Bear with one Another in Love

 

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I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:1-3(NKJV)

Words of Paul written to Ephesian believers.

walk worthy of the calling

He encouraged them to live in a way that reflected God to others. He goes into detail as to how that would look. As we read those words, they can also apply to us who live in the 21^st Century.

with all lowliness and gentleness,

As believers in Christ, we must abandon all thought of ourselves as being better than others. We must also respond to each other with tenderness, no matter how others treat us.

bearing with one another in love,

Believers must accept those around us in love and be available for others as we can be. I sometimes find this difficult to do given the mindset of those in the world.

endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit

Paul’s purpose in his ministry was to introduce people to Jesus Christ and then to educate them in the ways of Christ. His goal was to unify those converted to the faith.

in the bond of peace.

Paul tells his readers, then and now that all we should do must have peace as its ultimate aim. I have had times when someone in the business world has been almost rude in response to a question I asked. In one instance, the woman could have explained their position better than she did.

Do you find it difficult to bear  certain people in your life?

We Must Forgive

 

Daily Verses,net

 

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another even as Christ forgave you, so you must all so do. Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV)

 

The Apostle Paul conveys this message to the believers at Colossae. This is basically the same message he gives the Ephesian believers. However, he goes deeper with the meaning of being kind. He writes that we should “put on” these attributes as we dress ourselves for each day.

 

tender mercies

 

If we should have issues with someone, we must approach that issue carefully and speak with tender words. We don’t always realize how we come across when we just blurt out the issue that is on our hearts.

 

 kindness

 

Even when we have issues with another person, we should approach that person with kind words because we don’t know what they might be going through in their personal lives.

 

 humility

 

We should always remember that each of us is no better or no worse than other people. God made us all. He allows each of us to have experiences and circumstances that allow us to grow. We should learn to practice humility in all our interactions with others.

 

 meekness

 

As people of Christ, we should learn to take the gentle path when dealing with people. We must realize that we are imperfect beings.

 

 longsuffering

 

I love this word. It is an old English word that means “patience”. We must have patience in this world as we deal with others. I walk with a cane. It takes me a while to go from “point A” to “point B”. I appreciate those who cross my path when I am shopping and they either wait as I get past them or help me by holding a door open for me. With all the upheaval going on in our nation, we all could benefit from having some more patience.

 

 bearing with one another

 

Sometimes, we become aware of the need those who are hurting have. We can do this through praying for them and their need. Maybe we can do something more practical. Taking someone to the doctor or to the ER, going to the grocery store for them. Our church has a food pantry that is open twice a month. This is a ministry that has grown over the years.

 

 forgiving one another

 

To get beyond hurts, we have to forgive each other. Someone once asked me to forgive her but then said, “But, I didn’t do anything.” The only way I could forgive her was to ask God to do it for me.

 

Forgiveness from God wipes away the record that He has on us. When we ask forgiveness from another person, we attempt to clear the air between that person and ourselves. 

We Are Blessed ( From my earlier writings)

 

Crosswalk.com

I am attempting to re-organize my computer/writing room. I ran across a folder containing some old pieces. Someone suggested I post them here for you to read. I have edited it. I hope you enjoy my thoughts.

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Back in 1998, I made a model of a solar cooking oven like a missionary had created for the women of Haiti to use. These ovens are made of corrugated cardboard and covered with aluminum foil. The Haitian women use these because there are no trees left—they were cut down for charcoal. Now there is no charcoal left and electricity is awfully expensive.

            While I was making my model, I thought, “We are blessed.” Later that evening, I found myself thinking, again about how blessed we are. I made the following entry in my journal.

            We are blessed:

                        ●if we know God as our Lord,

                        ●if we have a roof over our heads,

                         ●if we have gas or electric stoves,

                        ●if we have a few close friends,

                        ●if we have some good memories,

                        ●if we or someone close to us have been healed,

                        ●if we have good neighbors,

                        ●if we have someone to laugh or cry with us,

                        ●if we can see beauty,

                        ●if we can hear laughter,

                        ●if we can shed tears,

                        ●when we can enjoy God’s creation,

                        ●when we can commune with God Himself,

                        ●when we pause and listen to the birds,

                        ●when we watch children at play,

                        ●when we pray for another’s need,

            We are blessed because God love us, and he sheds His grace upon us because of that great love.

