tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28678732525488255632024-03-13T23:57:08.094-04:00In His LoveMeanderings throughout this journey of faithLeslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-20338634139311325392023-04-23T14:33:00.006-04:002023-04-23T14:33:54.980-04:00"Let my people go."<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Libian SC";"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-pet9yvyHx17IkTOXd6BrcMPbEg3i7W_rMmODfCAT0HqTWBASOIlNwC4NcVspERNLP-7Ocddkhz22JbNQXwBXBBzdo2YY3zrP9h70LJsMHc3zNylPrNYDh5W8UTILzsiFEWcO9Av-VlePumYmN9PY2npAzrHa72I2J_FBrJLUMX0tDd_Ne2jWUc1/s2545/Burch%20Let%20my%20people%20go%20close%20up.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1819" data-original-width="2545" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-pet9yvyHx17IkTOXd6BrcMPbEg3i7W_rMmODfCAT0HqTWBASOIlNwC4NcVspERNLP-7Ocddkhz22JbNQXwBXBBzdo2YY3zrP9h70LJsMHc3zNylPrNYDh5W8UTILzsiFEWcO9Av-VlePumYmN9PY2npAzrHa72I2J_FBrJLUMX0tDd_Ne2jWUc1/s320/Burch%20Let%20my%20people%20go%20close%20up.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />“Let
my people go!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">I am currently enrolled in a course entitled <i>Schools
and Inequalities.</i> My focus changed from my work with adults as a teacher
leader to focusing instead on me as a teacher in my own classroom. Quality
education is about learning and growing as a professional and a member of our
community. We must function as culturally responsive educators with the knowledge,
skills, and outlooks of leaders both within our schools and the larger
educational district.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">The question for teachers is: What are
we doing to change the system for students? I believe that everyone can change
their way of thinking to make themselves better. But, there is a fine line
about the desire to change to be better and the desire to change to make
better. In part of our American history, t</span><span style="background: white; font-family: trebuchet;">he laws did try and influence the way people think. </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Anything
can be twisted and turned into a certain belief or way of thinking. We must see
all people as people and not objects of our day. Of course, this part of
history affected literacy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">According to some theories, if a
child toughens things out, he will succeed. That is not always true. Hardship
does not promise success. I believe in long-term goals being set. This skill needs
to be taught to all students living in the present. Teaching personal goal
setting can be hard but not impossible. We can help to understand the mindset
of people through empathy. </span><b style="font-family: trebuchet;"><i>We cannot change a way of thinking completely
or a culture of people. However, we can have understanding.</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Having lived in Russia as a
missionary, I learned that the Baptist were treated similarly during the days
of persecution. The Baptist were considered a cult and people against the
Orthodox Church. Therefore, for the 70 years of Communism, Baptist were not allowed
to “worship” or study in a university. If you were Baptist, you were not
privileged. Thus, it took several years after communism for the people of the
Baptist faith to gain any form of wealth and prominence. They were then and
only then allowed to get an education. I guess all countries have their sad
histories. Thankfully, today everyone can learn and achieve. It is now up to us
to make a difference and not let resistance get in the way. We need to be
responsive to all. Others know how one truly feels. It shows.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 200%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">When I hear the old Negro Spirituals
sung, it just reminds me of how I was once lost, and then freed to a life full
in Christ. “Tell Ole Pharaoh, Let My People Go” (</span><i style="font-family: trebuchet;">Go Down, Moses</i><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">) has
spiritual, yet historical meaning for me. This song carried a “secret” message.
When I hear the songs sung, I place myself into that situation as best I can to
empathize. I know that unless you have lived through something, though, it is
hard to fully understand. But, I try. I love and sympathize with all people. It
is like some school principals have expressed that we must teach the children
love. But, love, is not the only thing we give them. We must provide
understanding and hope for the future. We need to change our system to provide
what students need, and we need to teach students that they can make a
difference. It takes both understanding and adaptation. Best of both worlds.
Empower them to be leaders of tomorrow. </span><i style="font-family: trebuchet;">Let my students go!</i></p>Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-51642365950786603662022-03-20T16:22:00.007-04:002022-03-20T16:29:13.462-04:00a new way<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 22pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">W</span></i><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;">e used </span></i><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;">to sing a song, “Father Abraham had many sons.” But not all
of Abraham’s sons were children of Promise, God’s chosen. One of Abraham’s sons
through one of his wives was Shuah (Gen 25:2), and one of his descendants was
Bildad, a friend of Job. Bildad’s problem was that he limited God based on his
tradition (Job 8:8). Bildad had two points for Job’s pain: 1) History teaches
that God ONLY lets pain come to punish sins (8:3-4), and 2) History teaches
that God ALWAYS gives<span class="textexposedshow"> relief to anyone who
prays for it (8:5-6). The problem with defining God by history is that God is
bigger than that and sometimes He does things in a new way (Is 43:19). God
doesn’t ONLY let pain come as a result of sinful actions. And God doesn’t
ALWAYS answer our prayers for pain relief in the way we want. Not all of
Abraham’s sons knew God the way Job was coming to know Him.</span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">God did not answer
my pain problem in the way I wanted. I am still trying to figure it out. My
journey seemed to take a turn I was not expecting. I am coming to know God in a
new way.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Having been on
so many types of medicine, I had withdrawals systems like most addicts. Even
though my experience was one that was not the normal street drug issue. I still
experienced some of the same detoxing symptoms (i.e., shivers, shakes, dry mouth,
fatigue, nausea, suicidal thoughts, etc.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">My continued traumatic
experience was one that was indirectly ordered by doctors’ hands-prescriptions.
Am I blaming the doctors? No, but I will say this. You must pray and watch
before you choose to go a route that may not be the best for you.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">My daughter is a
Physician’s Assistant. I highly regard the medical field. In my situation, though,
the doctors could not find anything wrong. Therefore, my pain became questionable.
