Today's Bible Reading: 1 Kings 8-9; Luke 21:1-19; Psalm 145
As I was teaching yesterday on working while we're watching and waiting for the Lord's return, my heart was encouraged and I asked the Lord for a fresh fire in my heart to press on in seeking Him and making Him known.
Here's a few verses from Ps 145 that touched my heart this morning:
Ps 145:2-3 Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.(NKJ)
Ps 145:14 The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down.(NKJ)
Ps 145:18-19 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; he also will hear their cry and save them.
How blessed we are to be able to call upon Him and know He hears our cry - no matter what!
Today is my final day on the antibiotics - praise God! That stuff was nasty! Joyce had a good weekend and we're going to attempt an "outing" to Costco later today!
Hope your day is filled with joy and peace and healing!
In His Arm's,
Pat
Monday, April 30, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Sat. Apr.28, '07
Hi all! Just wanted to bring an update on what's been going on with Joyce and I this past week.
Joyce had a very hard day on Tuesday. She awoke with lot's of pain and the medications were not helping. She was also sick and dizzy and couldn't eat or drink anything. It was a scary day but the Lord saw us thru it! Her doc changed her meds a bit and by Wednesday morning she was feeling a lot better. We're unsure of what brought it all on. She has been OK since.
I'm still working my way thru the antibiodics for my colon problems. Should be done by Monday. I think what freaked me out the most was the fear of being unable to help Joyce when she needed it. Good health is a precious gift that most don't appreciate until it's not there.
Anyway, we press on, knowing that the Lord is with us and that He will guide us thru every challenge and be with us in every difficulty.
Blessings! Pat
Joyce had a very hard day on Tuesday. She awoke with lot's of pain and the medications were not helping. She was also sick and dizzy and couldn't eat or drink anything. It was a scary day but the Lord saw us thru it! Her doc changed her meds a bit and by Wednesday morning she was feeling a lot better. We're unsure of what brought it all on. She has been OK since.
I'm still working my way thru the antibiodics for my colon problems. Should be done by Monday. I think what freaked me out the most was the fear of being unable to help Joyce when she needed it. Good health is a precious gift that most don't appreciate until it's not there.
Anyway, we press on, knowing that the Lord is with us and that He will guide us thru every challenge and be with us in every difficulty.
Blessings! Pat
Monday, April 23, 2007
Mon. 4-23-07
Hi folks! I'm really battling with the strongest antibiotics I've ever had to take. I'm at the half way point and it's laid me low! Couldn't preach Sunday because of the pain and nausea. May not be in the right frame of mind to post much the rest of the week. Gonna try to make it to the men's fellowship this evening and lead worship. We'll see! As always, prayer helps!
In His Arm's,
Pat
In His Arm's,
Pat
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Thurs. 4-19-07
Ps 86:11-13 Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. (NKJ)
As we face life this is foundational: Teach me Your way, O Lord! The way we walk, how we praise and what we glorify is all built on knowing His ways. Thus, when things are going great and when things are hard and trying, our ways remain steady and balanced.
I needed to remind myself of that this week. Along with Joyce's battles I have some medical issues as well. Most recent was an exam I had yesterday that revealed I have diverticulitis, a disease of the colon. I'm on heavy antibiotics for the next 10 days and have to be really good about what I eat. :-(
Joyce had a good day yesterday - starting to level out from the chemo last Friday.
Praying your ways are His ways as you face your own challenges!
In His Arm's,
Pat
As we face life this is foundational: Teach me Your way, O Lord! The way we walk, how we praise and what we glorify is all built on knowing His ways. Thus, when things are going great and when things are hard and trying, our ways remain steady and balanced.
I needed to remind myself of that this week. Along with Joyce's battles I have some medical issues as well. Most recent was an exam I had yesterday that revealed I have diverticulitis, a disease of the colon. I'm on heavy antibiotics for the next 10 days and have to be really good about what I eat. :-(
Joyce had a good day yesterday - starting to level out from the chemo last Friday.
Praying your ways are His ways as you face your own challenges!
In His Arm's,
Pat
Monday, April 16, 2007
Mon. 4-16-07
The Lord continues to minister to us thru the Psalms:
Ps 73:23-26 Nevertheless I am continually with You; you hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (NKJ)
At times we forget. At times we slip down the muddy slopes of desires other than the Lord. He remains faithful and is always able to bring us back to firm footing and right thinking.
Joyce made it thru the first three days after chemo without any nausea. She's very fatigued but in pretty good spirits. Continual thanks to all who are praying and holding us up thru these days.
Held by Him!
Pat
Ps 73:23-26 Nevertheless I am continually with You; you hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (NKJ)
At times we forget. At times we slip down the muddy slopes of desires other than the Lord. He remains faithful and is always able to bring us back to firm footing and right thinking.
