Plans? What plans?

"Remember that time when you had a plan and then it changed on a dime? Our plans, mine & Gene Wood's, have been like that for the last 42 days. Six weeks ago this morning he went into the hospital for what was to be a routine surgery and be discharged the next day. Yet, here we are 6 weeks later, still in the hospital. The latest: he became dizzy, nauseated and started throwing up last evening. Since this is the (at least) 2nd bout of this during his stay, the doctor ordered an MRI. Also, since he has to have his MRI with general anesthesia, I was called to come to the hospital this morning at 9ish. At about 1:30 this afternoon the nurse came in to say that the MRI would be on Wednesday, they just couldn't get to him today. So, while (in my mind) I should be going to bed tonight all giddy because my man gets to come home tomorrow (that was the plan, after all). Instead, I'm going to bed "assuming" that he will have an MRI tomorrow (still don't know what time) and that pending the results, will come home Thursday. At least that's the plan i'm hoping for. Not banking on. Because as we know, plans can change on a dime!"

So close yet, so far away:

"Some good news: Gene's home evaluation today went well. The work that has been done on the house to accommodate his wheelchair/power chair (we're not sure exactly what he'll come home with but ultimately he'll have a custom power chair) has been perfect!

Some not as good news: they are keeping him another week. I don't know if that means a week from Wednesday when the "team" met or a week from Friday, his original discharge date. But either way, he's not coming home tomorrow. Boo for that. But we definitely want him READY to BE home when he COMES home!

PRAYER REQUEST: all of the "loaner" power chairs are out right now. It will take up to 60 days to build his. Pray that a power chair comes available before he comes home.

And let me say again, God has been so faithful to us and has used the body of Christ as an amazing picture of how we are supposed to work together in support of one another. You are a blessing to us and in so being, are bringing glory to God."

The saga continues:

"Three weeks ago tomorrow, my husband walked into Fort Sanders Hospital for "day surgery." He can't walk anymore. Well, for now anyway. Sorry to be melodramatic but geez, this was NOT supposed to happen. I mean, it wasn't even part of the 73 page manifesto that we signed warning us of all the things that COULD happen. So as you might imagine, I'm ticked about this situation but being ticked doesn't really solve anything, does it? So, I'm really trying to seek God during the "ins and outs" of Gene's inability to function as he'd like and gladly sit still under the Sovereign Hand of God. Rant/sermonette over. First of all, the pneumonia is mostly gone; the secondary infection is hanging on. They've changed antibiotics for that one and will check him again in 2 days to see how it's working. The Rehab Doctor, Dr. Glass, said that the CONVERSATION about Gene's release will begin on Wednesday. Of course we have things to do around here to get ready for his arrival but still, he will be home sooner than later, we hope. Please continue to pray for his steady improvement especially as it pertains to his "transfers" from bed to wheelchair, wheelchair to chairs, etc. We plan to rent a unit and unload our garage making space for the ramp we will have built and of course, the furniture in the house will need to be rearranged. We will also need a vehicle (think: van) to get Gene from home to PT to home to church to home to...well, you get the idea. Bottom line: we have every reason to believe that this malady is completely reversible BUT it will take time. Time we have, patience we lack. I'll speak for myself on that one; on that note, goodnight."

On to more information:

"Thanks Hannah Wood for your update from earlier this week. Today is Friday, Feb 12 and here's what's happening in our room at FSR. Gene Wood had an EMG (nerve conduction) this am which was "negative". The "Dr. House"-like hospital neurologist came in and scratched his head (as the parade of doctors before him) and suggested that the collective brain trust consider Guillian-Barre (google it). Not a diagnosis, mind you, just something to consider since nothing else is showing up and NONE OF THEM HAVE EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. Why can't we just be normal? Anyway, PT has been in and he's currently up in a chair. We are awaiting word from the Patricia Neal facility to see if he will be accepted there where he can get some intensive PT/OT. In the meantime, there are 50 ceiling tiles in this room, 6 electrical outlets and no working clock. Not that it's a boring place. Quite the contrary, there's a steady stream of confused faces in and out the door. And we've had some lovely guests too, whose faces weren't confused in the least to see their family member/friend/pastor in a sexy hospital gown with his Bible open and pens at the ready. He is a predictable sort. We wait. We pray. We trust God and we love you."

