God and the Spider

This is not an original posting, but was greatly inspired by this story that I received from a friend. Hope it sparks something for you as well. ~Jadee

God and the Spider

During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific Island. The fighting had been intense and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.

Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.

As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen."

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one."

Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave."

Hah," he thought. "What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor."

As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand.

To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while.

"Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in you a spider's web is stronger than a brick wall."

We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget the victories that God would work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways.

As the great leader, Nehemiah, reminded the people of Israel when they faced the task of rebuilding Jerusalem, "In God we will have success!" [Nehemiah 2:20]

And remember: Whatever is happening in your life, in God, a mere spider's web becomes a brick wall of protection.

~ Author Unknown

Passing on the Power

Yesterday, in my hurry to get the boys to school since I had to be at the hospital for my (hopefully last) ultrasound, I gave in and allowed them to have a donut for breakfast. Now, I usually have been making them some scrambled eggs so they have some protein to start off their day. I have found a tremendous improvement in their behavior by taking them off the sugar cereals, poptarts, and processed lunch meats.

But as I said, they had a donut for breakfast. I regretted my decision as soon as we reached the car. They were already arguing over who could get in which side of the car, and your backpack is touching me, etc! As our morning tradition, I pray for our day. I could see I was going to need some backup for this morning. Without thinking, I told my oldest to pray for his day and his attitude. Listening to him pray warmed my heart. He prayed in a way that a child would and was so sincere. It encouraged me! Next, it was my youngest's turn to pray. With a tiny bit of attitude, he said, "Dear God" period. Again I told him to pray because his actions were not respectful. He did. And as simple as it was, I could hear the change of attitude in his voice. Amazing how much POWER there really is in a simple prayer.

I am thankful that God has been showing me these little things, because after the last month and a half, it has been real tough to remember to keep my focus on Him.

Matthew 18:20

Matthew 18:20 (KJV)

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

This scripture is especially dear to me as it is the basis of my Prayer Partnership.

Five years ago during the peak of the stress of my failing marriage, I would call my friend to cry and vent. She was always there for me...literally. She would always listen and tried to encourage me. One night, she said, "Let's pray about this". God used her prayers to calm my soul and strengthen me.

I came across the book "The Power of a Praying Wife"....and instead of seeing changes in my husband--since I was praying for HIM, I began to see many changes in myself. I felt certain this experience of praying Scripture was the opening to the change I had been hopelessly longing for. After sharing this book with my friend, we both began praying together more regularly.

It was amazing to see Matthew 18:20 being played out in front of our eyes! God was there. My friend and I were connected on a soul level. We began to celebrate the changes we saw God doing in each of lives as individuals. Which also led to improvement in our surrounding environments (or rather, improved our perspective on our lives).

Over the years, no matter where we have lived, we have always nurtured our prayer partnership. Sometimes we have prayed everyday, once a week, once a month, and sometimes it may be a bit longer. But God has blessed our friendship through this partnership, that sometimes there is a day or situation that will call us back to that place of "gathering together".

Remember, even God knows there is strength in numbers. And He wants to be in the middle!

My Top 10 List

The Top 10 Things NOT To Do While Sporting an IV Pick-line!

10. Don't sweep the kitchen floor.

9. Don't fold clothes.

8. Don't vacuum.

7. Don't scrub the bathtub.

6. Don't submerge yourself in a hot bath.

5. Don't forget to fully cover and waterproof the given arm before a shower.

4. Don't drive with your left arm (the arm in question) even though that is how you usually drive, so you can talk on the phone or play a CD.

3. Don't carry groceries in plastic bags piled on your arms so you can make it in one trip up the stairs.

2. Don't sleep on your side; must sleep propped up on pillows with given arm on it's own pillow.

1. DON'T ADD AIR TO YOUR TIRES EVEN WHEN THE CAR SAYS LOW TIRE PRESSURE!

Please do not try any of these if ever in the situation to sport an IV pick-line. Author has already experienced the pain and regret of each of the above from having lived with an IV pick-line for a month. It is in your best interest to view this blog as an informational post.

Conspiracy, Cynicism, and CT Scans

After another CT scan today and the threat of surgery looming before me, I am cynical enough to buy into conspiracy theories!

I was having a conversation with T regarding gas prices and world events, and conspiracy theories were brought up. She mentioned that she is pretty cynical when it comes to things like that. I have found myself becoming more cynical in my "older age"...LOL! After telling her about my CT scan today and the additional doctors still pushing for surgery, I was thinking, maybe I am being the victim of conspiracy??

Actually, I don't really think I am, but I found it very interesting that I have left the hospital, been at home for two weeks, when the doctors decide to throw "cancer" out there at me. The 5% chance for this is now the reason they wish to schedule me for surgery. I was told by a couple of docs that I am too young to have a body that is in this poor state of health. I keep telling everyone it is STRESS! But let's see, if my own daily stress as a single mother wasn't enough, let's add on the fact the doctors keep coming up with something new that is wrong with me! LOL! (see, I got my cynicism from T...j/k)

Still I wonder what good the CT scans really do, besides increase my medical bills, when you have doctors from 4 different departments with different interpretations. How do I know which one is more accurate. Not sure I have much choice either. Of course, one doctor only smiled with raised eyebrows when I told him that I agreed that their diagnosis was probably right! =D Yes, T got a kick out of that one too!