Was the pain real? I could see this question form in some doctor’s eyes. I knew
it was real and Buck did. But, it had gotten to the point that they knew that nothing
could be done for me. So, my only next steps in the field of medicine were
seeing a doctor of psychiatry and doctors of pain management. Buck had warned
me of this. Buck always knows. My best friend!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">I soon made the
conclusion that my pain was a result of nerves. No physical issues were evident.
All my tests were normal. I was normal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">There is a fine
line from where pain stems. Is it real? Yes. However, nerve pain is not
physical. True. I did not have an accident that caused a brake or wound. But,
my issue was painful. Nerve pain. I knew my pain was legitimate; however, it
was difficult for me to explain. Piercing, cutting, constant burning on the top
and back of my head!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">What led to me
trying new medications, I believe led me to more pain. We believe that since
the medicine was not helping my pain, it started to mask it. My darling, Buck,
looked at me after four years of “trying” new prescriptions and said, “No more.
Not my wife.” I was given certain types of medications that became addictive in
nature.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">I remember the
day he begged me. He said, “Leslie, nothing is working. Come off everything. If
nothing works, why take it? I know it will be hard, but God will bless it. He
will heal you. You do not need to be addicted to anything. God will not honor
this. It does not work anyway. Let’s try some natural things and see what
works.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">I told him, “God
is not going to heal me. He has not in four years, and He does not plan on it now.”
Buck held to his statement. And out of complete desperation, I said, “Okay.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">I am so glad I submitted.
I was limiting God just like Bildad. I never thought my pain was a result of
sin. I knew God could heal me. I was just so tired. I was giving up. The faith
of my family and friends held me together though.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><span class="textexposedshow"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;">The
problem with defining God by history is that God is bigger than that and
sometimes He does things in a new way (Is 43:19). </span></i></b></span><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;">He decided to do things in a new way
with me. Thank God that He spared my life! He can spare yours. I am living proof.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;">Prayer:</span></b></span><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;"> God help me. I believe!</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> -<i>I Named Him Anxiety, Buck and Leslie Burch</i></o:p></span></span></p>
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</div>Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-26663608819197437392022-01-04T19:05:00.001-05:002022-01-04T19:05:05.517-05:00do not forget about us<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">do not forget about us<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="Content"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Sometimes it’s hard to talk to a
person who is hurting really badly. Sometimes it’s hard to listen to what a
hurting person says. Job was angry with his friends for not being able to
comfort him (Job 6-7). He called them “undependable” (6:15) and “of no help”
(6:21); that’s hard to hear when you’re trying to cheer somebody up. <span class="textexposedshow"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">This topic points
to an area many people in pain do not like to discuss. I looked to Buck as my “savior”.
I heard doctors say they did not know what was wrong with me. All my tests were
coming back negative. Yet, Buck was my best friend and a strategist by nature,
and I just knew he was going to solve my problem. Looking back, I did not treat
him fairly. Deep down I felt that if Buck could not figure it out, then I was
ruined. I never verbally said that he was “undependable”. However, I wonder if
I did not wrestle with the thought subconsciously. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">We have actually
thought through some of these feelings since my healing. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">But Job’s inner fight was with God,
and he questioned God’s purpose for allowing him to have the physical and
emotional pain he felt. His pain was maki<span class="textexposedshow">ng him
lose his fear of God (6:14). He describes his body’s sores (7:5) and his loss
of hope (7:7). At one point Job asked God to go ahead and kill him (6:8-9).
Since God created your life, is it His right to decide when you will die? Does
God have the right to make you a “target” to punish (7:20)? Can God decide what
He will forgive and not forgive (7:21)? What a hurting person sometimes
questions about God reveals where his real theology is. But God is bigger than
our questions and better than any words our pain wants to say.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">All along I knew
that my inner fight was my questioning God, but it just seemed easier to handle
the stress when I had someone to depend on for my “salvation”. I cried in anguish
to God. I was at my weakest point- point of despair. I felt like Judah did in
Jerimiah 14: 1-9. There was a drought in their land, and they cried in anguish “leave
us not” because the city wells, grounds and fields were barren and dry (verse
9b). I can relate to their hopelessness. I pleaded for God to hear me in
relation to my healing. But for a long time, all I heard was silence. I remember
lying on the floor and looking at the ceiling for hours praying for a moment of
relief, praying for a miracle, or just praying for an answer. Honestly, I wanted
the doctors to say something was wrong, so we could start to fix the problem.
Time after time and visit after visit, I heard the same silence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">So, there was a time
that I even asked God to take me. Thinking back now, I see how selfish that was
for me to even question God. God knew what He was allowing in my life. I have
not yet figured it all out, but I know He has given me another chance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">My prayers then
turned in the form of pleas admitting my sin. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Have you thought about praying like this-
at the point of desperation- and begging God to hear you? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="textexposedshow"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Prayer:</span></b></span><span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> O</span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">ur sins show our guilt, Lord. Please help me.