For the purpose of context, what follows is a Facebook update that Hannah Wood wrote on my behalf the day after Gene's surgery left his right leg paralyzed. 

"For all of my parents Facebook friends, Luke's Facebook friends, and my own, here is an update on my dad.

Yesterday my dad had spinal fusion surgery. The surgery went well and everything looked good. However, dad was unable to move his right leg. He has some sensation in it but cannot move it or even wiggle his toes. The doctor has been great and was very concerned so they did both a CT scan and a MRI. Both were inconclusive. Dr.Norman took dad back to surgery this afternoon to recheck everything and look for a blood clot or something that might be compressing a nerve. Nothing was there.

So the plan now is for dad to stay in the hospital for 2-3 more days while they run more tests including a nerve conduction test and having a neurologist check as well. After that he will be moved to Patricia Neal to rehab and try to get the leg working.

This of course was nowhere in our plans and we are in shock so to speak because of this complication. Please pray for my Dad as he works through this and his doctors as they look for answers. The rest of us would appreciate your prayers to as we adjust and help my Dad with whatever comes. Thank you so much for supporting our family and praying for us."

Kristi's Question

Age and time often have interesting ways of changing, developing and sharpening perspective in life. At least it has in mine. 

 My friend Kristi recently asked if I have a favorite Bible study for moms and honestly, even as recently as 5 years ago, I would have/could have rattled off a list of a dozen or so. "But now", (I just love a well placed "but", don't you?) my thoughts on this subject have changed. 

I've been pondering Kristi's question for about 4 days now and while I do have a list of favorite Bible study teachers (Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, Jennifer Rothschild, Kay Arthur), here is the real answer for the mom (woman) out there looking for a good Bible study: the "best" Bible study is the study of the Bible.

"Well duh" you say, but hear me out. I'm currently (and oftentimes) involved in a women's Bible study group where we each have a book that provides daily homework and once a week, we gather to watch a DVD by the author and then discuss what we've discovered over the previous week. And it's good. Hardly a day passes that I don't open up my little study guide, open up my Bible alongside and hear something from God. It may be the tiniest whisper, but I hear Him. 

As long as the Bible study teacher you are studying has a solid, Biblical foundation and has a study that calls to your heart, I say, "Go for it!" And by the way, if you are in doubt about who/what you're about to study, ask your pastor (or you can ask me and I will ask mine!).

But, and here's the real deal: a woman who has a deep desire to dive into "a" Bible study, will always (always, always, always) be blessed by simply diving into her Bible. Sadly, most of us don't know how to study our Bibles so we default to a book/dvd type (not that there's anything wrong with that) but why not challenge yourself? Why not challenge yourself to:

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." (2Timothy 2:15)

What the heck does that mean?", you say. Well, for example, take the word "diligent"; according to Webster's, it means 

"characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort :  painstaking"

• So, we learn right off that we should make steady, earnest and even energetic effort toward "presenting" (to make a gift) ourselves to whom? To God! 
• As what? As a skilled worker. 
• Skilled at what? Understanding what His Word says.
• What will be our condition when we go before God as a gift? We will be, according to Webster's, without guilt, self-consciousness, or doubt. 
• And why is that? Because we are able to "...correctly explain the word of truth." (New Living Translation). 
• And of course, to whom are we explaining this "word of truth"? To anyone who asks! We must "...be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2

{And wouldn't that be comforting? To be on break at work and have someone ask a question that skips across the waters of scripture providing you an open door to speak God's Word? And be able to do it correctly without being self-conscious about what you DON'T know because you are so confident in what you DO know? #wow}

That is probably one of the simplest Bible study methods (not really a method, just an idea) on the market (and it's not on the market, just in my brain)! We're an inquisitive gender, why not ask questions about the verse you're reading (and no matter what you ask, God doesn't roll His eyes at you)! But, how do you find a verse to read? I would suggest that you:

• Using a concordance (see below), look up verses for the issues you are currently facing in your life (for me right now it's anxiety and yes, the Bible speaks to anxiety!)
• You may find a concordance in the back of your Bible, on line or go old school with an actual hard back copy (shameless plug: http://www.lifeway.com/)
• Ask God to direct your reading and as He impresses upon your heart (i.e.,"jumps off the page at you") one or two of these verses that you read, begin to ask these questions, as well as others that come to your mind 
• Journal your responses and your progress and your problems
• And if you're brave enough (gads!), memorize that verse

You may not be able to sit at the lunch table or in the break room or in your Sunday School class and talk about the latest Bible study you did but, YOU ARE STUDYING THE BIBLE. God doesn't so much need us to DO Bible studies as He longs for us to study the Bible. Study HIM. Love HIM. 

