He Who Healeth

Aside

Tonight, my back started going wonky.  This is not good news, because I’ve been battling with it for the last 3 years.  Here I am, using my TENS machine, lying on the floor, and praying for it to get better.

I keep reminding myself of what God says about healing:

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;  (Psalm 103:2-3)

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  (Isaiah 53:5)

These are realities.  Our iniquities have been forgiven- gone!  Which means that our diseases have been healed, too- gone!  We are healed!

Soooooo I’m not exactly sure how this all works, but I know what the Bible says.  And I’m just going to keep believing and see how God works.

The Interests of Others

Tonight at our Bible fellowship, we looked at how we are to endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)

This section of scripture from Philippians was extremely encouraging:

(Philippians 2:1-4, WTJ) If there is, therefore, any encouragement in Christ, if there is any comfort from love, if there is any fellowship pertaining to the spirit, if there is any compassion and pity, then fill me with joy to the end that you think the same, having the same love, with souls together thinking as one. Let nothing be done out of factious strife or conceit, but with humility of mind consider one another more excellent than self, everyone focusing not on his own interests but everyone even on the interests of others.

I love this, because we can start doing this today!  When I do things out of conceit, no one is benefitted.  Instead, I can care about other people!  If we are all looking on the cares of others, we too will be cared for, because someone will be looking out for us!  Isn’t that a great system?

Let’s get busy!

Morning Glory

This morning was glorious here in the South Bay.  It rained last night, so the air was perfectly still.  If the birds hadn’t been chirping, it would have felt as if the world had stopped moving.  Because of the light, the sound, and the peacefulness, I was more conscious of my neighborhood on my daily walk.  I decided to take photos of some of the things that caught my fancy.

Honey loving her walk

January is an incredible month in San Jose.  While the leaves have just fallen off the trees over the last month or two, life quickly reappears in new blossoms.

At the Rose Garden, the bushes were all trimmed back last week, but the cherry trees are showing their tiny pink flowers.  Combine this with the green-tinged bark, and it is just beautiful.  They smell spicy and sweet.  I want to stand in front of it all day and breathe it in- fragrance and color!

Rose Garden in Winter

Cherry tree from afar

True love! Cherry blossoms up close

Birds of paradise, foxglove, and calla lilies are in their full bloom at this time of year.

It really looks like a bird!

Foxglove

Calla Lily

Fruit trees are producing too.  Lemons, avocado, and oranges are all vibrant and ripe.

Lemons

Can you see the avocado up there?

And there are signs of even more to come!  Freesias and magnolias are just around the corner.

Magnolia bud- more beauty on the way!

Luke 12:27- Consider the lilies how they grow : they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

What a great day to be aware of all that’s out there- and to be alive!

Comforting Words

I’ve been thinking about this verse all day, so I thought I would share it…  Some comforting words from the greatest comforter.

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)- For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Read the context, and it’s even more encouraging.

v. 12-13- Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.  You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Sweet things to remember for the week ahead.

Something Old Turns to Something New

Alanis Morrisette’s Jagged Little Pill came out in 1995.  I was 16 and absolutely infatuated with her music; she was hard but emotional.  She called herself a bitch but still sang about heartbreak.  She talked about doing things in public that no one should do- let alone tell people about!  She even made playing the harmonica look cool.

I thought she was a total bad ass, and my sisters sat upstairs on Wildwood playing “Head Over Feet” over and over and over.  Sarah and I sang lines from “Isn’t it Ironic” while riding up Smugg’s Madonna chairlift behind Travis and Kyle.  All these memories came flooding back to me tonight when I heard “Hand in My Pocket” at Randy and Susan’s tonight.

 

I turn 33 this month, and it’s been 17 years since I first heard this song.  Somehow, though, this song stuck a chord tonight and resonated in a new way.

“I’m broke but I’m happy
I’m poor but I’m kind
I’m short but I’m healthy, yeah
I’m high but I’m grounded
I’m sane but I’m overwhelmed
I’m lost but I’m hopeful baby
What it all comes down to
Is that everything’s gonna be fine fine fine…

What it all comes down to
Is that everything’s gonna be quite alright…

And what it all boils down to
Is that no one’s really got it figured out just yet”

It’s reassuring that Alanis is still able to break through all the layers and reach to the heart of the matter.  And though I don’t have it all figured out, I’m doing fine fine fine.

Romans 8:28- And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.