PAIN

Pain makes it difficult to:
                                  
                        think

                  move

                  be cheerful

                  concentrate on anything else

                  give

                  look beyond today

                  be patient

                  care about other things

                  sleep

                  smile

                  be optomistic

                  be nice


Pain puts you in the here and now.  Nothing seems to be able to distract from certain kinds of pain.  There are many types/degrees of pain. (Pain medication has it's own problems/side effects/ineffectiveness/ etc.but that is a different subject).

Pain is a very useful thing when alerting us to a problem or an injury.  Chronic pain, however, wears a person down. Most of us can usually cope with short times of pain especially when we know there is an end in sight.  Dealing with the same type of pain day in and day out for years - well that is different.  Sometimes it doesn't help to know that someone is in worse pain than you, or that someone else endured your kind of pain for longer than you have.  It still hurts.

Here again we must look to God for relief.  He may not take the pain away, but he will never leave nor forsake us - he promised!  Jesus also knows all about pain.  Think what he endured for us.  He will give us the grace necessary to endure.

I do ask that God would take away my pain, and that his will be done. I also know that his ways are higher than mine, and that I do not understand the ways of God as "they are past finding out" Romans 11:33. They are so far above my small understanding of life.  He is trustworthy, perfect, powerful, able and loving.  Even though I so often fail in my human frailty, I want to worship, surrender and praise him "while I have any being"  Psalm 146:2.

Ellen 

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Names

Names are important.  Think about how Zachariah (in the Bible) wasn't allowed to speak until he declared "His name is John".  A name identifies a person.  I like my name.  I was always glad that it was a little different (there were a lot of Tammy's in my class at school - not that there is anything wrong with the name Tammy).  My maiden name is Norwegian and means "field of flowers".  In Norway the surname has to do with where you live.  If you moved, it could change.  Interesting. I was happy to take my husband's name when we married.  I wanted to be identified as being part of him and his family even though I still love and am a part of my parent's family too.

 When naming our children, we always paid special attention to the meaning of the name.  Personally, I never wanted to name a baby until I met, held and observed who he or she was (at least for a short time).  The hospital, relatives etc. push for a name immediately.  In many cultures a baby is not named for at least eight days after birth.


 

I enjoy learning about the names of God. If you search on the internet for names of God, you will come up with some great websites.  Some give Jewish names, some names or definitions of the Holy Spirit, Father, Son, some of Old Testament names, etc.  The website www.smilegodlovesyou.org/names.html. gives an alphabetical list. (a sampling of the list is given below) and www.characterbuildingforfamilies.com/names.html  is good.
I will be studying this as long as I live!

 Ellen - "bright light" or "shining light"

THE NAMES OF GOD

OLD TESTAMENT NAMES FOR GOD

ELOHIM......Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1

meaning "God", a reference to God's power and might.

ADONAI......Malachi 1:6

meaning "Lord", a reference to the Lordship of God.

JEHOVAH--YAHWEH.....Genesis 2:4

a reference to God's divine salvation.

JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHEM.......Exodus 31:13

meaning "The Lord thy sanctifier"

JEHOVAH-ROHI......Psalm 23:1

meaning "The Lord my shepherd"

JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH.......Ezekiel 48:35

meaning "The Lord who is present"

JEHOVAH-RAPHA.........Exodus 15:26

meaning "The Lord our healer"

JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU......Jeremiah 23:6

meaning "The Lord our righteousness"

JEHOVAH-JIREH.........Genesis 22:13-14

meaning "The Lord will provide"

JEHOVAH-NISSI.........Exodus 17:15

meaning "The Lord our banner"

JEHOVAH-SHALOM........Judges 6:24

meaning "The Lord is peace"

JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH......Isaiah 6:1-3

meaning "The Lord of Hosts"

JEHOVAH-GMOLAH........Jeremiah 51:6

meaning "The God of Recompense"

EL-ELYON..............Genesis 14:17-20,Isaiah 14:13-14

meaning "The most high God

EL-ROI................Genesis 16:13

meaning "The strong one who sees"

EL-SHADDAI............Genesis 17:1,Psalm 91:1

meaning "The God of the mountains or God Almighty"

EL-OLAM...............Isaiah 40:28-31

meaning "The everlasting God"

Be Careful Around Mold

I had a small amount of mold exposure yesterday. and it has thrown me into bed because of extreme weakness, exhaustion and pain.  Be careful with mold, or rather stay far away from it if you can.  It effects everyone of us, even if you don't notice it right away.  The effects can be long lasting, and sometimes even permanent neurological damage can occur.  You can breathe it in, or absorb it into your bloodstream through your skin by touching moldy/musty papers etc.  Please be careful.

Ellen

A Sobering Note

Being human is tough.  A lot of people are hurting and most of us can't see it.  Many of us who are hurting don't share the details. 

