Praising God in the Fiery Trials

Yesterday morning on our quest to heal me as fast as possible, sister Amy and I went on a 4.3 walk in the morning, and smelled something so sweet that our noses both pointed in the air searching for the source. It was those beautiful honeysuckles in the bushes behind us. Nectar of God! We took two more one mile walks during the day, and I was feeling great. My arm is sore and the pectoral muscles aching as I use it more...but all in all, I am on an upswing.

Amy spent the day going through a very old suitcase of my college era paintings. I have one word to describe that phase of my art: STRANGE. (and all for sale if you like strange!)

There were also some surprises, pretty ones that I had totally forgotten.

It was a quiet day. Our goal was for my body to knit itself back together, catalogue the rest of my paintings and get them uploaded to my album of artwork for sale. (Which you can view Here .)

The other goal was to walk away the blood clots in my calf. Today I return for my first post-op visit with the surgeon, and then Friday, I go for another doppler ultrasound to see how my blood clots are doing in my calf. If hubby's car hadn't died, it would have been a catastrophe-free day yesterday! We haven't had many of those lately. But I guess since his car remains dead, we still haven't...

Listen to this great verse:
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.(1 Peter 4:12-13)

Every time a particularly tough trial comes my way, I feel like I have been socked. I totally relate to this verse. Why do all these terrible things keep happening?? Isn't it strange to have so much bad luck; so many fiery trials? But this lament is not the proper response. That verse above proves it. It is not something strange when fiery trials come. It is expected, and I should be rejoicing and glad that the trials help reveal His glory to me.

I am not always quite in the proper state of mind on this. Rejoicing is not my go-to behavior when I encounter yet another devastating situation. You'd think with all the practice I've had lately, I'd have this down pat. 

I emptied the drainage tube last night, thinking how much I can't wait to have this tube hanging out of me gone. It is heavy, always pulls and tugs with little twitches of discomfort, and makes me look like I am carrying a billiard ball on my belly. Really fun. I have to have no more than 30 cc's of output in a 24 hour period for them to pull the drainage tube out.

Well last night I discovered we'd been counting wrong! I thought I had 90 cc's in 24 hours but it was only 60 cc's two days ago! And yesterday, the 24-hour total was only 40!!! I am almost there! Praise God!
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Joshua 1:9 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

James 1:2-4 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 8:28 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

1 Peter 5:8 

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

2 Chronicles 15:7 

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”