Serve One Another In Love

 

                                 

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 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

 

Paul writes to the Galatians that we are to serve one another in love. He warns them, and us, that our freedom should not be used in a questionable or sinful way.

 

How can we keep from causing hurt to others when we serve them? We should ask the LORD to guide us in our actions and our speech as well as our attitudes.

 

Sometimes we must engage what some call filters in our speech. (Gauge how something might sound if we spoke certain things.)

 

Other times, we must just do our jobs and choose not to listen to things that cause us to slip up and fall into the ‘world mode’.  This takes some maturity in Christ.

 

We must remember that God loves those we serve and those who serve with us as much as He loves us.

 

 

Some Thoughts on Christmas

 

This Christmas season has been different for all of us. People being advised not to congregate in large crowds or celebrations. However, we must remember that the first Christmas was observed by a few people, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.

We still send Christmas cards to some friends in southern Indiana. The picture above is an ornament that came in one of those cards. The lady that sent it to us is Jim's best friend's sister. She has had a rough couple of years, healthwise.  She made this from scratch. She has the dove so that one can turn it over and see another dove. I love the poem. I am unsure where she found it. I love the message.

Merry Christmas to each of you and to your families.

OCTOBER REFLECTIONS

Etsy

In the early part of this month, I attended the women’s circle I belong to. We have had an ongoing project to collect supplies for a local retirement home. This retirement community is unique in that it is locally owned by a corporation of local faith groups in our town.

                                

 

The ecumenical women’s group I attend met at our church for this month. My friend Martha and a few of us from our church provided the lite breakfast for those in attendance.

 I met ladies from my high school graduating class for lunch. We had some new ladies and some ladies couldn’t make it. I am finding that I enjoy seeing these girls. I am the last lady on the left.

We only had three of us for our Friends luncheon. We may not meet in November. My friend that tries to arrange these has been involved in teaching a class for about eight sessions. Those sessions have not been in consecutive weeks.

About the middle of the month, I was able to act as the worship leader. I was uneasy and I did make a few mistakes. Everyone who has done it told me I did well.

I haven’t done much writing lately. I have not been up to it. Just copying thoughts about Philippians for the Bible Study I am leading at that retirement community and some short blog posts.

I have been trying to find the time and energy to get out and take some pictures.

Here are two that I snapped:

       

                            This tree sits at the front corner of our neighbor’s front yard.

                   

 I went out the front door to rollup car windows when I looked up and saw these two trees. The leaves caught the sunlight in such a way that the looked brilliant red instead of yellow.

A cousin surprised me with a gift. He lives in northern Indiana and I don't get to see him that often. He's one of my Facebook friends and I believe he got some sort of message about my personal beliefs. Here's what he sent me.

                                                   

               

                                           A pro-life tee-shirt. I was humbled by his action.

I had been considering purchasing a new digital camera. I finally did it.  I was having a bad day, nothing really went right or as I thought it should go.  I decided to go ahead and order it. I like the camera on my cell phone but it doesn't bring objects closer. I should receive it and the other supplies in two days from when I placed the order. 

Faith is The Basis

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And he said to her, “Daughter your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your disease.” Mark 5:34

We all know the story of Jesus being en route to the synagogue ruler’s home to tend to the ruler’s sick young daughter. We also read where a woman interrupted His journey.

He knew someone had touched His clothing. The disciples couldn’t believe that Jesus would be concerned about someone touching His garments in the crowd.

When the woman comes forward and tells Jesus the story about why she touched his clothing, the LORD does not chide or berate her, instead, He calmly tells her that her faith had made her well. He bids her to go in peace and to be healed of your disease.

Without her faith, the woman would not have tried to approach the LORD. She would not have been healed. She could not have found peace.

We have times when our circumstances get the best of us. We don’t know what to do about them. We have a LORD who cares enough about each of us that we can go to Him and request His help and guidance as we advance in seeking solace about our condition.

Please pray for Aaron Blackford. He's 42, a widower with three children, a 19-year-old son who is a college freshman and two daughters ages 12 and 10. He was in a plane crash in Lansing Michigan twelve days ago. There were six of them on the plane. He is the only survivor. He is a member of our church. 

