Rooted in the Moment

To "Journey for Today" takes strength, it requires deep roots stabilizing our body, mind, and spirit to the Truth within each  moment from the rising to the setting of the sun.  Each day, each moment, we must move with intentionality in order to resonate the core of what sustains us.  As humans, we are weak branches blown this way and that way by the wind of our emotions or the feelings of the moment. Even if we want to be strong; we are weak.  But in Christ, we are strong! He is the solid trunk that we must stay attached to.  

Perseverance means that no matter what we face, we must strive to continually stop and ground ourselves in the moment, to live in communion with Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit, exalting our King. My illness can cause a lot of difficulties.  I have daily pain- some days it is easy to tolerate while other days it is very difficult.  I have a headache or migraine every day.  I have had tendonitis in every joint- and usually have it in at least one joint.  I cannot eat a full meal without throwing up and take about 20 pills a day to eat.  The list goes on.  Chronic illness can be consuming.  Even if you don't have a chronic illness, I'm sure there is something in your life that consumes your energy, your thoughts.  We all get distracted from what really matters! 

My illness can overwhelm the present moment with undesirable trials, but by connecting to the present (instead of wishing it away) I am filled with the strength of Christ and the Holy Spirit to feel, see, and hear so many other things that are within that same moment besides difficulties. The rainbow is brighter than the clouds.  Each moment of the day, may we rely on the strength of Christ.  Try walking and imagining the ground being the support of Christ- your whole body is supported by it.  Feel that support up through your whole body, infusing your mind, polishing your heart and blessing others.  

May we stand firmly in that strength, forgiven and living connected to the guiding strength of our Great Counselor, Holy Spirit.   May we connect our entire beings, including our breath, to Christ for healing, to live in the moment, to be polished and refined.  As Joni Aareckson Tada (1993) quotes Edwin Hatch, 

"Breath on me, breathe on me, 

Holy Spirit, breathe on me

Take thou my heart, cleanse ev'ry part, 

Holly Spirit, breathe on me."

We have been chosen and delivered!  He has given us the strength to persevere! For each moment of today  ~AT

A "thanks for today" to all of the fathers, especially my dad, who has blessed me with insight into the love of my heavenly Father.  Thank you for your endless love.  You have taught me about love.  You have shown me so much and I love to laugh and dance with you.  And to the father of my niece, Story, who is quite amazing.  Here they are demonstrating their fun loving spirits!!!  

A song to sing...

Today I am thankful that God blesses me with a joyful heart in the morning.  In the morning when I wake up, I like to sing.   My heart is bouncing with joy and energy in the morning. What a beautiful day...


Psalm 47:6-7:   Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our Kind, sing praises.  God is the king of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations (and each moment of today-  each piece of happiness or struggle within the moment of today).


Clap your hands, move within the moment praising God for the pure joy of life ~  Pass it on ~AT

The World Around Us

I spent another day at the Mayo Clinic with tests for my stomach underway.  This morning I was struck with appreciation for little things; my perspective was planted in the moment with gratitude for so many things.  As the day continued, my heart went up and down as I watched patients come in and out hooked up for chemotherapy.  I was struck by the strength of people and humbled by stories I was able to hear throughout the day from people from so far away.  As the day progressed my heart became burdened with how many people have cancer (and the list of diseases goes on).  I started to feel the world collapse in with sadness.  By evening, I actually became quite crabby (good thing I was alone).  

Then I heard God speak to me.  "Focus on me."  "Look at the world through my eyes."  I went down stairs in the hotel lobby to read my bible.  I had my i-Pod on and heard a song that I was meant to hear.  It was "Stop the World" by Matthew West.  It expresses part of what was on  my heart today as I watched so many people battling cancer.  

A million distractions stealing my heart from you. I'm tired and empty; life is relentless.  It weakens my knees and breaks my defenses. It's wearing me down and I'm desperate to hear from you. Stop the world- I want to get out.  I need to escape from this crowd just to hear you.  Speak to me.  I need do be still before I make a move.  I need to be humble with nothing to prove. I need your word to show me the truth.  I need time, precious time. 

Stop the world, I want to get out.  I need an escape away from this crowd just to hear you.  Speak to me. Stop the world, I'm ready to listen. Give me a vision of heaven that I can hold on to. Stop the world, I need some time with you.  Before I can find my voice, I need to hear your above all this noise.  Stop the world, I need to be with you. 

When living for today, we must not follow the crowd- we have to step away for a new perspective- a God's perspective of love and hope.  In him, the world is not about illness; it's about how Christ has healed all illness for once and all.  It's not about us having to fight and be strong; it's about Christ's strength in us.  After I heard this song, I felt strong and I saw hope for people. 

In the world, life is all about us but with a vision of heaven, life all about Christ.  May we empower each other to live today with that vision.  May we find time to escape to spend time listening to His voice so we know how to move through the crowd- so we know how to filter the distractions.  For tonight, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28.    


Rest well for tomorrow is a new day to live for today!  ~AT

Joy for Today

There are many things throughout life that can make it difficult to find happiness; for me it is chronic illness.  What is it for you?  Are there feelings that take over such as loneliness, stress, or fear?  Are there things that make you "live for tomorrow" instead of "living for today"?  Chronic illness may rob happiness at times but it cannot steal an ounce of joy for my joy is the fruit of the Spirit.  Journeying for today is about joy. 

Journeying for today means letting the Lord reign over my decisions, my attitude, my body. I cannot let my self-centered desires or sinful passions take lordship.  Over and over along my journey I have had to learn not to deny or repress my feelings.  I used to think I was dealing with my emotions surrounding my health by saying, "At least I am not dying... at least I don't have..."   God finally showed me (or I finally listened) that I was using those statements as a way to repress or mask my anger and fears.  God has blessed me over the years with the knowledge to not hide my feelings but to express them to him, to take them to the foot of the cross for healing.  It is still a process but he faithfully leads me.  

I believe I have been fully healed by my Father but becoming well is a process for me.  I continue to cherish all of your prayers and know that the Father will continue to bring health to all parts of me.  Every single day, I praise God for the gift he has given me to journey with hope through difficult physical battles.  I pray that we would all continue to learn how to rely on the Holy Spirit- to be tuned into how we can journey for today.  May we let God  hammer away the parts of our hearts that have hardened and mend the corners of our hearts that are broken.  Ever so gently or as hard as needed, as little or as often as needed.  

It is not easy but this is how we can come to living in the fullness of joy God intends.  We do not have to live just for tomorrow.  Here's the challenge: don't  mask symptoms of sin that block love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.    

Now that is Living for TODAY.  ~AT

Update:  Today was my first consult at the Mayo Clinic.  I will be having many tests over the next week.  Please pray for safety during the tests and that the test results would bring new knowledge to guide the treatment of my autoimmune disease.  With deep gratitude I covet your prayers and love, Anna