A Day and Night Away

Well, gee whiz, where has the month gone. I know I mentioned that on my post last Friday. But I’m looking back at the few road trips I took this summer and am a month behind. 

 The last weekend in July, my daughter rented a cabin in Jump River and invited me to spent Saturday afternoon and night with her and her dog.

The cabin was really nice.

I suppose I could have gotten a picture of my daughter instead of just of my grandpuppy.  

But what’s a grandma to do?

And if you’ve never heard of Jump River, or been there, look it up.

There’s always something to do no matter where you go in Wisconsin.

And always something beautiful to take pictures of.

Relevant or not? Too long or not?

 

I always hate posting a long passage from the Bible. I’m afraid you won’t read it all, because you will find it boring, or had to understand, or irrelevant. 

Last night, I read 2nd Corinthians, chapter 4, and it said so much to me. I wanted to pick out the most pertinent verse to try to pick apart and explain in my own words. But really? Like my words are ever better than God’s?

So here is the entire chapter. I hope you read it all.

          God, with his mercy, gave us this work to do, so we don’t give up. 2 But we have turned away from secret and shameful ways. We use no trickery, and we do not change the teaching of God. We teach the truth plainly, showing everyone who we are. Then they can know in their hearts what kind of people we are in God’s sight. 3 If the Good News that we preach is hidden, it is hidden only to those who are lost. 4 The devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. They cannot see the light of the Good News—the Good News about the glory of Christ, who is exactly like God. 5 We do not preach about ourselves, but we preach that Jesus Christ is Lord and that we are your servants for Jesus. 6 God once said, “Let the light shine out of the darkness!” This is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts by letting us know the glory of God that is in the face of Christ.

          7 We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treasure. This shows that the great power is from God, not from us. 8 We have troubles all around us, but we are not defeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living. 9 We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but we are not destroyed. 10 We carry the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the life of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies. 11 We are alive, but for Jesus we are always in danger of death so that the life of Jesus can be seen in our bodies that die. 12 So death is working in us, but life is working in you.

          13 It is written in the Scriptures, “I believed, so I spoke.” Our faith is like this, too. We believe, and so we speak. 14 God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, and we know that God will also raise us with Jesus. God will bring us together with you, and we will stand before him. 15 All these things are for you. And so the grace of God that is being given to more and more people will bring increasing thanks to God for his glory.

          16 So we do not give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day. 17 We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles. 18 We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever.

(2 Corinthians 4, New Century Version)

And Summer is Over

Wow, look at that date. The last Friday of summer. (I don’t know why they still say summer lasts until September 23. It’s got to do with the moon, I think, but like why are we still living in the Middle Ages. Come on, summer is June through August and that’s all she wrote.)

It’s also four months until Christmas. I was thinking about getting a start on my shopping by at least buying my kids’ yearly packages of socks, maybe underwear this year too, as they have both been struggling with life.

Because my back has been tormenting me all summer, as you know and are probably tired of hearing, I didn’t have nearly as many adventures or go as many places as I would have liked. Looking back, however, I guess I got out a little bit. 

A walk with my daughter and her dog in our hometown.

Another walk on another day with daughter and grand-dog.

A walk on my own at Council Grounds State Park in Merrill. 

A walk with my sister at a park in her town of Wausau.
Everyone tells me that walking is the best thing for my back. 

An overnight adventure with Daughter and Pup at Jump River.

Our annual camping trip to Bewabic State Park in Michigan. 

A new camping site, Wyalusing State Park in the far southwest corner of the state. 

And on days when I can't get out of the house, sometimes, all I have to do is look out my window. 

Don't Compare Wings

The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork. (Job 39:13, New International Version)

Thursday, I had my appointment with the spine specialist. I didn’t have high expectations that this visit would magically heal my back, but I thought I should at least try it and see what they said.

I suffer a fair amount of anxiety, and this ongoing back pain has worsened it. As I was sitting in the car, trying to calm myself down before entering the building, I wished I had dragged my husband along for moral support. (He was more than willing to come with me, but I told him I got this.) But there I was, all alone. Not really.

Since it was too late to have anyone else join me, I decided to invite Jesus into the doctor’s office.

The staff person finished rooming me and asking me a million questions, one of which was, “Is your blood pressure usually this high?” And I was left alone to wait for the doctor.

I sat back, closed my eyes, and imagined Jesus sitting down in the chair beside me. And then I started in on myself.

Why was I even there? I already had my mind made up that this doctor wouldn’t help my back. And so what? So many more people were out there with problems more significant than mine. Sure, it hurt to walk, but only 75% of the time, but I could still walk. What about paraplegics? What about amputees? Sure, they can walk on a prosthesis, but wouldn’t that get old after a while?

Yes, Jesus was with me, and while I was waiting for the doctor to come in, berating myself for being such a whiner when other people have it way worse than me, Jesus told me not to compare myself with others. Everyone has their own battle, and this is mine. And Jesus will fight it with me just like He fights the ones that other believers are fighting.

