MOVE! …WHILE YOU CAN

It is power to move without thinking, with no pain, no real effort. If you are still in this place cherish and appreciate your power. My husband, Eric and I used to move quite a bit and then I had an accident on my bicycle a month ago. It was a hard fall that fractured my pelvis in two places and right clavicle. The process of recovery is slow and long.

 

When I married Eric forty-eight years ago, he realized the importance of moving, running to be specific. He bought a copy of Dr. Kenneth Cooper’s best-selling book, “Aerobics.” The plan presented in it was encouraging to begin and grow in. As he built his aerobic capacity jogging, he began to ride his bicycle to work. We were in our early thirties, and I did not want to be “left behind.” Dr. Cooper’s wife, I learned, wrote a companion book, “Aerobics for Women” a small paperback: it was a new beginning for me: it changed my life.

 

We had our first baby by then and lived in a mobile home rented from my parents. My sister, Char, decided to join me and we began walking one mile before daylight; then we would jog and walked, then finally jogged the distance.

 

My sister is still walking, five miles at a time in the town where she and her husband live. I grew in my interest too, continued jogging and worked myself into a position as an Aerobics Instructor at a local gym. By our fifties, Eric and I were lifting weights and jogging at a YMCA. Bicycle riding was our hobby. Eric read the Bicycling Magazines and we learned the traffic rules for biking.

 

That was then. Now we are in our late seventies. Eric’s hip replacement and colon cancer stymied his ability to get on the gym floor. Everything changed. I continued bicycle riding solo until late December, I ran into a fluffy bunch of leaves on a sidewalk, but it turned out to be a solid tree. I hit it hard.

 

A “moment of truth” for both of us: what is the plan now? In short, Eric and I are experiencing pain in our bones. His hip surgery and colon cancer, my bicycle accident. Without repeating a previous Blog, our future has taken on a new challenge! We are alive, vertical, we can move. But we are in transition: can we, at this age, heal and strengthen? Will our bones grow whole? Can we be strong and limber again? Move while you can!

 

Last night, lying in bed, a hopeful plan began to form. We can move. We will, by the grace of God, take on the challenge of growing as strong and healthy as the LORD allows.

 

The challenge from the Therapists is my challenge to you: “Move while you can! “

“What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own.?” I Co 6:19

YOUR MARRIAGE IS PRICELESS: BE VIGILANT

It is one challenge at a time. One incident. One bout of discord, disappointment, anger. Unresolved and walked away from, the rift grows.

 

A marriage, cherished and preserved is worth the humility and initiative it takes to bring back the peace, accompanied by the satisfaction of restoring unity: it is love. This is not about a feeling, but a vision of God. His ways and means for keeping your marriage together work to preserve your household, (made up of whoever it may be).

 

“Humble yourself in the sight of the LORD, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10. And then there is this, from the Prophet Jeremiah to the most powerful couple in the Kingdom: “Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.” Jeremiah 13:18

 

There is a good and proper fear of God. It will give you caution if you are wise enough to stay close to Him. Through the Old Testament, repeated defiance of God, revolt from the mind and heart, turned the people of God into a scattered, lost nation. Will we learn? There is a way to learn, know the way of God, the Creator, Designer, lover of our souls. This is the God Who sent His Son, Jesus to suffer and die for us! Demonstrating his power, He rose again.

 

The antidote to disintegration of your marriage is keeping up with “I shouldn’t have said that. Please forgive me.”  “I made a mistake.”  “I was wrong.” “I love you.” “You are the best; thank God, I married you.”

 

It is one humble move at a time. The answer for not growing apart, is to fertilize, water and nurture growing together. Growing together is obeying the LORD. “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” Colossians 3:19. “The wife, see that she reverences her husband.” Ephesians 5:33. I wondered at the beginning of our forty-eight years, “What does reverence mean?” So, I decided not to question the reason, but make certain that I gave him respect, cooperation, to listen to him, not only just his spoken word, but his unspoken heart: because he was my husband. You can learn to “read” him…and you can be forthright with also “speaking” your own unspoken words.

 

Marriage is worth the exercise in humility as you preserve it one dilemma at a time. Your marriage, home and family are worth protecting and cherishing. When those you look up to and respect fall apart, you begin to understand the sorrow you yourself might cause when you do not.

 

Vision is gaining a clear picture in your mind of the vow to God and its meaning when you marry. Vision is planning to create the life you dreamed of when you said, “I do.”

