Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 31

Rejoicing

     We can rejoice, too, whenwe run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us developendurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and characterstrengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead todisappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given usthe Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:3-5, New LivingTranslation)

We can also rejoice because thorn bushes have roses (andsometimes flies).

I had a different message written for today, but whenI got up in the night (except I only got up twice instead of three or fourtimes like I’ve been doing for three and half months), the pain in my back washardly noticeable and the stiffness was tolerable. It took mere seconds to situp in bed instead of the long minutes it has taken since April.

And I’d had a rough week too. We’d been camping and Ithought I could do it, but the pain and stiffness were such that we came home aday early. It just wasn’t any fun; I was disappointed beyond words.

Yet here I am, this morning, rejoicing. I hope that thisback issue of mine has reached another plateau, but I know it's not healed yet.Now, the key is to take it easy and not overdo it. There will be other setbacks,I’m sure, mornings when I can’t get out of bed or bend over or get comfortable,but I’ll keep moving forward.

Thank you to all of you for your many prayers as I’vefought through this.

     And thank You, God, for answering thoseprayers. I’m sorry for my impatience and for those moments of anger when I feltYou had left me. Please, Lord, stay by my side until my back is as good as its goingto get, and if it’s never going to be 100% again, let me accept that outcomewith serenity. Amen         

A Sprint or a Marathon

 Philip ran over and heard the man readingfrom the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you arereading?”

The man replied, “How can I, unlesssomeone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sitwith him. (Acts 8:30-31, New Living Translation)

I’ve read through the entire Bible twice, and to behonest, I don’t know how much I got out of it. I read it like I was running amarathon, just to get through it. No stopping to look at the sights, no talkingto those around me, no taking pictures. No understanding it.

A few years ago, I started reading through the Bibleagain, starting out at a sprint, which soon came to a stand-still as lifestarted happening all around me. My goal now is to finish that great Book butto get something out of it. Take my time, research what I’m reading, understandwhat God is actually saying in those 66 books (or 80 books in some versions ofthe Bible or even 100 books if you read the Ethiopian Bible).

There are a lot of great stories in the Bible, besidesthe wisdom of Solomon, the preaching of the apostles, and so much more. Eachand every word in the Bible is well thought out and inspired by God. It’s abook to be read, and also one to absorb and be understood.

And not to be raced through, but to be lived. 

Just Pictures of Emma and a New Word

I’msure that the Independence Day holiday on a Tuesday has a lot of people unsureof what day today is. Is it really Wednesday? How did that happen?

Anyway,I have all kinds of stuff going on and no time to write right now, so I thoughtI’d just share some pictures of my sweet little Emma in my bed.

Sheis on a second medication for her seizures and, knock on wood, she hasn’t hadone since starting the generic Keppra. She gets it in a liquid form and eventhough she isn’t thrilled by it, it’s better than her spitting out the tablet threetimes before we can get it down her throat. It’s bad enough with the phenobarbitalpill, but she’s doing better with that too.

 I also have a word for the week.  

You know how some animals, especially dogs, will lay all stretched out on their bellies with all four legs stretched out. I always called that their froggy legs. But there is a word for it. Sploot or splooting.

I caught Emma doing it on the deck earlier this week, but couldn’t get a picture. I’m sure I had a picture of Dino splooting, but I can’t find it now. Oh, well, you know what I mean. 

Hell on Earth

     
“When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubleswill not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; thehard trials that come will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God, the holyGod of Israel, who saves you.” (Isaiah 43:2-3, Good News Translation)

We were watching an old episode of NCIS, and one ofthe characters was dealing with some trials in life. One of his co-workerssaid, “If you are going through hell, keep going.”

Isn’t that the truth? When things aren’t going wellfor us and it feels like we are living in hell on earth, don’t we sometimesjust want to give up and quit? And then where are we? Still stuck in hell onearth.

Turn your problems over to God, ask Him to give youthe strength to keep plowing through, and then keeping going until you are backto heaven on earth.

