Better or Bitter?

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Journal Entries 2018 Sept 4-6

Sept 4

1:19am- upper arms hurt, hands going numb, wide awake…not good

1:48- still wide awake…ears hurt, rt hip aches, center of chest burning periodically. Took melatonin & pain med.

 10.46p LATE AFTERNOON UPDATE ON GORDON: Gordon is expected to make landfall tonight just west of Dauphin Island, near the Alabama/Mississippi border, as a category one hurricane. Gordon now is packing sustained winds of 70 mph, and the pressure is right at 1000 mb. Some strengthening is still possible before it reaches the coast tonight.

10:47- my whole body hurts! I have a headache. Power has been out for an hour now. Don’t know when it’ll come back on. Storm is making me tense.  

Sept 5

My whole body still hurts. Hard to move. Entire back throbbing. Rt ear hurts. Hands swollen and achy. Sharp pain under rt middle finger that shoot up entire hand. Arms hurt.

12pm- tried to clear kitchen table by putting paint in Dezirae’s closet. I accidentally dropped one jar. The lid  popped off and split gray paint on tan floor! Ugh! Joe used paint thinner to get up as much as possible. House stinks. I wasn’t thinking and washed Dezirae’s blanket with rags!  

Sept 6

  • Dog & lion
  • Current governor
  • Mayor
  • Month & year
  • Envelope addressed sealed stamped
  • Orange & banana
  • Spell world backwards

https://www.verywellmind.com/ocd-and-traumatic-brain-injury-2510479

https://www.capegazette.com/article/what-do-lion-and-dog-have-common/1142

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Journal Entries 2018 Sept 1-3

Sept 1

Slept til 10am – that’s unusual for me. Woke with both arms & hands numb, tingly & aching, entire back aching with lower back throbbing, toes feel funny, eyes feel heavy & crusty but there’s none.No gumption to do anything today. Raining off and on most of day. Hurts to move.

Sept 2

Slightly dizzy. Upper back stings like I have a sunburn. Neck hurts. Hands hurt. Feet tingly.

11:30- my watch quit working again. trouble following music. Can’t seem to get my fingers to cooperate. Headache. Eyes feel crossed & blurry. Rt elbow & hand throbbing.

6:15- such difficulty playing piano for church today…eyes & brain feel blurry and crossed…closing eyes I see orange “X” across face. Ugh!

9:00- eyes are burning, congested, coughing

10:00- going to bed not feeling goodLow back aches, rt hip hurts, rt side of back hurts from sneezing, rt elvow throbbing, sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, headache, chest popping, chest aches, rt side of neck hurts…

Sept 3

10:00am- slept for 10 hours last night (1st time since before strike).

10:00pm- In an effort to try to not injure my rt elbow/forearm anymore, I used my left arm more today and injured it in the process! Ugh! I’ll figure things out eventually.  Low back hurts, hands hurt, left eye twitched a few times today, center of chest hurts, back of legs hurt, headache, neck rt side hurts

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Humility

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Av1611.com defines humility as in ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one’s own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one’s own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will.

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6

God chooses the simple things to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27).  He does so to achieve His plans and bring honor and glory to Himself. 

Jesus was the greatest example of humility as He chose to obey God’s plan by becoming a man, dying on the cross, and raising again the third day to pay our penalty of sin.  Those who believe on Him and confess their sin will have eternal life (John 3:16-17). 

The Holy Spirit will nudge our hearts when we need to humble ourselves before God.  It is our choice to choose to become humble and obedient or persist in our prideful ways.

Additional Scripture:

1 Peter 5:5-6,  Luke 22:27, Philippians 2:6-8, Philippians 2:3-4, Titus 3:2, Psalm 113:5-6, Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 18:12, John 13:13-17, Micah 6:8, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Romans 2:1, Psalm 9:12, Proverbs 40:11, Proverbs 6:16-19

Prayer:

Lord, You have instructed us in Micah 6:8 to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before You.  Please cultivate in our hearts the understanding that You are the reason for our accomplishments. Keep us from selfish pride and help us to learn of Your gentle and humble spirit.  You alone are worthy of the praise, honor, and glory.  In Jesus, name, Amen

Hymns of Praise:

  1. Amazing Grace
  2. Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
  3. Have Thine Own Way, Lord
  4. Only a Sinner
  5. Nothing But the Blood
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Kindness

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Character Trait: Kindness

Definition:

av1611.com defines kindness as disposed to do good to others; and to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants or assisting them in distress; having tenderness or goodness of nature

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

It is easy to be kind to those who are kind to us. Showing kindness especially to those who are undeserving speaks volumes about how we are allowing God to work in our lives. 