Joyce made it thru the first three days after chemo without any nausea. She's very fatigued but in pretty good spirits. Continual thanks to all who are praying and holding us up thru these days.
Held by Him!
Pat
Friday, April 13, 2007
Friday, 4-13-07
Ps 66:19-20
19 But certainly God has heard me; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!
(NKJ)
The Lord has been ministering to me thru the Psalms the last couple of days. It's wonderful how He soothes the irritated heart!
Joyce had 4 hours of chemo today and did very well. She ate good when we got home and is having a calm evening. Noelle came down from LA to spend the weekend with us - she's always such a big help.
Hope you all have a very blessed weekend!
In His Arm's,
Pat
19 But certainly God has heard me; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me!
(NKJ)
The Lord has been ministering to me thru the Psalms the last couple of days. It's wonderful how He soothes the irritated heart!
Joyce had 4 hours of chemo today and did very well. She ate good when we got home and is having a calm evening. Noelle came down from LA to spend the weekend with us - she's always such a big help.
Hope you all have a very blessed weekend!
In His Arm's,
Pat
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Thurs. 4-12-07
Today's "Daily Bread" was encouraging after a very down few days. The prayer at the end of the devotion based on Psalm 6 was, "Dear Lord, I know You hear me, and that You are powerful and wise. Help me to wait patiently and to trust You for Your good and perfect answers to the needs of those I love. Amen."
I read that towards the end of the day today and really needed it. Joyce's pain seems to be back under control and so it was a calmer day for her. I took her to get her blood work for chemo tomorrow and a bone survey her oncologist had ordered. Afterwards I took her to Cost Plus World Market and lunch at the Olive Garden.
Tomorrow it all starts up again. Assuming her blood levels are OK she'll be having chemo from noon to about 3pm.
Here's a good few verses to wrap up the day:
Ps 63:6-8
6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
7 Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8 My soul follows close behind You; your right hand upholds me. (NKJ)
In His Arm's! Pat
I read that towards the end of the day today and really needed it. Joyce's pain seems to be back under control and so it was a calmer day for her. I took her to get her blood work for chemo tomorrow and a bone survey her oncologist had ordered. Afterwards I took her to Cost Plus World Market and lunch at the Olive Garden.
Tomorrow it all starts up again. Assuming her blood levels are OK she'll be having chemo from noon to about 3pm.
Here's a good few verses to wrap up the day:
Ps 63:6-8
6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
7 Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8 My soul follows close behind You; your right hand upholds me. (NKJ)
In His Arm's! Pat
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Wed. April 11, 07
Hi Folks! Sorry about the gap in posts to my blog. Been in a bit of a communication meltdown this past week.
Easter Sunday was wonderful at church but none of my family were able to make it.
Joyce has also begun hurting more again and so has my spirit. Several times this past week I tried to think of encouraging, positive things to write and was just empty, blank, and honestly dealing with an, "I don't care" attitude.
Joyce's palliative care nurse was by this morning and helped us understand the proper use of her pain meds, which we basically were not using with the most efficiency. I think that helped some and Joyce felt encouraged. This disease can be a frightening, paralyzing monster at times and it's been gnawing on both of us. New or recurring pain renews fears of worsening quality of life. For me, fearing her slowly deteriorating and then losing her battle is, at times, just overwhelming - and such it has been this week.
So that's about it for now. Thanks for continuing to pray for us. In the Lord, the Lord alone is everything we need.
In His Arm's,
Pat
Easter Sunday was wonderful at church but none of my family were able to make it.
Joyce has also begun hurting more again and so has my spirit. Several times this past week I tried to think of encouraging, positive things to write and was just empty, blank, and honestly dealing with an, "I don't care" attitude.
Joyce's palliative care nurse was by this morning and helped us understand the proper use of her pain meds, which we basically were not using with the most efficiency. I think that helped some and Joyce felt encouraged. This disease can be a frightening, paralyzing monster at times and it's been gnawing on both of us. New or recurring pain renews fears of worsening quality of life. For me, fearing her slowly deteriorating and then losing her battle is, at times, just overwhelming - and such it has been this week.
So that's about it for now. Thanks for continuing to pray for us. In the Lord, the Lord alone is everything we need.
In His Arm's,
Pat
Friday, April 6, 2007
Fri. 4-6-07
It's Good Friday today! A day the traditional church acknowledges as the day Jesus was crucified for our sin's. There's been along standing dispute among bible scholars as to exactly when the crucifixion really took place. Theories vary from Wed. to Thursday to Friday based on how the Passover was celebrated in Jerusalem way back then, what is meant by 3 days and 3 nites between the Lord's death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. Did Jesus mean 3 24 hour days or portions of 3 days.....
