Sunday, October 27, 2013

Sunday Thoughts


I've been quiet this week. I didn't even do the Counting Our Blessings Link Up. I've had a busy week and I'm still not feeling well. I had doctor appointments, visited a friend who is recovering from surgery and have still been fighting this "feeling sick" problem. I'm still waiting for my c-pap machine and still feeling exhausted. I've had a couple of friends on my heart who are dealing with horrible pain (you know who you are) and I find myself crying out to God on their behalf - and on mine. 

Life is not easy. We are thrown these curve balls of pain, or sickness, or lack of funds and we wonder if God sees us - truly sees us. Here's what the Bible says in Isaiah 43:1-7:


But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my eyes,
    and honored, and I love you,
I give men in return for you,
    peoples in exchange for your life.
Fear not, for I am with you;
    I will bring your offspring from the east,
    and from the west I will gather you.
I will say to the north, Give up,
    and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”


God knows us by name! When we go through the fires of life, He is with us. We don't have to feel that He's with us - we just have to know it. Sometimes, that's the only thing we can hold on to. I don't always feel His presence, but I do know He's there, because He tells me so. That's enough - it is through my faith that I hang on to this fact. As I cry out to Him, I believe He hears me. I believe He is working. Sometimes, that has to be enough.

I also know this - for myself, anyway. I have to keep trying to go forward. My body and my mind just want to stop. I don't feel well - I'm in pain. I want to just sit in my recliner and veg and, frankly, feel sorry for myself. This is deadly for me. I have to keep making plans. I need to keep working on my cross stitch, or my crocheting, my writing, and my craft designing. Whatever I can do, I have to do - for the glory of God - and my sanity! It's not always easy, but it's necessary. 

I know that I will feel God's presence surrounding me again but until that time, I have faith that He has not left me. I know He hears my prayers that I pray over my family, friends and myself. I trust Him and that's enough.

God bless you - Julie

2 comments:

  1. Well Julie, I don't know if God lead me to you or you to me but the end result is the same. He let your words touch my heart and answer my prayers to him. You reminded me that yes He is here and all I need to do is to know it.

    Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog and being an instrument of God. It's seems the best people in my life are named Julie. :)

    Hugs...Tracy @ Cotton Pickin Cute

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  2. I got so busy telling you what you did for me I didn't get to tell you that I know how tiring it is to not fell well. I'll be lifting you in prayer Sweetie, that this week will be a positive one and that you'll be feeling much better. <3

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