I have backslidden immensely; my sins have offended You. You are my only hope
in this time of ultimate despair. You seem as a stranger to me right now, like
a person that passes by me unknown. It is as if You are a soldier that has been
approached unaware, unarmed and stunned. However, I know that You are right
here with me. I know this, Lord. Others may think the opposite. I know that I
am Yours. Please do not forget about me (Jeremiah 14:7-9)!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">-"I named him Anxiety." by Buck and Leslie Burch</span></p>Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-3900266314819670802021-06-27T22:16:00.005-04:002021-06-27T22:16:54.980-04:00Wish.<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i> Paintings by Les</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWDKDGnyF1dOPp_0077H8g508jGmpVRj2Yxpto5ougWeQsnHsYppLsAQ0o67ZbgCsIq_X-1CAAh7AVAVFJUE30jKNsVhln8W926VpNPKRwBDnAP11mjgMSiFgh4_BkBV0ZQmWTuvVzzw/s1080/Wish..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWDKDGnyF1dOPp_0077H8g508jGmpVRj2Yxpto5ougWeQsnHsYppLsAQ0o67ZbgCsIq_X-1CAAh7AVAVFJUE30jKNsVhln8W926VpNPKRwBDnAP11mjgMSiFgh4_BkBV0ZQmWTuvVzzw/s320/Wish..jpg" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">6-27-21</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><i><br /></i></span><p></p>Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-53065827086407210242021-06-27T21:25:00.005-04:002021-06-27T22:15:19.887-04:00Love.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCYOlEgIcwGF8dIjIR1us2ofEXUyrpZdYvuBU8dZy9Tfz3zt2SBGZ-NYnYrSy2TVrYynOHFDI31sDkSLCss1hfBFSRru4am6I-CCYjZdn-WkgGJY8IEhU1cCuyFje6Ac96iVYl3rGeys/s1080/Love..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCYOlEgIcwGF8dIjIR1us2ofEXUyrpZdYvuBU8dZy9Tfz3zt2SBGZ-NYnYrSy2TVrYynOHFDI31sDkSLCss1hfBFSRru4am6I-CCYjZdn-WkgGJY8IEhU1cCuyFje6Ac96iVYl3rGeys/s320/Love..jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>Paintings by Les</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">6-22-21</div><br /> <p></p>Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-57916076462614401632020-09-20T17:48:00.010-04:002020-09-20T19:37:00.565-04:00I have hope...<p> </p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcH0FgyiC-IQ0NO2S11qqoKvMbcKRAxPqGrFcK2KBp61hFQuZGWEPAdcqcZ0k5-4sjqWw_cf5-eMofNKi-xP6nGn1hSxsv8yEBPk_74gLbqLsCQk8iWuSVaeOPXlimvzpyubclwkNQ7AI/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="262" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcH0FgyiC-IQ0NO2S11qqoKvMbcKRAxPqGrFcK2KBp61hFQuZGWEPAdcqcZ0k5-4sjqWw_cf5-eMofNKi-xP6nGn1hSxsv8yEBPk_74gLbqLsCQk8iWuSVaeOPXlimvzpyubclwkNQ7AI/" width="320" /></a></span></i></div><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 22pt;">H</span></i><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">ave</span></i><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">
you ever wondered what God thinks about pain? In Job 2, you can read how God
had all of His millions of angels come stand before Him for a regular meeting.
The devil came with them, so God talked about Job again. After the devil had
been allowed to destroy all of Job’s property and family, now the devil wanted
to hurt Job’s body. God let him. </span></i><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;">Why, God?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;"><i><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;"><i><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">God
is eternal, so I wonder what God thinks about the temporary suffering in our
lives. Does He have a bigger purpose for letting us feel pain here and now? God
could talk about anything else in His creation, but He seems to talk about
certain people He notices and loves. Yet, why would He let those people suffer?
What does this reveal about Who God is?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;"><i><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 4.5pt;"><i><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">God let His own Son Jesus suffer
also on this earth to pay for our sins. Maybe temporary suffering is one of the
things God allows to make things work out in a way that He knows will be
better. We cannot always understand God, but we can trust that He is bigger
than our pain, and He is better than our pain, too.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I am the first
to admit that I like things to run smoothly. When they do not, I am a mess. My
family teases me that I have border line OCD tendencies. We laugh and joke
about it, but in fact it is not far from the truth. I do like things in order.
However, the past few years, I have learned to let a few things go. It’s okay.
The wisdom comes in knowing the balance. Sometimes things happen in life where
you are forced to put total trust and dependence on the Lord. I guess Type A
people may find this a little more difficult. When there is no plan, faith must
step in the picture. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">
</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Today, though,
I feel entrapped. What must I do? Call upon the Lord and totally trust. When an
animal or fish tries to free itself from a hunter’s net, it actually becomes
more entangled. I admit that I have been fighting to free myself from the pain.
It is time to stop. My strength cannot hold up any longer. Be still and humbly
call upon the Lord and His goodness. He will hear me. I remember His promise
that He will take care of the faithful. </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">He
will save me. </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I have hope!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br />Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-7343349533992522332020-06-26T20:25:00.002-04:002020-06-26T20:55:18.834-04:00I named him "Anxiety"....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I guess
it is time. I put it off long enough. Maybe I wonder what people will think.
Well, I realize that it only matters what God thinks. Since Job was normal, I
am, too. I remember when the Lord led Buck through the book of Job. I was
dealing with chronic, daily pain. Perfect timing. Yet, I did not want to read
anything that spoke to pain. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These are the words that Buck wrote:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">“</span><i style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">There are Christian counselors out there who
have been trained to deal with people who live through pain, sometimes very
traumatic pain. In Job’s ongoing conversation with his friends, he outlines
what he and they both know about God (Job 12), what Job wants from God (Job
13), and how that compares to his current experience of pain (Job 14). Yet so
far, none of their counseling has helped him. In fact, he says ‘men at ease
have contempt for misfortune’ (12:5); in other words,<span class="textexposedshow"> he didn’t think they really could understand or
help. Job believed in a God Who gives life (12:10), Who is wise (12:13) and
powerful (12:14-16), Who reveals truth (12:22) and Who raises up nations and
leaders at His will (12:23-25). Yet what Job wants from God is to talk to Him
and have Him hear his hurt (13:3). He was sick of his friends’ trite maxims and
pat answers for his pain (13:12). Job wanted to trust God (13:15) that this
pain would mean something in the end (13:16). He wanted his pain to stop
(13:21) and to understand why he was hurting (13:24). But neither Job’s beliefs
about God nor his desires for God’s intervention helped him overcome some of
the deep effects of chronic pain: troubled days (14:1), loneliness (14:6),
thoughts of death (14:10), and depression (14:22). Apparently his friends
really weren’t capable of counseling Job. And that makes me pray harder for
people God uses to bring emotional/psychological healing to a person who
experiences pain.</span></i><span class="textexposedshow" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">”</span></span></div>
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<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I did appreciate all the prayers. It makes
sense now, however, that when you are going through a hard time it is hard for
someone to understand unless they have experienced something similar. I relate
to Job’s thoughts in that he did not think men could really understand or help.
