Wednesday, March 16, 2022

3:16 Day 2022

Donor Letter


Wednesday, 3.16.22, 8:40 am Day 525

Steve and I accomplished a huge thing yesterday. His donor family letter has started the journey to the mailbox of someone we may never receive a reply from or know. It’s okay. We took the chance of contact aware of the emotional roller coaster involved. The letter seems so small and insignificant in return for the gift of life Steve received!
His appointment yesterday was the best ever! Thank you again for your prayers. ❤️ His bloodwork is good. His kidneys are stable. No medicine changes. After going over everything, the doctor looked at Steve and said “You’re on auto-pilot now!”. He then directed his eyes at both of us to say “Congratulations on a job well done!”. I didn’t look at Steve but I’m sure he was holding back tears like me. All the tears, sweat, restless nights, rehab, pill schedule, prayers, trips back and forth to Atlanta, blood draws, infusions, bronchoscopies, vitals three times per day, hospital stays, I could go on…ALL were worth those six powerful words!!!
Today seems so perfect; 3:16 day. I contemplate if a doctor saying those words moved me so, what will it feel like when I hear from my Lord, “well done my good and faithful servant”! I get chills thinking of it now! Transplant is the greatest challenge Steve and I have shared together. I can never emphasize enough how the renewing of his and our lives is nothing short of a miracle.
Good news! A renewed life doesn’t require a physical transplanted organ but a spiritual one. There’s no evaluation to see if you qualify and no wait list because you already have a donor; Jesus!
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh…
Oh, it’ll be emotional reaching out to your donor but he’ll respond immediately! You’ll know him and he’ll know you. Please allow God to love on you like he wants to. Don’t put Jesus on your wait list…
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Much love,


Sunday, February 13, 2022

Compassion for an Egg

egg shell

When we recognize God in everything we see, do or feel, we have included Jesus in the details of our life. God is in the details of this egg because he created them. When we recognize God in every day life, he will speak to us about it too. I felt compassion for the egg in the front yesterday morning as I cooked breakfast. The irregularity in his shell reminded me of me, of us, so humanly imperfect, on the outside. I smiled to myself as I knew when I cracked him open, he’d ooze the clear and yellow richness I expected.

My smile lasted knowing God sees me as I saw this egg. He knows my flaws, my irregularities, my temper, my quick thoughts, my unbridled tongue, my impatience, ughhh, he knows more than I want him to know about me. When God cracks through our shell, the goodness of his righteousness pours out. I wish I was more like the egg, one crack and done. I keep needing cracked again and again. My King puts Humpty Dumpty back together again every time for me to do it again. I take my eyes off Jesus, walk my own path, disobey and there I am, sitting on that dangerously high wall again. Why can’t I remember my last fall? Why do I need so much discipline? He wrote me a Book for guidance and sent two pieces of himself for me; for us, one even lives inside of me. God needs a vacation from gluing my broken pieces, doesn’t he?
My smiled lasted longer as God used the uneven shell of an egg to bless my soul. He loves me, imperfections and all. He loves you too! I’m still an “egg-in-process”. He’s still cracking, I’m still breaking and he’s still fixing me.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

Eggstra365,


Monday, January 10, 2022

Don't Spend Too Much Time Taking It Easy

new you
Image by pexels.com

Happy New Year 2022

The New Year is all about a new you! Now that you are retired or an empty nester, you might be thinking it is time to relax and take it easy. It's okay to sit on the couch for a day or two, but you should find ways to enjoy life and start moving again because your physical and mental health depend on it. Promote a healthy and inspiring life by committing to these three words: exercise, energize, and socialize. We can't spend too much time taking it easy...

Exercise

As you get older, your muscle mass decreases. You might not think this is a big deal, but it is. If you want to maintain your balance, strength, and mobility, exercise is a must. Physical activity on a regular basis helps you sleep better, improves your mood, and aids in the prevention and management of some diseases, blood pressure, anxiety, and stress. Even if you have never had an exercise routine before, starting today can improve your future. Bike, walk, join a gym or take up yoga. Invite your spouse or a group of friends and have fun with it. You will all reap the rewards of a longer, independent lifestyle.