A BICYCLE ACCIDENT THAT WORKED TOGETHER FOR GOOD

It was only a second of inattention on the bicycle, riding across a quiet street to a sidewalk I hit a protruding, “round ball of leaves” shoulder high. Though I had ridden this route for years, I discovered this day that it was not leaves only, but a sturdy tree hidden by the leaves. I had noticed and avoided the overgrown palmettos and oak branches draping over the sidewalk in this spot every time. This day, I did not.

It was December 2021, at three in the afternoon on a slight downward slope, I hit the hidden tree on my left side, the impact threw me on my right side; I fell to the sidewalk and a strip of grass: the right clavicle and pelvis hit hard and fractured. I lay there on the ground, stunned.

When I looked up a young woman was standing over me, her two young sons waiting in her car. “Do you have a cell phone?” She called Eric (who was on a “tracker” backup). Two Police Officers were there it seemed in seconds and stood by asking questions about how I felt, could I see clearly, did my head hurt? They stayed watch until the ambulance drove me away. Another man appeared who knew the neighborhood I live in and told the officers, “I know her, she rides by my Sunoco Station often. What Sunoco Station? I still do not know. The Ambulance arrived, a fire truck behind me, the police car all lights flashing. When the Medic asked if I wanted to go to a Hospital, I was not ready to make that decision. I asked the senior Officer, “What do you think?”  Ambulance medics answered my request to help me stand up…stood around poking to see where the pain originated. When they allowed me to try to stand alone, I would have collapsed, except that they were ready, I decided to go to the hospital.

This accident is only worth telling because I believe this: *“In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”  That Wednesday was cool and sunny. I had been especially positive as I rode, filled with gratitude that I had a bicycle, a safe route, the ability, and freedom to ride. (This mistake was not stupidity; my husband had led the way years before by riding to work on a bicycle. He had read Bicycling Magazine, the rules and regulations, safety habits and he had bought me a bicycle like his when we were first married. We rode together and with our three sons for family outings.)  His hip replacement hindered him for now, so I decided to make bicycle riding a personal pursuit… until he could ride again.

God has our best interests in His plan for His people. What do I learn from this? This is a fresh experience in early 2022. When I rode, often I would pray, meditate on Scripture. I had prayed that day, “LORD, please give me stronger faith.” Then I remembered the disciples had made the same request to Jesus. His response was, “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this sycamine tree, ‘Be plucked up by the root, and be planted in the sea; and it should obey you.’”  Lord, I have faith, help me to exercise it, apply it, believe You.

About an hour later, I was lying on the ground with two fractures. There is a sure promise, *“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” It does! It always will!

Can this be? I am glad it happened. It is opportunity to gain experience, to believe God: *“Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

Therapists, a designated doctor from the hospital, equipment sent home with me are new blessings. I do not walk right now, not really, but a wheelchair is an awesome way to travel the around the house. This is an effective way to know by experience what others go through

*Proverbs 3:6. 12; Luke 17:6; Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 1:4

MY HEAD TALKED TO MY SOUL

Tired and almost ready for bed, would I take it in? But Psalm 103 said something new to me tonight. It told my head to talk to my soul: 

Psalm 103 A Psalm of David. 

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He has not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them that fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. 

As I did talk to my soul, the response of “all that is within me” brought my spirit and soul and body to agreement. What a privilege you and I have who have accepted the gift of God which is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our LORD. What a powerful Creator, Father we have who understands us and removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west.

If we think about it, the inspiration and thoughts in our head is beyond “brain matter”. It is a mysterious spiritual gift … given to every person: a mind to think creatively, love, pray. Genesis tells us that we are created in the image of God, which is only one reason that Genesis in the Bible is utterly important to read and think and meditate on.

FOOD AND FAITH?

 From my early teens, I became a “health nut.” Homeschooled, my education was primarily the Bible. My parents read the Bible three times a day, aloud, with their eight children. It was how we learned to read.

I knew that the Bible emphasized health: spiritual, physical, and emotional. I took it for granted.  "Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life.  He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes on Me shall never thirst." (John 6:35). The Bible often uses Spiritual and physical truth, one to explain the other.

The Creator’s design for us is for our well being. It’s what the Bible is about. And he created within the natural world natural nutrition.  "Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfies not? hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." (Isaiah 55:2)’ “Fatness” here is health.

