Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
We’re looking to thee Lord to direct our paths. It has been a miserable two weeks in the Beekman household. First Bob picked up a bug on some path somewhere, and then a few days later, the bug very generously crossed my path. We tested for COVID, but it was negative, so we did a little research. Here’s what we discovered:
Meet Mr. Paraflu! What is parainfluenza?
Parainfluenza is a broad term that healthcare providers use to describe human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) — a group of infectious organisms (pathogens). Parainfluenza viruses cause many types of lower and upper respiratory illnesses. Respiratory illnesses cause mild to serious symptoms, like sore throat, cough and shortness of breath.
Nasty bug attack Caused us to lay low eight days We’re vulnerable
For those under five And us folks in our eighties, Paraflu attacks
The symptoms linger A terrible hacking cough Listlessness, fatigue
In others’ interest, Hunker down and stay at home Hydrate and get rest
Bye bye nasty bug We missed the July 4th fun But we have survived
Now go and begone Let our health return to us Keep our loved ones safe
Trusting in the Lord And not leaning on my own Understanding’s hard
Devotionals help To keep a wise perspective “How to Walk Wisely”
In the midst of our paraflu aches and pains, we turned to the Lord in prayer, and God gave us 6 tips about how to “Walk Wisely.” Today’s In Touch devotional had this to say:
“Living committed to the Lord calls for following His wisdom. Here are six attitudes necessary for a Christ-centered lifestyle:
1. Determination. Walking in wisdom doesn’t happen automatically. We must wholeheartedly pursue righteous living. 2. Focus. To stay on the path of God’s will, we must fix out attention on His Word. As we meditate on Scripture, our mind will align with Christ’s. 3. Sensitivity to the Spirit. With determination to live a holy life and close attention to Scripture, we become more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. 4. Trust. At times the Lord’s choice for us doesn’t appear sensible. Trusting in His perfect wisdom is necessary if we’re to walk according to His plan. 5. Courage. Some things God requires may cause us to react with fear. As our trust in Him deepens, our courage will grow, and we’ll discover the joy of embracing His choice for us. 6. Perseverance. By depending on God, we can persist and choose wisely no matter how long our challenges last.
Walking in wisdom requires that we practice a few basics: Know God, trust Him, and obey. Is this your pattern for living? Remember, a lifetime of godliness develops one choice at a time.”
In Touch Ministries, Inc. Many thanks to Founder: Charles Stanley and President C Phillip Bowen
Thank You, God, for our return to health. Bee well, my friends. May this nasty paraflu bug pass you by!
I just discovered this morning that my dear friend, Leena’s son, Vince, died suddenly on Friday. No warning! He was about the age of my son, Ty. Vince worked at our local grocery store. I saw him there often … always a smile, always a cheerful greeting. He was at work Friday. Friday night after dinner, he was sitting in his chair at home with his parents, and he just stopped breathing. Can you imagine the shock??
My heart is broken for Leena and Bob and their family. My prayers go out to all of you who have lost a loved one this year.
Your hearts are grieving, too, as you face this first Valentine’s Day without that special person. God bless you! Link heartstrings with mine.
Heart strings
In our ZOOM church service this morning, I provided the “special music.” It was inspired by the February 14th message in Charles Stanley’s In Touch Daily Devotional.
“When facing all kinds of difficulties, many of us have a tendency to power through in our own strength. But the reality is that’s never effective – at least not for long. God wants us to come closer to Him.
When we stay focused on Jesus, we can take comfort in knowing He’ll lead us through the hard places.
As you continue walking with Him, trust that He already knows what will happen in your life – and that regardless of what lies ahead, He will never leave you.”
EMBRACE HEARTS Lord, link mine to yours – And link ours to one another.
Embrace Hearts with one another – Offer your love and support to heal. Heal the broken-hearted by sharing. Share your love with a song or a meal.
Not everyone has a heart full of love today; Some are feeling quite empty. Lord, fill their hearts with the love of God – And encourage others to “Go With Him” today.