I think sometimes God purposely leaves things a little vague that our worship be not based on a particular day or place but on the person of God. He wants relationship with us all year round!
That relationship can only come thru faith in Jesus' redeeming and forgiving work on that cross outside the walls of Jerusalem. I pray each of you who read this would have that relationship with the One True God. Confess and turn from your sin and recieve His cleansing forgiveness and a new relationship that will last forever!
On the home front, Joyce finished up her radiation treatments this past Tuesday and has been getting along pretty well with just her cane - hasn't used the walker for several days now. Her chemo resumes next Friday so we're looking to have a medically free next few days!
We're also hoping she will be able to come to church this Sunday along with both our kids and their families. Have a very blessed and joyfilled Resurrection day/week/month/year/life! :-)
In His Arm's,
Pat
I think sometimes God purposely leaves things a little vague that our worship be not based on a particular day or place but on the person of God. He wants relationship with us all year round!
That relationship can only come thru faith in Jesus' redeeming and forgiving work on that cross outside the walls of Jerusalem. I pray each of you who read this would have that relationship with the One True God. Confess and turn from your sin and recieve His cleansing forgiveness and a new relationship that will last forever!
On the home front, Joyce finished up her radiation treatments this past Tuesday and has been getting along pretty well with just her cane - hasn't used the walker for several days now. Her chemo resumes next Friday so we're looking to have a medically free next few days!
We're also hoping she will be able to come to church this Sunday along with both our kids and their families. Have a very blessed and joyfilled Resurrection day/week/month/year/life! :-)
In His Arm's,
Pat
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Wed. 4-4-07
Today's Bible Reading: Ruth 1-4; Luke 8:1-25
In "Our Daily Bread" devotional this past Monday there was a story about how a bunch of Christian women got together to care for a women who was suffering from ALS and eventually succumbed to the disease. The title was "How God Shows His Love" and the last part of it really ministered to me:
The love of God was visibly demonstrated in Jesus when He was here on Earth. In stooping to wash the feet of His disciples, He mirrored the submissive step He took when He left heaven and became a man. He healed the sick and endured bitter hatred as His reward. He died like a criminal on a Roman cross. His endurance and these acts of kindness reflect God’s love, for Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
Jesus is no longer with us in His physical body—He now sits at God’s right hand in heaven. So, if God's love is to be embodied today, it must be done through Christians. Is it being done through you?
More like the Master I would live and grow,
My life helps paint my neighbor’s picture of God (...and my spouse and my kids and my relatives and my brothers and sisters at church, etc.)
In "Our Daily Bread" devotional this past Monday there was a story about how a bunch of Christian women got together to care for a women who was suffering from ALS and eventually succumbed to the disease. The title was "How God Shows His Love" and the last part of it really ministered to me:
The love of God was visibly demonstrated in Jesus when He was here on Earth. In stooping to wash the feet of His disciples, He mirrored the submissive step He took when He left heaven and became a man. He healed the sick and endured bitter hatred as His reward. He died like a criminal on a Roman cross. His endurance and these acts of kindness reflect God’s love, for Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).
Jesus is no longer with us in His physical body—He now sits at God’s right hand in heaven. So, if God's love is to be embodied today, it must be done through Christians. Is it being done through you?
More like the Master I would live and grow,
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial, like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be. —Gabriel
My life helps paint my neighbor’s picture of God (...and my spouse and my kids and my relatives and my brothers and sisters at church, etc.)
I know I need to show others around me God's love - don't we all? Perhaps today, instead of bickering and complaining we can all seek to show those around us how good and loving our God is.
In His Arm's,
Pat
Monday, April 2, 2007
Mon. 4-2-07
Our reading thru the Bible in a year should have us thru Judges 18 and Luke 7.
It's been an up and down week - seems like there's been a lot of those! Joyce and I have pretty well absorbed the mixed results of her testings we recieved last Wednesday. Her upper right leg still hurts from the surgery but she is almost exclusively using her cane instead of the walker and has been taking a few steps the last couple of days on her own with no help! She finishes up radiation on the leg tomorrow and then we have 10 days before she starts chemo again.
Easter week is also upon us. May you all rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus - in His victory over sin and death that has given life eternal to all who put their trust in Him.
In His Arm's,
Pat
It's been an up and down week - seems like there's been a lot of those! Joyce and I have pretty well absorbed the mixed results of her testings we recieved last Wednesday. Her upper right leg still hurts from the surgery but she is almost exclusively using her cane instead of the walker and has been taking a few steps the last couple of days on her own with no help! She finishes up radiation on the leg tomorrow and then we have 10 days before she starts chemo again.
Easter week is also upon us. May you all rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus - in His victory over sin and death that has given life eternal to all who put their trust in Him.
In His Arm's,
Pat
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