be so much better. It is something that affects my every day life in one way or another, but then again, it is not totally debilitating, just aggravating and frustrating and painful. I do count my blessings and am so very thankful that it is just my arm and not my whole body. God has been very merciful and kind to me, and I am very very cognizant of that fact and give Him praise.

That being said, still, I am human, and I was not happy.

However, also being human, and the fact that it was almost lunch time and we were hungry, we stopped at a new to us BBQ restaurant on the way home for lunch. Some BBQ pork, sweet potato fries, coleslaw and a cup of hot tea because I was chilled and needed something to warm my innards seemed like a good way to brighten my mood.

And then we got home and I took a nice long nap.

Now, you are still wondering about that little package that I had not opened, aren't you? Okay...let's move on:

I opened it up and this is what I found inside:

What?  My "One Word" for 2021, "Believe" was staring at me from this tiny little package that I'd forgotten to open until right that very moment when I needed it most.

Coincidence? No...with God there is no such thing as "coincidence".  There are special God appointments, timely messages, words of hope and encouragement at just the right time...but never just a coincidence. God knows what we need, when we need it, and how to provide exactly the right thing right on time.  This was certainly one of those moments.

Then I called the friend who had provided that bag full of these little packages for everyone to choose at random and asked her if everyone got the same thing. She said, "No, each one was different, and these were left over from last year and I didn't know what to do with them so I thought this would be a good way to share them with others."  So I told her my little story about my "One Word" for 2021 being "Believe", and that right then at that very moment I needed to be reminded to believe that God was in control, and that He had me covered, and that "With God all things are possible"...

We both praised God together that He had provided this little bit of encouragement at just the right moment. Wow!  What a joy and blessing!

Oh, there's one more thing. Another dear friend had given me this journal in a package at the party...another one of those God gifts I would say, wouldn't you?

When I showed my hubby the wristband and told him about how it all came together right at that moment, he started singing this old hymn that we both know and love:

Refrain:

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe;

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe.

Fear not, little flock, from the cross to the throne,

From death into life He went for His own;

All power in earth, all power above,

Is given to Him for the flock of His love.

Refrain:

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe;

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe.

Fear not, little flock, He goeth ahead,

Your Shepherd selecteth the path you must tread;

The waters of Marah He’ll sweeten for thee,

He drank all the bitter in Gethsemane.

Refrain:

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe;

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe.

Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot,

He enters all rooms, “the doors being shut,”

He never forsakes; He never is gone,

So count on His presence in darkness and dawn.

Refrain:

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe;

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe.

Okay, friends, that's for today's blessings and Friday fotos!  Thank you again for your prayers. I will be contacting the physical therapists today to set up my appointments for therapy, and I will wait to hear from the Orthopedic Surgeon to hear what he recommends, and I will keep believing that God has this under control, no matter what.  God is good, all the time, God is good.

Have a blessed and beautiful day and weekend.

Great News: Faith is the Victory that Overcomes the World!

Brrrr! Today has been one of those bone chilling kind of days where the sun never seems to shine and the wind keeps blowing and the temperature never got above 50 degrees all day long! And I live in Florida! So it was a good day to use up the remainder of our New Year's ham bone and make some split pea with ham soup and cornbread for lunch.  

These split peas are yellow...never had them before, but they were still good! They tasted better than this looks...

We finally got our Christmas tree down and all the Christmas decor put away. The house always seems so bare when that happens, and I feel a little sad to see it go, but then again, it's nice to have the mess cleaned up and some space back in the living room again!

However, I talked hubby into doing something that I've been wanting to do ever since we moved to this house almost 18 months ago...

In the space where the Christmas tree was we set up our extra old dining room table that has been disassembled and leaning against the wall in a corner waiting to be either gotten rid of or put back in use.

I have wanted to set it up to use for a puzzle table so I don't have to remove the puzzle from the dining room table every time we have company for dinner.  Now I can sit here and look out at Still Waters Pond and work on my puzzle and enjoy the view while I do.  It can also be used for a project table for, well, projects! You know...those things you decide to do and need extra space to spread them out to do? I don't know what exactly that would be at the moment, but give me a while and I'll think of something.

