The Path is Slow

Just a quick post today. I am reading through the book of Jeremiah. In chapter 4 God tells us to...

"Break up your fallow ground, and sow not aomng thorns, Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of our hearts,"

 

While the first phrase (the last part of verse 3) sounds like farming instrutctions, I believe, based upon the next phrase, God is talking to us about being a light in our community. We are called to share the gospel both in word and deed in areas that are open to the gospel. Those places can be the most receptive person in your family, the person in your neighborhood willing to go to a church program with you, a group of kids on the softball team you daughter plays on, or a group of people in another state or country that seem open to the gospel.  Those who are obviouly not interested in the gospel we should leave alone for the time being.

 

The second part of the verse or the first part of verse 4, is about your relationship with our Abba Father. It is about reminding us we are really different now. That difference is not only visible in how we love one another (members of the Christian family) and those in need. That is how we are circumcised. But it is different in how we respond to our Father.  Remembering His sacrificial love for us. Causing us to repent and worship Him. That is removing the foreskin of your heart.

Just one of the many gifts you can receive when you spend time with our Father everyday.

 

I am slowly getting back into the swing of things. Pastor Mike and the Session of DaySpring are allowing me to preach the next two Sundays. I am preaching on Deuteronomy 8. Pretty cool chapter. If you are near by stop in and join us.

I continue to walk all over the place (Arundel Mills on Wednesday, Thursday near the Panera in Catonsville, Catonsville High on Friday, Rockburn Branch Park on Saturday). Hoping that will help my heart. Contact me if you would like to join in the walking fun. I'm up to 20 minutes and that is about all I can do.  Like I stated the path is slow. 


Seeking to know Jesus better,

What happened during that time out?

Sorry about the delay in getting information about my situation distributed, but since May (more likely since the summer of 2010), I have been struggling with a diseased heart and it has had a major impact on my daily activities.

In case you do not know, on May 2nd I went to the doctor to address some swelling I had in my legs. I was hoping they would prescribe some sort of medication and send me home. The exact opposite happened. They sent me directly to the hospital and I stayed there for next two
weeks. One week at the Baltimore Washington Medical Center the following week at University of Maryland Medical Center.

After a series of tests the medical teams told me I had Congestive Heart Failure. What is Congestive Heart Failure? It is a conditionwhen your heart is not able to pump the needed amount of blood throughout your body. The body responds by allowing fluids to collect
where ever it can. In my case I was collecting fluids from my feet all the way up to my lungs (some days up into my neck). Over the course of my stay, the medical teams removed over 50 pounds of fluid that had built up in my body.  After performing a heart catheterization, where
they discovered the arteries going to my heart were healthy, I was released to return home.

Once released I had to change my diet, start a limited exercise program, take way to many medications, and slow down. All things I do not do well. I hate taking medications. The hope is over time, I will lose a great deal of weight and my heart will recover and pump my
blood more efficiently.

Today, like most days is a fight to stick to the diet, take the medication, get a limited yet growing amount of exercise and a good amount of rest. The folks at DaySpring, a few folks from City of Hope,  and those that know of my condition at Chapelgate have been wonderful. Meeting to walk with me during the week. Sending me notes of encouragement just when I seem to need them most. The body of Christ is best experienced during struggle.

My greatest issue is dealing with me. Most days I feel very good, thus I feel free to return to my old ways (eating in between normal times, not stopping to eat at designated times, skipping exercise). It is on those days, I need to remember the doctors telling me that my
heart function was not at 85% - 70% (normal) but a measly 20% - 15% and focus on sticking to the diet and a limited schedule.

It is amazing how quickly I forget how I could not walk for 15 minutes without having to stop and rest. But then, I come from a long line of forgetful people. I think of the nation of Israel forgetting all that God had done when He released them from Egypt.


Thank goodness the Holy Spirit continues to bring family, friends, and a whole cloud of witnesses to remind me of His love and desire to see me whole again!


Seeking to know Jesus better,


Dwayne

And were back....

Happy New Years!  Martin Luther King Jr Day! Ground Hog Day! Valentines Day! Presidents Day! Shrove Tuesday! Ash Wednesday! Saint Patrick's Day! and The First Day of Spring!

I think those are all the major holidays we have celebrated since my last post. I hope each holiday gave you a moment to take time out from a hectic paced life and enjoy family and friends.

Why the delay? Some of the delay have been caused by a lingering physical illness that just seems to pull all the energy out from me.  I was able to meet most of my public obligations, but many of my personal obligations fell by the way. Some of the delay has been centered around a sense of Spiritual exhaustion. I have not been able to find the spiritual courage to share some of the challenging truths God has placed before me through the His Word and by those He is using to hold me accountable. Some just because I am a procrastinator at heart.  More about that in future posts.

Along with providing you with narrative on what has been going on, I also want to hear how you are doing with your walk with Christ. As a Christian Ninja, you are always being trained (sanctified) by our Master Teacher Christ.  I look forward to hearing how He continues to prepare and use you to share the gospel with your family, your community, and your friends with the gifts you already possess.