Suffering with Bells Palsy

The past 3 1/2 months I have been suffering with Bells Palsy which affects me in many ways but especially causing a distortion of my face. It came on suddenly and it was a complete shock to Tim and myself. I felt the peace of God in hospital but when I came home and looked at myself, I cried. It took me a few days to come to terms with it. During that week a neighbour knocked on my door to say it was his wife's 80th birthday and she wanted me to attend. I replied "I do not think so in my state" but he said she would love to see me and there would only be a few close friends. As I closed the door I was reminded of the scripture in Ecclesiastes 1 v 2 "Vanity of vanities - all is vanity"[i]. I felt ashamed of myself - this lady I had witnessed to and helped out was seriously ill. How could I not attend - it probably would be her last birthday. I remembered that what is in the heart is more important than what is on the outside. I did go and when I arrived there were about 14 people there who I did not know. They looked at me so I made my entrance by saying, "Hi I'm Linda, I have Bells Palsy so if you hear a slurping noise - it's me!" Everyone clapped and I am so glad I went as my friend died a few days later and it was a privilege to be there. During this illness I have had to rest and life has become rather narrow but God has been with me and taught me quite a lot. I have learned to accept where I am at - to be content in the situation and to trust God and take a day at a time. I also had to overcome some real fears along the way. I threw myself on God and had to trust Him to be with me, and He was, and when I had to go through and face that fear God's peace instantly took over. Not a minute before, just at the exact time I needed it. God's timing is perfect. In Psalm 29 v 11 it says "the Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will bless His people with peace" and He does. I have learned that life is not fair but we have to make the best of what life throws at us. God does not want us to have confidence in flesh and wants to strip it away leaving us with total confidence in Him. When bad things happen we can kick and scream or we can turn to God and say "I don't understand this, Lord, but I am going to trust You and we will go through this together." And through this time of suffering He is making us more like Him and changing the things that need to be changed in our lives as we yield ourselves to Him. I want to thank everyone for the support and prayers you have given me. I thank God also for my husband Tim who has been a wonderful support and my family but most of all I want to thank God for His mercy - which is new every morning, and to give all the glory to Him, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I would like to finish with Psalm 138 v 1-3:- I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to you I will worship towards your holy temple And praise Your Name For your loving-kindness and your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your Name In the day when I cried out - You answered me And made me bold with strength in my soul. Amen.

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[i] King James Version

The country has a change of government.

As believers in Jesus we are told to pray for those in authority over us, whilst they that govern should do so diligently, for government has been established to protect and lead the nation for the benefit of all the citizens.

This is true of the church. God expects His leaders, pastors and teachers to work diligently, upholding His truth within the church and to the wider community as has been our national heritage until now.

Why have we seen a general downward trend in attitudes towards each other; respect for those in authority and a seeking after self interests rather than the general good? I believe that a lot of the blame lies at the churches door. The church hasn’t been there with the answers for the nation. So much so we are in danger of being marginalised or worse forsaken.

In Ezekiel Chapter 22, we read how God condemns the leaders of Israel in Jerusalem of social injustice and idol worship. The leaders had forgotten Him. Isn’t this true of our nation’s leaders? Like Jerusalem, our leaders include the clergy. Verse 26 of chapter 22 states, “Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy [truth] and the common [man’s thinking]”. Church leaders have embraced the thinking of the day rather than upholding God’s timeless Word.

It is never too late to call on the Lord to forgive us for forsaking Him and His Word, the Bible. We can do this as individuals, churches, communities and government. ‘For God is slow to anger and abounding in love and mercy’.

The end of Ezekiel, Chapter 22, and verse 30 [the Sovereign Lord says] “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land ……”

For Israel there was none. But I believe there are thousands just waiting to call on the Lord for wisdom to apply His timeless truth in their own lives and for the wider good. Our church seeks to serve God and others and to teach God's truth as shown in the bible. Can I encourage you in this also?

LF