So what have you been up to this week?  It's been the kind of week where we have tried to stay busy to stay away from the TV and the news and any other interaction on social media that could get us into trouble.  I have determined that for every negative comment I see on Facebook from someone, I will post something positive from God's Word  or other encouraging thoughts. I will not give in to the petty thinking of those who just want to call names and say ugly things about conservative people and viewpoints, no matter how tempting it may be!

This was the sunset on Still Waters Pond the other evening, when it seemed like the world was coming to an end...God was displaying His power and glory and beauty in the heavens for us to enjoy.

My One Word for 2021 is Believe.

Today's devotional  readings included the following verses:

I John 5:1-4

1.  "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

2.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.

3.  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.

And His commandments are not burdensome.

4.  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.

And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith."

So, faith is the victory that overcomes the world!

Do you know this hymn? It's a great one for today!

Encamped along the hills of light,

Ye Christian soldiers rise,

And press the battle ere the night

Shall veil the glowing skies;

Against the foe in vales below

Let all our strength be hurled;

Faith is the victory, we know,

That overcomes the world.

Chorus:

Faith is the victory!

Faith is the victory!

O glorious victory,

That overcomes the world.

2 His banner over us is love,

Our sword the Word of God;

We tread the road the saints before

With shouts of triumph trod.

By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,

Swept on o’er every field;

The faith by which they conquered death

Is still our shining shield.

(chorus)

3 On every hand the foe we find

Drawn up in dread array;

Let tents of ease be left behind,

And onward to the fray.

Salvation’s helmet on each head,

With truth all girt about,

The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,

And echo with our shout.

(chorus)

4 To him that overcomes the foe,

White raiment shall be giv’n;

Before the angels he shall know

His name confessed in heav’n;

Then onward from the hills of light,

Our hearts with love aflame,

We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,

In Jesus’ conqu’ring name.

Chorus:

Faith is the victory!

Faith is the victory!

O glorious victory,

That overcomes the world.

Hymn written by John Henry Yates in 1891

So dear friends, we who have faith in Christ will overcome this old world and all that "the world" tries to do to hurt us.  Stay strong and steadfast:

I Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Faith is the Victory!

 

Starting off the New Year with Geese, Snowmen, and No Worries!

 

Good Morning! Here it is, the first Monday morning of the New Year of 2021! The first Monday after the holidays, and I expect some people have to go back to work, or kids may have to go back to school. Thankfully I am no longer in that category of having to go to work or get kids off to school. I "did my time" in that regiment of life, and thankfully I am now enjoying retirement and no real scheduled responsibilities.  Although, like many others I have heard it said, I don't know how I ever had time to work now that I am retired...there is always something that has to be done! Doctor appointments, grocery shopping, housework, post-holiday clean up.  

But before we jump into all that work, let's just relax and have a cup of hot tea or a cup of cocoa on this chilly January morning, and start the week off right!

Today my only "appointment" is our Ladies' Bible Study this afternoon.  I look forward to meeting with this special group of women each week.  We have been studying the book of Joshua..."Winning the Worry Battle", a Bible Study by Barb Roose. 

It looks like our little mother at Pamela's Victorian Cottage is working on "winning the worry battle" with having so many little girls to look after.

Just in case you didn't notice, there is another new "little angel" added to the family, thanks to their kind Auntie from the city (a.k.a. my sister, who loves to give me these little dolls for Christmas each year). I expect this sweet little "Twinkling Star Angel" will add to the fun and excitement around Pamela's Victorian Cottage in the days and months to come.