And also remember – hell on earth is nothing comparedto the real hell. Make sure your goal is to end up in the real heaven when youleave this earth.

(The picture above is from Hell's Gate Park in Kenya, when I was there in 2017. I climbed this same wall, but didn't do it nearly as gracefully as the younger volunteers.) 

Just Be Still

 “Be Still and Know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10,NIV)

Every year, I choose a word to help guide me throughthe next 365 days. Nearly six months ago, I didn’t proclaim just one word forthe year; I went with one of my favorite Bible passages.

Over the last couple of years, on December 31, when Ilooked back over the past twelve months, it felt like it had been another toughone. So much going on, so many people and situations to pray for, so much goingwrong in this world.

And here I am, not quite six months into 2023, and I –I have nothing to say. It’s been brutal again.

When, Lord, are things going to get better, get easier?When will we find peace and comfort?

To which He answers, “Once you have sent your prayer,let it go, because I have heard it, and I will take care of it. I will takecare of you and your loved ones. Be still. Be calm. Be at peace.”

If you read last Sunday’s blog, you realize that Godhas been telling me that for a while. I really need to start listening, or atleast be still and know that He is God and He has got this.

Flashback Friday - a word from Dino

I’vebeen skimming through all my old blog posts, hunting for ones to include in mylatest book – a 40-day devotional about dealing with pain. Funny thing, when Istarted this blog, in 2010, I was dealing with a frozen shoulder. And though I’vebeen suffering with low back pain for the past twelve weeks, the back issomewhat better right now, but that right shoulder is killing me.

I’mthinking it is all arthritis, as my mother predicted I would be assailed withby the time I reached this age.

Anyway,it’s been fun and nostalgic reading through all those old blog posts. This oneticked a lot of my boxes, including that irksome back pain. Can't wait to go camping next month, though it won't be the same without our four-legged sidekick. 

My BigAdventure

Well,finally, I get to write on my own blog. Momma names the thing after me and thennever even lets me use it. She seems to think I can’t type with my big ol’puppy paws. Duh, Mom, they don’t call me the wonder dog for nothin’.

So, sinceMom is taking a break from telling her life stories (boring!), I got someinternet time and here I am to tell you about my big adventure. Mom and Dadtook me camping up north! They call it the U.P., but – hello – just call it up,like I can’t spell or something.

We stayed inthis cool campground where there were 100 other dogs, and way more people thanthat. Or that’s what it seemed like coz some dog and their people were walkingby our trailer like every five minutes. And Mom or Dad would tell me to bequiet. But it’s like, why can they say “hi” to everyone and I can’t?

Where we camped,they don’t let dogs on the beach. I don’t get why, but you know Mom and Dad –always having to follow the rules. But just a couple miles down the road therewas a really cool park, and we went to it every day. And I got to run in thewater and get chased by waves. It was so awesome. I pretended the waves were areally big mean kitty. And I let them get as close to me as I could and then Iran back to shore. But the waves still always caught me and got me all wet. Itwas awesome.

We rodearound in the truck a lot. I don’t know what Mom and Dad were so fascinatedabout, but they seemed to really like looking at the big lake. I’m kind ofthinking, if I can’t play in it, I sure don’t want to just look at it.

We also tooka couple walks in the woods every day. Mom and Dad seemed to be looking forsomething all the time. We would walk for a while and then we would have toturn around. Dad said it is because Mom’s back hurts so she can’t walk as faras she would like. Poor Mom, I wish I could make her feel better. Sometimes sheacts so old.

I was veryhappy to finally be home today. I really liked the long trip, but I like it inmy own backyard too. I can’t wait to sleep all day long tomorrow. Love,Dino.

Welcome to the World, Little Babies

Ah,the first day of summer.