Energize 

Keep your mind active. You can always learn something new, including a second language, a musical instrument, or a sport. Study for that certification or college degree you always dreamed about and use it for a second career.

If continuing to work fulfills you and makes you happy, take those years of experience you gained in your career and start your own business. Research the best way to form your company and organize a business plan. Consider setting up as a limited liability company to take advantage of the flexibility, minimal paperwork, and tax benefits an LLC offers. Understand the regulations for Georgia LLC formation before you go too far in the process, and get assistance through a formation service if you don't want to pay an attorney or file the documents yourself.

Socialize 

Per a recent study, 60-year-olds who frequently visit friends have a 12% less chance of developing dementia versus those who see friends only once in a while. What does this mean? Have a regularly scheduled breakfast or brunch, plan weekend cookouts, go on trips, meet for dinner, or video chat. Regardless of the distance and everyone's schedules, find a way to stay in communication with your friends and family.

Friendships can change as you get older due to relocation, divorce, or the death of a spouse. It can be difficult finding new friends, but don't let yourself become idle and alone. Research shows that loneliness and isolation put you at a higher risk for depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, and a weak immune system. Join a club or enlist in a class that pertains to your hobby. These are great ways to satisfy your creative spirit and meet new people with the same interests.

Being a senior doesn't mean hanging up all the fun. Your quality of life can actually be enhanced with all the free time you have. Use these extra hours in your day to get physically fit, take on a new learning experience, and attend special events and gatherings with friends and family. Everyone needs time to relax — just be active while you seek happiness.

Moving365,




Thank you to Jason Lewis for contributing this guest article. He can be reached by email at info@strongwell.org.

Sunday, November 28, 2021

The Days Were Accomplished


I woke this morning with the phrase "the days were accomplished" scrolling through my brain like an LED threatre marquee, over and over, I repeated it to myself as it crossed my mind. I began to drift back over the last 12 days, then 12 months, then 12 years. I googled the bible verse to refresh my memory of specifically how it is written. Luke 2:6 reads "And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered."

THAT SHE SHOULD BE DELIVERED. The first thing that struck me about the verse was "she should be delivered". Not Jesus, but Mary. The verse could have easily read; the days were accomplished that Jesus should be delivered. The verse points out the delivery of Mary not Jesus. The verse pinpoints the servant of God that willfully accepted the challenge he gave her.
THE DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED. This phrase is the reason I searched this verse today. I thought about the past year(s) leading up to Steve's diagnosis and subsequent double lung transplant. So many things could have hindered our days from being accomplished but God. Who else can accomplish our days but God?
WHILE THEY WERE THERE. Mary and Joseph had to be in the place where God would accomplish their days. They were there, in this place of uncertainty, for at least 9 months and surely more. While they were there, they struggled, anticipated, believed, waited to be delivered. The couple had to stay "there" where God had placed them. "There" where God had planned them.
AND SO IT WAS. Because God has the plan. He not only has the plan, it is a written plan. We make many plans as individuals but rarely do we put our plans in writing, to pen and paper, black and white. If we do take the time to make a proper written plan, we would most likely follow through. God had the plan for Mary and Joseph. God has the plan for Jesus. God has the plan for us and so it will be. He will faithfully follow his written plan. And so it was with Mary, so it shall be with us.
I've always correlated this verse to the Christmas Story of Jesus until this morning when God blessed me with a snippet of just how full, rich and encompassing his Word is. The message he gave me this morning is He is 'accomplishing our days' for his purpose and ours if we live in his will, our "while they were there", the place he has us in. We have no idea how many days it will take to accomplish his purpose nor how long we will be in this place. We simply must be there until he accomplishes our days, the fulfillment of his plan. However, we can put our faith in God's "And so it was" because his plan is unfallable and his word is true, we will be delivered!
Put yourself into this verse. Mine and Steve's goes like this...
And so it was, (God had a plan),
while they (Steve and Tammy) were there (going through illness and transplant),
the days were accomplished (3,650 days. 10 years. Steve was diagnosed 2011, his lungiversary was 2021)
that she (Steve and Tammy) should be delivered.
AND WE WERE!
Praise God for his plans. Praise God for his Word. Praise God for his Son. As God moves us into another Holy season of Christmas, may we always see and feel the magnitude of who he is. From the precious babe in the manager to the Almighty King of Kings,
He is...
and was...
and is to come!

