Daily overload.

Paul writes about all the things he has on "his plate", and he adds, to this comes the daily overload. These last ten years I have felt overloaded to that extent the only place I was free was in my bed. (Where I slept with the cell phone by my side.) There's no words beautiful enough to describe how supportive and understanding Gunnar has been throughout the years. 

 I could not have been of any use for my parents had he not stood faithfully by my side and figuratively carried me and my parents much of the way. 

After Christmas I have had a backlash, a reaction had to come and it has sent me to bed, at least three times a day. I haven't yet written  Christmas cards, nor Easter Cards. I cannot bother to be ashamed, even though I always want to do the right things. There's simply no time or power left in my battery for ordinary curtsy or good manners. I have learned to value the little big things in life. I do so appreciate my wake hours with Gunnar and Serina. Sharing a meal, sitting on the terrace, attending the odd concert, service, flea market or, best of all, watching the sunset with cameras in our hands.

I'm just home from a sundown show. The great sky-painter was the eminent director, nobody does it better. "And we're only inhabiting  one of his million of balls," Gunnar said.

 

In the magic moment as the sun disappeared under the horizon all nature stood still in awe. Birds, dogs and human alike held their breath.

 (I was not allowed to tell that Gunnar shot this and the following photo)

Then the lights were turn on, white, green, yellow and red, so that no seafarer should get lost along the treachery waters along the coast. No wayfaring men shall get lost. 

This was his voice today.

Isaiah 35

King James Version (KJV)

35 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

² It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.
³ Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
⁴ Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
⁵ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
⁶ Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
⁷ And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
⁸ And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
⁹ No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
¹⁰ And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

I also found sheet music to "Never fades the Name of Jesus."

Heart warming socks arrived today

They say God's timing is perfect. They are right.
Not only is his timing exactly planned, but also his instructions to those who walk his errands.

 Life and Breath and Everything Else: Psalm 78:13a

 

Published with the permission of Lauren Dawenport. See her blog.

Some of you will know that for 24 years I have been living with the chronic fatigue syndrome ME. That means that my batteries run low quickly and I have to lay down and recharge 2 -3 times a day.
After all these years I and my family have found ways to cope and I even see God's blessings through my illness,( at least in retrospect).
I was allowed to be a stay at home Mom from when Serina was a baby after my collapse.
All family members have been knit closely together, because we needed each other to make life work for the one we all loved the most, the divine gift, baby Serina, only niece and only grandchild.

As Serina grew older both husband Gunnar , my brother Kel and my parents grew life threatening ill in just a short time.
Again, we were able to be there for each other.

I admit I felt I'd reached a point of total helplessness when Serina also came down with ME last June. As my Mom was heading towards the end of her life, my daughter had just finished her education and about to begin her life.

I have learned to walk on promises and take one step at a time over and over again. Sometimes I envy people who can plan a half year ahead. I just have to recognize, this is not for me.

So often I've woken up in my childhood room reading the text over my head. Never will I leave, nor will I forsake you. Signed God.
If I could share how these words have given me new strength and new hope.

I love the Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf and Terry in particular, since she has come to stand so close to me and has also adopted Serina as her prayer child.

I wondered if I even would be able to take part in this year's adventures. I just thought, let me wait and see.
After serious praying, some new and very promising neurological medication against the ME symptoms came available in Norway this February. Serina started in March. Lots of side efferents which meant trials to all of us.
We have learned to embrace the good moments and we indeed do.
Life is so precious and so are smiles, laughter, companionship, hugs, games, food and the odd outdoor expedition.

Like today. Gunnar was exhausted, but Serina and I managed to stay on wheels from 09.30 til 02. Record breaking attending three flea-markets. We barely made it home, when I found the letter from Linda. Sweet Linda had not only sent one sock, but also a new pair of socks. That was the only way I could have started this sock journey today. Both Serina and I went to bed. Norway is still so old fashioned that stores close early on Saturday and most keep closed on Sunday. It's about keeping the Lord's Day holy.

