March 22, 2019

And God Sent Rainbows….

Image by Albrecht Fietz @Pixabay

I mentioned in several earlier posts how rainbows have offered encouragement and hope whenever I have a health crisis. They popped up again this last week when I wrenched my hip. Unable to walk without horrendous pain, I called my doctor.

After an exam she concluded it was most likely bursitis. She gave me a steroid injection and sent me for x-rays to be sure there wasn’t anything amiss.

The x-ray showed an anomaly on my hip and she referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. Knowing bone cancer is often secondary to breast cancer, fear took up residence and refused to leave no matter how much I prayed and reminded myself my cancer had not metastasized. I had not needed chemo or radiation treatment, nor any follow up medications. I was in the clear, but the idea took root and wouldn’t go away.

Rainbows appeared on social media and Psalm 27, verses 1-2, 13-14 was listed in my devotions. “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, and wait thou for the Lord.”

I latched onto the words, in the land of the living, and tried not to worry.

A friend recommended the book, Noah Primeval (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 1), a fictionalized account of the story of Noah and the flood. References to rainbows once again.

The day of my appointment, Genesis 9:12-13 was listed among my readings. “And God said, this is the sign of the covenant which I give between me and you, and to every living soul that is with you, for perpetual generations. I will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between me and between the earth.”

Covenant. Promise.

God was reminding me of His promises.

I went to my appointment believing I’d hear good news.

After studying my x-ray and giving me a thorough exam, my surgeon felt my primary doctor was right. It was a strained or pulled muscles which would heal given time.

Still, in the back of my mind, I wondered about the abnormality on the x-ray was. My surgeon didn’t know what is was, but reiterated he wasn’t concerned. I am sure he has enough experience and knowledge to make that decision.

As if all that wasn’t enough, Psalm 23 was in my readings this morning.

I don’t deserve these beautiful signs of encouragement, but I am so very thankful God sends them anyway. But then, His love isn’t conditional.

Thank you, Lord, for your unconditional love and patience. Amen.





March 14, 2019

More Than One Kind of Charity

Image from rony michaud@pixabay
During this season of Lent, the readings emphasize forgiveness, compassion, reconciliation, and charity. I feel chastised and convicted of not doing enough, especially charity. I worry about standing with the goats instead of the sheep at the Final Judgement.

My life hasn’t presented earth changing opportunities for charity. Now that my children are grown, should I be doing something else with my life? None of my talents lean toward the life style Mother Teresa led, and then what of my husband? He would not agree to sell everything we have, give it all to the poor, and become missionaries. Is that what God is asking of me?

What about the talents He gave me for painting and for writing? How can I use those to help the poor? Or can I?

My meditation in Living Faith this morning prompted a divine response to all my questions. Author Teri Milfek recalled an irate motorist behind her at a red light. The impatient driver blew his horn at the moment the light turned green. She was angry until she realized she had done the same thing to another driver. Where was her compassion?

How many times have I done something similar? Yet, how did this tie in with my desire to be more charitable?

God filled my heart with the answer. Charity isn’t just giving food, water, and alms. It is also charity in heart and mind, giving the benefit of the doubt, offering understanding rather than criticism, forgiving when we’d rather hold a grudge.

Every single moment of my life can be an act of charity. As Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45.

Praying for my enemies is an act of charity.

Smiling instead of growling at the impatient driver behind me at the red light is also an act of charity.

Watching the news and not thinking evil thoughts about those creating such discordance and suffering is an act of charity.

Offering money or food to a vagrant without judgement is an act of charity.

Offering my assistance at church for various projects is an act of charity.

Donating my paintings or giving them away, brightening someone’s life in a small way, is an act of charity.

Continuing to write my novels despite the lack of bucket loads of good reviews and sales is an act of charity.

Help me, Lord, to be more charitable from this day forward. Amen.