Fear, Courage: God Guides Us Through Each Day

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,

 “plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

 plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

I love this verse. I love the message. This week has been an unusual one for me.  On Monday, I accompanied my dearest friend Martha and her husband to attend the funeral of a childhood friend of Martha’s. I had graduated from high school with her.

Tuesday morning, I received a phone call from the church. A lady who was a part of our congregation had passed from this earth into the arms of Jesus. As I type this entry, I await the time for Martha and me to go pay our respects to Frieda’s family.

Wednesday, Hubby and I traveled down to the southern part of our state to see our son, who was on a ‘vacation’ from work. Hubby and Son went fishing at our friend Tom’s pond. Hubby took me over to Tom’s sister Betty’s house to see her. She is going into the hospital Sunday morning and will have surgery for colon cancer.

Late this morning, I received a phone call from the church. A woman I had met in 1985 and had worshiped with for several of those years was in the hospital and was not expected to be with us very much longer. Our new pastor and his wife were out of town. Could I go and see about her? I called Martha, who has known this lady longer than I. She wasn’t available. I called her home phone and left a message telling her the time I called. She called me while I was at the hospital with the family. I gave her my appraisal of the situation. She said she would try to get up there tomorrow. 

I had prayer with most of the family. I excused myself and returned home. We headed out to the grocery store. Did our shopping and was eating lunch when the phone rang. It was another friend to tell me that our friend in the hospital had passed.

When we turn our days over to the LORD, we never know where He will take us.

Have you had any experience where God chose to use you according to His plans?

April Reflections

Cecelia Lester.com

April is usually a month of rain and more rain. Back when Hubby retired at the end of March, we sat and watched it rain for the whole month. This April, I was able to sit on my porch for several days in a row. That was between the rains.

I got back to taking a Bible Study to the nursing home. At the end of one session, one of the patients said,” You’re good.” It made my day. Another day an older lady said she looked forward to hearing me. This afternoon the nursing home will observe National Nursing Home Week and honor its volunteers. It seems those who volunteer will receive a tee shirt as a gift.

I had an issue with one of my hearing aids. The audiologist had to send it back to the manufacturer. So, I went with one hearing aid for a few days.

For our church’s Easter Egg Hunt this year. The ladies of the church were asked to help with filling 200 baskets for the event and for a second Easter Egg Hunt for the foster children in our county. The hunt for the foster children is part of a memorial for a woman who died after a short illness.  I signed up to help fill the baskets. I had never seen so much stuff for these little baskets. After they were filled to overflowing, each basket was put in a large plastic bag. Then each bag was tied with a ribbon and a bow, blue for boys and pink for girls. It’s easy to talk about 200 baskets but seeing them was definitely an eye-opener. I could only help for about 3 1/2 hours.

Our next-door neighbor lady planted flowers in their front yard. We have lived here over 40 years, and this is the second time anyone has tried to put something out there. Hubby must have felt guilty because we had to go purchase our hanging baskets for our rock garden a little earlier than I anticipated. We also purchased three butterfly lights that change color. Two of them work. They look nice in the day time and the lights look cool at night. Lately, he has had to bring the flowers into our enclosed porch to keep them from frost and freezes.

On Easter Sunday, I went to church and attended the Easter breakfast. At the worship service, my closest friend’s youngest daughter surprised me and sat with me. My friend had been there for the earlier service. We have a prayer walk/prayer garden on the church land. Our pastor announced that it was dedicated to the memory of a gentleman who went to be with Jesus suddenly at the end of January. Since then, Hubby and I went out and purchased a fourth hanging basket for our rock garden. We also purchased some plants to put around our water pump in our side yard.

Our friend's luncheon was a positive time for those who were able to attend.

A mom and her daughter.

Me and two dear friends

Another mom and her two daughters.

Two good friends

A dear friend of mine and I have been on an emotional roller coaster due to the transition going on in our church. Please pray for us and for our church family. This transition is proving to be very hard.

October in My Life

Fall Foilage across the street.

Early in the month, our Friends group met. We were fourteen strong with a couple of ones who had not met with us before. Some who were there in September were unable to make it. We decided to gather in November at a new location because the group has outgrown where we met.

                                    

Husband wanted to go to the outlet mall, located an hour and a half away. Due to different reasons, my schedule, a lack of good sleep, and his not feeling especially well, we finally got to go yesterday. Our original purpose was to get him some jeans and shirts as part of his birthday. (It was last month.) As time went on, I realized I needed to get some things for myself. Mission accomplished. The day was beautiful. However, we did have intermittent sprinkles on the way down.

