COURAGE

Wikipedia: Courage, also known as bravery, fortitude, will, balls, and intrepidity, is the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. "Physical courage" is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, Death, or threat of death, while "moral courage" is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement.

Choice that is

Opposite of my first reaction and is

Against my instincts but it is a

Race of perseverance. Acting in courage is an

Attitude that spreads. It is only possible with

God's strength. Faith grows out of courage. Courage is a gift with

Eternal rewards for being brave when confronted with fear, pain, risk, uncertainty or intimidation....

Journey with Courage. May we root ourselves in God's grace and power.

~AT

In His Cradle

The past few weeks have not been easy for me physically. I have dealt with each day but I'm not so sure that's living for today. Every now and again I am able to let out my building emotions; emotions expressing how hard it is to carry my 'cross'. It are those moments, at the depth of the valley, I love because then I can be restored to live for today. These words spoke to the depth of my heart tonight. These words will help me live for today...

"However distant and, desolate or dark. The Lord's infinite reach will endeavor to find us. And upon doing so, will cradle, comfort and console.

Living in His Cradle tonight...

~AT

Oh Lord we pray

Help us to trust, in good and bad, that you alone are sovereign.

May we trust your sovereignty.

Reveal your goodness to us in the presence of despair.

Bring healing to our bones and health to our bodies.

Please do not abandon us when fear is upon us.

Lord please bring us hope each day, each moment, each breath.

Bring comfort and strength to carry us.

Oh Lord do not delay.

Come quickly with all of your strength and glory.

My Love,

Anna

Be loose- let the load be carried

So yesterday I got a wonderful massage (now that's living for today) and God blessed me with some beautiful imagery.  As my muscles were very tight, I saw myself carrying a cross up a hill.  It felt extremely heavy and rugged.  Then as my muscles loosened up, I saw Jesus take my cross and he started carrying my it for me.  Then I not only saw him carrying it, I saw him take me and put me on his other shoulder- to bring me up the hill with him.

So the question I ponder today, is not just how I can let Jesus carry my cross, but how can I help others in the same process?  What can we do that lighten the load for our neighbors, co-workers, family, and yes--- our dogs (hehe)?  

March in victory ~AT

Peace

Simple words of inspiration today: "Peace is not the absence of struggle but the presence of love."  Blessings on your journey today- AT

Hear it...Feel it...FACE IT

My words today are simple: we need to hear, feel and face life head on.   My thoughts are an inspiration from a song I heard at church today called 'Headphones' by Jars of Clay. 

The song immediately reminded me of how at times I try to cope by tuning things out. To pretend it doesn't hurt is not coping- it's hiding from the truth.  The world can be a sad place at times. Women all around us are being diagnosed with breast cancer.  There are wars everywhere- young men and women and children dying for what seems so fruitless.    The news is rarely up lifting and drivers can seem ever so rude.  Our reaction- change it?  How can we change it?  Admittedly, at times I feel like no matter how much of a difference I make- it won't matter.  So it's easy to pull the covers over our heads... drowning it with TV...to practice deeds of selfishness instead of feeding the starving...to go numb.  Do we put our headphones on because it's easier to drown out the hurt and pains of this imperfect world that we were not meant to live in?  Numbness does not burn or tingle...it's painless.

However, it also does not bring joy.  I think it's good for all of us to take the headphones off- to give God permission to use us to lift the sadness in the lives of those around us- whether strangers next door or across the globe or our most loved.  God cannot heal our hurts if we choose to remain numb.  The lyrics are below-think on them--- move on them.  Be moved to face the hurt- not alone but with the power of the cross- because from that God will bring joy.  

No headphones! ~AT

Headphones by Jars of Clay

I don’t have to hear it if I don’t want to

I can drown this out, pull the curtains down on you

It’s a heavy world

It’s too much for me to care

If I close my eyes it’s not there

With my headphones on…

 We watch television

But the sound is something else

Just a song played against the drummer so the hurt is never felt

I take in the war fighters

I am chilled by the current events

It is so hopeless but there’s a pop song in my headphones on

With my headphones on…

At the tube stop

You sit down across from me (echo: I can see you)

I think I know you

By the sad eyes that I see

I want to tell you  (echo: it’s a heavy world)

Everything be okay

You wouldn’t hear it (echo: I don’t want to have to hear it)

So we go our separate ways

With our headphones on…

 I don’t want to have to hear it...I don’t want to have to hear it

Surrender to gain control...