When His people would not choose well, they hurt themselves.  "He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied you." (Psalm 81:16).  "O Israel, you have destroyed yourself; but in Me is your help." (Hosea 13:9) "He makes peace in your borders and fills you with the finest of the wheat." (Psalm 147:14)

His people went astray and he invited them back to Him using their health and beauty as an incentive: "And you were adorned with gold and silver; and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered work. You ate fine flour and honey and oil; and you were exceedingly beautiful." (Ezekiel 16:13)

In the store what is labeled “Whole grain, multi grain” may not be what they seem; they may have bleached, white degermed flour for a longer shelf life.  The manufacturer has unchecked leeway to mark things deceptively.  This Link clarifies the differences: https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/difference-whole-grain-whole-wheat/

Things grown, as fruit, vegetables, nuts, natural olive oil, grassfed beef, milk, cheese, and natural honey. (Exodus 3:17). These God fed his people. The best protein is instituted by the feasts and sacrifices described in the Old Testament.  Health again instituted for their spiritual and physical wellbeing. 

Food and Faith? Could this be a key to physical health? My thinking process turned to logic: our Creator has given us food grown from the earth, mined (salt) from deep in the earth, fished from the sea, protein from grazing animals.  For those who pay attention!

As we read through the Bible this time, Eric, my husband and I noticed this amazing rundown for health

"He made him ride on the high places of the earth, so that he might eat the increase of the fields. And He made him suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock, butter from cows, and milk from sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the sons of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat. And you drank the blood of the grape." Deuteronomy 32:13,14. 

The physical truth morphs into a deep understanding of our loving Creator’s care. "And Jesus answered him, saying, ‘It is written, ‘That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’’" Luke 4:4. 

WE TURN OUT SOMEHOW

 People, friends, antagonists, not so friendly friends, brothers, and sisters (reared exactly like we were ) “walk” through life, and we turn out to be who we are. Every person’s way of living, thinking has gradually “grown” to the present. What is mysterious is that in those continuous conscious and unconscious thoughts and decisions we become who we are; we “turn us out”.

 

If we believe Scripture and are faithful to reading it, seeking the truth and wisdom of it, we grow wise. If our mind and heart is continuously influenced by secular thinking, doubters, deceivers that is how we will “turn out”.  Pro 23:7 for as he thinks in his heart, so is he…

 

I have decided to believe the Bible, to mull over what I do not understand, to act on what I do.  It is an exciting adventure to think Biblically. My Dad was a Bible fan:  I cannot thank him enough for making sure that all his family, he, Mom, and eight of us children read the Bible aloud together three times a day. Yes, three times for 30 minutes after breakfast, dinner, and supper, as they called it. He planned this time into our day because he could. He was an evangelist, and his family was his first mission field.

 

The doubters of Scripture are missing profound growth and wisdom. Here is the point:  The Bible says that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the (person) man of God may be (complete) perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

 

Jesus words (from Mark), “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away…”

 

When heaven and earth passes, and there is a Day coming when everything will change … for good, we can be ready. The One who keeps your heart beating, the One who hangs the world upon nothing, the One Who came down here to this sin filled world and died for your sins and mine to save us…He is coming again. 

Just after He ascended to Heaven, after His death and resurrection…The stunned disciples stared up into the clouds where Jesus had ascended back to his Father in heaven.  Angels appeared to them. "Two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Act 1:11)

 

But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father. 

Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is. (Mark 13:31,32)

AVOIDING (THE WRONG WAY)

2 Timothy 3, vs 1-7 speaks very well of the current day people who are in the church but are really wicked. It seems to me the list can apply as well to lofty Legalists as the flamboyant Charismatics. The aberrant Charismatics* are more open and easy to see than those who have the “form of godliness, but deny the power thereof”.

We avoid them by:
- - Continuing in things learned and assured (proved).
- - Learn things that come from good sources
- - Lifelong learning from the Scripture..

This we get through:
- - Doctrine, systematic way of teaching, thinking. First, we must know the basic truth.
- - Reproof, “you are wrong, stop, repent”. We must stop the wrong activity.
- - Correction, “you are going off course, this is what you must do to correct”. We must show where and how we are getting off course.
- - Instruction in righteousness, describing and demonstrating what are the right actions and thoughts. We must show what is the right way.
Parents play a first, primary and major role in accomplishing this..

*Not the good ones, but the aberrant ones.

 

BY ERIC

POSTED, PUBLISHED ON BUILDINGBYLIZZIE OCTOBER 12, 2021