Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Diary Post

I have to put some words to what I'm dealing with...so be warned this ain't light & fluffy. I'm just letting my fingers type what my mind and heart are saying....it's moments like this I wish blogger had a "diary" feature where I could just record things for me, without necessarily sharing them with the world (not that I don't appreciate the support and comfort and laughs I get from blogger). So, this is one of those diary posts....really ment for just me, but shared with the world.

So, it's official (at least according to my physical therapist) that the last injection didn't work...and I've just gotta vent a little.

This leads me to being a lot of things...
MAD - mad that my body isn't healing like it should.
SAD - sad that I can't do the things I want to do at the moment.
ANGRY - angry that I've done everything the doctor's have said and it hasn't worked.
DEPRESSED - depressed that I'm not living the life I want to at the moment.
SCARED - scared of what the next steps may be...
DISAPPOINTED - disappointed that I'm not making forward movement on a couple of things that are becoming increasingly important to me....like getting in shape.

I NEVER would have guessed when I went to the doctor on May 5th that I'd still be hurting so bad two months later (and about 3 months total). My days are spent walking around hooked up to a TENS unit. Lots of time with ice on my back. Restless/sleepless nights because of waking up when my pain meds wear off in the middle of the night.


Puttin' into words what's going on...
I'm dealing with spinal stenosis (most likely genetic...), moderate spinal arthritis, 3 bulging disk (1 not so bad, the other two with small tears), extremely painful sciatica and my facet joints are much smaller than they are supposed to be. I've now had 3 epidural steroid injections, 1 directly in the spinal canal and 2 facet injections. What I'm not doing - googling everything to find out what it means and reading tons of message boards. I think that'll just scare me worse and my doctor is doing a really good job of explaining and sharing information.

God only knows what He's trying to teach me through this experience. I know there is a lesson here somewhere....I'm struggling to remember that He is in control and that He knows where this will lead....

~~~~~~

Oh Lord, you are my rock and salvation. Help me remember that You know the results of any and all challenges and difficulties I may be facing before I ever encounter them. You give me obstacles to learn to lean on You more readily and to trust more deeply. Please blanket me in the comfort of your Holy Spirit during this time.

I pray that you give the doctors knowledge to know the best course of action to take. Lord, I ask you for patience in this, and all things. You are the ultimate physician and healer. Please allow this, and all things, to work for Your glory and according to Your will.

In Jesus' name I pray...amen.


Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Amazing Grace!



If y'all haven't seen this commercial for the Salvation Army, it's GREAT. Each time I see it, it reminds me of just how Amazing God's love is and how much his GRACE means to me (and, I tear up every time I hear "Amazing Grace") I've been there...I've struggled with unfounded prejudices (He opened my heart). I've been Lost (and He showed me the path to something better). I've been Sad (still am at times...but I have Hope).

Not only that, no matter what we've done in our lives (and let's be honest -- I don't know of a soul who hasn't done something they are ashamed of, myself included) He's there to love and forgive us. If I'm honest, I'll admit that I'm guilty of neglecting my important relationship with my Savior. Life hums along and I forget to be thankful, forget to give praise, forget to be the daughter Christ calls me to be. Then, something happens and the brakes of life are slammed and things go crazy. And, each and every time, He's there, with arms wide open, to welcome me back. And, He doesn't love me any more or less based on my actions; He just wants me. Broken, scared, scarred, sinner me. He wants to have a deep relationship with each of us. Yes, it's easy to think we can coast along, doing alright, all on our own. But, we can't - we're not designed that way.

Growing up, we went to church. Happy memories of VBS, Sunday School, great mentors, and great family members formed the cornerstones of my faith. Then, came college....and I thought that accepting Christ as my Savior and believing was enough. Sleeping in on Sundays (usually after a sinful Saturday night) became the norm. I made friends with lots of people who are Christians -- but those relationships were not always centered on the right things. I thought the Bible Study I lead with the girls in my sorority was *enough* for my spiritual life...there was a hunger in my life for something deeper, and I filled it with the WRONG things.

This sinner's look at 30 tells me that my faith is about more than just believing. It's about nurturing a relationship and growing closer to God. It's about learning to listen to His words in the quite moments, learning more about Him and how He works, and about having a spiritual network (founded on the right things) that encourages you in all aspects of your life.

Does this mean I never slip? Nope. I do each day....in one way or another. Does this mean that me and all my friends share the same faith...Nope. Does this mean challenges never come along...Nope. Does this mean I never have a sad or depressing day...Nope. One of the biggest things I struggle with is sharing my faith with others...this is my attempt to do so in a non-confrontational way ('cause y'all...I HATE confrontations!)

It's AMAZING to think about how much God loves you (no matter where you are on your journey)...
It's GRACE that makes it possible...
and above all,
Life is Good, because God is GREAT!

Even (no- especially) in the difficult times. And, there are a lot of things I'm struggling with right now that I'm not really comfortable putting words to in my own head (they're coming out as fragmented prayers and cries)--much less in writing or sharing with others. But, I do believe in the power of prayer, and I know it'll all work out for His glory. I'll close with one of my absolutely favorite scriptures...

"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