The Bucket List

People like to create a Bucket List of things they want to do in their lifetime. I have done that before too. I wanted to see all 50 states and also go to all of the National Parks. But as hindrances arrive in life I have started to question if a Bucket List is really important? I am coming to believe that it is not. In the end, what does it matter if you have been to a physical location or not. You might take pictures, buy a T-shirt and that's about it. What does that contribute to the world or your life? 

     Those are just the things that I wanted to do, I'm sure everyone has their own desires. Some of them may seem unreasonable to me, but maybe seeing all of the National Parks would be unreasonable to others.

     What is coming into focus for me is that all of this is temporary. Yes, I've known that for a long time, but if we really understand this is temporary then why even make a Bucket List? We are actually aiming for Heaven! What could be more exciting than that!? So my Bucket List has transmogrified to focusing on the Eternal side of life! What a great adventure awaits us! Way better than anything on Earth that we can put on a "List"!

I have been realizing lately that a person can be changed by their circumstances. I'm not saying they can't be changed back to their original self, but they can be deeply affected by their situation.

     I have gone through quarantine with the rest of the world when we went through the covid scare, but I still pretty much live under quarantine. There was a diagnosis that I received that required a drastic treatment. Evidently, my treatment has compromised my immunity system and I will be under treatment for an unknown amount of time. I pray always for the Lord to let me know when this treatment can be stopped.

     So far this treatment is ongoing and has been for over 3 years. I'm not able to be around groups of people. The last time I tried it, I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. In our world that really limits a person's activities! With my diagnosis one of the biggest enemies is pneumonia and I've already been through it twice so I'm not excited to encounter it again!

     Anyway, with the medication I take I'm not really able to drive very far and my balance and energy levels are way off. I know this isn't permanent, because the Lord's word in Matthew 16:18 tells me that His believers, that's me for one, should not be affected. I'm not saying go and ingest something just to test it, I'm saying that because I'm required to do this, I'm protected.

     The point of this is that this week I was able to drive across town to have my blood work done. After taking care of that I thought I should go somewhere just for fun. However everywhere I considered I realized would be out of my abilities. If I went to a store I would probably buy something and not be able to carry it, if I went to the library I would find a book or two and not be able to carry it either. I used to be able to do those things easily, but now my world has changed and those are no longer options. I'm not really complaining because I have mostly adjusted to my new world and I truly appreciate the blessings in it. I was just surprised at the change I noticed in myself. 

     I think what I'm saying is to enjoy each stage of your life and appreciate your abilities! You may find yourself a different person with new challenges that you never expected, at least I have, but the Lord is with you always and His mercy is new every day! Thank You, Lord, for Your Mercy and Grace!

Nurses

I recently spent some "quality" time with several nurses at our local hospital. I talked with them about their recent experiences during covid. They are horror stories and I really can't imagine how our nurses have endured. I'm sharing this to help you recognize the heroes in our midst. 

     The nurses shared how they had patients with no underlying issues that they fully expected to recover with no problem but then they didn't. They would be otherwise healthy people but then in a day or so they shockingly passed away. They did not have enough rooms for the people flooding the hospitals and had people laying in the emergency room, for days, waiting for a room. The people were not allowed to have anyone with them because of quarantine. The hospitals were searching for other hospitals with rooms for these patients. They were sending them from right here in Oklahoma as far as New Mexico and St Louis! These were people from their own small communities. Some of them they had gone to school with and some were family friends. 

     The nurses were facing "war" like conditions with little time off and little rest, they were understaffed and working heroically to try to care for the people! After working full shifts and being on constant call they could be called back in to work more hours with no "down time", can you imagine the emotional toll much less the physical toll this would take on these brave people!?

Pray for our nurses, many could not handle anymore and left this field and many are still emotionally shocked and raw from the trauma they endured. Our nurses are a treasure and need our support and prayers.

Disciple or Acquaintance

 I have been considering lately that some people don't really know the Lord on a personal level. That should be a concern to all of us. We need to develop disciples of the Lord, not just acquaintances. 

     Just think, the Lord called Abraham "friend", isn't that more the relationship you would like to have with God the Father? If yes, then what are you doing to develop it?

and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. James 2:23

 

Psalm 28:7

 Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart triumphs,
And with my song I shall thank Him.

In Spirit and Deed

     Many people are under the idea that when they give their lives to the Lord that He will make everything smooth. I don't like to burst that bubble, but from my walk after giving my life to the Lord, I've seen many times when things weren't too smooth for me and others.

     In scripture, you can read about many experiences that didn't turn out the way we would have thought they should. Read Stephen's story just as an example. He was a Godly man serving others and obeying the word of the Lord, he was stoned to death. His life brought glory to the Lord, but not as we would have imagined it. 

     In our lives, we should not look for things to be "smooth" but instead, focus on what will bring glory to the Lord. I know, we would not look forward to being a martyr, we may even shrink back from it, but strengthen your heart and your spirit that even when you face hardships you will still glorify the Lord in word and deed.

Acts 6:8-60 ~ The story of Stephen