And I can assure you, as you study His Word, as you study His character, as you love Him, you will dive down deeper into the sea of who He is and how He wants to love you than you ever dreamed imaginable. 

And of course, if you have the time and drive, grab any one of the go-zillion Bible studies available at stores such as (shameless plug) Lifeway and get crackin'! You won't regret it. 

Breaking news: "Old Dog Learns New Trick"

Do you ever get "bogged down"? Routines can be good; get up at the same time, eat the same breakfast, leave for work at the same time, etc. And even within routines, you have the chance to "mix it up" a bit: hit the snooze once in a while, eat an English muffin instead of toast, leave for work early (not if you hit the snooze button though!). While those things may not have eternal impact on our lives, this one thing most certainly does and if you aren't careful, you may easily fall into a rut or routine before you realize it. Most who know me know of my absolute passion for God's Word and specifically, for the books of Psalms and Proverbs. I have, quite literally, spent most of the last 35 years pouring over and praying through those books, almost to the exclusion of all other books of the Bible. It's not that I don't think God can "speak" to me through any other books, I just like the WAY He speaks to me there. I am currently reading "A Place of Quiet Rest" (Finding Intimacy With God Through A Daily Devotional Life) by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Last night's chapter found me reading this indictment against my Bible reading method, "Likewise, our spirits need the balance that comes from taking in the "whole counsel of God," not limiting ourselves to those passages that seem particularly appetizing. The spiritual growth of some believers has been stunted due to a diet that consists primarily of the Psalms with perhaps a smidgen of the New Testament Epistles."(emphasis mine) Well! Nancy, that was just a little rude, don't you think? Ahem, except in my case, it's true! So, this morning I have blazed a new trail! Ta-da! This old dog is learning new tricks! I have known of the "read the Bible through" chart in the back of my Bible forever but I just couldn't escape my Psalm/Proverb dailies to branch out into something different and really, just a little out of my comfort zone. I mean seriously, can God actually speak through the genealogies? (Just in case you aren't sure of the answer to that question, YES, He can!) Today's selections (made for me by the chart and the hand of the Sovereign)were Acts 18 and Job 7,8,9. Job. Really? Well, heck yeah; I was amazed at what I read there! Job 7: 11-16 “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, that You set a guard over me? When I say,‘My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint, then You scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions, so that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than my body. I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, for my days are but a breath." You go, Job! Have you ever felt like that? I am fairly confident that NONE of us have ever experienced life and loss like Job did and he had some serious questions for God and he wasn't afraid to ask them. Yet, look at what Job says in the next verse (I don't think he knew these words would become "verses" for us!). Job 7: 17-18 "What is man, that You should exalt him, that you should set Your heart upon him, that You should visit him every morning and TEST HIM IN EVERY MOMENT?" (emphasis mine) Friends, in the very deepest anguish of Job's heart, he KNEW that God's heart was set upon him and that he was, all the while, testing him EVERY MOMENT! How could Job (and how can we) reconcile those things? Let's listen in on this conversation as it continues in Job 9:4a as Job declares that "God is wise in heart and mighty in strength." That is how Job could ask the hard questions. He knew, and we would do well to learn, that God IS wise and will allow nothing into our lives that is not best for us. Best does not equal easy, by the way! Job's "friend" Bildad, implies as much in Job 8:11 when he asks, "Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water?" And the question I pose here is: "Can we become Christlike without suffering?" I believe we know the answer to that question but like I said above, just in case you aren't sure, the answer to that question is NO, we can't! Caveat: suffering will look different for everyone, still... So, what is God doing in your life? What has he allowed that is currently making you pretty uncomfortable and if you could "wish it away", you certainly would?! Take heart; take hope. And rest in Psalm 46:10a "Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God.(Amplified) You knew I'd get a verse from Psalms in there somewhere didn't you?! So, whether you find yourself reading in Habakkuk or Hebrews, rest assured, He will speak. Listen closely.