Rejoicing as God deals with what handicaps me

This quote quickened my heart. Praying and confessing so I can have this attitude.

"If God had told me some time ago that he was about to make as happy as I could be in this world, and then had told me that he should begin by crippling me in arm or limb, and removing me from all my usual sources of enjoyment, I should have thought it a very strange mode of accomplishing his purpose. And yet, how is his wisdom manifest even in this! For if you should see a man shut up in a closed room, idolizing a set of lamps and rejoicing in their light, and you wished to make him truly happy, you would begin by blowing out all his lamps; and then throw open the shutters to let in the light of heaven." ---Samuel Rutherford quoted in 90 Days of God's Goodness by Randy Alcorn

God Allows Me to Fast Again

Never thought I would miss fasting so much. Fasting was a regular spiritual discipline in my life for most of my adult life.  Fasting is not easy but it kept my eyes on God and I have seen God use it to help direct my thoughts and life. 

After almost three years of being chronically ill, God nudged me to bring this discipline back into my life. I was fearful because the last thing I wanted to do was feel worse but I knew that I needed to follow His direction. Though there were so many things stacking up for concerted prayer that I needed to set aside a day each week, I told myself I would start with one day and see how it went before committing myself to a routine.

Praise Him that the day went great.

So a need led to a transition back into a pattern. Thanks be to the Lord who has granted the return of this discipline when it was so needed.

Retracing a Blessing

The Lord of the universe, Who measures days as years and years as days, orchestrated a blessing just for me. I retrace the path of that blessing for you (and as a note for remembrance for me):

1. I receive media mail from my all-time favorite author, Randy Alcorn. A personal message is inscribed on the inside of 90 Days of God's Goodness Daily Reflections That Shine Light on Personal Darkness.
2. Puzzling over this package, I do not remember ordering anything but remember being interested in purchasing this book. The book sits for a few days on my desk as I ponder.
3. I write a thank you note to Randy Alcorn and his staff because I decided they were prompted to send me this book and God knew I needed the small chunks of wisdom in my brain foggy days. Besides, I know the track record of this organization showing God's generosity because they replaced my sister's entire Randy Alcorn library after a fire destroyed her home.
4. The book sits on my desk two more days. God reminds me of an upcoming time-frame of about 90 days that is particularly taxing spiritually. God has placed before me a way for my mind to stay upon Him in the form of this book. The book is no longer sitting on my desk.
5. Within a few days, my eyes and heart are captured by a little phrase that I share on Facebook. 
6. A friend, also familiar with the depth and quality of Randy Alcorn's writing, inquires if I recently received that book and if there was an inscription.
7. My conclusion: Oh, it was sent out to some of Randy Alcorn's fans. My friend must of received one as well.
8. In fact, my friend, knowing I was going through a challenging time, ordered this book for me from Randy Alcorn's office asking Mr. Alcorn to sign it. 
9. However, Mr. Alcorn was out of the office for a month so it waited for his return so he could write his message inside and then the book was sent to me.

God prompted my friend, held the book in an office, let it wander through media mail, let me be content to have it sit on my desk, and prompted me to see the correlation of 90 days with an event that was in motion before I received the book. I am overwhelmed by the complexity of our God Who can perfectly put together such events to delight us and draw us closer to Him. Praise Him!