151117 Foot Freedoms

My foot has reached a milestone of freedom. Starting today, it can be out of The Boot for short periods of time. Also, I can walk more with The Boot. I don't like the way the foot looks. It reminds me of when Brownhead broke her foot.

About a decade ago, we had a juvenile goat that got her foot stuck in between some metal panels. Before we could get to her, she broke her leg just above the hoof, and clearly she was in pain. I called the vet, but he wanted $600 to fix it. The goat was only worth about $40, so we left her with the herd. We thought coyote-dogs would get her, because she was crippled. Instead, the donkey protected her. The foot healed at an angle, and she learned how to run with a bent leg. After a few years, the billy made his way to our freezer, and she took over leading the herd. That hoof had grown to cover the place where the original break was. The result was an extra wide hoof on one of her back legs and a funny, lop-sided run.

The accident last month crushed the joints between the metatarsals and the flanges of the three middle toes of my right foot. When I removed The Boot last night, I saw that those toes have been displaced and now slant to the right, and there is a dimple at the base of the second toe. The toes don't move at all. I refuse to have surgery. If I can walk, it will be OK. I never was one for running. The doctor said that I could ride an exercise bike, and I tested that. It will be OK.

Now, I can believe God to overcome this disablement. My knees finally healed, so this foot will be my next project. I know from Brownhead's example that just because it doesn't look pretty doesn't mean it can't work anyway. It may mean that I have to wear shoes all the time, but I already have to do that because of fallen arches and plantar fasciitis. Of course, I'll continue to treat the foot with oils and take my calcium supplements.

141127 More Thanksgiving Posts

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and it's more than just food; I am truly thankful for many, many things! I have your average dysfunctional family where hurt feelings arise and people say stupid things. That's why we confine our festivities to my dad and my sisters. Extended family has their own thing where they devour each other. They might even unite on occasion and say nasty things about us, but we don't care anymore. I get that from my dad. He never said this, but his body language indicates, "You harpies are not going to give me indigestion. Goodbye."

Several years ago, I reconnected with my cousins. We were all hugs and laughs until someone mentioned the dreaded twins: politics and religion. I refuse to lie about my beliefs, so by answering a direct question, I discovered why my father stays as far away from my mother's family as is humanly possible. To my dismay, they found me on Facebook and continued the argument. Oh, how I enjoy those new privacy settings!

Yesterday, I forgot to take a reading after Chinese food (no rice). Then, I blew off readings for the rest of the day. I think my bg was up, because I fell asleep early, and first thing this morning, it was 105. While the menu I made for myself counts carbs and calories, eating out is iffy. I had beef and broccoli, but what other ingredients did they use? What's in the hot and sour soup? I gave the rice and the egg roll to my daughter. 

I count calories, because I have been on the Atkins before, and got hungry. My diet at that time had too few calories, so it became necessary to find carb-free calories and to introduce fats into my diet. My brother-in-law has been an insulin dependent diabetic since childhood, and we go round and round on this. He has a medical degree, and follows the ADA diet religiously. He doesn't like the Atkins and regales me with the benefits of high-carb vegetables and low-fat dairy.

He'll be at dinner today. At least we can agree on the turkey. 

140916 My Voice Came Back

On Monday, September 8, a friend left a message on my phone to call her. We connected on Tuesday. She asked me to sing at her wedding. Cool! Once before, I sang at a wedding, and I have sung with various amateur choirs before dozens, even hundreds of people. It was an honor to be asked.

Usually, I get significant notice before public singing. This wedding was on Saturday, September 13.

She needed my help and loved my voice, so we agreed on a song I already knew, and I practiced it. Friday night was rehearsal, but the song didn't fit. About 10pm, the minister called with a replacement song. He also informed me that I had to be my own accompaniment. Never before had I successfully sung and played the piano at the same time, and I had sixteen short hours to learn! To add to the stress, both of my girls had respiratory ailments. A scratch had invaded my throat.

This was truly an exercise in believing! Nothing can be accomplished without at least a kernel of belief. God strengthened me and helped me to rise above my fear.

Getting to the hall early, I familiarized myself with the electric piano. I worked out the cords for the left hand, since the music available to me was written for singing and had only the melody. I rested my voice by practicing sotto voice instead of from the diaphragm. When I felt confident enough, I found someone to minister healing to me for that irritated throat.

My throat ceased its clamoring. I was determined to bless my friends!

The time appointed arrived. With a mixture of friends and strangers before me, my heart played. 

♫"There's a peace in heart that the World never gave! A peace it cannot take away..."♪

Several people told me it was beautiful. God made it beautiful. He blessed me mightily.

140323 Trusting God by Praying: Prosperity

Do you trust God for prosperity? There are two ways of looking at prosperity: having a lot of money and having no need.

22yo worked for Phillip Anschutz in 1980s. Mormans tithe. I am prosperous, too.

Phil 4:6,10-13
This is how I know I am prosperous. How can I claim this? My income is below the minimum for ACA. I don't even have to file taxes. By worldly standards, I am sunk. Let us look at what God calls 'prosperity'
εὐοδόω
From a compound of εὖ and ὁδός; to help on the road, that is, (passively) succeed in reaching; figuratively to succeed in business affairs: - (have a) prosper (-ous journey).

Romans 1:8-10
  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

What gets us on the road to prosperity?

1 Corithians 16:1-3
  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
  And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

3 John 2-4
  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
  For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Ephesians 1:5,9
5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

God wants the best for us. Who has better intentions than God?

2 Corinthians 9:5-15
  Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
  (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
  Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
  Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
  And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

We are blessed. Develop the attitude of gratitude.

121123 The Day After Thankfulness

Does any other country have a holiday like Thanksgiving? Maybe Sukkot? Sukkot, however, is celebrated by the scattered tribes, not just a single country. Other than those two, my limited knowledge doesn't call forth any other.

Thankfulness is an interesting position. When one is unthankful, nothing is right. There is no justice. Lack dominates. Greed takes hold of one's mind and bitterness invades. The scale may be large or small, but any amount of bitterness and greed can disrupt one's peace.

Allow the thankful heart to grow, and bitterness has to flee. It's amazing what a little change in attitude can do. It doesn't change circumstances, at least not right away, but it will change one's mental and physical responses to circumstance.

Proverbs 17:22  
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Thankfulness brings peace.

Philippians 4:6,7  
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Thankfulness is not the same as a Pollyanna attitude. Thankfulness acknowledges that something good does exist, and it leaves us in a better position to improve the not-so-good. Thankfulness reduces stress. Therefore, you can continue to work on improvements as needed, but be thankful for what you already have.

121122 Happy Thanksgiving

This holiday is one of my two favorite days. It started because a group of 'refugees' decided to be thankful instead of depressed. They had lost half their number to a mysterious disease or to exposure, but because some had survived for a year, they celebrated with thankfulness. Sounds like a good reason for a holiday!