Nelson is keeping his mind on the Lord while away from his “little family,” as he calls them. He’s missing them a great deal but plans small projects for us to tackle each day. It’s especially helpful if we can focus on things that have nothing to do with cancer. As for me, I’m cherishing every minute of these two weeks with my firstborn, grateful beyond words for such focused time with him.
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October 14, 2022
Annso tells me it’s way too much for our little guy meeting up with everyone in Germany, and he’s overwhelmed. She’s going to stay at home today.
Later I get a picture that she’s headed to the grandparents again. There is a lady with Covid at Annso’s house, which complicates things, but I’m glad she’s trudging through the trip slowly but surely. I’m so thankful for her flexibility.
Anyway, Mom and I are hanging out at our little apartment in Rochester for a few more days before my little family comes back. We close on our house just after that, and then we clean and paint, then move in a little after that. It will be fun.
I hope to have the energy to participate in everything. Yesterday was tiring, but the day before was good. Sometimes two naps isn’t enough, and other times, I don’t take even one. I can’t figure it out. I just try to listen to my body and do what feels right.
Reading James today, the “Epistle of Straw” as Martin Luther called it. I would love to get a revelation of God’s grace like the one he got that caused him to make that comment.
Maybe someday I will know God better and be able to grasp his love and grace in a more tangible way, but it’s a good thing that we are not loved or accepted based on how we feel about God.
It’s his love and power that saves us, not our feelings about him. At least I hope not. James does come out pretty works-oriented. “Faith without works is dead.” Probably true, though.
I’m so thankful for Annso and how adaptable she is and how she looks forward to being here with me again. I’m thankful for her family, especially Ralph and Astrid and their love for you, Lord. I’m thankful for Mom being here with me over this time, for the fall weather and even the possibility of snow in the near future. I missed it, living in Hawaii all that time.
I’m thankful for small group last night and that I was able to make it and not cower out with a weak excuse of being too tired. I’m thankful for our little cozy apartment and laid-back schedule over these few days while Mom is here, for the chance to go up and see Luke tomorrow [cousin] for his birthday, and for just a few things to do each day, but not too many.
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David to his enemy: “Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying, ‘Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!’
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever. For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.” (Psalm 52)
What a prayer and a picture of how things in the kingdom of God work. David talks to his enemy, then turns him over to God and tells the man that his trust in his wealth and how he destroys others will catch up with him.
Then he changes and talks about how he will always be in the house of God, praising him and placing his hope in the name of God. Always important is the praising God for what he has done in the presence of his faithful people.
4 pm
Mom and I went down to the Mayo Clinic and got another of my prescriptions filled, hit Target after that, then back to the apartment here.
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“Encourage the exhausted and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious hearts, ‘Take courage.’ ” (Isaiah 35:3-4)