Prepare my hands to receive your blessings

Day 28

Someone shared with me that when we pray we should stretch out our hands. First with our palms down, symbolizing that we have a light grip on the things of our life. When your hands are palms down we're offering things back to the Lord and giving him everything.

Try it! It is amazing how it changes your focus. Instead of give me, give me. It's Lord, here is what I have, I offer it to you.  Then in an attitude of humility, 

"I'm ready to receive whatever you have for me."

 The Lord has a lot but he wants to give us.

Ask and you shall receive seek and you will find knock and the door will be open to you.

There are so many blessings that He wants to give to us if we would only sit in a seat of submission and humility waiting to receive.

Prepare my hands to receive what you have for me

Blessings come in many ways

happy blessings 

monetary blessings

friendship blessings 

emotional blessings 

comforting blessings 

joyful blessings 

There are also blessings that come in the midst of suffering. Those painful moments in our lives that we would love to wish away, God wants to bless us in the midst of them. He desires that we would know him more and to understand the pains of others. He is the God of all comfort who want to comfort us so that we might be a comfort to others. 

In time of suffering we are challenged to hold onto him like never before.

Right now my mom's dementia is manageable but it's hard and there are days I would wish it away. In fact just this morning I was praying Lord heal her mind, replace what's been taken, give me back my old mom and yet I've learned so much about how to care, how to be patient, how to let things go, how to live in the moment and how to find joy in suffering.

There have been blessings even though there has been pain

Take a moment to stretch out your hands palm down and give to the Lord those things in your life that are difficult. Try and give it all to him.

Now turn over those palms face up and declare, "Lord I am ready to receive whatever you have for me."

Prepare our hands to receive from you amen

Cooking day

In 2 hours I created 4 meals and muffins plus a pot roast in the crock pot, roasted brussel sprouts and mashed turnips. 

In the picture, is a spinach quiche, sausage soup, sausage and peppers and chili over spaghetti squash.  You might think that this would tire me out but instead I feel like I want to cook some more!  All of these recipes are made the Paleo way and are extremely healthy! The purpose of creating these meals are so that I can have delicious, nutritious lunches! What a blessing to have these in my freezer.

Every day in the lunchroom, people peer into my lunch and say, "What do you have today? Some want to try it and others, (like my friend Kelly) say, "well, that looks interesting". She very rarely will try it because she is afraid that she will not like it. 

We are all like this at times. Even with spiritual things we can become picky. "Lord, I would like this, some of those, but not that!" 

James and John had the same issues. Imagine treating Jesus as if he was here to grant your every wish!

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” Mark 10:35

By the response that was given to them it is safe to say that we do not get to pick and choose from a smorgasbord of blessings. They are given at the sole discretion of the blesser!

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” Mark 10:36-40

Blessings come in many forms. Although not always in the ways that we would normally think. Sometimes like my friend Kelly, it is easy to want to pick and choose how we are blessed. 

Fortunately our God is the giver of every good and perfect gift! 

 "I will bless my people and their homes around my holy hill. And in the proper season I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 34:26

Father help us to remember that Your gifts come in Your time and in Your way! 

Questions and Answers

A huge weight has been on my heart. My mother has Alzheimer's and lately her short term memory has been spotty at best. Every time I am with her it is necessary to choose my words wisely, so not to upset her, did I mention she also can be grumpy? In the midst of this there have been many questions that have arisen for me. It's amazing how God has given me answers and blessings along the way

Questions

How do I care for her when she doesn't remember simple things or becomes agitated. On vacation I spent some time reading a book, Creating Moments of Joy. The author helped me see how to care for my mom in a kinder, more loving way! 

What can be done to keep her in her independent living situation for as long as possible? The organization, Elders helpers is able to send a nurse to her home to consult with my mom and set up all of her medications. The nurse is kind, gentle and knowledgeable. My mom loved her!

What medication for Alzheimer's should my mom be taking? After meeting with her doctor it was revealed that Aricept, the medication that she was supposed to be taking had been discontinued in her records! Well that answers many questions!

What I learned

The weight has been lifted. God has blessed me with answers and surprises! 

The Doctor's office called and changed the appointment. This meant that we would meet with the nurse first and the Doctor the next day. What a blessing because it gave me time to formulate important questions and time to mentally rest after a tough couple of hours with the nurse. God knew that I needed that extra time.  

The other blessing came in the discovery of the missing medication. Thank you Lord for prompting me to ask the question!

O Lord, You have looked through me and have known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You understand my thoughts from far away. You look over my path and my lying down. You know all my ways very well. Even before I speak a word, O Lord, You know it all. You have closed me in from behind and in front. And You have laid Your hand upon me. All You know is too great for me. It is too much for me to understand. Psalm 139:1-6

God knows what we need and blesses us abundantly!