MARCH 6, 2011

Taking the Next Step, Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, March 5.

. . . in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses —2 Corinthians 6:4

“When you have no vision from God, no enthusiasm left in your life, and no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of Almighty God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and studying of His Word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him. It takes much more of the grace of God, and a much greater awareness of drawing upon Him, to take that next step…”

Yesterday marked five-and-a-half-years since our accident. After working around the house, I was able to be with Kathie in the late afternoon. As I stood on her right side, she seemed to focus and look at me as if to say, “I’m glad to see you.” The first cold she has had since the accident has subsided, she learned to cough better and that was an important step. One of my fears since reversing her tracheostomy was her ability to cough, would she choke? Much like watching a baby learn to cough during a first cold, Kathie hasn’t had a prolonged cough, so she relearning the basic cough. The skin infection on her hip has healed and I was able to give her a whirlpool bath after weeks of sponge baths and a shower chair, she enjoyed the time I spent washing her hair and massaging her scalp.

The two devotional readings I shared today continue to be an example of how I “keep standing.” Without God’s Word, I easily fall into depression and struggle to muster energy to keep going and complete the mundane daily tasks.

Is He Really My Lord? Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, March 4.

. . . so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus . . . —Acts 20:24

“Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry.”

Daily learning to make Joy my choice,

Dave

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