My morning always includes strong black, very hot coffee. I have my favorite brands -- Seattle's Best Bold #5 tops the list.
I have my favorite coffee mug which I usually microwave after I fill it with coffee. I like the mug good and hot cause I like how it feels.
My hands appreciate the heat. In fact, while I type I often stop to put my hands on the warm mug just for a second for the feeling it gives me. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. And it is progressing. My hands look "normal" still, but they have pain, pain in the whole hand and in my thumb and finger joints. If I bend them a certain way or if they get stretched they feel like they've been injured. Opening pill bottles is difficult now. Have to hold the coffee cup in a certain way.
Thankfully I can still use them for most things. I can still play piano. I can still write -- though I have to be careful what kind of writing utensil I use -- pencils wear me out. Maybe that is why I like the disposable fountain pens -- they are so smooth. I can't knit (though I tell my girls I've never been a great knitter because I just never wanted to use a pattern) anymore. I tried before Christmas but ten minutes of it took so much out of me I had to go to bed.
Knees hurt. Body is really stiff after sitting. Achilles tendons feel like they're going to snap. Toes hurt. Ears are always cold.
OKAY!!!
Enough, enough, enough!
I'm sure you can get the gist of what I'm talking about. I rarely talk about it because where do you stop? It's unending.
But what is my attitude toward it all? How do I feel about it all?
When I first REALLY had to face it, I was devastated. I've seen what RA can do to a person and it is not pretty. It can be downright horrible, debilitating.
But God was there and all is well, so very well. I'm no longer devastated at all. God gave peace. RA is part of my life but it isn't my life. My life is in Christ Jesus and I have been and am blessed in so many ways.
So, I want us to think about our conversations.
The weather, health and money issues -- these are the things people often chat about when they gather together.
How do a lot of people talk about these things?
Think back to one of your last conversations that brought up these typical topics.
Many complain or talk in a worried manner, a gloom and doom kind of thing; or sometimes that money is the answer to all things.....
What have you heard?
Now, let's ask ourselves this question:
Do we sound like everyone else when we talk about this stuff, the stuff of life? Do we worry in our talk? Do we commiserate like others do?
(I know there have been times in the past I have. Part of me is embarrassed to admit that; but I am a sinner, a real-life sinner and this kind of talk is a real-true-to-life sin as much as any other sin is.)
We ought to sound different than the typical person who isn't living for Christ Jesus. Often Christians don't sound any different than anyone else.
This should not be.
"You are not to say 'It is a conspiracy.' In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.'" Isaiah 8:12
"But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." James 3:9-10
I have my favorite coffee mug which I usually microwave after I fill it with coffee. I like the mug good and hot cause I like how it feels.
My hands appreciate the heat. In fact, while I type I often stop to put my hands on the warm mug just for a second for the feeling it gives me. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. And it is progressing. My hands look "normal" still, but they have pain, pain in the whole hand and in my thumb and finger joints. If I bend them a certain way or if they get stretched they feel like they've been injured. Opening pill bottles is difficult now. Have to hold the coffee cup in a certain way.
Thankfully I can still use them for most things. I can still play piano. I can still write -- though I have to be careful what kind of writing utensil I use -- pencils wear me out. Maybe that is why I like the disposable fountain pens -- they are so smooth. I can't knit (though I tell my girls I've never been a great knitter because I just never wanted to use a pattern) anymore. I tried before Christmas but ten minutes of it took so much out of me I had to go to bed.
Knees hurt. Body is really stiff after sitting. Achilles tendons feel like they're going to snap. Toes hurt. Ears are always cold.
OKAY!!!
Enough, enough, enough!
I'm sure you can get the gist of what I'm talking about. I rarely talk about it because where do you stop? It's unending.
But what is my attitude toward it all? How do I feel about it all?
When I first REALLY had to face it, I was devastated. I've seen what RA can do to a person and it is not pretty. It can be downright horrible, debilitating.
But God was there and all is well, so very well. I'm no longer devastated at all. God gave peace. RA is part of my life but it isn't my life. My life is in Christ Jesus and I have been and am blessed in so many ways.
So, I want us to think about our conversations.
The weather, health and money issues -- these are the things people often chat about when they gather together.
How do a lot of people talk about these things?
Think back to one of your last conversations that brought up these typical topics.
Many complain or talk in a worried manner, a gloom and doom kind of thing; or sometimes that money is the answer to all things.....
What have you heard?
Now, let's ask ourselves this question:
Do we sound like everyone else when we talk about this stuff, the stuff of life? Do we worry in our talk? Do we commiserate like others do?
(I know there have been times in the past I have. Part of me is embarrassed to admit that; but I am a sinner, a real-life sinner and this kind of talk is a real-true-to-life sin as much as any other sin is.)
We ought to sound different than the typical person who isn't living for Christ Jesus. Often Christians don't sound any different than anyone else.
This should not be.
"You are not to say 'It is a conspiracy.' In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.'" Isaiah 8:12
"But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." James 3:9-10
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