Doctor after doctor and loved ones after loved ones wanted to help but nothing
we tried or did worked. I seemed to have taken every medication on the market
and even went all natural and tried chiropractor help, eastern acupuncture, and
oil therapy. I even saw counselors. Just like Job, though, I needed God to tell
me why and if the pain would stop. I needed God to listen to my hurt.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Was He going to heal me? I was selfish, and
wanted the pain, the suffering, the anxiety, and the accompanied depression to
be taken away. But what was His will? I soon fell into depression and anxiety
began to take over after about 2 ½ years. I quit work. I did not want to leave
home. I knew I should, and Buck did his best to make me go out if nothing but
to ride in the car as he shopped for the groceries. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then after another year the most overwhelming
thoughts started to surface. I did not want to live anymore. I sat in bed at
night and looked at the ceiling praying for sleep like my loved ones in the
house. I could not rest in the pain and it was hard to make it through the day in
pain. Was there any relief? I then began to ask the Lord to take me home. I did
not really want to leave my family and definitely not pass away before my
parents, but I could not see an end or a purpose anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I used to enjoy living but the pain began to
talk. The monster in my closet surfaced and I named him "Anxiety". It got to the point
that I feared everything even eating. The pain was so horrendous I felt like I
could not even breathe. I started reading and studying about anxiety and
depression for I wanted out. However, the pain kept talking. Life just got
darker and darker. I knew God was there, but I felt like He was not talking to
me. Why could I not hear anything?</span><br />
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<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Doctors would genuinely look at me with such
compassion. Because no one knew what was wrong, I wondered if they believed my
pain was even real. All test were normal. They wanted to discover what was
wrong in order to fix it. But I seemed to keep hitting a brick wall with no
answers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I want to encourage prayer warriors today. Do
not stop praying for someone experiencing pain or hurt. Emotional and
psychological healing does come. It comes in God’s timing not our timing. Do
not give up. No one gave up on me. And for that I am thankful. I want to
publicly say thank you to all those prayer warriors for not giving up on me
even though I temporarily gave up on the battle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am working again. I am eating and sleeping again. Life is great. I was given another chance to live “free of pain”. I
know that God answered the prayers of the people that cried out for me. I love
you for that. I wanted to say, though, if you are hurting, do not give up. God
is still listening. He hears your cry for help. He hears the prayers of others.
I know. You see, I am living proof. How can I pray for you? It is not as dark
as it seems. Satan is a deceiver. Job and I listened to the wrong voice at
times. No one escapes dark valleys or suffering. But guess what? God is really
there and He is leading you out. It is time to start climbing the mountain
again. How can I help? Do you need someone to listen? Contact me. This is my
story. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="textexposedshow"><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Contact email: lesburch@gmail.com</span></span></span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-52643151732568708852020-04-11T21:04:00.001-04:002020-04-11T21:43:30.623-04:00For wearing the crown...thank you...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I have head pain
daily but to no extent to the prior pain I once felt. I remember one day when I
was in the doctor’s office at the Mayo Clinic, I described my pain similar to a
crown of thorns. The doctor looked at me interestingly and said that he had never
heard it put like that before. I immediately explained that I in no way was
comparing my so called crown to the one my Lord wore that day as He suffered
and walked to his death on a hill called Golgotha. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">The head pain I
suffer with is more like pins and needles than throbbing migraine pain. Though
I was once diagnosed with migraine, I began to believe it was more like occipital
neuralgia-a nerve type pain. Basically I had a sharp discomfort that would radiate
through my scalp. The nerves seemed to fire off constantly. I longed to sleep every
night in hopes that I would not feel the pain. I remember sitting for hours
just staring at the ceiling in my home and asking God “why.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">I know it was not
for me to question, but I just could not understand what I had done wrong to
deserve such pain. Pain that would never go away. As I sit here writing right
now, I have some pain. It is always present; though, now it is so low I never
complain. Once you feel like you have been in the miry clay to finally be out
on solid ground, your attitude toward live changes. You are happy to wake up
every day and enjoy whatever comes your way. You see the world through a different
lens. Especially when you know that God has given you another chance to live. A
life “free” of pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">And yet I cannot
help but think of that day when my Savior walked to His known death bleeding
for you and me. He was mocked and ridiculed in a way that we would never understand.
And while on the cross, He asked the Father to “forgive them for they know not
what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Our Savior was so compassionate that even in the
moments of His worst pain and suffering, He was merciful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms";">He stood up
against the powers of Hell and the Grave. And he defeated it. He rose again on
the third day. When His side was pierced, the sacrificial blood poured out to “wash”
our sins away, He cried out: “<i><span style="background: white;">Eli</span><span style="background: white;">, Eli, lama sabachthani</span></i><span style="background: white;">? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
(Matthew 27:46) He was so alone during that dark hour. It was a task that he
had to bear alone. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "comic sans ms";">I will admit that I often felt like God had forgotten about
me during those years of my harsh pain. But how foolish I was to ever think
such a thing! When the pain continued day after day and night after night, I
soon gave up. I did not want to live anymore. How selfish I was to have even had
the thought! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "comic sans ms";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "comic sans ms";">When someone suffers with chronic pain, he/she is susceptible
to depression and anxiety. I am in no way making an excuse for my thoughts. And
my anxiety story I will save for another day. However, my depression seemed to just
take over. I could read the book of Job and feel like I understood the man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "comic sans ms";">But let me explain. Because of the Lord’s mercy, I am able to
tell my story. It is Resurrection Weekend, and I only think of my Savior. The
One who died for me. Yes, I once likened my head pain to a piercing crown
of thorns, but I in no way understand the pain that my Lord felt that day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "comic sans ms";">No matter what we go through or how we have to suffer, it
will never compare to the sacrifice He made almost 2000 years ago on the cross.