Had Linda not enclosed an extra pair of socks, I'd had to wait until Monday. The Lord knew and he inspired Linda, that's for sure.
In a week or two I shall also try out this new medication. Then I would not have been able to write, at least not if I must go through similar side effects like those of Serina.

God sees and plans so many steps ahead, while I hardly see the end of a day.
Praised be his name. Praised be his love and fatherly concern for each and everyone of us.

God's Faithfulness - Part IV

This will be the final post from me while I have this
special Bible that we all share. I have enjoyed my
time reading our Bible and marking some of my
favorite passages as well as reading some of yours.


I want to say that throughout my life God has always
been faithful. His wonderful word is filled with His
promises of love and salvation to us and not one word
of those promises can fail.

My family does not necessarily live an existence that
some would consider normal due to our older son's
autism. There are, and have always been, good and
bad sides to autism. The good being that nothing serves
to drive one to their knees searching for God like seeing
your own child suffer day in and day out. Nothing. The
bad being that one lives a life that can be extremely
painful in the very act of watching someone you love
experience such torment as autism.

But God...He has never left our side. Through all
the emergency room trips, doctor visits, drugs, drugs,
and more drugs, staying up seventy-two hours at a
time and on and on and on...God was and is with us.
He is above it all and no name that can be named,
on the earth, above the earth, or beneath the earth
is above the name of Jesus Christ.

How do I know? Because if it was not for Him, we
would be dead by now. He comes in the middle of 
the darkest nights with words of comfort and hope.
He is there when the doctors give their bad reports.
Then we have to choose whose report we will believe,
the medical experts or the report of our Lord. We have
always chosen the report of the Lord and seen the
work of His hand, time and time again, intervening,
strengthening, healing, comforting and helping us
begin again.

Right now we are in a crisis situation once again but
we are waiting on the Lord and believing once again
that He will move on our behalf. Let God be true and
all men liars. One definitely learns to do spiritual warfare
when dealing with a hurting family member.

My husband and I were born-again, spirit-filled Christians
when we married and that is the only thing that has kept
us from giving up and giving in during these times of
crisis. Someone said you must never wait until you are
in an emergency to get ready for warfare. You must be
prepared before the worst happens so you can see your
way through to the victory on the other side. The true
victory can only be achieved through blood, the blood
of Jesus Christ.

The Lord has taught me and my family so much,
especially during these last ten years. We have
learned to lean on, cling to, and depend on God
for everything. In doing so we have each become
stronger and more determined to follow hard after
God. Our relationships with one another have stood
the tests and trials as well as the outright spiritual
attacks of the enemy. Truly, the family that prays
together stays together.

I'd like to leave you with one of my favorite
passages from the word of God that we have
seen come true in each of our lives.

"I love the Lord because He hears my voice
    and my prayer for mercy.
Because He bends down to listen,
   I will pray as long as I have breath! 
Death wrapped its ropes around me;
   the terrors of the grave overtook me.
   I saw only trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    "Please, Lord, save me!" 
How kind the Lord is! How good He is!
   So merciful, this God of ours!
The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
    I was facing death, and He saved me.


Let my soul be at rest again,
    for the Lord has been good to me.
He has saved me from death,
   my eyes from tears,
   my feet from stumbling.
And so I walk in the Lord's presence
   as I live here on earth!
I believed in You, so I said,
   "I am deeply troubled, Lord."
In my anxiety I cried out to You,
    "These people are all liars!"
What can I offer the Lord
 for all He has done for me? 
I will lift up the cup of salvation
  and praise the Lord's name for 
  saving me.
I will keep my promises to the Lord
   in the presence of all His people.


The Lord cares deeply when His
   loved ones die.
O Lord, I am your servant;
yes, I am your servant,  born into
  your household
  You have freed me from my chains.
I will offer You a sacrifice of thanksgiving
   and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
   in the presence of all His people--
in the house of the Lord
in the heart of Jerusalem."


Praise the Lord!


~Psalm 116


Sandy