Eighteenmonths ago, a power surge blew out our garage door openers, and we ended upleaving the overhead doors open the rest of that winter. By the time springcame, and we were ready to take the old openers down and put up the new ones, amother robin had built a nest on top of one of them. I thought I wrote anentire blog about it, but this is the only one I found.

Lastfall, after she had a second batch of babies, and the mother and all her offspringhad flown the nest, we took it down along with the old opener and installed thenew one.

Thenthis May, with the garage door opener going up and down twice a day to let mycar in and out, that silly bird built another nest in the same spot. I madeHubby take it down right away so we could have the garage back, but Momma came backand continued building.

Everytime I went in the garage and saw her sitting on her nest, her face as seriousas could be, I would say hi to her and tell her she was doing a good job. With myback still bothering me, I wasn’t able to climb a ladder for a better look, butHubby assured me she had eggs.

Thenmaybe a week ago, he said he saw a chick in the nest and the next day he sawtwo more.

Today,I finally managed to get out and greet the new arrivals. Aren’t all babiesadorable?

Now, we’ll see how long before Momma lays a new batch. Could be a long summer. But that’s better than a long winter. 

 

Never Quit Praying

          Giveyour burdens to the Lord. He will carry them. He will not permit the godly toslip or fall. (Psalm 55:22, Living Bible)

Every night, after going to bed and turning out thelights, I start my nightly prayers – thanking God for all He has done for me,praying for forgiveness for the many transgressions I commit every day, andasking God to grant a long list of favors. Most recently pleading with Him totake away my back pain, but also that my children figure out their lives, thatmy cat doesn’t have any more seizures, that adequate rain falls, that myhusband doesn’t get bored not working over the summer, that there is peace onearth, and that millions of non-believers turn their lives over to Jesus Christ.

So I pray all these things (and more), and I pictureGod holding out a huge silver platter, nodding and saying, “Offer up all yourprayers, place them all on this platter, turn them over to Me.”

And I put all those things on the silver platter.

The next night, in bed again, I start saying myprayers. God shows up, and He’s still carrying that giant platter.And it’s still full of all of the prayers from the night before.

So, I ask Him, “Why are all my prayers still there?Aren’t You at least working on answering them?”

He nods and tells me to just keep praying, keepputting all my requests on the platter.

And I don’t know what to say; I just give Him thislook like, “What? Why should I keep praying for this same stuff if You aren’tgoing to take care of it?”

He nods again and says, “Trust Me. I got this.”

And so it goes, night after night, until I have an epiphany. 

Yes, I keep prayingand I know that God is taking all of my requests seriously. And I also knowthat He can carry that platter no matter how full it is, how heavy all of myprayers are.

I can’t carry it; I can’t even pick it up. I need tokeep the faith and trust God in all things. He will always be stronger than me.And He knows how best to answer each and every one of my prayers and when.

Thank You, Lord, God, for always carryingevery one of my burdens. Amen

(And the picture is of the largest platter that I have,not that this post has anything to do with Thanksgiving. Except, I guess itdoes. We need to give thanks every day, not just once a year.) 

 

Been Here Before

 
Alot of the pictures from today’s post might look familiar. I visited this placelast fall and blogged about it this past February.

TheHighground Veterans Memorial Park, four miles west of Neillsville, is thelargest manned Veteran’s Park in the nation. 

It is currently a 155-acre Park that includes a museum, a gift shop, pavilions,picnic areas and four miles of hiking trails and is supported totally bydonations and grants. 

ThePark is free to the public and open 24/7/365. 

It’sa very moving place.

Be sure to stop if you are ever in the area.

Life is a Journey

Herewe go. Summer is here and I’m not waiting around any longer to get out and dostuff.

Okay,but still taking baby steps.

Sunday,I took a short ride to Spirit Falls, which is only about 20 miles away. Thefriend who rode along and I made a few other stops (at three differentcemeteries where I have family!), but I only took pictures at the Falls. And not even very many of them. 

[image error]

[image error]

Manymore adventures are right around the corner, along with many more pictures.Life is a journey!