Just Remember

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The fifth of each month, I'm studying Psalm 29. Here's what Treasure I found today.

The Lord’s voice is powerful; the Lord’s voice is ·majestic [splendid; awesome]. Psalm 29:4 (EXB)

Voice: to call aloud, a voice or sound.

Lord: of deity Yahweh.

Powerful: ability, able, force, might, strength, substance, wealth.

Majestic: beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honor, majesty.

Often when I think of powerful, I think if loud and very strong and mighty... a display of superior strength. But as I watch the snowflakes fall outside, I see that those tiny flakes are powerful—they shut down airports, close schools, delay traffic, etc. The snowflakes don’t make any noise. They just gently fall to the ground, but they are powerful enough to disrupt our daily lives. 

God is the ultimate “powerhouse”. His voice can be “booming”. But there are times when He speaks in a whisper. The truth that I need to remember that weather God is speaking loudly and showing His mighty power, or if He’s whispering and showing a gently display of power, I am to be listening. 

Today, I had planned to go see my chiropractor. However, as I watched the snow fall,  I knew that cancelling the appointment would be the safer thing to do. As I stayed inside and watched the snow continue to fall, Psalm 46:10 came to mind.

God says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be ·praised [exalted] in all the nations; I will be ·praised [exalted] throughout the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (EXB)

Be still. Absolute let alone, i.e. do nothing, be quiet, relax. If I can grasp even a bit of God’s power and might—I should be able to relax and do nothing, resting in Him. If I can just remember that the God of all power and majesty loves me—I should be able to trust Him to care for me. If I can just remember that God Creator, who hung the stars in place and keeps them there, watches over me—I should be able to relax and rest, knowing that He’s in control. 

To create a positive day, I need to just remember that God is powerful, and majestic. 

My Powerhouse...In Action!

Yesterday my Ponder Morsel was on God's strength and help. And Feb 21, I saw some examples of God's strength and help as He worked out amazing details. 

Back on Feb 5, 2013 I had a spinal stimulator trial wire removed from my back. Since that time, my pain level has been extreme, and now included an area higher in the back. My pain management Dr was out of the office, but I was able to get some stronger medication and make an appointment to see her on Feb 21. 

Feb. 21: My appointment was scheduled for 4:10 pm. That would mean I'd be coming home during the rush hour traffic. That would make my trip longer and require additional stops, since I can't sit very long without standing/lying down.  

However, my Pain Management Dr's office called, there had been a cancelation, would I like to come in earlier? YES!! So, my appointment was changed from 4:10 pm to 2 pm. Little did I realize that God had something even better planned than me avoiding rush hour traffic. 

My Pain Management Dr. decided that my pain is due the the nerves being irritated by the wire and the stimulator. The nerves were also causing muscle spasms. We discussed some options and decided on trying a different medication. And she wanted me to see my Chiropractor for non-force adjustment and ultra-sound treatment. 

Then we discussed the spinal implant stimulator. From the trial, we learned that the paddle or wire has to be exactly mid-line in the back for me to get any stim in the leg. That can be difficult to achieve. And each time surgery is done on the back, I grow more scar tissue and that creates more nerve irritation, and can cause additional pain. Therefore, at this time, I am not going to try another spinal implant stimulator. I'll have surgery in the next month or so, to remove the old broken stimulator battery (IPG) and wiring. The paddle will remain since there is scar tissue in that area and it is secured in place. 

As we were discussing where we go from here to help with pain, I mentioned how acupuncture has helped some. That's when my Dr mentioned a trial taking place on Tuesday, 2/26. A company is coming to her office to demonstrate a stim which uses acupuncture points on the ear, to reduce pain. The device is worn for 3 days stimulating specific points on the ear throughout the 3 days. Then the device is removed. Would I be interested in trying it? Knowing that I usually respond well to acupuncture, I definitely want to learn more about it. I’ll be meeting with my Dr and the company on Tuesday, Feb 26. Excited about a new possible treatment. God’s timing is perfect. My Dr could only have 2 patients for the trial, and so God made sure my Dr saw me at just the right time, so that we could discuss this option. Talk about God being my Powerhouse! 

As I left my Pain Management Dr’s office, I realized that I wan’t too far from my Chiropractor's office. I called to see if there was an available appointment. They were able to fit me. That saved me a trip out in the snow expected on Friday. God had that planned perfectly. I would have not been able to see my Chiropractor if my Pain Management appointment time had stayed at 4:10 pm.  

After leaving my Chiropractor’s office, I made my way home, stopping at Walgreens to get my medications. This is the first time a long time that the “wait time” at Walgreens was short! God knew that although the Chiropractic treatment helped, I was still in pain, and if I had to wait too long, it would “undo” all the good the treatment had done. God made sure I arrived at Walgreens during a “slow time”. 

And to top it all off....as I walked into my apartment, I was greeted with the delicious smell of Turkey Chili which I had cooking in the crock pot. Was nice to have dinner all prepared. Sure tasted good too. 

Looking back over the day, it's nice to see how God rearranged schedules so that I'd be able to see my Pain Management Dr and Chiropractor. And seeing my Pain Management Dr. on Thursday, was also God-designed so that I could be part of Tuesday's appointment acupuncture stim trial. 

"My Powerhouse". No matter how you say it—the truth remains. God is my strength. God is my shield. God is trustworthy. God is my help. God is praiseworthy. I saw many examples of God’s strength and help throughout the day. The day was a very positive day because I recognized God’s attention to details, and saw that He truly is “My Powerhouse”.