One day, we went to Walmart. Hubby knew I needed new shoes and boots for winter. Some time ago, we did something with my hairdryer. It has not turned up and the days were getting cooler. He decided I needed to purchase a new one. The trip through that store wore me out. I shared this thought with one of my closest friends. She is of the same mind I am. That store is just too big.  I am not one to shop unless I know exactly what I need and where to find it in the store.

My hair-stylist had to cancel my appointment less than an hour beforehand. She was on her way to the E. R. She gave me the option of having another stylist in her shop cut my hair. I did that. My friend was in the hospital for eight days. She was released yesterday but won’t go back to the shop until next week.

A dear friend’s husband faced quadruple bypass surgery. He was in one of the heart hospitals in Indy for a week before he had surgery. He had triple bypass surgery and a stent. Three days after he underwent surgery, he returned home to further the recovery process.

I have taken Gods’ word to the nursing home two times this month for a total of three times since I began this part of my ministry. This nursing home has a night of “Trick or Treat” where the residents give candy to the children that come. I donated a couple of bags of candy. The activity director seems thrilled to receive it.

As I plan for 2019, I have chosen my word for the year. I will announce it in early January. I have chosen the monthly topics, some of which are standard. I also hope to have some other announcements to make at that time.

I am trying to decide if I want to get back into embroidery and needlepoint crafts. I used to enjoy crewel embroidery with the wool yarns. I purchased the kits. One year, I made all the Christmas presents for the women in our close family. I can only watch some many classic television shows. Hubby probably thinks I have them all memorized.

November is the month of Thanksgiving. My topic will be about giving thanks to God. December’s topic will be Advent-related. Nothing changes about these months.

Summertime is VBS Time.

The past three evenings, our church had Vacation Bible School. Our theme this year was Cave Quest. The picture to the right is the entrance of a cave a trio of men created for us. It is on the dais at the front of the sanctuary.  The kids really seemed to like the decorations and the lessons. 

Our Children's Ministries Director started us thinking about VBS in February. She assembled her craft ladies, her registration ladies, her snack ladies, utilized our youth as part of the crew leaders. The rest of the crew leaders were women, most of whom had done it in years past.

Last Friday, the director's mother had to be taken to the ER and was admitted to the hospital. She had a gallbladder attack. Saturday morning, we were to start decorating the church. The director called me and told me she wouldn't make it to the meeting. We decorated the Christian Education wing hallways. This is one wall we managed to do on Saturday.  A dear friend finished it up with bats, the flying kind, placed every so often.

On Sunday, we learned that the director's mother was going to have surgery at noon. We were to meet at 2:30 to finish decorating the church. Several of us were there for three hours and created more cave walls. The fellowship hall and the hall leading to it were covered like the above picture. Again, final touched of moths, and bats were added.

On Tuesday night, our pastor dressed like a spelunker and gave lessons on Jesus being the light of the world. One of the smaller rooms of the church was made to resemble a dark cave. He gave all the kids glow sticks because Jesus' light will not go out and does show in this dark world.



This was my station. I pre-register and register kids. I had three women who were going to help me. However, one of them has a brother who had heart surgery on Monday.

Our director is ready to loan us out to other churches to teach how to have a successful Vacation Bible School.  On Sunday, there is a closing program during our main service. Following that, there is an all-church picnic. Those children who came to Bible School and their parents and siblings are invited to attend the worship service and picnic.

God was with us during the planning, the decorating and the Bible School.

Memories of a Christian Lady

http://afamileeaffair.blogspot.com/2013/02/memories.html

This past Friday afternoon, I attended a memorial service for a lady named Barbara from our church who passed into her heavenly home back in the winter. After her son had gone to be with Jesus, her daughter who lives in Texas took their mother back to Texas to live near her.

Barb’s son, Greg, was a quadriplegic. He was severely injured in a wreck when he was 17. He attended and graduated from college, married and had a son. At some point he and his wife chose to divorce. At the time of his accident, his younger brother, Brian was looking for someone to take him to the hospital to see Greg. A car hit this 12-year-old boy who was riding his bicycle.

