"The irons of sorrow and loss, the burdens carried as a youth, and the soul's struggle against sin all contribute to developing an iron tenacity and strength of purpose, as well as endurance and fortitude. And these traits make up the indispensable foundation and framework of noble character.
Never run from suffering, but bear it silently, patiently, and submissively, with the assurance that it is God's way of instilling iron into your spiritual life. The world is looking for iron leaders, iron armies, iron tendons, and muscles of steel. But God is looking for iron saints, and since there is no way to impart iron into His people's moral nature except by letting them suffer, He allows them to suffer....
...Your iron crown of suffering precedes your golden crown of glory, and iron is entering your soul to make it strong and brave." F. B. Meyer
But you will not mind the roughness, nor the steepness
of the way,
Nor the cold, unrested morning, nor the heat of the noonday;
And you will not take a turning to the left or the right,
But go straight ahead, nor tremble at the coming of the night,
For the road leads home.
Excerpt above from Streams in the Dessert devotional. December 27.
Oh my soul is full with thankfulness, joy and feeling a bit un-nerved. The above devotional struck to my heart this December.
The night of Christmas I didn't know I would be seeing ambulance lights through my mother in law's glass door as I was taking my own mother's pulse.
Thanking God my mother is okay but also knowing that she is approaching 90 it's bothered me lately. Someone came to me and asked if it was normal for my mom to be sleeping in the dining room chair chair at the table drooling. (No!) I couldn't believe the sight I saw and shouted for someone to call 911. Audible prayers were coming forth. Thank God we were in the midst of Christians no matter what the slight differences. What was in our teabags in that boiling water was coming out trust me. Prayers still going forth as I finally started calling for my mother to come back! Not only did I I stand there amidst audible prayers of those around us ...In the name of Jesus, but a shout of a young lady ordering to start cpr (never needed thank God)....a scared young man calling 911...my daughters crying, young ladies taking my daughter's baby to help out, a new guest, a new precious girlfriend hugging my daughter telling her it will be okay, people scattering everywhere, my sister in law who just lost her husband months ago suddenly and tragically, she calling out my mother's name as my mother finally peeked her weary eyes to her. My adult nephew, an emt so sweetly helping out, such a fine young man raised right. My daughter's boyfriend coming through the door, medicine is his thing, I wanted to hug his neck. I stood there stoic just doing the next thing trying to keep my cool (I think we mothers are specialists at this at times, as God gives that supernatural strength) but afraid at the same time just trying to walk on water so to speak like a little duck on the water with his legs peddling like mad underneath. The emts coming in with the stretcher...a colorful vivid strange dream of flashes.
Thank God there was a happy and joyful ending. My mother, smiling says to the emt...Hey handsome.
My heart is blessed on an extended family with differences of course, but coming together and making that beautiful bridge to help when it mattered most and especially in prayers coupled with action. What a beautiful Tiffany lamp, with all the different pieces coming together.
I will start to close with this video of my mother with one of our grandbabies, Jimmy. I think this shows my mom when she is most happy! She loves children and this is her element! She's doing great, she will be going to my daughter's doctor, a natural doctor seen on pbs, also at one time, a specialist in medicine leaving behind the tradition as he sojourns to better, natural healing that works thanks be to God.
Thanking God for His goodness and just knowing He is there with me. It's in the times above we must have faith.
My mother this past year with Baby Jimmy, one of our precious grandsons. Very typical of my mother with children.
I'll be decluttering at this time, just taking it easy. It's been such a strange several years and I'm no stranger to loss or pain, I'm also no stranger to great blessing from God. He holds me in the palm of His hand.
My husband and I are enjoying just being and doing simple things together. Our precious little grandbabies are a joy. My husband and I were even able to go the Museum of Fine Arts to view the Norman Rockwell: American Freedom exhibit. Oh a beautiful day, just a day of building great memories.
Turning 59 years of age I'm just taking a deep breath for now, I covet your sincere prayers. I'll be seeing you, until the next time...
God be with you. Amelia at the Forest Cathedral.
P.S. I feel strongly in my spirit that I need to give an exhortation. Please friends, if you are running a Christian blog, please be that Christian in action and response as well as what is written or shared.
Edit. 1.6.20: To ward off confusion on the above exhortation and clarify: It's most important as a Christian blogger, to visit other blogs and leave encouragement or just an interesting comment when able. It's also very telling on follow up on personal messages in a sensible time frame when possible and if seen. For myself, I have had to go back and apologize to a precious pastor from India because I was not checking the personal message section as I should have. Let's concentrate on fellowship and our true witness as much as numbers if we are looking at numbers at all. The mostly anemic American church is a good example in many cases of the problem of "The Numbers Game". For me? I will not play The Numbers Game. If you would like to join me at my kitchen table here with a cup of coffee or tea so to speak, that is a great thing in my book and close to my heart and I appreciate that so much. I do think it's important to sensibly let people know we are gleaning from a blog author's writings as we see fit and are thoughtful, prayerful and considerate in that. And if someone takes the time to visit our blogs? Let's reciprocate and visit their blog too from time to time, it's nice to be nice and it's the Jesus thing to do. If you are out there, not a blogger so to speak and just enjoy reading, having found my blog, I appreciate your cyber footsteps very much and please know you are in my prayers whatever part of the world you are in. I appreciate you reading here and hope it is an encouragement to your heart as we sojourn in this world together. May the Peace of God be with you.
Blessings to All, and may this New Year bring close, sweet fellowship to our Savior.