He looked down and had pity on the very ones that nailed Him to that tree. And
he looked down and had pity on me. Thank you Lord, for wearing the crown. I
love you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-72559655053272341042020-04-05T19:46:00.001-04:002020-04-05T20:19:25.875-04:00Hi again,<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9uxwytLZSKNXoWI2PoLSxYXnZ_Dkh7rnSmDbK9sfEzLl3i7ZuY0H9YnywqIPbA7uwLxYLcj9ZxrkzS49eBrpob94xebetrCHPahUMnwW7N6JdL5l3p4ygGI-KVsaRsrxoaQP3VuMnic/s1600/bitmoji+hi.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9uxwytLZSKNXoWI2PoLSxYXnZ_Dkh7rnSmDbK9sfEzLl3i7ZuY0H9YnywqIPbA7uwLxYLcj9ZxrkzS49eBrpob94xebetrCHPahUMnwW7N6JdL5l3p4ygGI-KVsaRsrxoaQP3VuMnic/s200/bitmoji+hi.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Hi again,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I have been away for a while. I ventured through what I would term a valley that I
never want to travel again. I used to think I understood what hard times were
because I lived as a missionary in a place that was not my home- Russia. Well,
I was naive in my understanding of passing through what we as believers often
term a valley. I am sure that we all have categorized our spiritual experiences
as either high or low, in other words a mountain-top or valley experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I think that I am just starting to truly
heal from that experience, because I am capable of putting pen to paper now. I
am able to look back and interpret parts of that journey. Hopefully writing about
it will help me to understand and to help someone who may be experiencing rough
terrain similar to mine. I can say and fully understand now that my Savior was
holding my right hand the entire time even though I sometimes doubted that He
was even there<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. “<span style="background: white;">For I the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Lord</span></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> thy God will hold thy </span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">right</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">hand</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.</span>”
(Isaiah 41:13) <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">My close friends and
church family kept telling me my faith was strong, but I knew the real me. I
allowed Satan to move in and steal some of my joy (some of my faith) during
that part of my walk. Maybe this is where we get the term my faith wavered. My
mind was questioning my faith when in fact I was actually getting stronger. I
just did not know that at the time.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I cannot say that I waited patiently
for the Lord to answer me either like the psalmist wrote in Psalm 40, but
I know He heard my cry, along with the cries of my family and friends. They never
gave up praying for me, even though I became very weak and tired from the
journey. I can joyfully say that today he has brought my feet onto solid ground
and continues to establish all of my goings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Just recently I started teaching in
public school again. I was not seeking to start back so soon. I felt like I needed
to move into things gradually. I wanted to start by just getting my feet wet a
little before jumping all the way in to full time work again. But God had a
different plan. Well, I often jump in the deep end anyway. This behavior is validated
by the entrepreneur type spirit I have. After all, I belong to the generation
cohort “X.” A generation that generally does not mind taking greater risk at starting
new things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Psalm 40 goes onto to say that he puts
a new song in our mouth. I wondered how long I was going to sing the “woe is me”
song. How long was I going to stay in the dark valley- the pit that I kept plugging
in deeper and deeper? Where was the light at the end of this painful tunnel? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verse 3 states: “…many shall see it, and fear,
and trust in the Lord.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">You see I experienced excruciating
head pain for over four years. I thought I would never be freed of this pain. Most
days my pain level ranged from an 8-10 on the pain scale. I went to see doctor
after doctor, but no one knew what was wrong with me. Some even hinted that the
pain was “all in my head”. </span><span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt;">I was given several diagnoses (i.e., migraines, occipital neuralgia,
cervicogenic headache, etc.).<br /> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14pt;">Blessed is the man that makes the Lord
his TRUST and does not turn to lies (verse 4). See, I started to believe a lie.
A lie that I would never exit this pain. It was real, yet no doctor could pin point
what it was or what caused the pain. So, I started to believe a lie. I lie that
I was of no use anymore and that the pain would never go away. I was ready to
go on and be with the Lord. But, O Lord, are the wonderful works that You alone
have performed! (verse 5) Thank you, Lord, that You are not finished with me
yet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I ran across a song one day, though
not Christian. The lyrics were taken straight from the Scripture however. An Irish
rock band, U2, often using biblical imagery in their songs, put one together in
10 minutes entitled “40”. A song they eventually closed many of their concerts
with for years. Lyrics were needed for the song, so the lead guitarist opened
the Bible to Psalm 40 and they started singing: “I will sing, sing a new song. …How
long to sing this song?” I wondered how long was I to sing this song of pain! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-12879500062433266452017-07-21T17:26:00.001-04:002017-07-21T17:26:25.859-04:00Traffic memories.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Traffic memories. How do I change them? I try not
to tap on the breaks so much and give the car a little more gas. I attempt to alter
the situation. I always wonder who started the stalling process and why. Maybe
it was the driver of a pickup truck who suddenly decided he wanted to take a
coffee break and slowly traveled three lanes over to exit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Painful memories of sin appear similarly- quick
and out of nowhere. What should I do? Having already repented, I should dismiss
them as quickly as they came. All they do is get me in trouble and rob me of
what lies ahead. All those blessings! I’ll keep moving with the Holy Spirit’s
help. Others will be happy, too, especially those close to me. I won’t dwell.