Throughout 2009 I have faced a series of events centered around the pain and consequences of various diseases and conditions.  At times it seems so unreal and at other moments, the reality has been more real than I so wish.  

My agenda has been altered despite my resistance to not let my circumstances weaken me even an ounce.   I have been confronted once again by the reality that even with a strong heart, mind, and faith I cannot just ignore my body's signals. As I have faced the reality of being less productive, I have been saddened, mad, and struck with guilt.  I have tried to maintain control by ignoring it--- by marching on- pretending it does not exist.   

Today I received an intervening message that has renewed my perspective- enabled me to journey with joy and hope.  I have again been blessed with the realization that I have been paralyzed with the desire to maintain control over my circumstances.  The secret is to surrender- to yield and confess every area of our lives.  As it says in Mark 8:35, "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever  shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it."

At times God blesses me with the strength to have peace- to be content.  Other times, I admittedly live in a state of trying to maintain control as the wind sweeps and the rain pours upon my heart and body.  I feverishly pray for my hearts desire- for God to calm the storm.  Today, God has lightened the cross I bear by revealing to me once again the secret to victory... surrender, yield, and confess.   

Journey in His Victory

 ~AT 

Hope

It's been a long time since I've written and many have asked for an update. As many of you know, I've started immune suppressant drugs, which has helped me so much. My body feels like it's being repaired from the damage my over active immune system was causing. As I reflect on the year, I see just how much God has carried me and even allowed me to fly with joy.

What carries the human spirit in such times as now? What allows us to fly when our wings are broken? HOPE. Hope is a simple 4-letter word that is endlessly freeing. Christmas is a wonderful time to be reminded of hope. Hope came to us in form of a baby boy. May we see the hope surrounding us during these hard times we face, whether in your own life, your family, or as a nation...HOPE SHALL GUIDE US...Not empty hope- but hope full of faith. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see," (Hebrews 11). Journey with Hope ~ AT

Freedom from Captivity

As we celebrate Memorial day, how can we not help but think about what we are free from? It is so easy to take our freedom for granted. More so, why do we gravitate towards living in captivity when we can be free from something? Captivity is subtle- blinding. Yesterday, I heard a sermon on living free from sin, and what I realized is that I have subtly been living in the captivity of idolization. We idolize all sorts of things- like beauty, money, and so forth. It struck me that I am in surfing in the waves of idolizing health. It's the one thing I really long for--- to be able to not have pain--- I have put it up on a pedestal. Do you have that thing in your life that makes you say, "If only...then..."? "If only...then..." is a lie- it holds us captive from appreciating what we are already free from. Praying with expectation is not idolization, but trying to fill an empty hole with an idol puts us back into captivity.

Absorb freedom's beauty ~ AT

The Choice

Today I'm borrowing wisdom from my favorite book, "You Gotta Keep Dancin'" by Tim Hansel. I've had some hurdles to jump lately and need more wisdom if I'm going to jump.

I've come to learn over many years of chronic illness that the journey is full of humps that can be hard. My humps have been "looking for the magic cure," "cautiously living," "seeking symptom suppression," "existing from one doctor appointment to the next." I'm thankful these humps are infrequent but they are still hard to crawl over when they come up. What humps are you crawling over? What do we need to let Jesus carry us over?

A cheerful heart is the best medicine, and I have to bite the bullet and get out of the cycle of fear and cautious panic. It's easy to be living with low-grade discouragement and not realize it. But I've realized it and that I praise God for---because realizing it is the first step toward living in joy for today.

No matter what kind of pain it is- physical, emotional, spiritual- pain can intercept our hopes and plans- it can rearrange our dreams and always leaves a mark. We cannot change the circumstances but we can change our response.

Happiness is a feeling that depends on circumstances- our health can depend on somebody else- but we have a choice--- to have joy--- joy is an attitude that can triumph through our circumstances.

Biting the bullet to live in joy for TODAY! Lord Jesus, carry us in joy. AT