“The Thorn in the Flesh”

…And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Good morning Father!

Thank you for this day!

Thank you for my life!

Thank you for my sweet bride!

Thank you for our beautiful child!

All that we have and possess, they are all blessings from you O Lord!

I Love my Life!

Every day I stand in awe as I meditate on my day going forward, because you are with me! 

In my flesh I feel my body aging and the effects of all the injuries sustained a lifetime ago working in demolition and construction. The wear and tear on my body nags at me. The arthritis in me, to describe it; its like trying to walk with a blister on the bottom of my foot, each step I take there is somewhere in my body that feels the pain; or reaching to pick up something very small with my fingers, yet with limited feeling it challenges me, or trying to bend or stretch and I cringe with joint pain. It’s always there and regardless of the meds I take to help me endure it, I still feel it but I am able to move on in spite of it because of my goals for the day, they are clear and I’m focused on completing them, regardless of my limitations, regardless of the pain. I pursue each moment with a goal of the prize of accomplishment, no matter how small the task. I find it easy when i just focus, not on how in my younger days I could do it faster and better, I train my focus instead, simply on the task in front of me, on its completion, as a goal, and once reached, in my mind I am raising one arm with a clenched fist in the air, then pulling it down quickly by my side, yelling with delight, “Yes!”

Father, I sense Your presence with me in all I plan to accomplish and wherever I go. Your Word in me is my light and the life of my very soul. When I am in my flesh, having a challenging day, or am faced with something which catches me off guard, even when I give in to my weakness and respond verbally in a fleshly manner, yet I still feel Your presence, Your Spirit, gently pulling me back to my walk of faith. Its because I know I am washed in the blood of Christ, I feel as that child who falls down and gets dirty I feel You there picking me up and dusting me off from the soil from my fall, again and again! 

You are always with me, everywhere I turn, I feel You are there with me, like a child playing with his father watching close by, keeping him safe. This is my day, and I thank you Lord for it. I feel You with me with each moment, each breath of air I take, thank you again, for my life this day.

Thank you Lord!