Dec 15, 2025 – Symptoms
Life can turn on a dime – for the good and for the bad. If we aren’t living close to God, day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, we aren’t as able to handle the shifts in momentum and perspective. Google AI says this about Matthew 7:24-25 – “The parable taches that while everyone faces life’s storms, only those who build their lives on the solid foundation of Christ’s teachings will be able to endure and stand firm.”
I went to Huntsville over the weekend, in part, because Don had a rehearsal and a gig but also so we could help a friend continue to get settled in her new home in Athens. We arrived Thursday and, despite her dealing with some major back pain and spasms, we got some good work done. However, early Fri morning she woke us saying she was going to the ER (and was going to drive herself if our car hadn’t been in the way in the driveway of the Airbnb we were all staying at – very thankful for a single car-width driveway!)
I’m telling this not to detail the hospital stay but to point out how God allows things to happen in our lives for so many reasons and some of them are to point to something else that needs attention. In addition to treating the obvious issues she was dealing with, testing revealed that she had high potassium levels (which can apparently kill you) and low magnesium levels (which can drive you crazy because all of the symptoms are things that any of us would chalk up to stress, busy-ness, exhaustion, and aging). The thing is, symptoms SHOULD prompt us to seek help, but typically we excuse them away, and end up in worse conditions. So, today’s public service announcement is to pay attention to your health and don’t make excuses that keep you from getting the help you need!
Prevail 349 – 1 John 5:15 – “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” The “anything that pleases him” part caught my eye. Certainly, it builds our faith when God answers as we expect, but we have to keep growing in our faith so that, if He answers differently, we will know that, for His own reasons (and sometimes because of our poor choices), it pleases Him to go in another direction and that He will work it all out for our good. I believe all of the prayer covering my friend and I had while she was in the hospital made such a difference. Really, even for me because I was very calm. And, though I was tired, I wasn’t weak and my shoulder didn’t hurt all day!
JC – “The hope of heaven is meant to strengthen and encourage you, filling you with wondrous joy. Many Christians have misunderstood this word hope, believing that it denotes wishful thinking. Nothing could be further from the truth! As soon as I became your Savior, heaven became your ultimate destination. The phrase hope of heaven highlights the benefits you can enjoy even while remaining on earth. This hope keeps you spiritually alive during dark times of adversity; It brightens your path and heightens your awareness of My presence.”
Power – Ephesians 4:23 – “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Joyce writes, “Not every thought in your head is from you, your circumstances, or God…. Did you know you don’t have to continue thinking on everything that comes to your mind? You can cast wrong thoughts down and replace them with right thoughts (see 2 Corinthians 10:5)…. Negative thoughts and attitudes can be avoided simply by saying, ‘That’s not a God thought. I cast it down in Jesus’ name, and I am going to think something beneficial to me today.’ “
[Note: If you are ever in need of medical attention in Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville Hospital is the place to go, at least for us it was. I was so impressed with their procedures and processes and kindness and competence. My friend was a sick puppy for a couple of days, but finally was released Sunday and we relaxed at the Airbnb for a while before packing up to leave. She was feeling so much better that we stopped at City Café diner (another Hville place I’d recommend) for lunch before she headed to Athens and I headed to Bham. I mention this in order to explain the photo I’m going to post with this blog…when I figure out how to add photos!]