Praising365,


Friday, August 21, 2020

Practical Tips for Resolving 5 Common Self-Isolation Issues


Please welcome Guest Writer Emma Brown from emmagracebrown.com to the blog today. During this very unusual year of social distancing and quarantine, she shares with us Practical tips for resolving 5 common self-isolation issues.  Thank you Emma for your contribution!


                                                                Photo Credit: Unsplash

Practical Tips for Resolving 5 Common Self-Isolation Issues

 We’re all under a lot of pressure these days. Uncertainties and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are at the heart of these added stresses and worries, but issues at home can also cause additional tension. From adapting to a remote work set up to dealing with distractions, here are a few solutions to some of the most common quarantine issues.

 

My Partner Is Hogging the Television 

Relaxing with your favorite shows can be a good way to unwind. If you have family at home constantly hogging the TV, those screen habits could be causing more tension than relaxation. If gaming is an issue, you could compromise with the guilty party by encouraging them to play games on a computer instead. You could even provide a gaming monitor (there are plenty of solid budget-friendly options if you’re struggling financially). You might also choose who gets to pick the programming for each night. One person takes Monday, another Wednesday, for example, and then plan one or two nights each week without the television. When all else fails, grab a controller, and play their favorite games with them.

 

My Kids Are Distracting Me from Work 

If you’re working from home for the first time, getting used to a remote office can be a major struggle. That’s especially true when you have kids at home who are causing distractions during work hours. Spouses can be distracting as well, even if they are also working from home, but there are a few strategies you can employ to keep yourself from feeling anxious and overwhelmed. First, if you just picked up gaming essentials for your partner or children, schedule their gaming time during your regular work hours to help keep them occupied. You can also find other kid-friendly activities to keep your little ones busy but you may need to rely on compromise and communication when dealing with a distracting partner or spouse.

 

My Boss is Asking for Constant Check-Ins 

Trust can be a huge issue when it comes to managing remote employees, and your boss’s requests for frequent check-ins may be a result of this lack of trust. It’s also helpful to remember that your boss is also adjusting to COVID-19 changes. While you can’t necessarily refuse those requests for check-ins, you can take action to reduce your boss’s anxieties and build trust with her/him while you are working from home. If your boss simply wants to be able to communicate with you in real-time, you can suggest using a chat app for your remote team instead of relying on emails and phone calls. While it may seem trivial, dressing professionally for video calls and team meetings can also help your coworkers and supervisors trust you when working remotely.

 

De-clutter and Clean 

Juggling work and children at home can be a challenge. To eliminate extra stress, enlist the whole family to help with organizing and de-cluttering your home. Once everything has a place and is in its place, you can avoid that nagging feeling of an overstuffed linen closet that’s been calling your name. Plus, all of that cleaning and de-cluttering can make your home a more inviting, positive space.

 

My Schedule Is Too Busy to Pick Up Essentials 

Even if you and your spouse are both working from home, finding time to get out and get groceries can feel like a major chore. In fact, working from home can keep you even busier than working in an office, especially when your kids are at home and childcare is not accessible. So, instead of stressing yourself out about shopping for essentials, which can put your family’s health at a greater risk anyhow, consider using delivery or pick-up services. With so many people staying at home, these services can be pretty busy, so you will need to plan your orders out in advance, and the savings in time and stress will be well worth any extra effort. Also, be sure to disinfect purchases, as needed, before putting them away to keep your family protected.

Don’t let struggles inside your home add to pressures that are coming from outside. Instead, find practical solutions to these issues so you can self-isolate in relative peace.

Peaceful365,