Friday, February 5, 2016

RJD: 2/2016 Names People Call Us


Journal Entry: Dec. 3, 2015

BACKGROUND:
I received therapy for my broken ankle while I was in the nursing home. My only time out of my room each day (seven days a week) was to receive therapy. I came to enjoy those who worked in that department.

Journal Entry:

               One of the male therapists here at the nursing home/rehab center said something interesting today. His mother does not like to be called ‘honey’ or ‘hon.’ She thinks it sounds demeaning.

               This set me to thinking. When I was in college, one of the guys on campus who worked for the food service, part time, always called the girls in the dorm endearing little names like ‘doll.’ He was in the same fraternity as my boyfriend. One day one of my sorority sisters who also dated another guy from that fraternity house and I asked him why he did that.

               My friend hit upon the idea that he did this because he did not know or could not remember the names of the other girls on campus. However, he had to know our names.

               Here at the rehab/nursing facility, the CAN’s, the nurses, and the therapists use the little cute names because it is quick and easy. The environment can be somewhat cold and daunting to the patients. The use of endearing terms breaks the ice and is meant to put the patient at ease.

               The Bible says God has a special name for each of his children. Each of us will find out what He calls us when we meet Him.

UPDATE:
               Yesterday, I underwent an evaluation for the possibility of continuing my physical therapy. The young woman told me I was doing well, making progress. I could have continued receiving therapy for 30 days. I explained something to her and asked for two more weeks. She agreed to my suggestion.

I will see my regular PT woman three more times and then this evaluator will come back to release me. I am so happy; I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Abounding in Love


The Lord works righteousness
And justice for all the oppressed.
He made know his ways to Moses,
His deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psalm 103:6-8 (NIV)

               This is another of David’s writings. He writes kindly of the Lord. Let us see what the Shepherd King has to say;

“The Lord works righteousness and justice. . .” In our society, we see times when we believe victims do not receive justice. Either the perpetrators get off free or receive a very light sentence. God will take care of the hurt the victims and their families’ experience.

“ . . for all the oppressed.” When one is beaten down by attitudes and actions of another, sometimes God is the only friend the victims have. When we reach out to God, He accepts us as we are. If we are hurt, anxious, or angry, He listens to us and acts upon our needs.

“He made known his ways to Moses. . .” God took Moses from the land of Goshen and led him through the wilderness. The Father conversed with him on the mountaintop and doled out discipline for Moses and the Israelites.

“His deeds to the people of Israel”; Several times the Lord God had to remind the Israelites of what He had done for them. The Israelite people had very short-term memory—they would forget how God had been with them. Sometimes, we of the 21st Century forget what happened when we miraculously find ourselves on the receiving end of something nice. We do not deserve to be treated the way God treats us—we deserve death. Nevertheless, God gives us His love through His grace.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious . . .” God exercises compassion to all who come to Him. He never turns any of His children away. He listens intently and then he deals with us with grace—even when his discipline might seem harsh.

“slow to anger, abounding in love.”

One of the hallmarks of God is that he chooses not to do anything without extending grace or giving redemption for our/others’ sins. God provides everything we need in order for us to live; no wonder we learn to love Jesus as we do.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Unfailing Love

stitch-a-gift.com

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
Or discipline me in your wrath.
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am faint;
O lord, heal me, for my bones are in agony.
My soul is in anguish.
How long, O Lord, how long?
Turn, O Lord, and deliver me;
Save me because of your unfailing love.
Psalm 6: 1-4 (NIV)

               David pens this plea. He asks God not to deal with him in anger. The shepherd king begs for mercy; he says he could not withstand it. He asks God to heal him because he hurts so much that his bones are sore.

               I love the last part of this passage. He asks the Lord to deliver him from this pain and guilt not because he is such a loyal follower and obedient person but because of Gods unfailing love.

               God’s love is unfailing. He loves us even when we are unlovely. He knows everything we did before we heard about Him and chooses to save us in spite of those things.

               A dear friend shared something with me yesterday. Her eldest, son who has been through a life-changing trauma, and she went to a pizza place they like on Sunday. They happened to see two couples they knew from several years ago. These couples were influential in this son’s life. What makes this such a special thing for me is the way my friend talked about it. She said, “The Lord did a sweet thing for us.”


               Yes, even those ‘chance meetings’ are engineered by God. He does even these out of His unfailing love.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...