Being kind is much more than giving a simple smile or being polite. It’s exemplifying a Christ-like attitude by looking for ways to be a blessing to others.

Additional Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:15, Galatians 5:22-23, Luke 6:35, Proverbs 21:21, Psalm 117:2, Proverbs 19:22, Proverbs 31:26, Isaiah 54:8, Ephesians 2:7, Hebrews 13:2, Galatians 6:10, Luke 6:35, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Matthew 7:12, Colossians 3:12

Prayer:

Lord, help us to be kind in thought, in word, and in deed. Teach us to humbly follow in Your footsteps as we search the Scriptures. Allow Your gentle Spirit of kindness to dwell within us that we may be a light shining brightly drawing others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Hymns of Praise:

1. He Lifted Me

2. Bringing in the Sheaves

3. Others

4. O to Be Like Thee

5. Rescue the Perishing

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Dry Bones

Read this verse during my devotions time yesterday. I immediately began to envision Christ talking to the bones and bringing them back to life.

I imagined a valley of dry bones and Christ standing just above. As He spoke the bones jiggled at little at first as the skin and organs began to form. The more life was restored the more those bones got up and leaped rejoicing before the Lord for the lives that were restored.

Next I remember part of a song I learned as a child and the notes dancing in the sky above them. “…Them bones, them bones, them dry bones now hear the word of the Lord….”

This song and verse has stuck with me ever since. I woke up with idea to create a Scripture art to go with the verse.

Thankful that regardless of our situation there is always hope for new life in Christ! Many times we get weary in the battle and our light begins to dim, but God can regenerate our lives to be a burning light for His glory!

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Compassion

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Character Trait: Compassion

Compassion  is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress along with a desire to alleviate it without experiencing anything in return.

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John 3:17

God wants us to be uniquely different from the world especially in our compassion for others.  Jesus lived a life of compassion for others.  He not only saw the needs of others, but also responded to their needs.

True compassion comes from being fully surrendered to the Lord.  Many times the trials that we endure in our lives will spiritually strengthen us.  This will help to grow our faith and  allow us to help others who come behind us to go through it as well.

Additional Scripture:

Matthew 15:32, Matthew 20:34, John 13:35, 1 John 3:16-17, 1 Peter 3:8, Galatians 6:10, Jude 1:22, Luke 10:33-35, John 17:20-23, Proverbs 29:11, 1 Peter 2:21, Psalm 78:38, Psalm 86:15, Luke 15:20, Psalm 145:8,  Micah 7:18-19, Matthew 9:36, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12-13

Prayer:  Father, Thank you for all Your provisions in our lives.  Please help us to see those around us that are in need of compassion.  Help us to be an example of Your compassion that will make an eternal difference in the lives of others.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Hymns of Praise:

  1. The Saviour Is Waiting
  2. He Careth For You
  3. Love Divine
  4. A Tender Heart
  5. Blest Be the Tie

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Honesty

Honesty – free from fraud or deception. Behavior, in action and words, that aims to convey truth.

It is important to live a life characterized by honesty.  When your life and words constantly demonstrate honesty and integrity, others will learn that they can depend upon you. 

Honesty is not only a reflection of our inner character, but also a way to show our faith.  It is not just how you speak to others but also to yourself.  As we desire to draw nigh to Christ, we should want to follow Christ’s example in being honest in all things.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

Additional Scripture:

Psalm 25:4-5, Psalm 51:6-7, Philippians 4:8, Psalm 33:1-5, Romans 12:17,  2 Corinthians 8:21,  John 1:14, Proverbs 12:22,  1 Peter 3:10-12, Zechariah 8:16-17, Colossians 3:9-10, Proverbs 6:16-19, Proverbs 14:25, Isaiah 45:18-19, Ephesians 4:25

Prayer:

Lord, Thank you for allowing your Spirit to guide us into all truth (John 16:13).  Thank you for being The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6). 

Please help my family and I to be careful to speak the truth.  Help us to live lives of integrity and honesty that we may bring honor and glory to Your name.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Songs of Praise:

  1. Jesus Loves Me
  2. And Can It Be That I Should Gain?
  3. Rejoice in the Lord
  4. Trust and Obey

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