Joy Comes in the Morning-Introduction to my new blog and a small peek into my journey living with chronic pain and dying to self.

 

 Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30

Glory to God!

The Holy Spirit took charge and led me to 

create this specific painting over the weekend. 

Only a birds eye view into my journey

730 represents how many days it took to strip me of 

everything worldly that I adored

mission work in Africa

my church family of 17 years

cooking

Joshua (my adored cat) put outside 

painting/artwork

photography

drinking a glass of wine

enjoying food/eating at all

many ministries

traveling with my husband

walking without difficulty/crutch

riding bike at beach

friends

energy 

8760 hours indicates how many days 

I've spent (mostly) in bed 

chronic debilitating pain

loss of mobility

loss of ability to eat solid foods

daily headaches with migraines that convince me I will die

36 stands for the number of years I've battled sickness and pain

several misdiagnosis 

including bi-polar and "it's all in your head"

6 trips to the ER since January

 countless procedures

countless doctors

countless BAD doctors

 1 child that suffers from what I have-EDS lll/plus some

 My sweet Ellee Belly

countless doctors

countless BAD doctors

1 billion creates the vision of how many other ways the devil has tried to knock us down along the way
broken washers/cars/etc.
septic backed up
leak in roof
etc.
nuff attention to this stuff!!

 MANY represents the days my awesome 

husband has taken off work or cancelled 

business trips due to my illness

He is awesome and our family has thrived due to his strength, patience and 
persistence in supporting each and every family member 
only to God's glory

2 official diagnosis so far (still searching and counting)

Ehlers Danlos lll (rare genetic collagen defect)

Chronic Migraines/Ocular migraines

 

2 Years since I have created any type of artwork!!

Last big project was a painted piano 

 

Countless represents the number of nights 

I substituted sleep for prayer (finally)

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Mark 1:35 NKJ

ONE is the only number

Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; 

I am God, and there is none like Me,  ISAIAH 46:9

More details on all this later. 

Back to the weekend:
I got up for 2 days after being having yet another long set back that landed me in bed. I had energy. I had determination. And only because of the power of the Holy Spirit did I create something that will remind me always
that this journey is about Him and not me.

I will not quit.

Life is hard.

We will always have precarious situations. It's a choice how you respond to them.
I have learned, finally and for real, what it looks like to Go to God first.
We tend to make a plan first all by ourselves, then we ask God to bless it.

Go to God FIRST and see if He has a plan. 

If it's God's plan than the Holy Spirit will lead you.
Pretty exciting!

Yes, I cry, I get sad, I get grumpy. It's not easy. 

But now that I have learned to seek God first, I have found more joy than ever.
And for me, it happens to be in the little things. 

I don't know if I will be able to do the things I used to. 

But I am excited to see what God is planning for me next!

  Proverbs 23:7 "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he"

Proverbs 23:7 KJV, "For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."