Thanks, Lord, for removing my sins “as far as the east is from the west”. (Psalm
103:12)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-59650694595662360862017-03-31T16:16:00.000-04:002017-03-31T17:06:18.013-04:00Draw your sword.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Draw your sword. Really, it’s the Lord’s armor not
mine. After memorizing Ephesians 6 when I was a youth, I learned early to put
on the armor of God to prepare for the day’s battles. Those spiritual battles
that I cannot see. I have been studying the importance of each piece lately. I
recently watched the movie “The Last Samurai” and researched details about the
history of the katana. A newborn Japanese Samurai receives his sword at birth
and may even follow him to death. Unfortunately, they are so attached to the
weapon that the Samurai and soul are like one. What high value is placed on
that sword! A lot goes into the creation of one. They are revered. The last
part of God’s armor that I take up is the Sword of the Spirit- the Word of God.
Revered? Yes. Valued? Yes. Attached? Yes. So, I ask the question: How much time
do I spend in His Word? Prepare for battle. Read His Word. Mediate continuously.
Draw the sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6: 10-20)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIz4mOGm1Uw1uvaUMcbwT0xAZTFZ4vjWqxKavskDe-gO84y1N3hUJj2nnJm4UjNqOyu7UlvM9uViKYnuIrlw5NQb2a2vKKoWAsDb7TEvxJGPX70HDt4DPG31iGdhogv5C1kg7FBiHq7k/s1600/Your+RH2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIz4mOGm1Uw1uvaUMcbwT0xAZTFZ4vjWqxKavskDe-gO84y1N3hUJj2nnJm4UjNqOyu7UlvM9uViKYnuIrlw5NQb2a2vKKoWAsDb7TEvxJGPX70HDt4DPG31iGdhogv5C1kg7FBiHq7k/s320/Your+RH2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-10289727836603454982017-03-30T09:17:00.000-04:002017-03-30T09:17:02.180-04:00I'm so hungry!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm so hungry! Give me something right now. Okay, I'll be honest. I'll grab some potato chips first or my favorite snack, Cheez-its. What I should be grabbing first is fruit. What a great blessing-apples, strawberries, blueberries, etc.! Speaking of blessing, Esau gave his blessing away for a bowl of stew. In a moment of desire, he sold his right to be the spiritual leader for his family, not to mention the material benefit. "Esau despised his birthright." I hope I never prefer the pleasure (temptation) of a moment over the blessing my Father has for me. Stop. Think a minute... I'll have a bowl of fresh fruit. It's my choice. (Gen. 25:. 29-34)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieal029T_pOrgVc3tZG2MqjcMeluciMve9gVtEUtAMNkmfY-vQaj23YJJd9ZUFE-Kqe4CqS4kfIvIQXN1V1PTtuaKDjYrcE17MlXUzNnBrXIymosfue3MZIaAOMt8-XQ9RoTlDJIMe2Qo/s1600/banner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieal029T_pOrgVc3tZG2MqjcMeluciMve9gVtEUtAMNkmfY-vQaj23YJJd9ZUFE-Kqe4CqS4kfIvIQXN1V1PTtuaKDjYrcE17MlXUzNnBrXIymosfue3MZIaAOMt8-XQ9RoTlDJIMe2Qo/s320/banner2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-36756135260394297292017-03-21T20:22:00.003-04:002017-03-21T20:39:25.671-04:00Should I witness?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 107%;">♥<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Should I witness?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Should I witness? Yes. Should I dine with
sinners? It is inevitable. Should I surround myself with evil? No. There comes
a point when I must draw the line. I ask: “How can I know when I must remove
myself? David shares in Psalm 101:6: “</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me:…</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">” I must interact and share my faith with the masses, but I cannot take up home with them.
My time of retreat needs to be with those who are strong in the faith. Seek
them out. Fellowship with them. Dine, break bread, and pray with believers
whose lives produce fruit and are blameless. This righteousness is possible
because the body of a believer houses the Holy Spirit. These people are the
ones who will minister to me. Who can I hang out with today that will feed me
spiritually, so I will be ready to witness? I am meeting with my mentor in the faith right now.</span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-60304703235604728482017-03-13T21:49:00.000-04:002017-03-13T21:49:12.069-04:00Sing and Shout.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhblZ22Ge4NI0fCs_j6c-XUl5Tz_NHPQd3vsczKVM89lwvzCDaNeCy6JYrJealb9jzR2HYx5XZ3h3fehG8dKQNxH7aZvVFS9GJZWXqEPJcAx0jKYfFM5SAqCKQ6zLOlrOJWOhRC5r4_w/s1600/banner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhblZ22Ge4NI0fCs_j6c-XUl5Tz_NHPQd3vsczKVM89lwvzCDaNeCy6JYrJealb9jzR2HYx5XZ3h3fehG8dKQNxH7aZvVFS9GJZWXqEPJcAx0jKYfFM5SAqCKQ6zLOlrOJWOhRC5r4_w/s320/banner2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Sing and shout. I know I sing, but I rarely shout. "Come," that sounds like an invitation to me. God's hands hold the innermost parts of the Earth, the tops of the mountains, and the seas. All belongs to Him. I'm shouting! Then, immediately I "bow down in worship" and kneel before the Maker. -Psa 95:1-6</span></div>
Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-61230216471382755102017-03-12T21:40:00.003-04:002017-03-12T21:40:59.411-04:00Am I too old yet?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Am I too old yet? Absolutely not. May I never stop witnessing! I have mentors older than I am still at work for God's Kingdom growth. I want to flourish like a palm tree. A certain species of palm can grow nearly 200 feet in height. I want to stand tall for Christ and produce fruit no matter my age and "stay fresh and green, proclaiming...The Lord is my Rock". -Psa. 92: 12-15.</span></div>
Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-91637230041872456012017-03-11T11:10:00.003-05:002017-03-11T11:10:50.463-05:00Scared. No.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Scared. No. There is no need for me to fear any terror night or day. No form of corruption can touch me either. After watching a documentary on penguins, I learned that the father bird cuddles the unhatched egg for up to two month under his feathers for protection against the harsh, cold winds of Antarctica. How much more does the Father cover me with His against all danger? "...under His wings I find refuge." -Psa. 91: 3-6</span></div>
Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-11807320148108410602017-03-11T11:09:00.005-05:002017-03-11T11:09:55.727-05:00God's Timing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Sometimes I find myself questioning God's timing on matters. But I should continually believe and trust in the Lord. I aught to daily say, "You are my God...Deliver me from my enemies" and those who seek after me. There is no need for me to take control. Psa. 31: 14-15</span><br />
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-28784468045711363942017-03-11T11:04:00.001-05:002017-03-11T11:04:47.602-05:00Worthless Idols<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I say I commit myself into the Lord's hands, but how often do I hold tightly to useless... worthless idols. Idols like my job, my pride, my money, my relationships, my worry, etc.? "Redeem me, O Lord!" Psa. 31: 5-6</span></div>
Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-47800089776073518282017-03-04T18:42:00.000-05:002017-03-04T18:48:19.448-05:00Your Right Hand- prayer 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Prayer 2</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I just don't know what else to do, so I relinquish myself all over again. I have come to the end of my resources. The right thing to do now is give myself to You again today. You provide me with Your strength and power. Help me learn the true way to trust in You today. All I need today, Lord, is Your grace. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My being with You feels me with such joy.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Your right hand will guide me (Psa. 139)...</span><br />
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-8388512043047480392017-02-15T09:14:00.004-05:002017-02-15T09:14:44.835-05:00This post is about you.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This post is about you.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Without you, I cannot stand. The prayers of the faithful push me on. If you did not know how special you are, it is time that you found out. You are so special and have meant the world to me. Thanks for your prayers, brothers and sister in Christ. I realize now more than ever that I am not alone. I am so glad that we met and are participates in the blessing of the Father. (Col. 1:9-12)</span></div>
Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-24387188104638834512017-02-10T13:32:00.003-05:002017-02-10T13:44:15.000-05:00Long lives the King! -Prayer 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dear Lord,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Provide me the
strength I need for today based upon Your Word (Psa. 199:28). I love you so
much, Father. You are my rock, shield, stronghold and Savior. In You I find
shelter. In You alone I am already saved from my enemies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In my deepest anguish,
I cry to You, and You hear me. Thank You, my King. Praise You, Lord. You reached
down and grabbed me. You saved me from the deep seas. My enemy was strong and
too powerful for me. You sustained me during the disaster that surrounded me.
You did all this, Lord, only because You delight in me. Oh, how thankful I am,
because I am so unworthy. Thank you, for rewarding me with the gift of righteousness.
I try to keep Your ways, Lord. Daily help me, I plead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">O God, forever, keep my fire for You burning! Only with You can I rise and move forward against
an army and maneuver the obstacles before me. You make my feet as skillful and
quiet as that of a deer, yet give me great strength to do the impossible. I can
go after my enemy head on and rise above them. You cause miraculous things to
happen. Things beyond my understanding. Keep me humble in all of this however. May
I never forget from where my strength and deliverance come! All praise is given
to You. Long lives the King! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will praise You
all the days of my life. I will sing to You. This victory is possible because
of Your unfailing love toward me (Psa. 118). I love you so much and devote myself to You! In Jesus name, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-36894608743942957442016-12-02T18:04:00.001-05:002016-12-02T18:07:29.253-05:00I feel entrapped.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfccB0eB1xu9Ygx9ViUhVYK3_nJ0w9Hk3xRgshSgX4ygW_6vQjTmkVcq-ZK1vPZ2AztNX_fE2QJm3sdRNGDSBPYYwBnjbrJTolBojZz5v2Chyphenhyphen5UPT5SpoCW9DkzfhTTUhmpji1wbN3-gI/s1600/trapped+turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfccB0eB1xu9Ygx9ViUhVYK3_nJ0w9Hk3xRgshSgX4ygW_6vQjTmkVcq-ZK1vPZ2AztNX_fE2QJm3sdRNGDSBPYYwBnjbrJTolBojZz5v2Chyphenhyphen5UPT5SpoCW9DkzfhTTUhmpji1wbN3-gI/s320/trapped+turtle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I am the first to
admit that I like things to run smoothly. When they do not, I am a mess. My
family teases me that </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I have border</span> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">line
OCD tendencies</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">.