Have you experienced things that have shaken you to the core, left you feeling deeply wounded, betrayed and in shock?

The incident or conversation that caused the above, may have upset a lot of how you viewed the other person or thing in life, to the point you felt the need to reexamine your heart, decisions, convictions, world view and what you held as right or wrong.  You were shaken up, drained, grieved, until the issue was resolved - IF it ever was. 

You had a need for humility, forgiveness, cleansing and healing.  Then you had to learn to learn to live with the new information and the deep wounds and hurts that you hoped would eventually scar.

Some pain is past.  Some of it is new this week.   Some of the scars are being scraped.

The deeper we love, the more deeply we can be hurt.  Jesus knew that kind of hurt - betrayal, spurn, ridicule, disgust - more severely than we ever will.  He understands.  He will make things right at the appropriate time.  If we run to him, he will carry us as we grieve and are too weak to walk. 

People grieve for things in addition to death.  Other hurts we endure often require grieving - for something has been lost.

Some are grieving the death of a person they feel they cannot live without.  Others have lost more than is conceivable through divorce.  Some are enduring the ravages of cancer or other disease slowly stealing away the body and soul of someone they love.  Some have a spouse who is being unfaithful through adultery/pornography.  Others have found their own child has betrayed their trust.  Many are grieving multiple scenarios.

We are told to have the joy of the Lord as our strength (and it should be even in the midst of grief).  The Bible also tells us that there is a time to mourn.  Sometimes it is not appropriate to tell someone to cheer up.  Sometimes they have  to cry.  Everyone handles grief differently.  There is not perfect way to work through the hurt.  Give your grieving friend space and support.  Support with few words, and show love in practical ways, = action or listening.  Do not rush your friend.  Help him/her move ahead in God's time, not yours.

Some wounds take longer to heal that others. Some wounds get torn open again and again.

Whom do you know that is hurting today?  I encourage you on his/her behalf, to help bear their burden in some way this week. (Ephesians 6:2)

Ellen  

God's Refining Fire

I have heard this story before, but ran across it again today.  Thought it was good to share in case some of you have never heard it.

Refining Silver

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady's opinion was that is was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.

She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.

"But Sir" she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete is when he sees his own image reflected in the silver....

--Author Unknown

 

 

 

Symptom Relief Prayer Request

More reasons (symptoms) to pray.  Thank you.

Pain -
         low abdomen,
         uterine
         hips
         back, neck and shoulder (from car accidents 26+years ago)
         hernia
         scar
         area where they tied off much of the surgery large, hard, still painful
         feet
         rib and liver/gallbladder
         ankle
         teeth
         muscle pain - just pick a spot - everywhere


 Other symptoms:

 blurred vision
 hormonal upsets
 severe vaginal yeast infection
 itching
 bloating
 nausea
 muscle weakness
 nerves totally on edge
 not sleeping well

 Need I say more?
 I am a mess. 
And this is only a partial list. 
Most of this is ongoing.
Heightened at times.
Like today.
Wish I could take a vacation without my body.
Difficult to think, pray, read...
Too exhausted to get anything done.
I do not do well in heat.  I enjoy temps in the 60's - they are coming:)

I hesitate to post such a list of complaints.  Many are far worse off than I am.  
  

A Pictoral Glimpse of the Past Month

Busy.  Work.  Togetherness.
               Bounty.   Food.  Prepare for Winter.
                                           Blessed.   Family.   Home.

Colby Cheese

Great Pyrenees/Maremma Pup

On the way to a family reunion in Minnesota

                                       

We celebrated two birthdays and our anniversary in the same week

                        

Mud Puppy

                                                                 

                                                                     Salsa

Neighborhood cabbage harvest and kraut making

                                                 

Mozzarella

                                                   

Chicken tractor rework

                                                    

Boys need laundry skill too

                                        

Australian Heart tomatoes get huge and are delicious!

                                   

chilis

                                                        

                                                                     Okra

Karen's dream come true - a hammered dulcimer

                                      

Putting up hay (this is our neighbor's tractor)

                                       

Hiking and exploring

                                                        

New chicks

                                               

Hiking with friends

                                                           

More mucking

                                                             

Saving seeds for next year

                                             

Blueberry picking (in spite of lack of rain, this year's berries were sweet from the high heat)

                

Our sunflower field

                                                          

A last minute trip to southern Wisconsin and Chicago for our older children

                   

Milking at an organic dairy farm

                                                  

Bible conference

                                                          

City driving (so glad we live where we do)

                                                               

Playing her dulcimer

                                       
Okay, this was perhaps too many pictures.  I meant to organize them and arrange them more sensically,  but I am not extremely computer savvy, and figuring it all out and fixing it was proving to be an exercise in futility and frustration.  Hope you enjoy them anyway.

Ellen