Why?

WHY?

That's a question we ask often. We start asking it as a child and we never really stop. Why? We ask it when we want to learn information. It's a very useful question. However, there are times when we ask "Why?" we don't get any specific answers. What do we do then?

We have to trust. 

Today, I cooked some eggs. Max loves eggs. I know you think that's crazy for a bird to eat eggs, but they are a good source of protein. After I cook my eggs, I leave some in the pan to cook a longer (his have to be extra well done). Then I put them into Max's dish and put them in the freezer to cool.
Today, Max was on my shoulder as I cooked the eggs. He saw that I put his dish away, and my plate of eggs was on the counter. He couldn't figure out why he didn't get his.
I could tell he was asking me "Why?" He wanted to know why he couldn't have his eggs. I knew that they were too hot for him, and he'd burn his tongue. But of course, Max didn't understand. He wanted his eggs. When they were cool I gave him his dish and he was very happy. 

I ask God "why?" a lot. However, when I don't get an answer, I have to trust God. He really does know what He is doing! It's not wrong to ask "why?", but it is wrong to ask "why?" and ONLY trust God when you get an answer.

Trust is not about having

ALL the knowledge YOU think

you need to know.

It's about KNOWING

you can TRUST God and

that God is in control. 

The next time you ask God "why?" and He doesn't answer you, remember Max's eggs. Perhaps God is protecting you from harm. Trust God. Allow Him to work whether or not you know Why. 

If I knew all that God had/has planned for me I wouldn't be able to handle it. The knowledge would be overwhelming. God knows what we need to know and when we need to know it.

Trusting God makes the day positive,

because no matter what comes,

you know God is in control!

OUCH!

OUCH! 

That's a funny word. It almost sounds like a sneeze ... "ouch". Am I right? Yet, it conveys that we are in pain. We utter it when we hit our thumb with a hammer, or hit our funny bone. And we also utter it when we are in extreme pain. The word conveys that there is pain, but not how much pain. 

A few weeks ago, I started withdrawing from my morphine and Tylenol 4 so that I could undergo a new treatment. During this process my pain level has increased. I miss my pain medications. Not because I crave them, because I don't like pain. Yes, it's that simple. I don't like pain.

Normally, pain is a good thing. It's a warning sign that our bodies are in danger. Whether it's touching a hot stove, to doing too much exercise. If we pull a muscle, or sprain an ankle, our bodies alert our brains using pain signals. God made our bodies so that we can protect ourselves. We can't see the inside of our bodies, but pain alerts us that something is wrong.

However, chronic pain overloads the brain with signals.  The brain increases the pain trying to get us to 'stop' the activity and ease the source of pain. But because the pain is from nerves or muscles that are permanently damaged, there is no "fixing" the source. Those of us who live in chronic pain, learn techniques to trick the brain and "confuse" the pain signals so that our brains believes that we are in less pain. We use things such as TENS units which send a variety of tingling signals that fill up the "pain gates" allowing few pain signals to reach the brain. Sound crazy doesn't it? But it works, some. We also may use ice, heat, or medications to cover up the pain. 

The past few days my pain level been the highest I remember. I just want the pain to stop.... but it doesn't. So, what do I do? I can stay in bed all day and cry....... OR I can CREATE A POSITIVE DAY!

Over the past 10 years, I've learned an important lesson about pain. When my pain increases, I first take inventory to see if it's a "new pain" or the same. If it's a "new pain", I check to see if I injured myself, and address the new injury.  If however, it's the same pain, I know that I'm not doing more injury to myself, so I can continue living my life. If I focus on the pain and feel sorry for myself, the pain increases even more!

However, if I do something....

my brain becomes preoccupied and

doesn't have time to focus on the pain. 

One thing which I really enjoy doing when my pain because "unbearable" is to encourage someone else. How can you encourage someone when you are in pain? It's actually easy! Send an email, an e-card, a card, call someone, .....whatever, and let someone know that you are thinking of them! Think of what encourages you... and pass it along to someone else! It will make you feel GREAT! and the receiver will have a better day too!!! 

There are 2 choices

when living with chronic pain:

1. Focus on the pain and be miserable.

2. Focus on others  and ENJOY the day!

ME—I'd much rather enjoy my day than be miserable! I think I'll go create some scrapbook cards and encourage someone's day.....

that will turn this unbearable pain day

into a very positive one!

Routine Chores

Just finished doing laundry, just a routine chore. However, today I was reminded that in order to complete the chore, I have to have the necessary supplies. Today, I had the clothes and towels, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, hangers, and my laundry card. However, I was short on one thing: credit on the laundry card.

I had to make a decision, wash and dry a few loads, or wash everything and hang the clothes in the shower to dry. I choose the first, the towels can wait.

How many times

do I try to accomplish God's will

without all the necessary supplies? 

What do I need? A good place to start is the Fruit of the Spirit:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

Where do I get these supplies? 

From Christ Himself.

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:24-25.

The fruit of the Spirit is just that fruit from allowing the Holy Spirit to direct my life. I can allow Him to work, or I can ignore Him and live my life as the sinful nature directs:

"...sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like." Galatians 5:19-21. 

Some may think that that "sin" is more fun, than living a righteous life. However, it is not. Think of the consequences of sin. Often sin can lead to disease, pain, suffering, and death. Think of the accidents caused by road rage. Yes, road rage is sin... "fits of rage". 

I hear you asking: "But you live in pain... is that caused by sin?" Ultimately, yes. Pain was allowed as punishment when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Mankind endures many sufferings because of that choice.

Is my pain a direct cause to sin in my life? I don't think so. But I  have, and do confess my sins to God and He forgives me. But God allows pain for other reasons besides sin.

'As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."' John 9:1-3

It really doesn't matter

the reason for the pain,

the key NOW is to live my life

so that God is glorified. 

If my pain is a result of sin, then I need to deal with that before God (confess and repent). If God allowed the pain, so that He would be shown through me, then I have a responsibility to do just that. And in order to it completely, I need the proper supplies..... and that brings me back to the Fruit of the Spirit. 

Today, as I go about my day, no matter what my pain level, I need to show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

And the only way to do that

is to create a positive day

focusing on God and allow Him 

 to work through me.