Monogrammed For Greatness

I remember being a kiddo back in junior high & it seemed essential that I have a sweater monogrammed with my initials.  There is just something so personal & special about a monogram.  It is a pride thing I suppose about who you are & your ability to have the monogram work done. 

I remember back in the day having two wool sweaters with my monogram.  Those sweaters were the absolute itchiest ones that I've ever had.  Despite the itchiness I wore those babies each week with pride.  They were totally awesome sweaters....ok, yeah, I grew up in the 80's & had to get that in.

Maybe the resurgence of monogramming in home decor & personal style is that it is so totally personalized.  We as humans crave personal service, interpersonal relationships, and the ability to have others know us on a personal level.  Why is it that we crave those things in the worldly but not in the Godly ?  Meaning why don't we daily crave a personal relationship with the Lord? 

Perhaps, you are like me.  You are consumed in life.  Life that shuns you away from interpersonal relationships with others & more importantly life that shuns you away from a relationship with the Lord.  My life is consumed by cancer right now....I literally eat, sleep, and never loss the thought of cancer.  How did that happen?  How did a girl after God's heart lose her focus? 

Or more importantly is there a good excuse for losing that focus on God?  No.  There's your answer nothing trumps our personal relationship with the Lord.  If we give our list of personal excuses we need to realize that none of them work or give us an "OK" to not focus on the Lord.  God is like that he's all in, omnipresent, and loves you.  I know from learning the 10 commandments & their meaning as a kid that He wants you 100% of the time & doesn't take excuses....even one from your oncologist, cancer counselor, or family.  He is jealous of my real time relationship with cancer that consumes my time.

What can I do?  Yesterday, as I was waiting to see if my white blood cell count was high enough for an infusion I took time to talk to God.  To thank him for getting me to KC safely, allowing Emily to be by my side, and to praise him for the doctors & nurses in charge of my care.  I asked him to take control of the situation and I told him that I was sorry for not being more personal in my relationship with him.  I asked him to be with my spirit and allow me to see him in all situations and praise him.  Then, the nurse came out & told me that my white blood count was up enough for the infusion....God is just that good!

Now, about monogramming again, what if when we receive Christ as our Savior, we are monogrammed on His heart.  What if he takes us and monograms us as his own.  God's monogram takes us to times of stress, strain, hurt, and pain but it allows us to get up, fight again, and keep going....don't you love that you can wear His monogram?  That description sounds a lot like hope for your spirit, grace for your heart, and peace for your mind.  And, I betcha that God's monogram doesn't come in the form of a itchy wool sweater but a quiet, content, omnipresent Savior...love that!

This week I'll be working on praise for my Savior.  Thanking him for the very smalls like a warm cup of chamomile tea this morning to soothe my throat.  For relieving the nausea that came like a hurricane yesterday afternoon & through the night.  Thank you Lord for all you have been & all you will be in my life....maybe that is the best praise that he can receive from me today.  It is a simple praise that knows all he's done & trusts all he will be in my life.

Take care this week. I'm thrilled that it is Holy Week and Dale (my son) has his birthday this week! I'm hoping that each of you seek to praise the Lord this week & find his peace.

Peace be with you- Sherry

Updates:

• I've got a super cute short hair....who would have thought I would think that?  That being said I'm looking for super cute head bands.  If you've got one bring it by I would love it.  I'm trusting that God will meet my girly need. 

• Dale's birthday is on the 28th & he will be 16.....God is good to have graced me with a splendid son. 
• I'm super tired & feeling worn out.  I think between the physical & emotional tidal waves that I've been under God is telling my body to be at rest.  I'm thanking God this morning for this precious time to be with him & rest.