Get Up and Walk!

In the Biblical book of John chapter five versus one through eighteen, Jesus speaks to a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.  After a short conversation, Jesus simply says to the man, "Get up!  Pick up your mat and walk."  Wow!  I am reminded of this parable time and again in dealing with my own back issues.  Some time ago, I went to see the doctor and was diagnosed with muscle strain and spasms.  About the only prescription for relief she could provide was for muscle relaxers and physical therapy.  Initially, the medication worked wonders, and then it began to wane in effect.  Now, for some reason, my back feels great, and I haven't been taking the medicine.  I do wonder what happened to cause my back to feel this good; in fact, it hasn't felt this great in a very long time.  Of course there is some residual discomfort, but I am experiencing extreme relief from what had been ailing me for well over a year or longer.  Maybe I shouldn't wonder as I had been praying concerning the physical issues plaguing me.  Almighty God can choose to heal, or He can release His perfect strength in my life as He did in the life of the Apostle Paul while he dealt with his own thorn in the flesh.  Either way, God has provided and healed, dissipating the back and hip pain.  If and when it comes back, I can still lean on the strength and sustaining power of Jehovah God.  Prayers always get answered, but not always to our satisfaction or selfish whims.  His creation is here to glorify and worship Him, not the other way around.  He is not a marionette on a string dancing to our sinful tune.  For this season of pain relief, I am praising God for the answer of healing on my physical body.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Party on the Porch (Amon Carter Museum)

On Saturday, September 30th, I attended the annual Party on the Porch sponsored and hosted by the Amon Carter Museum.  I attended this function about twelve years ago with a friend and his family.  For whatever reason, the festivities fell off my radar till I saw a banner for it a few weeks prior.  Deciding it would be good for me to get out, even if it was alone, I requested a ticket and downloaded it to my phone.  The best part of the shin-dig was it's free of charge!  Yes, you read that correctly.  Both Party on the Porch and the Museum itself are funded by a perpetual trust established upon the death of Amon Carter himself.  (Take that, you other museums who charge an entrance fee!  Because of the lack of admission, I am able to frequent the art gallery as often as I can.)  Free parking for the event was available across the street at the surface lots of the Health Science Center.  (Another plus to showing up for the event.)  There were several people managing the entryway.  On
Read more

Seeking Closure!

Last week I was able to get away from the land of exile in order to visit and spend time with family.  Even though part of our plans for a trip to East Texas fell apart, I very much enjoyed spending three wonderful days with my mother in Yoakum.  During this time, as she still had to work her shifts at the church, I was able to scratch off quite a few items from the bucket list.  Many of these items have been on there for several years awaiting much-needed closure.  On top of the list, but really in no particular order, was to visit the Alchoholics Anonymous group in Victoria where I tried to get sober in 2004.  Even though I didn't recognize anyone in attendance, I did enjoy the time spent in fellowship.  Then a visit was made to Memory Gardens Cemetery where three acquaintances are interred.  One in particular, my friend Amy, was buried there in 2021.  Regretting not being able to attend her funeral services, I made every effort to locate her grave, along with the graves of her m
Read more

Reprieve from the War Front

** This is another letter from my father in Korea during the war of 1950-1953.  My intention in posting these letters is to capture the very personal side of war.  The letter is typed as written.  Any mistakes in grammar, punctuation, and etc. are intentional. 17-Oct-53 Dear Mom & Dad           I have just returned from a splendid seven days leave in Japan.  My seven days were filled with just about everything a person could want in a leave.  Steak, lobster, french fried potatoes, and onions, and many other fried foods.  The special service hotel at which I stayed is the most beautiful in Tokyo, Ga-Jo-En KANKO Hotel.  It is composed of three buildings connected by hallways, five stories high.  It has many facilities such as Grill, Bar, Cocktail Lounge, PX, Game Room, Barber Shop, Dining Room, Wrapping Service, and Dining Room, where meals are very cheap: 15 cent breakfast, 25 cent lunch, 45 cent supper.  The elevators of the Hotel are lined with mother-of-pearl formed into wa
Read more