Dec. 31, 2008 - Gaining New Perspective
Wow, I've been gone awhile! It's amazing and December is a blur. I received an e-mail regarding Sombra and decided to checkout all my friend's blogs. You all have been so faithful to keep your blogs updated. Merry Christmas and may you have a blessed New Year.
Both our children were involved with Christmas plays at church this year. I'm still working part-time in the evenings and my husband received an early Christmas present, an increase. That was unexpected as his company has been trimming layers for over a year now and thanks be to God, he has kept his job. God also brought about a side job that he'll do from home, which is a blessing; we just found out we need to purchase a new furnace. Thankfully, the service guy thinks it'll hold out the remainder of this winter but definately not next winter. I've been promoted to customer service manager...yikes. Of course this comes with a timely increase but also more responsibility.
The Lord opened up an opportunity for us to travel down to see my family for Christmas. We had not been home for 2 years and the kids were so excited. One of my nephews didn't recognize us, he just turned 5 the last time we saw him and now he's 7. We didn't recognize one of our other nephews who is 13 but boy what a difference two years can make.
This winter has been extremely hard for me. I seem to be experiencing symptoms of depression, but the winter brought it up a notch. My energy level dropped to the point where I just want to sleep to 10 - 11 in the morning, I have no desire to clean, school or participate in anything. I feel tired all the time, my eyes are heavy and I even missed church one Sunday...that is not like me. Even my husband was surprised that I suggest we stay home one Sunday. In fact that morning while I was sleeping I had a dream that my pastor called and asked if we were going to make it to church...I know this was the Lord.
This did not come on all of a sudden. It's been a gradual thing that I cannot explain only that I have not been making time in God's word or in His presence as I had been. Some of it could be that I'm experiencing the season of menopause and the lack of necessary vitamins that my body needs due to bad eating habits because of my work hours. I had been drinking coffee again, decaffinated, but noticed that actually increased my desire to sleep. I don't get outside during the day much, so the lack of sunshine could be a missing ingredient as well. Here in MN it's too cold to layout on the sunporch and in all reality, I really detest the cold.
I've been calling out to the Lord and this morning when I woke up at 5 I decided to get up and read instead of going back to sleep. I read where I opened my bible up to and just enjoyed a time of quietness with God I had not had in awhile. His word ministered to me and I even saw things I didn't remember ever reading. His word was encouraging and loving. I did end up going back to bed for a few hours afterward but my sleep felt so peaceful that when I did wake up I felt good. I didn't feel tired. I hadn't felt like that in some time.
This is just a reminder that I need the Lord. My heart desires to serve Him, to obey Him, to follow His commandments. To continue to abide takes work and a steadfast desire to keep distractions from getting in the way. In 2nd Kings 18 the Lord describes a man named Hezekiah, he was one of Judah's kings and became king when he was 25. He trusted in the Lord and there was no one like him. He set himself apart from all the other kings of Judah. He held fast to the Lord, he did not depart from following Him and he kept God's commandments. This is how I want God to describe me.
In the movie Wall-E, Eve had a "directive" and she remained steadfast in accomplishing that directive. That is what God's people need to do. That is what I need to do. May the Lord accomplish His will through me.
Comments
Dec. 31, 2008 - Know exactly what your saying...
Posted by abbycamlars
I actually have gone throught the same issues, but it happened in the Summer and Fall seasons this year. Fall is my fav time of year, so I didn't quite understand some of the depression things going on, I'll share something I don't normally. It was exactly how you are feeling, I went to dr., got on med, and afterward regretted it because I somehow, not completely, but I had not truely taken it to the Lord. He was so merciful and forgiving and after 6 weeks I had had enough, my spirit at that point was in distress. Now, off med, and dealing with the issues at hand as best I can, relaxing more, and trying to do what God would have me do, I feel better. Now, I understand some people need the med, but it just was not the route God needed me to go down, so just keep getting down on bended knee and He will hear and He will deliver, He is delivering me now. Sorry so long, Sherry
Jan. 9, 2009 - Dark Winter Days
Posted by JerseyChick
It sounds as if there are some exciting things and some difficult things happening around your place! What a lot of changes to juggle!
Perhaps the housekeeping needs to move down a notch until Spring Cleaning or Summer Break? EVERYONE has a "learning curve" each time they get hired or promoted, so it's only to be expected that your attention and energy is going elsewhere for a bit!
