Tag: hope

You Can Run

On By lisaostreimIn Bible, faith, Healing (aHUS), Health, Spiritual growthLeave a comment

“You can run,” my doctor replied.

You could have heard a pin drop in the silent room as I turned and stared wide-eyed at him. Was he even listening at all? I had just explained to him that most days I couldn’t get up from the couch without my heart racing and everything turning black. I explain those symptoms and he gives me permission to run?

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Isaiah verse has been precious to me for some time now. Every couple of years God reveals more of the verse for me. When the doctor said to me, “you can run”, I just marveled. Honestly, I am marveled at his stupidity! But I also marveled that maybe one day running would be possible.

That day is here. I have been doing what I can since my kidney transplant in December 2018. Beginning with very short walks and building up. But each day is different. Some days I sit. Some days I lay down. Some days I walk. And now some days I jog.

It is seriously just a jog. Not a run. And it doesn’t last long. But it is a step above walking. And it feels marvelous.

As a kid, I loved to run. I played all the sports and loved the feeling of working hard and pushing my body to the brink of exhaustion.

Chronic disease stole that from me for a long time. I’ve never given up exercising and I’ve just always done what I can.

This side of heaven, there are times when I just stagger along on a good day. Other days I am paralyzed by pain, fear, or worldly cares. And sometimes I have days where I can jog.

It’s so hard to wait on the Lord. It was especially hard when a medical professional was looking at me telling me I can run and I knew that wasn’t possible. The Lord wanted me to wait. He wanted me to rest. He had and still has so much for me to learn.

The Isaiah verse tells me to wait on the Lord to renew my strength.

I will wait on you, Lord. And as I wait, some days I will walk and some days I will run.

And one day I will soar.

Off My Pedestal

On By lisaostreimIn faith, Spiritual growth1 Comment

She says to me, “How can I stop being so selfish? How can I stop focusing so much on myself?”


Oh God, isn’t that the question I’ve been facing for months?


Look up, child.


See the sun illuminating the trees? That sun shines from above. Look up.


Look up, child.


See the wispy white clouds blanketing the sky? Something greater than you painted those clouds up there. Look up.


Look up, child.


Hear the bird singing atop the tree? He flies high above you. Look up.


Look up, child.


Lift up your chin. Lift up your eyes. Lift up your mind.


Looking downward I see my flesh. I think about my aches and pains. I think about the rip in the side of my shoe. My to do list begins flooding my mind.


But You say, look up, child.


I can’t see me anymore. I only see You.
You in all your glory. You in all your beauty. You in all your strength. You in all your creativity.


I’m off my pedestal and in the palm of your hand.


Look up, child. Look up, child

Honesty Leads to Compassion

On By lisaostreimIn faithLeave a comment

“Many people will not be honest because they fear loss of intimacy and togetherness. In reality, honesty brings people closer together.”

Dr. Henry Cloud

It’s easy to hide. It comes natural for most of us. Saying we are okay, when truly we are hurting inside.

When we bravely share our true self, we give others the opportunity to move with compassion.

Of course it is true, I may share my hurting heart with someone who is not able to respond with compassion. Maybe my hurt pricks a wound in their heart. And they become immoblized.

This is not reason for me to stop sharing honestly.

It is also true that I may honestly share my hurt with someone who learns of my pain, identifies with it, and responds with compassion.

Matthew 20:30-34, “Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “LORD, Son of David, have mercy on us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “LORD, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “LORD,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

The crowd wanted the needy, weaker, blind men to be quiet. But instead, the men revealed their true selves all the louder. Their true needy state. And they revealed their need to the One with the solution. Jesus responded in compassion.

When I honestly look at my pain, rather than bury it down deeper, I can bring it to my Source of Compassion. And He draws me closer to Him. He brings others to me with hearts of compassion. He reminds me the enemies lies of isolation simply are not true.

Dear One, are you hiding today behind a wall of hurt? Can you, like the blind men, bring your true self to Jesus? Can you receive His compassion and healing?

Sound Mind

On By lisaostreimIn Bible, faith, HealthLeave a comment

www.youtube.com/watch

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭1:7 
Sound mind: clearheaded, calm, making wise decisions.
What do you think of when you read the phrase sound mind in 2 Timothy 1:7? And, how can you apply that to your life today? I would love to read your thoughts below. 

Search and Cleanse Your Heart

On By lisaostreimIn Bible, faith, Spiritual growthLeave a comment

www.youtube.com/watch

Welcome! I am Lisa, promoter of Jesus, sharing my faith through chronic disease and trial.

When you read the book of Proverbs does it feel like a list of impossible tasks or impossible to achieve behaviors?

Read Proverbs 20 and see the instruction given about our hearts. We first need cleansing and healing of our hearts in order for our actions to be what we truly desire them to be.