Friends,

Rodney and I have known for a long time that we live in a wonderful small town and that we have made some really good friends since we have lived here. But over the last few days I have been reminded of our good favor once again.


As you may know, I have been laid up on the couch recuperating from a knee replacement since last Friday. During this time several people have visited and called. Some have even brought food over for us.

Two days ago, Riley made breakfast and dinner out of the left overs from the last night's brought in meal.  During the course of the day, yesterday, I heard from 10 people, plus, one person came to dust, one came to visit and then came back with gluten free brownies, one picked up Riley for choir practice, one even brought me a diet coke, knowing that that is a special treat. Last night we even had one make sure Riley made it to his last pep band playing for the season. I have also received many little gifts that have brightened my boring, mundane, somewhat painful healing on the couch.

I am sure God has a big hand in the placing of these wonderful people in our lives, right now and over the years. I bet if you look at your own lives you will see that God has given you some wonderful friends too. 

Paul had some friends who stuck by him through anything and everything. 2 Timothy 4:21 tells of the ones who where with him clear to the end. But over the course of his travels and teachings,  Paul mentions many without whom he would not have made it....... 

AQUILLA, PRISCILLA, ARISTARCHUS, BARNABAS, EPAPHRAS, GAIUS, LUKE, JUSTUS, TIMOTHY,  TITUS, and MARCUS, just to name a few. 

The one common denominator with all of these people from the past and in the present, is that they love and loved our God and are and were available to be used by Him to be the kind of friend that gets written about.

My life may not depend on my friends, like Paul's did, but I can tell you that, to me, they are just as God sent. 

I hope that we all can be friends like that.

Blessings!

Long Night

It is now about 6:45 in the morning and I am awake with only about an hour's worth of sleep from this last night. Hospitals are in the business of healing and they seem to be quite good at it, except for one thing, remembering the healing power of sleep. I know that meds are needed and orders have to be followed but goodness gracious couldn't they let a body sleep at least two hours at a time and does blood have to be drawn from a person in the dark hours? Maybe it's because they know most people are not a fan of this and they try to catch you when you won't fight back.


Please forgive my complaining, but golly I am tired! I know poor Rodney is too. He had enough struggles just trying to sleep on the short couch, and I know he got awakened every time I did. I am sending him home tonight so that he will be able to preach a coherent sermon in the morning. Though isn't it sweet that he insists on staying with me whenever I am in the hospital.
Yes it was a long night but in the end it will be worth it, when I have a knee that will work without pain.

There were many instances in the Bible when men and women had long nights. Here are two from the Old Testament........


2 Samuel 12:16

Common English Bible (CEB)

¹⁶ David begged God for the boy. He fasted and spent the night sleeping on the ground.

 
Daniel 6:18

Common English Bible (CEB)

¹⁸ The king then went home to his palace and fasted through the night. No pleasures were brought to him, and he couldn’t sleep.

In 2 Samuel, David is praying for the life of his new born son to be spared. And in Daniel, the king is dealing with his conscience.
In both of these verses the men were calling out and were very much aware that the God of the day was the very same God of the night.

The author in Psalm put it very nicely.......

Psalm 42:8

Common English Bible (CEB)

⁸ By day the Lord commands his faithful love;
    by night his song is with me—
    a prayer to the God of my life.
 

Isn't is comforting to know that no matter what we are going through, or when we are going through it, God is there and in control. I did pray quite a bit last night, for sleep. But every time he was gently leading me there, my door opened again!!!

Oh well, please forgive my tired ranting. The surgery is over, healing has begun and I will get sleep at home.

Blessings!