We are working our way slowly through this Bible study book, because as is the case with most women's gatherings, we have lots of things to discuss and each week brings out more and more areas of need in the lives of our ladies...and we find ourselves spending more time encouraging one another in our walk of faith and life than in just plain old study. But God's Word is the foundation and backdrop for all of our conversation, and that is exactly how God intended it to be.   Here is one quote from the sidebar of our workbook from last week's lesson:

"If we remember God's generosity in those moments when we experience uncertainty,

then we can wait in faith for God to act."

And another one when we were studying in Joshua 7 about "fighting in fear", and it appears that even Joshua "melted in fear", or as we would call it, he had a "meltdown". But we saw that Joshua turned around his "meltdown" by turning toward God in his distress.  He expressed his truest emotions and brought his questions and concerns to God.  Our takeaway from that lesson was: 

"When stress and fear are mounting, I can avoid a meltdown by pouring out my heart to God."

This little lesson actually helped me during the stress of the holidays by remembering that God is always there for me, and He is my strength and my refuge, even when my distresses are caused by my own lack of appropriate planning and preparation. I also have made a commitment that I will not allow myself to get into that same kind of panic situation again next Christmas. May God help me to remember this and start planning way in advance.  

Speaking of having a "meltdown", if I don't move these snowmen away from in front of this fire, they may have a "meltdown" for sure! LOL!

I just realized that snowmen were playing an important part of our decorations this Christmas, and of course snowmen are fun to keep around even in January if it is cold enough!

Even in Florida you could work through your "worries" and anxieties a bit by having a snowball fight with the family:

Our family did do this, and it was fun until one landed in my hubby's cup of ice water and splashed it all over him...he actually thought we were outside in the snow it was so cold! LOL.

Yes, there were snowmen everywhere! Up at the cabin,

down on the pond,

and even up at the cabin in the hills above the train village...

Here's a little treat for you! I received a late "Christmas gift" (from myself) in the mail:

It takes a lot more breath than expected to make that thing work. LOL. Maybe that will be a good breathing exercise for me to work on each day.

I have seen this Bible verse floating around through our blogs and social media quite a bit lately. It is the theme verse for our Bible Study in Joshua:

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 ESV

I believe (my One Word for 2021) this is also an excellent verse to carry with us into the New Year.  And the verse that precedes that one is also one that will help guide us so that we will learn more and more about trusting in the Lord and not giving in to worries and fears:

"Study this Book of Instruction continually.  Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.  Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." Joshua 1:8

Yes, study God's Word and BELIEVE what you read as you meditate on it day and night...and as you BELIEVE, you will want to OBEY...and only then will we prosper and succeed in all that we do and attempt to do!  If I were to make a New Year's resolution, it would be to do just that...

Well, since I can't really go outside and build a snowman or skate on the pond, I think I will take a lesson from these Canadian Geese who earlier landed on Still Waters Pond, and just glide gently into the new year with no worries or fears.  How about you?

One Word for 2021

It's that time again...time to select a "One Word" for the New Year...a word that will guide me through the year as I seek God's plans for my life in 2021.

Here is a link to the Post written in 2020 for my One Word, which was "JOYFUL". The most notable statement that I made in that post last year was this:  

"So I am going to be watching for those "signposts and landmarks" of joy along life's pathway...opportunities to be joyful even in the face of adversity or difficulties.  No, I'm not looking for those things...they just have a way of happening without our seeking them out...so it is my desire to face each new challenge of life with a joyful heart,  knowing that the Lord, Who made me, is going to take care of all my needs regardless of what the world may say.   We are His sheep,  and we know that the Good Shepherd cares for His sheep.  So we can be joyful and trust Him no matter what.  

There you have it: JOYFUL!  Happy New Year!!! May all our hearts be joyful as we begin this brand new year and brand new decade. God is with us, so we need not be afraid to face whatever lies ahead!"