           

When we visited her church one Wednesday evening, Barb approached us after the service, introduced herself, and told us about Greg and Brian. Both my friend and I felt we had found a home.

When I went back to work, my route took me across town and on the street that went near their home. One morning, I was stopped for construction traffic about three blocks from them. The car behind me didn’t stop and then that driver backed that car up and ran off. I was angry and scared. The only one I could think to call was Barb. I told he what happened and asked her to come down and sit with me until Hubby could get there. I asked her to wait until Greg’s home health care people were there. She came but I never asked her if someone was there with Greg.

The women’s circle at the church received the name B and B. We are a merged church. The initials stand for the names of the women in both former churches that strived to keep the circles going. One of the “B”’s stands for Barbara.        

The format was different from any memorial service I have attended. The daughter wanted everyone to sit around tables, enjoy a meal and then share their memories of her mother. I know she is in that cloud of witnesses watching over those she loves. I will never forget this wonderful Christian lady who never complained and never spoke badly about anyone.

Celebrate

 

  And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

 

From time to time, we have occasion to celebrate an event. We acknowledge upcoming births by attending showers or giving gifts for the baby after the blessed event.

Recently, our church honored the young people who graduated from high school. One of those young men’s family had an open house at the church.

Our society celebrates a man and a woman’s decision to spend their lives together in Holy matrimony. The friends of the bride may give her a shower of gifts for their new home. The guests at the wedding celebrate with the couple by also presenting the couple with items to aid them as they begin their new life together.

Several years ago, I heard a woman speak who had written a book called “Celebrate the Temporary.” As I remember the idea of the book, we could learn to take in stride the unexpected events of life. I sometimes find this hard to do.

As I read the Sunday newspaper recently, I saw an announcement about a couple who was observing their 65^th wedding anniversary. In years past, I was acquainted with the woman through a good friend at our former church. Not every couple gets to celebrate that many years of marriage.

For quite some time, when a Christian goes to be with Jesus, the family chooses to have a “celebration of life.” I recently attended a going home service that actually was a celebration of the departed friend’s life. Her two surviving sons were upbeat. The pastor reflected on the lady’s life.

This past Sunday, as we do every first Sunday of the month, our congregation celebrated Christ by receiving communion. I attend the main service, referred to as the second service. On these Sundays, we receive communion in our seats. A smaller number of people attend the earlier service. Those in this service receive communion by intinction. Each one who partakes goes to the front of the sanctuary and receives the elements from the pastor and someone who assists him. As each person receives the bread, the pastor says, “This is Christ’s body broken for you.” The one assisting holds a chalice. The communicant dips his bread into the chalice and hears these words, “This is Christ’s blood shed for you.”

At special services during Holy week, different stations are set up to accommodate a large number of attendees. The pastors from guest churches help in serving the communion by intinction.

Actually, we celebrate the Lord each Sunday as we gather together to worship, by giving praise for all He has done for us.

  

I enjoy this praise song, Celebrate Jesus  I hope you do as well.

   

The Body

https://agapegeek.com

If one member suffers, all suffer together, if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

1 Corinthians 12:26 (ESV)

The apostle Paul gives the Corinthian believers a picture of the church that is quite accurate. He compares the church to a body.

In his comparison, he tells us that a body has many members-a physical body has many organs that make up different systems. Likewise, a church is made up of different boards and committees, made up of individual people. The one phenomenon that can happen in the body of the church is people begin working together and friendships are formed. I say “can happen” because the Holy Spirit has to be invited into the hearts of those involved in the working of God’s houses of worship.

In a given few weeks, I personally have grieved for a family who suddenly lost their husband and father, and a second family who lost their father after a stroke and another disease. Also, I have rejoiced over the birth of our pastor’s granddaughter, two daughters and a son to people who call our church their church home.

God created the biological family and in-law families. He also created the spiritual family. We can learn from all three of these families what we need in order to live and guide us through those difficult times we will face in life sometimes just by being there with us.

Yes, I am still around. Break will have to come later. Please bear with me. The Holy Spirit is in control of my life. 

Eastertide Thoughts

strengthforthekingdom.blogspot.com

During this Eastertide season, the time between Easter and Pentecost, I am re-using a Lenten study book titled 40 Days to Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole. This marks the third year I have read and studied it. The following entry is the result of thoughts I experienced last year.