I’m never alone, and God hears and answers all of our prayers. But today’s reminder is: You may have ostrich wings, or stork wings, or even eagle wings, but whatever kind they are, don’t compare them with others. They are your wings and yours alone.

That’s a Wrap – annual camping in the UP, Blog Post #4

Our annual camping trip to the UP was cut short because of the unrelenting pain in my back. Our last day there, Wednesday, we still made the run up to the Jampot, near Eagle River, for jams and treats from the dear monks who run the bakery.

They grow beautiful roses too.

Every time we drive through Eagle River, we glance over at the Historical Museum, but it has always been closed. Like many such museums in small towns, it has quirky hours. But lo and behold, it was open that day and we took a quick tour.

Eagle River Falls, which at one time had much more water flowing over it, but it’s been this scanty for many years now it seems.

Just up the road is the County Courthouse.

And just past that is the County Sheriff’s office.

And at the end of that street is the Gitchee Gumee Bible Camp. I always wanted to check it out, but this is probably the closest I’ll get.

Lake Superior, aka the real Gitchee Gumee, will always be the most fascinating part of the trip for me though.

And seeing a freighter out on the water always excites me.

serenity and so much more

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference. (Written by Reinhold Neibuhr in the 1930s)

Every night, after I go bed, I recite the Lord’s Prayer in my head and follow that with all the things I am thankful for, all the things I’ve done which need to be forgiven, and my long list of prayer requests.

The last few months, I’ve added the serenity prayer. Thinking about that prayer, I’ve changed things around a bit and added something like this:

God grant me peace, God take away my fear.  

God grant me healing, God take away my pain.

God grant me rest, God take away my anxiety.  

You get the idea, and I’m sure you can come up with your own list. I’ve been reciting this new list in my head until I drift off to sleep, which is one of those things I always ask God to grant me.

Anyway, it’s just a thought for something for you to try if you feel your prayer life is stagnant.

Also have you read the entire Serenity Prayer?

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.

 

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

 

As it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

If I surrender to His Will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

 

And supremely happy with Him

Forever and ever in the next.

Amen

Top of the Hill and More – annual camping in the UP, Blog Post #3

The last time I wrote here about our camping trip to the UP in July, we were just leaving the World War II Glider Museum in Iron Mountain. The volunteer working there directed us to the ski lift on top of Pine Mountain, not only for the jump but for the veteran’s memorial that was there.    

          It sits above the Pine Mountain Ski and Golf Resort. We took pictures from the bottom and the top. And it was definitely worth the drive up.        

          The views were breathtaking.        

          And the veteran’s memorial was touching.

          We ate lunch there under the picnic shelter. It was comfortable in the sun and slightly cool in the shade. One of the better weather days of the trip.  

Words you might need today

 

Lord, listen to me and answer me.

    I am poor and helpless.

2 Protect me, because I worship you.

    My God, save me, your servant who trusts in you.

3 Lord, have mercy on me,

    because I have called to you all day.

4 Give happiness to me, your servant,

    because I give my life to you, Lord.

5 Lord, you are kind and forgiving

    and have great love for those who call to you.

6 Lord, hear my prayer,

    and listen when I ask for mercy.

7 I call to you in times of trouble,

    because you will answer me.

 

8 Lord, there is no god like you

    and no works like yours.

9 Lord, all the nations you have made

    will come and worship you.

    They will honor you.

10 You are great and you do miracles.

    Only you are God.

11 Lord, teach me what you want me to do,

    and I will live by your truth.

Teach me to respect you completely.

12 Lord, my God, I will praise you with all my heart,

    and I will honor your name forever.

13 You have great love for me.

    You have saved me from death. (Psalm 86, New Century Version)

 

Beautiful verses from the Book of Psalms. Maybe these are words you need today. 

Backyard Encounter

As usual, I had other things I planned to write about tonight, but then there was this amazing backyard encounter at my house yesterday afternoon which I just had to share. 

If you know me at all, you've heard about Emma, our special kitty. She has a seizure disorder and is just not right in the head. When I lay out on the deck, she wants to be outside too, but I have to keep an eye on her because if she were to wander off, there's no way she'd find her way home. Usually, she lays under a chair or the grill, in the shade and sleeps, but sometimes she does jump off the deck. 

It was time for both of us to go back in the house. I looked around, and there she was under the clothesline, stalking something. I only had my cellphone, in case someone called, and not my regular camera, so the pictures aren't the best. I suppose I need to cave and upgrade my cell, huh? 

It didn't take me long to see what Emma was stalking. Little stinker. 

The doe was just as curious. Sorry about the clothes on the line. Yes, I'm that old-fashioned. 

 So this stupid deer, turns and wanders off in the woods, with Emma still looking for her. And that doe circles around on my trail and comes out in the yard behind Emma. 

And Emma is oblivious. Like she's saying, "Which way did he go, George?" from the old cartoon "Of Foxes and Hounds".  

And the doe just wants to find out what Emma is. 

"Oh, hello, there!" The moment of truth. And Emma hissed and the deer took off. 

And Emma's still like, "Which way did he go?"