In His Service

When I think of this time of year, I think of giving and serving.  I'm constantly searching opportunities to help someone in need.  Not just in need of material things (although those are very real needs), but also those in need of love, service and encouragement.  Oddly, I did not imagine that this year I would be the one in need.

For five weeks straight, my sisters rotated flying from California to Atlanta to take care of me. They cooked.  They cleaned.  They did my laundry. They helped me stand.  They helped me sit.  They helped me get to doctor's appointments.  They made sure I was well taken care of.  Before I could even think a thought, they'd already done it.  They served in the spirit of love.

Sometimes we think service has to be a big event with a particular organization.  While it is wonderful and generous to serve in those capacities, Matthew 25:35-40 sheds light on ways to serve daily.  It says, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’“  The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I encourage you to ask God to reveal opportunities to serve and share love as you go through your day.  Sometimes "the least of these" is closer than you think.  I should know, because this time "the least of these" was me.

Love Always,

Shy

http://lovealwaysshy.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovealwaysshy

I laughed!

It had been a little over 3 weeks since I'd been home from the hospital when I found myself folding the walker I'd left the hospital with and carrying it down the hallway to put it in my storage area.  The fact that I was holding with one hand the very walker I used to lean on with both hands made me laugh.  I couldn't help but smile and think, "Wow!  God is amazing!"  I went from needing someone to lift my legs onto the bed in order for me to lie down to now walking down the hallway carrying my walker.  Won't He do it?!

I'd already decided after being home from the hospital for about 5 days that I would walk on my own within the next couple of days.  AND I decided I would make it upstairs to my bedroom instead of sleeping on the sofa.  I had goals!  

So I said to my sister, "I declare I will not need that walker in 2 days".  Considering my current state, this sounded really ambitious, but sure enough, within 2 days I was literally "walking by faith".  Slowly and carefully, but leaning on nothing but my trust in the Lord.  I knew the longer I leaned on the walker, the longer it would take me to gain the strength and balance I needed to walk on my own.  So I shifted from leaning to trusting.  From that point on, each step I took became a step of trust in the direction of my healing, in the direction of God's promises, and in the direction of my victory.  

This experience made me think of all the other things we sometimes lean on instead of trusting in the Lord.  Proverbs 3:5 tells us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding."  

Much like my walker, sometimes things are in our lives to get us through a particular season in life, but it's not meant to be a lifelong crutch.  Other times, we simply lean on our own understanding instead of trusting in the Lord with all our hearts.  The problem with leaning on our own understanding is that we put a limit on God.  He is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20).  More than we can understand!  Which means our own understanding doesn't even scratch the surface of what He can and will do in our lives, if we just trust Him.

My friend, the next time you find yourself leaning on anything other than God's promises, I encourage you to shift from leaning to trusting.  Take it from me, one day you will laugh at what God has done!

Love Always,

Shy

http://lovealwaysshy.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovealwaysshy

Safe

There I was in the hospital bed, having gone from ER to being admitted.  I was awaiting the doctor's instructions on next steps.  I was thinking a simple, watered-down treatment would be the solution.  Then the surgeon walked into my room stating very matter-of-factly what she saw on the scan and that I needed to have a major emergency surgery.  

Since any type of emotional response would have only served as a waste of time (which I was running out of), I simply asked for a few minutes to contact my family, contact my primary care physician and to contact Jesus (pray).  She agreed and left the room for a few minutes, but it was clear time was not on my side as she paced outside of my room door.

Everything in my spirit was calm and I was at peace with this being the way to my healing, yet at the same time it felt like 10 gallons of information being poured into a 1 gallon tank.  I just didn't have the capacity to carry it all on my own.

I'd never had a major surgery.

I'd never been in ICU.

I'd never had to walk with a walker.

I'd never been connected to so many tubes, monitors, etc.

BUT I've always trusted in Jesus!  He knows what’s ahead of me and He promised to never leave me.  NEVER!  My trust in His plan was enough to carry all that I could not carry on my own.

So when I awoke in ICU, I gave God thanks for his healing power.  (Mark 5:34)

When I was able to walk down the hall with a walker, I thanked God for the strength to get out of bed.  (2 Cor. 12:9)

When family and friends visited, sent flower, prepared meals, and expressed their love in so many ways, I thanked God for commanding His angels to keep me in all my ways.  (Psalm 91:11)

The miracle of me being here today goes far beyond anything I could have planned.  However, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Lord heard my every prayer and no matter what the situation looked like, He was able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all I could ask or think.

He held my hand.  He comforted me.  He whispered, "I am your healer."  So I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, I was safe.

Thank you for your prayers.

Love Always,

Shy

http://lovealwaysshy.blogspot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovealwaysshy