I let the dogs out into the dog run today for their morning routine. I didn't know that Shirley had snuck in the dog run in between the dogs' first run out & their follow-up foray before breakfast. Auggie ran out the second time, and came face to face with Shirley in a very confined space.

Sometimes, like Shirley, we sneak into places (or sin) we have no business meddling with, only to find ourselves trapped with a *monster* God was protecting us from. But our desire outweighs the obedience to God, temptation squashes doing the *proper* thing, and we find ourselves hissing & spitting & clawing our way out of the mess.

Thankfully, Auggie was only half-heartedly trying to catch Shirley, and I was able to distract him so she could escape. But now I see how she's getting in the dog run to begin with.

Pretty sure she learned a good lesson that the dog run is not a place for cats (except when Lunchie went out to sun himself), and she shook the experience off and came back to wait for breakfast on the proper side of the barriers like Lenny.

Let's hope the lesson sticks. (BTW, preaching to myself here this morning).

P.S. I just looked at the title of today's Bible study & let out a laugh. Perfect timing, Lord.

/1

HOW TO HANDLE CONFRONTATION
by Nicky Gumbel

Confrontation is not something that I find easy. It is a delicate operation. It is crucial to find the right approach, the right words for the job. Or, to use a golfing analogy, it is like the skill of knowing which club to use. Those who are skilled at confrontation have a great variety of approaches and words, and know when and how to use the appropriate one. Confrontation is not always the right course. Not every critic has to be confronted. Not every wrong statement needs to be refuted. I greatly admire the skill of those who know when to confront and are good at confronting in a loving way. They have learned how to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). (Mush: I have not learned to speak truth in love; I still freak out & get angry or frustrated & lash out. Hence the screaming at Auggie this morning. Too emotional.)

When confrontation is necessary, how should you go about it?

/2

Kind of hit another milestone yesterday: it was the first time I had a conversation without breaking down into tears over something.

I felt as if my out-of-control emotions had suddenly been able to apply the brakes. It didn't hurt that I was speaking to my former pastor, who would've understood my emotional state anyway, but I kept it all in check and we had a very nice state of spiritual affairs conversation.

Big bonus: he offered to come to my house to share communion with me at the beginning of next week. If I *was* going to cry, that would have been the moment. I had felt strongly about no communion lately, and this offer was an answer to prayer.

There's something beautiful about a former pastor never ceasing to be your pastor. If y'all wouldn't mind keeping him in your prayers. 🙏 He's got his own share of medical challenges and not once have I heard him complain. A model for my own recovery, to be sure.

/1 GOD WANTS TO SURPRISE YOU
by Nicky Gumbel

At the age of eighteen, I set out to read the entire New Testament in order to disprove Christianity. As I read, I was surprised to find that I became convinced that it was true. The last thing that I wanted to do was to "become a Christian." I thought that would ruin my life and make it boring by stopping me having any fun. Yet, knowing in my heart that it was true, I felt I had no option but to say "yes" to Jesus. The moment I did so– to use the words that C.S. Lewis chose to describe his own experience of encountering Jesus – I was "surprised by joy." Ever since, Jesus has never ceased to surprise me. God is the God of surprises. Jesus constantly surprised his followers, and he wants to continue to surprise you.

/2

I keep hearing people on House Hunters complaining there's too much lawn upkeep in their potential house purchases. Did it ever occur to the dads that it might be a good time to teach their kids the value of sweat equity? Or maybe even pay a local teen to come help out?

I heard a story in yesterday's sermon about a country artist saying in an interview that he still cuts his own lawn with a push mower because it's one of the few things left in his life that has an immediate reward. It might only last for a couple of days before the weeds come back, but for that time, the lawn is perfectly cut in rows, the fresh cut lawn smell surrounding him. He explained that in contrast, sometimes it takes 5 years for a song he's written to *hit*.

In a nutshell, the pastor went on to say that most everything that we Christians are to value don't bear fruit immediately. There is pruning, watering, and fertilizing to be done before something you *plant* bears fruit.

This story resonated with me because I am in a season of being pruned (letting go of things), fertilized (taught the meaning of His Word in my situation & my life in general), and watered (nourished in my season of lack).

The *bearing fruit* part, I pray, is the value of sharing the gospel with y'all and that it resonates with you so much that, in turn, you share it yourself.

It's quite the cycle in perseverance and the resulting lasting joy. Emphasis on perseverance. Anything that comes to your life seemingly overnight can disappear just as quickly.

I'm preaching to myself this morning. I needed the reminder to just keep going, keep planting...keep gardening. Metaphorically and literally.

/1 IT'S NOT OVER
by Nicky Gumbel

You could have heard a pin drop. It was mesmerizing. We were spellbound. An eighty-five-year-old man, almost totally blind, got up to speak to 1,500 people of all ages on our church holiday. He had no notes, of course, because he could no longer read. He gave two talks, each of them an hour long. In the first talk, he gave a breathtaking summary of the entire Old Testament. In the second, which was equally brilliant, he gave a summary of the whole of the New Testament. There was no hesitation, no stumbling and not a word was out of place. It was the distilled wisdom of a man who had followed the Lord wholeheartedly all his life.

Bishop Lesslie Newbigin had one of the most remarkable ministries of the twentieth century. At the age of thirty-six, he was elected as one of the first bishops of the new Church of South India. When he returned from India, later on in life, he wrote several books that aimed to help the church in the West fulfill its mission in a world that was rapidly changing and felt no need for God. His writing and speaking influenced thousands of Christian leaders around the world. Yet for this astonishing man, who had achieved so much in his life, it was not over. He entitled his autobiography *Unfinished Agenda*. For him, there was always still so much to hope for and so much more to be done.

/2

There's an incredible difference between panic and anxiety over a sudden catastrophic event in my life, and resting calmly and assuredly that God will get me through this current catastrophe in one piece.

After all, he's gotten me through catastrophic events before. Where does it say He will only get me through *some* things with his strength, but then leave me to my own devices in others?

In Philippians 4:13, it says,
"I can do *all* this through him who gives me strength." And I believe this wholeheartedly. It doesn't say, however, I can do all this *by myself*. God is a very important piece of the puzzle, and just like in other tumultuous times before, He will guide me through this current situation, in His strength and will and for His glory, to my benefit but also the benefit of His eternal kingdom.

He is the ultimate stress reliever.

/1 THE GRACIOUS HAND OF GOD
by Nicky Gumbel

Things happen to us. So much of life is simply the set of circumstances we find ourselves in. For example, our parents, our genetic design, the weather, much of our education, and our government are all things that we experience as "happening *to* us." In Greek grammar, these things are expressed in what we call the "*passive voice*." However, we also *make* *things happen*. When I initiate an action and do something, this is expressed in the "*active voice*." But Greek grammar also has *a third voice* – *the "middle voice*." This is neither wholly active nor wholly passive. When I use the middle voice, I am participating in the results of an action. Christian prayer is spoken in the middle voice. It cannot be in the active voice because it is not an action I control, as in the ritualistic pagan prayers where the gods do our bidding. Prayer is not in the passive voice either, in which I’m at the mercy of the will of gods and goddesses.

In Christian prayer, as Eugene Peterson puts it, "I enter into an action begun by another, my creating and saving Lord, and find myself participating in the results of his [gracious] action."

In one sense, the whole of the Christian life is prayer. We welcome God’s gracious hand in our lives, and we participate in what he is doing in the world. God involves you in his plans. Of course, he could do it all on his own, but he chooses to involve you. He gives you freedom, yet he remains in control.

/2

My friend is *lending* me her cleaning ladies today. Obviously, my house became a little untidy over the last 3 months, so they're giving me a jump-start towards keeping a neat and straightened house again.

But it's funny, I have a long to-do list of things to straighten or put away before they get here. Do all women do that: clean before the cleaners arrive? I feel that's a very human compulsion, kind of like repenting of some sins and bad habits, but shoving the others in the closet so the Lord won't notice. Spoiler alert: he notices *every* single thing & loves you anyway. This is kind of the point of this weekend: he died for even the sins you shove in the dark closets of your psyche, away from prying eyes, and loves you & would do it all again. Just for you. Just for me.

So, as I sit here and contemplate my pre-cleaners to-do list, I also wonder to myself: "Who do I think I'm fooling?"

/1 GOD'S STRATEGIC PLAN
by Nicky Gumbel

I live in London. With a population of over 8 million, it is one of the largest cities in the world. It usually receives over 18 million visitors a year. It is a city where over 300 languages are spoken. Cities are strategic places for the spread of the gospel. They always have been. The apostle Paul took the gospel from city to city. As early as 100 A.D., more than 40 Christian communities existed in cities across the Mediterranean world, including North Africa and parts of Italy. By 300 A.D., half the citizens of that region were Christian, while 90% of the countryside was still pagan. Most of Paul’s letters were written to cities. Cities tend to be places where culture is formed. Many of the spheres of influence emanate from the city, including government, politicians and law-makers; arts and entertainment; business and the marketplace; universities and other places of education; media and communication centers. The river of influence tends to flow from the city to the suburbs and rural areas. The way to transform a culture is to transform the city. It is not surprising, therefore, that cities have always had an important role in the purposes of God. In particular, one city has been at the heart of God’s strategy for the world.

/2

Good Friday. I can already feel the tears forming. One of the greatest exercises I heard from a pastor: put yourself in the shoes of someone at the crucifixion, and try to feel *their* emotions. Was it one of the Roman soldiers who wondered to himself, "what if He *WAS* the Son of God?" Or maybe Jesus' mother Mary, standing off to the side, bereft of her son, but yet still full of the hope of his promises. Or maybe it's one of his trusted disciples, perhaps filled with guilt at their own inaction, but still grappling with his assurance that He'd be back? Whichever person you identify with, dig deep today to understand why you chose that person, and what it means to your understanding of the need for a Savior today. He died for you, me, all of us. Today's the day to ponder the hard questions that lead to the best thing that ever happened to humanity: Sunday's Resurrection.

/1 IT'S NEVER TOO LATE
by Nicky Gumbel

I like to think of myself as young. Recently, I heard that middle age runs from thirty-five to fifty-eight years of age. On that basis, not only am I not *young*, I am well past even middle-aged! People often speak of being middle-aged as a time of "midlife crisis." A midlife crisis can be caused by aging itself, or aging in combination with changes, problems, or regrets over work, career, relationships, children and physical changes associated with aging. (Mush: I am here. 🔴)

Individuals experiencing a midlife crisis are often searching for an undefined dream or goal. We may have a deep sense of remorse for goals not yet accomplished. We may fear humiliation among more successful colleagues. We often desire to achieve a feeling of youthfulness. At the root of all these things is a sense of something being missing. There is often a tragic wisdom in mid-life crises as we realize the emptiness of much of what we used to strive for (even if what we replace it with is not always particularly wise). I have often wondered whether Zacchaeus, whom we read about in today’s New Testament passage, was going through a midlife crisis. Whether he was or not, he found the answer that so many people are searching for in his encounter with Jesus. No matter how long you have traveled in the wrong direction, you can always turn around. With Jesus, it’s never too late to make a new start and ensure that your life is set in the right direction.

/2

I share an awful lot of personal experience on here, in an effort to be *transparent* (one of God's words of the year for me recently). This has been a challenge because there are sketchy people on the web, and they're just waiting to take advantage.

On the flipside, God has asked me to trust him in *all* things (Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 26:4, Psalm 55:22, Psalm 37:5, Jeremiah 17:7, to name a few verses). In fact, He says it many times in the Bible, which means it's important for me to not only understand, but to live it. I had something big I had to learn (again) to trust Him with recently. TBH, it was a relief to unburden myself from the "what if" and know that *if* something comes of it, the Lord will protect me. He may not make it go away, but He'll lead me through it. Ah, yesterday's sermon comes to fruition: things we've learned, we now have to learn again & be able to let go of the fear of the unknown, and 100% trust in God.

Okay, I'm trusting (and exhaling).

/1 HOW TO AVOID THE TITANIC MISTAKE
by Nicky Gumbel

James Cameron, director of the movie *Titanic,* describes the Titanic as a "metaphor" of life: "We are all living on… [the] Titanic." When the Titanic set sail in 1912, it was declared to be "unsinkable" because it was constructed using a new technology. The ship’s hull was divided into sixteen watertight compartments. Up to four of these compartments could be damaged or even flooded, and still the ship would float.

Tragically, the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, at 2.20 am. 1,513 people lost their lives. At the time, it was thought that five of its watertight compartments had been ruptured in a collision with an iceberg. However, on September 1, 1985, when the wreck of the Titanic was found lying upright on the ocean floor, there was no sign of the long gash previously thought to have been ripped in the ship’s hull. What they discovered was that damage to one compartment affected all the rest. Many people make the Titanic mistake. They think they can divide their lives into different "compartments" and that what they do in one will not affect the rest. However, as Rick Warren (from whom I have taken this illustration) says, "*A life of integrity is one that is not divided into compartments.*"

David prayed for "*an undivided heart*" (Psalm 86:11). He led the people with "*integrity of heart*" (78:72). Supremely, Jesus was a "*man of integrity*" (Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14). How can you and I avoid the Titanic mistake and live lives of integrity?

/2

Woke up to a message, inviting me over for mimosas this weekend.

*sigh*

I keep forgetting: just because the last three months have been challenging and have changed me, doesn't mean people will understand that things are different now, probably forever. For the better, too, but that will also be lost on people.

Another thing I noticed, three longtime friends have seemingly used this time as an excuse to sever our relationship, mainly because of not understanding side effects of stroke, but I suspect it was the excuse they needed because of differences in faith & politics. I'd love to be wrong, but weekly phone calls have stopped (for about a month now), and I've got to say, it seems the human condition is more fractured now than ever, and to me, this is proof.

I looked up this phenomenon of losing friends over faith & polotics, and found an encouraging blog about one woman's experience. (This will be my prayer for the next few weeks, I suspect, to grow my faith as I release my hold on the things I once knew.)
(Blog and Bible study to follow):

/1 The woman's blog:



/2 goingbyfaith.com/losing-friends…

Thirteen years. I've had Buster Pawsy since he was a puppy, wandering the streets abandoned. The neighbor kids walked around the neighborhood asking if people knew who he belonged to. Everyone said no, but I told them if they didn't find the owners, I'd take him. One of the best impulse decisions of my life.

/1 HOW TO STOP WORRYING
by Nicky Gumbel

I can’t even remember his name and I didn’t think much of his talk. We were both eighteen years of age. He had just joined the army. As he stood up to give the talk, he produced his army boots as a visual aid. He called one of the boots "*trust*" and the other one "*obey*". He described them as the left and right boot of the Christian life. He only spoke for seven minutes, but his illustration hit home and I have never forgotten it. "*Trust*" and "*obey*" are, as he said, a very good summary of the Christian life. We see in the passages for today that they are the answer to trials, temptation, worry, anxiety, fear, failure and all the other struggles of life. In particular, Jesus shows us how to stop worrying and start living.

/2

I had an incredibly loving conversation with my event planning biz partner last night about stepping out of a partner role due to my health, but a continuing role in whatever capacity I felt up to. I would essentially do invoices & research & appointments, when the time comes (essentially what I'm doing now, but as an employee again, not actually a partner). The stress lifted from my shoulders after I hung up, knowing I wasn't letting her down, and giving me space to have a few less concerns right now. A real praise-the-Lord moment, to be sure. (Also may have figured out the lack of energy during the day - low blood pressure & magnesium. We'd upped my mgs of both bp meds & magnesium, and perhaps that needs adjusting when & how much again.)

/1 IT IS ALL YOURS
by Nicky Gumbel

The Chelsea Flower Show may well be the most famous flower show in the world. It attracts visitors from all continents. There are four grades of award presented, Gold, Silver-Gilt, Silver and Bronze. As well as awards for gardens and flowers, the Knightian award is for exhibits of vegetables. I once heard a man being interviewed about the fact that he was retiring after winning the gold medal for his vegetables for ten years in a row. Asked for the secret of his success, he said, "*I aim for perfection. But I settle for excellence*." "Aim for perfection" (2 Corinthians 13:11), writes the apostle Paul. This is very different from "perfectionism". Perfectionism is a personality trait characterized by striving for flawlessness. It leads to setting excessively high performance standards. Perfectionists are overly critical of themselves and constantly concerned about what others think of them. It leads to a fear of failure and making mistakes. It can lead to depression, anxiety and missed opportunities. God’s people have always been called to aim high (while avoiding the dangers of perfectionism). God gave to his people in the Old Testament a wonderful vision of their potential *inheritance*. It is all yours in Christ Jesus.

/2

I'm so excited. My friends @bboxrocks @pastebaby and @Ginger_Horns are going to be in town & coming to see me today.

Which means it's house cleaning day. My friend offered her house cleaner to help, but she never called back. My other friend also offered her house cleaner, so I should probably take her up on it because there are so many chores I can't do yet, and the house is slightly chaotic. Tomorrow is definitely my day of rest but today needs to get rolling. Groceries will be here within the next 3 hours. Glad I cleaned out the fridge yesterday.

/1
HOW TO BECOME WISE
by Nicky Gumbel

(Mush note: I believe this Bible study devotional was written many years ago, before certain people got hyper-partisan & political & showed their true colors. Am I being judgmental? Perhaps. But it always leads me to pray for my wisdom & people who I disagree with. Having said that, I present the Bible study in its entirety because the Lord's message contained within is the same today, yesterday & forever (Hebrews 13:8) Thanks for coming to my God, not TED, talk 😉)

On to today's devotional:
Oprah Winfrey says, "Follow your instincts. That’s where true wisdom manifests itself." In other words, wisdom comes from within and is a kind of intuition. Since you are created in the image of God, there is truth in this. However, as we see in today’s passages, true wisdom comes from God and it is supremely acquired through your relationship with him. As we have seen, knowledge is horizontal. But wisdom is vertical. It comes down from above. You will grow in wisdom as you learn, reflect and live in relationship with God. We all desperately need wisdom. In the Old Testament there are several books of "Wisdom": Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. In addition, sprinkled throughout the Bible are various writings which might loosely be described as "Wisdom Literature," dealing with such diverse areas as the power of the tongue, the blessings of faithfulness, the dangers of adultery, the hazards of strong drink, the inequalities of life, the sufferings of the righteous, the skill of leadership and the art of parenting. This wisdom is a kind of sanctified common sense. It leads to greater self-understanding. It gives you the ability to cope in life and to steer through and master its challenges. It is the sort of legacy good parents want to hand on to their children. Ultimately, wisdom is found in Jesus Christ, who is the "wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24).

/2

I had saved this video (in the next post) this weekend, thinking, "this is great for the kid's confidence, but even greater for the mom to know that her kid is gonna be okay in the world because he is being given a chance with responsibility." Then I saw my outdoor cats & realized at the beginning of my rehab journey, I was terrified bad things would happen to them because I wasnt able to do anything for them but throw down some food. Then I realized a couple months' in that they were savvy to predators and ultimately God, not me, would keep them safe. I must trust God with their well-being. And here they are, thriving, not because of my actions, but because of God's love for all his creation. And here I am, a helicopter cat *mom*, letting go of the things I can't control anyway, especially now. Perhaps that's part of what this recovery journey is all about. Hm?

/1 Video mentioned in post above:

/2

https://x.com/HouseoftheMuse_/status/1903911681031287271?t=Mmdry2w6mEzC0SjvBshzbw&s=19

I was sharing yesterday's Bible study intro & discussing the Holy Spirit with a friend, and she mentioned she doesn't attribute things to the Holy Spirit in case it's her own ego or opinion giving vent. I said I understood that, but I offered the defining criteria for me: if it's a correction, I believe that's the Holy Spirit & I can act on it immediately (for instance, if I'm unkind, I can without much hesitation apologize to the person I was unkind to). But if it's going forward with a plan or desire, I wait a little longer until I'm certain it is the Holy Spirit passing along God's will. How do I know? Usually with confirmation through prayer, Bible study, sermons and/or through other trusted friends or sources. This has become a little easier after years & years of doing things my own way and plunging into mistake after mistake. Frankly, listening to the Holy Spirit is the only way for me to live now because I'm too tired to keep making lifelong mistakes. It's God's way or no way. (But yes, I admit, I still make mistakes out of decades of bad habits.)

/1 YOUR HOTLINE TO GOD
by Nicky Gumbel

Until the more recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, the Cuban Missile Crisis was probably the closest we have come to World War III. In October 1962, there was a standoff between President Kennedy of the United States and Premier Khrushchev of the Soviet Union over planting missiles in Cuba. The crisis was averted because communication was established. It was decided to put one red telephone on the desk of the President of the United States, and another on the desk of the Premier of Soviet Russia. The communication link was called, as it still is, the ‘*hotline*’. Communication is vital to all relationships. Setting aside time to build and nurture communication is essential. Jesus has given you a "hotline" to God, but it is not just for emergency use – it is to be used all the time.

/2

I think I figured something out last night. I have been ripping off my cpap machine after 4 hours every night. Consequently, I was waking up grumpy & unrefreshed. But last night, I went to sleep without taking Zzzzquil Naturals. Slept the entire night with the cpap in place. Woke up in a much better mood. Could it have been as easy as that? They say Zzzzzquil is harmless & non-addictive, but is it? I can see taking it occasionally, but I was taking it every night. I can't wait to see how tonight goes. I really need my restorative sleep. A rested Mush is a happy Mush.

/1 SAVIOR
by Nicky Gumbel

The world is looking for a savior. The Canadian musician, Lights, expresses this in the lyrics of her song, "Saviour":
"The night is deafening, When the silence is listening, And I’m down on my knees, And I know that *something is missing*… Sooner than later, *I’ll need a saviour*, *I’ll need a saviour*...

Lecrae (Moore), is a rapper, entrepreneur, record-producer and actor. He speaks for many of us when he says, "I’m not a Christian because I’m strong and have it all together. I’m a Christian because I’m weak and admit *I need a savior*." The amazing truth of Christianity is that in Jesus *you* *do have a savior*. How should you respond to this extraordinary good news?

/2

Woke up with a mild case of vertigo today. The Lord thinks I'm strong enough to handle one more dizziness-inducing and unsteadying thing, I guess.

He's right, though. I will be on the couch, praising and praying all day on this *day of rest*. It simply means I will use the walker today for safety. I can deal with that.

It's kind of indicative of a life with the Lord. Some days, He equips you with the strength and knowledge to go out in faith; other days, He requires you to hold His hand through the storm for safety reasons. Got it. Today is a hand-holding *safety* day.

Today, in addition to praising & praying, I think I will catch up on correspondence (I am so old-fashioned) after I do Bible study & watch my church sermon. Perfect way to forget we've lost an hour overnight. Maybe that's why I have vertigo. Riiiiiight. I'm that in tune with the time change. Hope everybody finds their rest today ❤️

/1 WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART
by Nicky Gumbel

The Nobel Prize winner and most important Russian literary artist of the second half of the twentieth century, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918–2008), who was imprisoned for eight years for criticizing Stalin, wrote, "The line separating good and evil passes, not through states, nor through classes, nor through political parties... but right through every human heart – and through all human hearts." We are all created in the image of God. Human beings are capable of acts of great love, courage and heroism. Yet, not one of us (apart from Jesus) is without sin. Do you know what’s in your heart?

/2

Tried living with that work boundary yesterday ("it can wait til Monday when I'm on the clock again) but I tell ya, I felt something was off all day. I'm not used to doing something for work "later". I think the key is writing it down so I don't forget the specifics, especially now.

Anyway, today a day of rest cuz God says so, and I really only need a single day of rest. I can do as @bitmaelstrom suggested and up-charge for Saturdays. I think that's a very good idea. We used to do "6th days" in film production. Time and a half pay if you work a 6th day. No reason I can't continue with that, unless there's a day off M-F that would negate it being six straight days of work. Okay, it's settled then, will talk that over with my boss. Seems like a win/win, as long as a Sabbath day is still honored. I need that God time. I mean, I get to spend time with the Lord every day, but one set aside as a day of rest hits differently.

/1 A LOVING, ONGOING RELATIONSHIP by Nicky Gumbel

In one of his last songs, Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the rock group Queen, asked the question: "Does anybody know what we are living for?" In spite of the fact that he had amassed *a huge fortune* and had attracted *thousands of fans*, Freddie Mercury admitted in an interview shortly before his death in 1991 that he was *desperately lonely*. He said, "You can have everything in the world and still be the loneliest man, and that is the most bitter type of loneliness. Success has brought me *world idolization* and *millions of pounds*, but it’s prevented me from having the one thing we all need – *a loving, ongoing relationship*."

There is only one relationship that is completely loving and ongoing, and for which we were created. Without that relationship there will always be a deep sense of aloneness and a lack of ultimate meaning and purpose.

At the heart of the Christian faith is this relationship with God where we find what we are living for. How can you and I have a relationship with the Creator of the universe? How in practice can we begin to communicate with God? What is the basis of this relationship?

/2

The devil is trying to get under my skin lately, and I'm falling for it. It's a conscious effort to rebuke him, and I must constantly ask for strength to do this. I have enough issues with physical strength right now without succumbing to the spiritual evils of this world. Must. Do. Better.

/1 MY EYES WERE OPENED
by Nicky Gumbel

It was as if I was blind. I must have heard many times that Jesus died for our sins. But I simply did not see it. I was spiritually blind. But when I understood the cross, my eyes were opened. Since then, I have noticed that as I have attempted to pass on the message of "Christ crucified", there are different responses. Sometimes very intelligent people simply cannot see it (see 1 Corinthians 1:23–25). On the other hand, I am often amazed at the understanding of others, including very young children. For all who see it, it is life changing: "to us who are being *saved* it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).

I think it is fascinating that in today’s New Testament passage, after Jesus has explained his death, we have the story of blind Bartimaeus having his eyes opened (Mark 10:46–52). He says to Jesus, "I want to see" (v.51). Jesus replies, "'Go… your faith has *healed* you.' Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus" (v.52). The word used for *healed* is the same Greek word as *saved* (*sozo*). Do you see it? The passages for today help us to see the significance of Jesus’ death.

/2

I think it might be time to start sharing my Ws, so people know that their prayers are working, and so I can get a grasp of how far I've come:

- I can walk most days with a cane, rather than a walker (I mostly use the walker when I first get up for safety reasons)
- I can roll over in bed by myself without grabbing onto the mattress and heaving myself
- I can wash, brush, braid & put my hair in a messy bun by myself (huge if you have long hair)
- I sometimes have the strength to stand at the stove & actually cook now (rather than push buttons on the microwave)
- I can put compression socks on if I need to (tough even if you haven't had a stroke!)
- I can clean the catbox by myself (my friends are very pleased with this)
- I can take the trash out & wash dishes (but still rely on neighbors to take the cans to the curb, which they faithfully do)
- I can carry a cup of coffee to the couch for my usual Bible study every morning without spilling a drop

While I used to take all of these things for granted, I no longer do and see them as big Ws in my rehab. There are still many Ls (Lost abilities: driving & shopping among my bigger Losses), but as long as I'm blessed with amazing friends, I can settle for the smaller Ws, for now, because each & every W points to God's mercy & glory.

/1 BETTER THAN FAME OR CELEBRITY
by Nicky Gumbel

In a survey of millennials, 50% of young adults said that a major life goal was to become famous. In the past, people wanted to be famous for *doing* something. Now, celebrity has become an end in itself. It has attained god-like characteristics. Not only do people want to be famous, they idolize those who have achieved celebrity status. This widespread interest in famous individuals has been described as "the cult of celebrity". Fame to the ambitious is like salt water to the thirsty. The more you get, the more you want. Madonna, who at one stage was probably the most famous woman on the planet, said, "I won’t be happy until I am as famous as God."
Celebrity and fame are only a pale reflection of true glory. "Glory" is used in the Bible to denote the manifestation of God’s presence. Glory is one of the most common words in the Bible. God’s glory means his importance, reputation, majesty and honor. Perhaps it is not surprising that as society moves away from worshipping *the glory of God*, it turns towards the worship of the "glory" of celebrity and fame. We are called to worship God’s glory and reflect it, however imperfectly, in our lives.

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I have literally spent hours counting my blessings surrounding this stroke (don't worry, I've had my share of grumbles, too). When I think of all the moments I *could* have had the stroke, I thank God that He spared me. Imagine trudging up 4 flights of stairs at an apartment building, delivering a flat of 32 bottled waters, and having a stroke mid-flight in the 100° heat, then tumbling down the stairs.

No, it happened in my sleep. Incredible.

Yup, I can see the blessings all over its timing. Makes you wonder the blessings surrounding your own struggles are, and how much worse it could be, huh? Seriously, counting your blessings in all circumstances is no joke and keeps you that much closer to the one who created you & loves you without end. This is when it especially is in our best interest to take hold of his righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)

/1 HOW TO HEAR GOD
by Nicky Gumbel

When I saw him coming down the street, I would cross the road in order to avoid him. I'd met him in my first week at university. He had a shiny, smiley face. I had also met one or two others like him who had that same look on their face. It made me very suspicious!

A few months later, I encountered Jesus and realized that these people’s faces were shining because they had been spending time with Jesus, hearing God speak. Like Moses, when he came down from the mountain after *hearing God* speak to him, their faces were "radiant" (Exodus 34:29,35). Jesus said that "people do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Just as we need physical food, so we also need spiritual food. Spiritual food comes from *hearing the words of God*.

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It must have been your prayers, cuz the fever broke and I feel back to gained strength & no fatigue or aches. There is still minor chest congestion but I can handle that. Thank you again for your prayers & well-wishes. They are necessary for healing ❤️

And today's Bible study title shows exactly why prayer works.

/1 GOD WORKS FOR YOUR GOOD by Nicky Gumbel

Lord Radstock was staying in a hotel in Norway in the mid-nineteenth century. He heard a little child playing the piano downstairs in the hallway. She was making a terrible noise: ‘Plink... plonk... plink...’. It was driving him mad! A man came and sat beside her and began playing alongside her, filling in the gaps. The result was the most beautiful music. He later discovered that the man playing alongside was the girl’s father, Alexander Borodin, composer of the opera *Prince Igor*.

God calls you into a relationship that involves cooperation with him. The Christian faith is primarily about what has been done for you by God in Christ. However, we are not mere spectators. You are called to respond. God involves you in his plans. God comes and sits alongside you and "in all things... works for the good" (Romans 8:28). He takes our "plink… plonk... plink..." and makes something beautiful out of our lives.

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I watch a lot of home renovation shows, and only once did I see somebody safety minded for trip hazards in the design of her "forever home". She saw a future where her elderly parents might move in with her and planned accordingly. People don't think about these things enough, IMO. Now that I live in my parents' old house, I'm thankful for Dad's shower grab bars (esp now), even if they're ugly. There's nothing wrong with living safely. Some of my friends think I live in fear of the unknown, but there's a difference between living in fear & being safety-minded, as my PT says. There's also a huge difference between trusting God & throwing caution to the wind. I'll continue to trust God but use the common sense He gave me & be cautious. I can't avoid ALL hazards, but if I see a hazard potential, (like area rugs), I'll use my better judgment and remove the trip hazard, for now.

/1 HOW TO LIVE IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT
by Nicky Gumbel

Hundreds of thousands of Christians are among those who have fled Iraq and Syria in the midst of Islamic extremism and conflict. Christians face the threat of systematic torture and mass executions. Isis has declared Christianity as the number one enemy. Millions of Christians live in countries where they are persecuted for their faith. Many governments try to control the growth of the church. Even in traditionally Christian countries, sometimes there is hostility towards vibrant Christianity. Hostility to the people of God is not something new. People are often threatened by success, growth and large numbers. Perhaps you are facing hostility in your workplace or even in your family because of your faith. The passages today not only highlight the reality of living in a hostile environment, but they also point out how you can survive and thrive in the midst of such hostility.

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