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, Matthew 14:22-23 (ESV)

Jesus heard of John’s cruel death. He “withdrew to a solitary place in order to pray, reflect, and grieve. People found Him anyway. He showed his compassion for them. Our Lord preached and healed those who requested it. Then, He sent his disciples on ahead and retreated back to solitude again.

I have heard and read that our modern world chooses not to honor grief. As I observed people when I grew up, I saw people act “back to normal” the next day after a funeral of a family member or someone close to them. The idea of grief being a personal issue escaped my youthful mind and heart.

In old movies set in the 19^th Century, a woman was expected to wear black clothes for one year. This, to me, seemed to be for public show.

In my research on grief, I have discovered experts have divided the grief process into at least five, and as many as ten steps. An interesting fact is these experts cannot tell us how long a person will spend in each step or in what order one experiences them.

As I read about Jesus’ seeking solitude, not once but twice, tears came to my eyes. I know that I have not been allowed to grieve certain losses from my family at the time of the losses. However, eventually, I have gone through the process each time.

Some points about grief:

1.)    Grief is an emotion that has to be dealt with.

2.)    It is personal. No two people grieve in the same way.

3.)    It takes time to get through the process.

4.)    We who believe in Christ are not to grieve as one who has no hope.

    (1 Thessalonians 4:13, ESV)

5.)    Each of us will experience grief each time we lose a friend or a loved one to death.

An Apology and An Explanation

I am sorry to be so long away from my blog posts. Please forgive me. Here is what has transpired in my life.


Ten days ago, I had to take Hubby to the ER at the hospital down the street from our home. They diagnosed him with Influenza A. Due to something else that was amiss in his profile, they kept him for two nights. While we were in the ER the nurse and a technician said I looked like I was coming down with something. I said I was "OKAY."  They asked me TWICE if I wanted to be checked out. Both times, I declined.

The next day, I felt worse. A friend told me to get to the doctor as soon as I could. I received an appointment for the following day. I tested positive for Influenza A. My doctor told me to go home and go to bed.  Her medical assistant said that we had to allow this virus to run its course.

Today is the first day I have been on my computer since a week ago Monday. That is why you have not seen any new posts from me.

I am unsure of when I will be able to get back to my regular posting schedule. Please pray for me and my Hubby. We do want to get over this stuff.

Amazed At God's Presence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abx2vQnqot4

Yesterday, at church, I discovered a friend of mine was ill. She had been diagnosed with mononucleosis. She is a young looking middle-aged woman. I was concerned due to her age; I had never heard of someone her age having this ailment.

I did some research and learned that anyone who has the Epstein-Barr virus in their system should not have mono again. However, if a person comes down with it again, it is due to a compromised auto-immune system.

Auto-immune diseases include the arthritis family and fibromyalgia. Dealing with various forms of arthritis and fibromyalgia myself, I actually wonder how many auto-immune diseases a person can actually have. (This would have saved me from back-tracking to the restaurants along the way between home and the agent’s office.) I found myself apologizing to God for making such a crazy mistake.

After I finished up at the insurance agent’s, I went to the bank and took care of that business. I decided to go to the Chinese restaurant to the north, near to the insurance office.

As I opened the inner door to the restaurant, I saw my friend’s husband. We greeted each other and I inquired about my friend’s condition. We talked a short while and I excused myself to go order my lunch. When I received my order, I approached him again and told him to “be blessed.” And departed the building.

After I ate my lunch, I called one of my close friends who happens to be a cousin to the lady who is ill. I related what I had found in research and what I found out during this ‘chance’ encounter which we decided was God-ordained.

Yes, I believe that God ordains the times we experience meeting someone ‘by chance’, especially when we pray about a need and then we ‘happen’ to see someone who can help us understand what we have concerns about.

1.   God was in my day: He allowed me to sleep in, although that wasn’t my plan.

2.   God directed me to get busy and do the paperwork to get ready for my outing to the insurance agency and to the bank.

3.   God guided me to the Chinese restaurant to get my lunch. (I actually thought about getting Chicken Mc Nuggets both they could have caused me problems.)

4.   God allowed me to see my friend’s husband. He confirmed what I was thinking about his wife’s condition.

We sang the following hymn at church yesterday. It speaks of God being with us and accepting us as we are. I can truly say that I do stand amazed at His presence with me.

I Stand Amazed In The Presence