I'm Thinking

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

While listening to a program today about being intentional about living well through chronic pain the radio talent quoted this verse. Honestly, I am finding it VERY hard to follow this verse lately. After having a rotten and painful week a few weeks ago where all I was able to do was sit in bed and try not to think about how much pain I was in, I find myself thinking about when the next bout of pain is coming more than I should. We are back to same place that I was 3 1/2 years ago. Although, thankfully, it's not to the point where I'm on strong medicine everyday, it is at the point where I am in some amount of pain every, single day. I am trying to be thankful that God has put me in a place where I have access to good medicine, but, like I said, it's hard. Besides stomach and back pain, one of my prominent symptoms is fatigue, sometimes extreme, and it takes a toll on this earthly body. But even today, when all I want to do is lay in my bed, take some medicine, put on my heating pad and sleep, I am going to choose to not focus on this trial that I am going through right now (it could be worse) but instead try to do what this verse says... think on these things.

Blessed Be Your Name (from April 13th, 2011 on Facebook)

Yesterday the boys and I were driving to MSU to pick up Christopher from work (yes, we only have one car now) when this song came on the radio. I have always liked this song, and appreciated what the words have to say, but it never has affected me like it did yesterday.

Blessed be Your name, in the land that is plentiful. Where Your streams of abundance flow, blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name, when I'm found in the desert place. Though I walk through the wilderness,  blessed be Your name.
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name.
Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me. When the world's all as it should be, blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name, on the road marked with suffering. Though there's pain in the offering, blessed b Your name.
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise. When the darkness closed in, Lord, still I will say.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name.
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name.
You give and take away. You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be your name.

Normally, it is very easy for me to give thanks to God when He is blessing me, as I'm sure it is for every person, not just Christians. These 5 weeks have been particularly challenging for me to find things to give thanks to God for. I have been at my emotional end many times. I have been STRIVING to give God thanks first thing whenever I would lift up my heart to Him. I wanted to be reminded that even when you're dying to see your kids and you're stuck in Atlanta, or you've lost a loved one, or your husband had surgery and your ten month old is teething, crawling and not sleeping a whole lot all within a couple weeks span, that there is still things to be thankful to God for. You just may have to look a little harder, but they're ALWAYS there. I definitely felt like I have been in the valley for a while, but now I am STANDING ON THE MOUNTAINTOP.......................REJOICING!!!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday, when I was driving to pick up Christopher from work (Yes, God has chosen to bless us with more time together as a family by only giving us one car.) this song came on the radio. I found myself engrossed in the words of the song. Suddenly all of the emotions that I have felt these last five weeks came like a huge tidal wave upon me. There I was driving down Trowbridge Ave. bawling like a baby. So, thankful that I have once again come out of the valley with God's tremendous hand guiding me up the steep terrain.

Oh to stay on this mountaintop, singing praises to my Lord and Savior. Alas, I know that is not meant to be yet. That is not how I am meant to spend my life. For with every valley and tribulation comes more opportunities for me to rest on God's shoulders and to trust Him. More opportunities for me to shout the blessings that God has given me. More opportunities for God to draw people to Him, so that more people can shout blessings to Him. So, for right now, I will enjoy this mountaintop, knowing that it is what God has for me right now. So I will give thanks to Him for all my blessings, and pray that they next valley He chooses to put me in, I will trust in His guidance and feel His hand guiding me all the way.