GRACE Lesson #5

OK, furnace dude came took out old furnace and put in new thermostat.  This is progress & a good sign as we've been using the cooking stove & two little portable heaters since LAST WEDNESDAY to heat by.  NEW FURNACE IS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TOMORROW! By God's sovereignty & grace, the weather has been cold but not freezing and that is God's hedge of protection around me as we were having snow up past our knees! (see my pics) Now, this is ironic, really it is, but hubby came down with the shingles.  I thought of the irony of Job and his boils wondering if it wasn't the same thing?  ANYWAY, hubby isn't a Christian and I did take the opportunity to tell him that Job had the same thing from top to toe.  So, I've been nurse maiding him in his "trial" of pain & shingles. Oddly, I told him what it was the moment I saw it, he stated I was "nuts", and the Dr at the clinic confirmed my dx.  All I could say with a smirk is "I AM GOOD! I really should go back to med school." 2 of my docs think I should, tell me I know my stuff, and are pushing me to do so.  Sure, just transplant my brain into another body and I'll be all good to go.  ROFLOL Was listening to JOYCE MEYERS this AM and she was talking about the fruits of the Spirit especially LOOOOOOOONG SUFFERING.  I could relate.  She stated that whether you get the fruit of patience out of long suffering is HOW your attitude is while you wait.  She further stated you are going to be waiting no matter what.   Now, with this in mind, I thought, "how am I doing in this area of my Christian walk?"  I believe I am learning more patience (albeit it is never easy) and learning more about how to not stress and leave things in my Father's hands.  All in His time.  Of course, no one could be so dumb as to think I have no responsibility in life matters.  It is up to me to call the furnace repair people but then it is up to me to turn it over to My Father and believe the $$ will be there, I will be provided heat & safety (and in my case suitable weather!), and the physical stamina I have required to get through all this stuff. You know, really, we say we BELIEVE in God.  We say JESUS IS MY LORD & SAVIOUR.  We say many positive things, but do our actions back it up when push comes to shove? Oh, don't worry, my grace lesson isn't finished.  I got another tractor trailer load today but this load will be dealing with my attitude and heart condition where as the other Grace Lessons were about money, trust, faith.  This tractor trailer load will require more self-examination, honesty, and cleaning out of my soul.   We all have them, if we are honest.  You know...that little dark closet that we pretend doesn't exist all the while saying JESUS IS LORD OF MY LIFE.  Is He really?  I mean, Lord of your life? You hold NOTHING back from your Lord....nothing.  So, my dark little closet that I didn't know was there (honestly) has been found and pointed out by My Father who wants a totally clean vessel for His use and my good. It shall be interesting what comes out of the darkness into the light of His love and direction.  It will also be interesting in the lessons that I learn in cleaning out the junk and surrendering my will more totally to His. Stay tuned....the closet got spotted today (an no, that's not a pun about my poor husband's shingles! LOL), and My Father is already asking questions that I really don't have answers for. More prayer is needed. Hugs & love my peeps