WOW!!! How little did we know just what was lying ahead for us in 2020...right around the bend from when I so "joyfully" declared my intention to "be joyful even in the face of adversity or difficulties."  I guess God was listening and probably was whispering to me, "Oh, My child, if you only knew just what was ahead...2020 with all of its challenges and "opportunities to be joyful even in the face of adversity or difficulties." He probably was thinking how little did I know just how much our faith would be tested throughout this year...but He knows His children, and He knows how much we can take...and He also knows how to rescue us when we are getting in over our heads.  I must say right now, looking back over 2020, that indeed God was there for me every time I needed Him (many times), and He also helped me to to remain "joyful" in the midst of the journey.  I can also say that God was very gracious to me and to our family, and He brought us through so sweetly, safely, and completely. Truly, I have much to be joyful about.

And so now we come to another new year, 2021. I've been praying about this "One Word" thing for the past couple of weeks, and trusting that when the time is right, God will reveal His word for me. I think I know what it is now. A couple of weeks ago someone at church approached me about taking over the "card ministry" for the church, which is essentially sending out greeting cards to people throughout the year for birthdays, anniversaries, sympathy, get well, congratulations, etc.  The person who has been doing it for the past several years is no longer able to continue, but she had it all very well organized and has done a tremendously wonderful job.

My initial response when asked if I'd be interested in doing this was, "Please let me pray about this, and in the meantime please keep asking others who may not have as much to do already if there is anyone else who may be interested in doing this."  My concern was that I would not keep up with it and get the cards out on time.  I tend to put things off to the last minute and I would hate to be late in getting cards to people in time for their special day.  I was also concerned that it would become something that might become stressful to me and I really don't need anymore stress in my life.  But then again...I'd also been praying about ways to reach out to others in our church and to be a better steward of my time in service to the Lord.  And so once again, I received a phone call asking if I would please consider taking over this ministry, and after praying about it I knew that God was asking me to be obedient to His call.

I was just thinking about the Christmas letter that we sent out to our friends and family this year, and the opening paragraph said the following:

“For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37

Dear Family and Friends,

I don’t know about you, but the year 2020 is a year that I believe most of us want to get finished with and put it behind us for good! With all the horrid lockdowns, restrictions, mask wearing, and most of all the very sad and heartbreaking loss of loved ones and friends, of which there have been way too many, even if only one person that we know and care about, that’s one too many…we just want this year to be over. We want life to return to pre-Covid 19 normalcy, and yet we fear that may never truly happen again. What we really need in 2021 is to BELIEVE what the Angel Gabriel said to the Virgin Mary in Luke 1:37 above…  "For with God nothing will be impossible.” And to have the kind of faith that Mary had when she responded to the Angel, (vs. 38) “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”  To have that complete trust in God, that no matter what 2021 might bring, we will have faith in God and peace in our hearts that He is in control, and we need not fear."

(A journal book that I had good intentions of writing in last year but didn't get very far)

Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So, after thinking about this and working my way through this little story today...actually several words have come to mind:  Believe, Possible, and Obedient.   Like Mary in the Luke passage above, she BELIEVED what the Angel said to her and realized that nothing is impossible with God, indeed, as Matthew 19:26 says, "but with God ALL things are POSSIBLE." And then Mary was OBEDIENT to the Lord and trusted Him completely.  Eenie meenie, miney moe... the One Word that seems to stand out to me most is BELIEVE!

This was actually a new ornament I added to the Christmas tree this year. Perhaps it was one of God's ways of getting my attention...

In 2021 I will believe that God will help me to accomplish the things that He is asking me to do. I will believe that all things are possible with God, and I will be obedient to His calling upon my life to serve Him here in His church and community in whatever way He is asking me to serve.

I pray that God will help me to stay on task and accomplish the things that need to be done...and that I will remain obedient to Him in all ways, and serve the Lord joyfully.

So these boxes of cards are now in my home office, waiting on me to do this work faithfully.

May God help me to do it well and that He will be glorified and others will be blessed.

I BELIEVE He will see me through.

Amen.

*Post written in 2019 for my One Word, which includes a list of all my previous years' choices of "One Words".  *Note: If you tried this link earlier and it didn't work, please try again. I fixed the problem I hope!!

Have you selected a One Word for 2021 yet? I hope you will share it with us.