God will be to me what He is.

11:00am

Psalm 18:1&2, 46
"I love you, O Lord, my strength. 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." 
"The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!"

This morning I read Psalm 18. What comfort in those first verses. What terrifyingly great power is in those verses between the ones printed above! There is NOTHING too difficult for the one and only true God. God is not going to change who He is.

This reminded me of the next to last chapter in "Close to His Majesty" by David Needham, which I have wanted to share with you for some time.    "GOD WILL BE TO US WHAT HE IS."  Exodus 3:14, 15b "God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" "...This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation." I Thessalonians 5:9 "For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."  "Because of Jesus, our God is now free to be to us Everything-that-He-is, without wrath! This is His name forever!"  Needham goes on to illustrate by saying suppose you are in a hospital for the first time awaiting surgery, a man with a black bag comes in and tells you everything will be fine, no worries and then proceeds to the TV to repair it; another man walks in, tells you the same thing, but tells you he is the doctor who will be performing the surgery. "The same words--but oh, what a difference! No matter how wonderful the promises are--it is the character of the One who speaks them which makes all the difference!" John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." Isaiah 41:13 "For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear. I will help you.'" "No, it isn't just anyone who says these words. It is "I AM WHO I AM": The-One-who-will-be-to-me-what-He-is."  So much great stuff in this chapter, but you'll just have to read the book.  One last thing though: "At a time of deep personal agony, the pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor received a letter from a friend who wrote the following words...: 'But how to get faith strengthened? Not by striving after faith, but by resting on the Faithful One.' That's it! Trust--faith--is not something we try to pump up enough to carry the weight of our needs........It is simply affirming--and resting in--the faithfulness of God to be to me what His promises say He will be. And what is the basis for such restful confidence? His NAME. The very name of God."

Isn't that fantastic!  I love how David Needham illustrates such deep truths. Something that I just read right over he is able to show how rich and deep a truth it is, and what an impact it can make on my trust and rest in God when I understand the full meaning of God, the great "I AM".  One focus - GOD.  That's why the verses at the top of the blog CAN have such meaning, because of the ONE they are talking about.  He will not be moved, I am secure when I stay with Him. Shout it out! GLORY! PRAISE YOU, GOD! THANK YOU, JESUS!

On Monday afternoon, I took Mike to our primary care doctor. We saw the nurse practitioner, and although Mike would hardly sit still, she could hear fluid in his right lobe so put him on antibiotics. I think this week could be characterized by our wedding vows of "for better or for worse". We had some really great, calm, and fun times and some really not great, or fun struggles.  I was able to meet with Dr. Gualtieri by myself this week and talk through more than is possible when Mike is there. We are trying yet another new medicine, to see if that will help calm Mike down without making him a zombie. Dr. G also prescribed a med for me to try to take the edge off of some of the stress.  About Thursday, I started feeling a bit sick too, but have kept drinking Emergen-C, taking Nyquil and Dayquil to try to keep it at bay.

I praise God and thank Keegan, Amy, Maureen, and Zack for taking care of Mike this weekend so I can have a long respite. Several of my family were going to meet at my sister, Gayle's house in northern Virginia, but that did not work out. Since I already had help lined up and REALLY needed a break, I came to Carol & Ed's house and am enjoying a very quiet, alone time. Ed's father, Dick Gaunt passed away this past week, so they are in NJ - please remember Ed's family, especially his Mom, in your prayers.

Another huge praise and weight off my shoulders is I have an accountant to do our taxes this year! And not only that, he is someone I know.  God is amazing!  Before Christmas, a friend called to see how we were doing and during the course of the conversation, she reminded me of a man who used to live in Fayetteville and was a member of Christus Victor Lutheran where I worked. He always helped me with the church financial stuff and then his family moved to Raleigh. Even after he moved, he was available by phone to help me as needed. So we talked this week, I've started gathering up my papers and we'll get together soon.  Yay!

So many of you have been such a blessing to me in such unexpected ways. Thank you so very much for all the cards, financial gifts, prayers, calls, e-mails, thoughts, visits, food, practical items, and other gifts.  If you've ever read the book "The 5 Love Languages", my love-language is gifts and that has been a very bright spot for me throughout this difficult adventure--the fact that you have not forgotten us and continue to go out of your way to do thoughtful, sacrificial, and encouraging things for us and me in particular. You definitely help me get through those tough days.  This week I received a beautiful bracelet with the word "miracles" on it from a dear friend in Canada. What a wonderful visual reminder to continue to pray for a miracle in Mike's life and knowing that others are praying that also. Thank you, Elke. Other gifts - my Mom working a puzzle with Mike at the farm over Christmas; my Dad taking Mike for a drive, Caleb and Keegan occupying Mike during our Christmas time together; family members playing pool with Mike; Ed and Carol coming over to help in whatever way they can.  Each and every gift is priceless to me.  THANK YOU!