We laugh and joke about it, but in fact it is not far from the truth. I do like
things in order. However, the past few years, I have learned to let a few
things go. It’s okay. The wisdom comes in knowing the balance. Sometimes things
happen in life where you are forced to put total trust and dependence on the
Lord. I guess Type A people may find this a little more difficult. When there
is no plan, faith must step in the picture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Today, though, I
feel entrapped. What must I do? Call upon the Lord and totally trust. When an
animal or fish tries to free itself from a hunter’s net, it actually becomes
more entangled. I admit that I have been fighting to free myself. It is time to stop. My
strength cannot hold up any longer. Be still and humbly call upon the Lord and
His goodness. He will hear me. I remember His promise that He will take care of
the faithful. He will save me. I have hope!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">(Psalm 31): In You I put my trust. Please listen to me and save me quickly. You are my rock. Guide me. Free me from the entrapment I am in. Have mercy on me, Lord. Be gracious to me for I am troubled. My strength does not hold up because of my affliction. Let me not feel bad that I called upon you. I fear you, Lord. How great you are and your goodness! You have heard me. You take care of the faithful. Don’t lose hope; be brave, and He will make your heart strong. Hope!</span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-16179346982975772012016-11-29T10:56:00.002-05:002016-11-29T11:05:47.605-05:00"let perseverance run its course"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Brothers and
sisters in Christ, we should be joyful when we face challenges that test our
faith, because we learn patience. With these experiences we let perseverance
run its course. Then we reach maturity in our faith and lack not a single thing
(James 1:2-4). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I have read
these verses a thousand times and even quoted this scripture regularly, but
today the meaning of letting perseverance run its course took on a whole new
meaning. I often paid attention to the fact that we learn patience during a
time of testing. That is understood. God teaches His children this character
trait whether we whole heartily want to learn it or not. Then the phrase “let perseverance
run its course” struck me to the core. I realized we cannot hurry the time of
testing; it must play itself out. I am incapable of setting a time limit on a
trial period. Paul’s words be content in all circumstances now ring loud and
clear in my mind (Philippians 4:11). Without perseverance running its course,
there is no way that we can reach maturity. We would lack true understanding of
endurance.</span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-83312738059326529272016-11-25T08:38:00.006-05:002016-11-25T09:19:18.116-05:00A Thanksgiving Feast!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijigWH6a8k40SGElE3HHG5c_kH7xg7VcmVwJ6ifM9kaaFPR_JaJt3Geq3YT54kbXkciE6fQJFieVT2JGFZoqyqUmFGGAl8qsx4JN2QfulVhpgcbujosjHlLgUMFFe2mrurvZUhBH4arp4/s1600/feast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijigWH6a8k40SGElE3HHG5c_kH7xg7VcmVwJ6ifM9kaaFPR_JaJt3Geq3YT54kbXkciE6fQJFieVT2JGFZoqyqUmFGGAl8qsx4JN2QfulVhpgcbujosjHlLgUMFFe2mrurvZUhBH4arp4/s320/feast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">It’s
interesting how my understanding of scriptures becomes clearer during times of
trial. I have to remember regardless of what the enemy throws at me that God
has a feast table prepared for me. A Thanksgiving Feast! I can be in the worst
of situations and be joyful, because I am sitting at a table prepared for a
child of the King. I am eating all my favorite foods. The enemy cannot touch
the table, me or even…my joy. God’s goodness and His compassion is forever
present in my life. He is right here with me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">My
relationship with the Lord brings true joy- my cup runs over. This overflow is
easy to think about during the holiday season. Picture a delicious latte topped
with whipped cream and chocolate shavings flowing right over the cup. MMmmm. God
blesses us in the same way. The greatest blessing as God’s children is that we
have the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. He gives us the strength to
rejoice in all circumstances. Therefore, I am to learn to rejoice in all situations.
In 1 Peter we are reminded to give God all praise and glory, because we have
living hope. Peter teaches us that suffering proves our faith. All things
result in praise and honor. All glory to Him! (1: 3-7) Rejoice in all things.
Help me learn. Thanks, Lord, You make it possible that I can feast at a table
in front of the enemy and still be at peace.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">“Thou preparest a table before
me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup
runneth over. </span><sup><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">6 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the </span><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;">Lord</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: small;"> for ever.” (Psa. 23)</span></span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2867873252548825563.post-67928470274999802272016-11-22T11:57:00.000-05:002016-11-22T12:06:19.421-05:00Clear my thoughts of fear, my Great Shepherd!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0p_ETQbiaIrs1cXl_mdjh7ay-8MsJSh1vO5woPZ2l49bCqxF5vwrkZK2Fe2X0ajnABeixidE5FbdWShZfcr7B-7GmfrMgB0NwFtubYrf_uOrE9s8H_WS851vSN9yISSYgP-te22e7dw/s1600/the+great+shepherd.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0p_ETQbiaIrs1cXl_mdjh7ay-8MsJSh1vO5woPZ2l49bCqxF5vwrkZK2Fe2X0ajnABeixidE5FbdWShZfcr7B-7GmfrMgB0NwFtubYrf_uOrE9s8H_WS851vSN9yISSYgP-te22e7dw/s200/the+great+shepherd.png" width="143" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">Psalm 23 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; margin: 0px;">The <span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span>
is my shepherd; I shall not want. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 </span></sup>He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">3 </span></sup>He
restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's
sake. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">4 </span></sup>Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">5 </span></sup>Thou preparest a table before me in the presence
of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. <sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">6 </span></sup>Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in
the house of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span> for ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Everyone
walks through a valley at some point in their lives, maybe several “valley
experiences”. I have ventured that way before on the mission field. But this
valley experience of chronic pain seems a lot different. But as I go, I am
learning new things. The message I keep hearing is: “God is teaching, strengthening
and empowering you. You must allow your faith to grow stronger.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">One way that
my faith grows is by not fearing evil. Fear is not of God. I will be honest; I
have feared the severe “migraine-type” pain that pops up randomly. I have
experienced pain before, but nothing compared to this. I have concluded that I
must not dwell on the unknown but take comfort that the Lord’s rod and staff
are there to comfort me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The rod is
used to fight off the wolves of danger. The wolf strikes to bite, but God
fights him off with the rod for me. That includes taking my thoughts captive. When
thoughts of fear fly, I compare them to the sharp teeth of a wolf aimed to
attack. I trust in the Lord to clear my thoughts of fear- that violent wolf
image. When I wonder off in this direction, His staff brings me back into his
arms of comfort. The rod fights for me and the staff reaches out to protect me-bringing
me back to Him. Thank you, my Great Shepherd!</span></div>
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Leslie Burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03101319192312476132noreply@blogger.com0